The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-28
KEPT THE MARKET STRONG.
Results Of Washington Single
Makers Organizing.
ITS EFFECT HAS BEEN SHOWN.

ITS EFFECT HAS BEEN SHOWN.
Eastern Authorities Tell what the
Association Has Accomplished
J. A. Hughes Finds Much to Praise
In seattle and the Great Indus
try-Minnsspolis Trade Journal
says All should Ne Thsnkfui.
The shingie situation Of Puget sound is
receiving considerable attention among the
authorities Of the East J.SA- Hughes, OF
the, w. 4. Carpenter Lumber Company.
Minneapolis, who was recently In Seattle
for several days, had the following TO say
toAthe Mississippi Valley LumbermAn, pub
lished In Minneapolis. one OF the most
authoritative lumber trade journals Of the
Middle West: .K
.sThe conditions in tho red cedar single
market are the best they have ever been.
I have known Of dozen or more associa-
lions that have been formed by tho shingle
producers on the Coast In the past. but
none of them has been able to hold togeth-
er for any length Of time and In the end
they have hurt rather than helped the
trade. But they have an organization now
to be proud Of, and that 1t Is 50 strong
Is due to the fact that the prime movers
have devoted both their time and money
to making It so. Inside OF the large or
ganixation Of all the manufacturers there
are smaller organizations in each county.
Each county association has its advisory
board, and the large organization has one.
These boards work together. and It is re-
markable how they are able to hold the
single makers In line. 1T Is an elegant
thing for the trade, and as long as they
keep It up we shall not hear Of the great
fluctuations in single values that have
been known In the past. 1t II good thing
for the trade all around.
Market II Firm.
1.-THE single market Is firm and ought to
start out here this year at about S2.25 for
stars on a 50-cent rate. 1t ought to remain
fairly steady, though I look for an advance
of s or 10 cents during the season. was
surprised not to find more shingles in the
hands Of the manufacturers Before went
West we had been led to believe that the
manufacturers were fearful Of being able to
hold the market during the dull nlonths
because they all had large stocks on hand.
But found that there are very few
shingles out there. The stocks are prajc-
tically sold out It will be the middle OF
next month before there are any shingles
to amount to anything offered on the mar
ket Early in the winter there was a
strong effort made to break the market out
West, but the manufacturers held together
and finally got the upper hand. They are
trying to get together with the dealers now
to keep the market steady during the year,
and with good chance of success.
with the lumber market the situation
is different. For the upper grades of fir,
the demand has always been up to or
ahead Of the ability of the mills to furnish
stock. They have had some difficulty in the
past taking care Of their common lum-
Der, for 1t did not pay to ship It very far
East. and the local demand was not large
I enough to take It ALL However, since the
Alaska gold discoveries the water mills at
least have been able to dispose Of about
all they manufactured. During the coming
season the demand from that direction will
be larger than ever. The new discoveries
at Cape Nome are attracting the attention
of gold seekers and the rush In the spring
promises to be as large as at any time
during the Klondike excitement. Seattle
is one of the busiest cities in the country.
It is full of people now. and when the rush
begins. in the latter part OF February and
March, business will be decidedly lively"
Critical Period at nm End.
The Lumberman, commenting editorially,
has the following:
1.-THE critical period fer the manufacture
ers of red cedar shingles is about at an end.
Fortunately for the trade, the situation Is
cause. for congratulations. At about the
time the active consumptive demand ends
in the fall. the bears commence their as
saults on the market. and usually they
have been successful in their efforts to de-
press prices. That they have not done so
during the present season Is due to the ex-
cellent organization of the manufacturers
and their success In withstanding all at
tacks on the markets stability. The retail
dealers have reason to be as thankful as
are the manufacturers themselves. A firm