The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-10

At a meeting of the executive commit
tee of the Washington Red Cedar Single
Manufacturers Association. held yester-
day afternoon in the Rainier-Grand hotel,
II was decided TO close down the single
mills of the state from May 16 to June 4,
provided 20 per cent. of the members of
the association can be induced TO enter
into the agreement. The meeting, which
lasted from ] 80 to O'Clock, was one OF
the best attended ever held, and was en-
tirely harmonious. There was a greater
representation of large producers present
than ever before as was also the case
with the lumber and Single manufac-
turers.
The work of securing the vote OF the
state was left to the executive committee
men, who are instructed to proceed with
their work at once and report the result
OF their labors to Secretary Victor III.
Beckman at the earliest possible mo-
ment. BY Saturday or Monday at the
latest II is expected the vote will be all
in, and the, mills win be Immediately adj
visei of the result.
Yesterdays meeting was of more than
usual Importance, after the failure of the
association to effect a close-down two
weeks ago Although 80 per cent OF the
mills of the state then signed the agree
ment to close for a period, the large pro-
ducers of Ballard, Tacoma and the Bell
ingham bay district refused to come in.
Without their consent 1t was useless to
try to do anything, and the association
decided to abandon it's price list and let
makers take their own course for a sea-
son. The large mills at yesterdays meet
ing gave their support to the movement
which, 1t is believed. this time will be a
success
Since abandoning the association list
prices on all grades OF shingles have fallen
until In reality it is not known from day
to day what the product Is selling for
I or hxyy a mn ha
East showed cut of % cents on stars and
is cents on clears. But the information
is vouched that sales were made last
week at less than these prices. The two
weeks intervening since the associations
effort to close the mills have been disas-
trouS to the trade on Puget sound. Cut
OF strengthening the Eastern market. The
fact is that advites from Eastern dealers
say close down the mills for n season and
reduce the surplus stock now on hand
The conditions prevailing in the East
are no better today, it is stated than
they were three weeks ago. The market
Is very weak and we'll supplied with stock
Owing to the high price. of material of
all kinds, building has not been so active
as was expected Then, to add TO this
cause. strikes among workmen in many
of the chief building centers have caused
a stagnation of what work was going on
These matters, Eastern dealers advise,
must adjust themselves before there will
be any demand for shingles.
lneSe CONDITIONS were all made plain
at yesterdays meeting and the large
lumber and Single producers were asked
to make certain concessions in the inter-
ests OF the shingle mills. A recess of fif-
teen minutes was taken, during which
time the representatives OF the lumber
and shingle mills conferred. Upon re-
entering the committee room, they agreed
to the demands asked Of them, and the
meeting proceeded to discuss the length
OF time 1t would be necessary to close
down. There was a feeling that a month
would not be too long. but three weeks
were finally agreed upon.