The San Francisco call., 1903-12-23
California MiIlnen
Will Not Renew
Agreement.
Efforts to Adjust Differ
elCeS at Local Cen
ference Fail.
Strife Threatens 10 Reduce Income
Of Combination by a Million
Dollars a Year.

The Pacific Coast Lunbermen. an or
gan-zstion that for two years has con-
troled the export lumber trade Of the
entire coast. went 10 pieces yesterday
afternoon after several hours confer
ence in this city Of a number OF the
representatives Of the leading millmen
Of California, Oregon and Washington.
As q result Of the dissolution Of the
organization the lumber interests Of
the coast, in so far as the export busi-
ness IS concerned. viii suffer a severe
! blow, for maintenance Of the present
prices cannot be hoped for and il is
estimated that the threatened competi-
ton that viii naturally follow Will
mean q loss Of about S1.000. 900 a year
10 the producers along the coast.
The conference held yesterday was
the result Of 2 disagreement Of the
millmeu in Portland last week, when
a meeting Of the members Of the organ
izsuon was held for the purpose of re-
uewing the agreement that had bound
the millmen together for two years. The
California representatives that attend
ed the Portland meeting refused TO sign
z
notifications were made in the rules Of
the association regarding the proraung
Cf export business one clause in the
agreement provided that a producer.
exceeding the output apportioned TO
him by the organization. should forfeit
the profit derived from the excess.
CONFERENCE PROCEEDS.
II was demanded bv the millmen
from this State that this clause should
be reconstructed so as 10 permit mill
men 10 exceed their quota in certain
districts where the supply was unequal
70 the demand. without subjecting
them 10 penalties. and il was upon this
question that the members failed TO
agree Finally IL was decided that a
committee should be sent 10 this city
% confer with the local export agents.
with the hope Of bringing about a set
tlement Of the differences, and R L
Mccormick. representing the Weyer-
haeusers- Richard Alexander Of the Co
lumbia River mills and D. f. Skinner
were delegated for the task These gen
tIemen arrived here Monday and early
yesterday a meeting was called and
lasted throughout the day.
There were present besides the dele
gates from Portland F. K Wood of z.
X Wood & Co. A. A. Baxter Of the
BeIIiugham Bay Improvement Com
pany. ". II. Talbot Of Pope & Talbot,
William Kendrick Of Adams & Co. and
?. C. slade Of the Slade Lumber Com
pany-
BITTER FEELING AROUSED.
From the start it was evident that
Z
and before the meeting had progressed
far bitter feeling was demonstrating
itself. II was plain that some motive
other than the objection made in the
north 70 the prorating clause was a
predoninating influence and the mem
hers from Portland did not hesitate to
suggest this fact. Finally, realizing
that all efforts toward peace were use
less. Mccormick and his associates left
the meeting. but not before Mccormick
had warned the millmen that their
stand may result in the complete de-
raorslization OF the lumber interests Of
the entire coast. He predicted that Bit
a.er competition would follow the break
ing up Of the organization and that
cutting Of prices would prove disas-
trous 70 the producers
The insinuatiop was also thrown out
that a certain local lumber representa-
tive had been guilty Of a serious viola
ton Of the organizations rules in
secretly cutting the established prices
and filing orders in foreign markets for
six months ahead. When the meeting
adjourned il was apparent that Nc
Cormick and his associates were angry
and they did not attempt TO conceal the
fact when they started for Portland on
last evenings train.
II was stated by a prominent men,
Der of the Pacific Coast lumbermen
last evening that the breaking up Of
the export trade compact had been
MANNED for some time. A number Of
local firms. which had previously been
IozaI 10 the organization. had lately
z rived at the conclusion that they had
developed a large business abroad and
could carry it along without the aid
Of a combine Hence their indifference
10 the proposed renewal Of the coast
miIlmen's agreement
BIG loss TO PRODUCERS.
During the past two years. or within
the life Of the existing agreement, the
, rport business has amounted to an
annual output Of 250.Oo0.O00 feet, which /
is figured al a basis rate OF s14 a thou /
sand. With the abandonment Of the /
producers agreement il is expected /
that there viii be a lively cutting in 4
rates. and lumbermen predict that the |