The San Francisco call., 1903-12-01
LUMBER KINGS
\ MAY co TO WAR
Weyerhaeusers Demand
aLarger Share Of the
Export Trade.
Threaten to Break From the
Combine and Fight in
Open Market.

The Weye1haeuserS, known through
out the Western hemisphere as the
Rockefellers OF the lumber world, are
threatening to enter San Francisco as a
competitor to the balance Of the lumber
firms engaged in the expectation of Pa
cific Coast lumber. The Wisconsin mil
lionaires have a grievance against the
Pacific Coast exporters, which they
have plainly broached and followed II
up with a threat that If they are not
accorded fairer treatment than at pres
ent they will break away from the COM
bine Of millmen that now governs the
export business and with vessels OF
their own will inaugurate warfare to
the bitter end.
The bulk of the export lumber trade
of the entire Pacific Coast originates in
this city; that is, all the larger lumber
firms have their agencies here and
through a combine, which is effected
annually. they try to apportion orders
for export among the numerous mills in
California, Oregon and Washington.
The Weyerhaeuser Timber Company
has been a member Of this combine for
many months and until recently seemed
to be well satisfied with the share OF
export business that was given it.
THREATENS BIG FIRMS
Suddenly. however, the representa-
tives Of the company began to COM
plain, and not being satisfied with the
responses made to their complaints, r.
L. Mccormick. secretary Of the big con-
cern. notified several Of the larger firms
here that the Weyerhaeusers were de-
ternined TO get a better share OF the
N0f1N
were entitled to, and il they failed they
would withdraw from the combine and
enter the business for themselves. Sec
retarv Mccormick hinted that the Wis
consin nilionaires, whom he represents.
were prepared to buy or build their own
vessels and would ply from al the big
coast ports and those Of foreign coun-
tries where Pacific Coast lumber is now
in demand
A report received here yesterday Is
to the effect that Mccormick is now on
his way to this city. fully prepared TO
carry out the threat. He is accom-
panied by another representative OF
the big firm and>is due to arrive here
in a few days from the north, by which
route he is coming.
MILLIONS INVESTED.
The Weyerhaeusers have invested
more than S6. .O00, 900 in timber lands on
the coast. The greater part Of their
holdings are in the State Of Washing
ton, some are in Oregon, and IN this
State they control the Navarro prop
erty, purchased last year through a
company at the head Of which Is Mr..
Moon. son-in-Iaw of one OF the Weyer-
haeusers. Mccormick and several as
sociates also own 100000 acres OF tim
Der land in the three coast States.
which may be counted in with the
Weyerhaeuser interests.
These holdings also include many
mills with which the Weyerhaeusers.
If they carry out their threat. win be
able to give their competitors lively
race for business A number Of the
local representatives of the larger
milling companies against which the
Weyerhaeusers would enter into inde-
pendent competition in the event OF
break in the combine have expressed
the opinion that all existing difficulties
will be adjusted at the next meeting
Of the exporters, when a new combine
for the ensuing year is arranged Me-
COrmick's arrival here IS awaited with
much interest. however.