Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-10-03
ZIMMERMAN WILL
TAKE A HAND IN THE STATE
CAMPAIGN.
Ignored by the Railroads They Will Enter
State Politics to Save Their Business.
The Lumbermans Association Asks Pledge
From Legislative Nominees.

! The Lumberman's association OF this
state declares that the railroads are
killing their great industry; that they
have appealed in vain for relief; that
the traffic managers have openly threat.
ened to advance rates if they do not stop
their agitation for rate reduction; and
despairing OF getting justice from the
railroads, they propose to carry the fight
into the legislature.
To that end they have asked every
| legislative nominee in Washington to
sign the following pledge:
(Fill out, tear Of and return this
pledge.)
| PLEDGE TO SAVE THE LUMBER INDUSTRY.
Having the prosperity Of the state OF
Washington at heart, hereby pledge
myself, if elected. to vote and work in
the next session of the legislature Of the
state Of Washington, for any and all
measures that may secure for the lumber
industry, lumber rate of 40 cents per
100 pounds to Nebraska, Kansas, South
Dakota and other Missouri river points.
The following letter to the legislative
nominees accompanies the pledge, and
sets forth with much vgor the lumber
mems grievances:
"The manufacturers OF lumber and
lumber products in the state of Wash.
ington, representing 1872 firms doing
business in the counties OF Spoka ne,
Thurston, Franklin, Lewis, Stevens,
King, Pierce, Kitsap, Cowlitz, Island,
San Juan, Whatcom, Adams, Jefferson,
Lincoln, Asotin, Clallam, Pacific, Mason,
Wahkiakum. Skamania, Ferry, Kittias,
Skagit, Yakima, Snohomish, Chehalis.
Clarke, Whitman, Walla Walla, Klicki.
tat, Douglas, Chelan, Okanogan. Colum.
bia and Garfield, and employing S1,O3S
men, to whom are paid annually in
wages the sum Of $47 .691 900, and upon
whom are dependent 243,114 persons,
would respectfully call your attention to
the dire need OF this great lumber indus
try as set forth in the inclosed circular.
1T will be conceded that the manu-
facture Of lumber is the greatest devel.
oped industry in the state Of Washington
and will continue to be so for many
years to come. Unfortunately the in.
dustry is of such magnitude that its pro.
duct must be sold in distant markets.
and on account OF distance and freight
there will always be more or less of q
handicap. For example, the freight
rate on lumber from eastern and western
Washington to st. Paul, Mimi, is 40 cents
per 100 pounds to 1000 feet Of dimension
lumber, $12 per 1000 feet is paid trans
continental lines for the haul. This lum'
Der is selling as low as $3.50 to IS at the
mill, or practically one third the cost o.
haul.
"During the past year the lumber in
dustry has been in very bad shape
wages have been reduced, many MILL
have either closed down or gone into
the hands OF a receiver, and the los'
incurred in the depreciation in value
, is estimated at $4,000, 0o0-a direc
and positive loss to the state of Wash
ington, because every man employed il
the mills, camps, factories and lumber
yards must depend on the farmers
storekeepers and others for his provis
ions, clothing and other necessaries o
- life, and every cent of the $47 100000
pay roll is placed in circulation amonl
the producers, and therefore any dis
aster to the lumber industry must al
j. feet every citizen of the commonwealth
"In order to keep the industry aliv
!, the lumbermen early this year forwarded
:. petition signed by upward OF 1000 lum
Der manufacturers, 800 leading mer
:, chants, S54 retail lumber dealers il
- Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakot
:, who need our lumber, Endorsement
= from all the leading commercial organi
, cations in this state representing an in
+ vestment Of upward Of $90O,00O,OOO, t
, the presidents and traffic managers {
- the Great Northern, Northern Pacifi
!, and Union Pacific roads, requesting tina
they grant a lumber rate of 40 cents pc
- 100 pounds to Omaha and Kansas Cit
- and surrounding territory. The exis
- ing rate is so cents per 100 pounds, {
SIS per 1000 feet, while there is onl
one mile difference in the distance, til
distance from Portland to St. Paul bein
2O56 miles, and the distance from Por
land to Omaha being posi- miles.
8. said before the rate is 40 cents to S
a. Paul, while to Omaha, practically II
20 same distance, it is so cents. This di
i, ference Of 10 cents per 100 pounds maxi
III a difference in the price of lumber fro
81 to $3.50, and will allow US to compe
in territory consuming annually 1852