Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-06-16
LACONICS
BRITISH COLUMBIA LOGGING
CAMPS MAY SHUT DOWN
The Mississippi Mumberman Gives Latest Data
Showing Status Of Lumber Market. The
Single Outlook is Daily Improving. VIC
toria Times Speaks on Proposed Tariff.

A preliminary meeting has taken place
Of a number OF the logging companies in
British Columbia to discuss the unsatis-
factory conditions of the logging market
when it was decided to call meeting Of
all the loggers on the coast for June u.s.
for the purpose OF considering a proposal
to close down all logging camps for an
indefinite period. The reason for the
proposed action that there is no market
for the logs at the present time. The
product cannot be sold according to the
loggers for prices that will pay. AL
though in Washington state the camps
have recently closed down Indefinitely.
it is not probable that this action will be
taken in the province.
1t is pointed out that there is differ
ence on the two sides of the line. In
Washington state the loggers practically
own all the timber land land are by far
the greatest operators, but on this side Of
the line the mill owners have very ex-
tensive limits and supply their own mills
with large part of the cut irrespective
Of individual lcggers.
Notwithstanding the duty on shingles
entering the United States from Canada
a large number are exported across the
line and compete with the American
product on its own ground. 1t has been
known that some British Columbia mills
have been engaged in this trade, relying
on the careful manufacture of the shingle
for successful competition with the
American mills. In fact the Surrey
Shinge Mill Company ships its entire
product to the middle states.
OF course this mill is not so large as
some in Vancouver bnt it is remarka-
BILE fact that it does not look to Canada
at all for its market.
The Victory Times is the only news
paper in British Columbia which has
written against the propose duty on
American lumber coming into the North
west. In reply. James A. McNair, whose
company operates lumber and shingle
mills on Puget Sound az well as
British Columbia, and who is man.
ager of the biggest shingle mill in the
world, which is situated here, says III
duty were imposed as requested, speak
ing for myself, and l voice the senti-
ments Of my confreres in the industry,
the fact would not be taken advantage
! of to raise the price OF lumber and shing-
les. ALI the British Columbia manufac-
turers wan. is the Canadian market kept
for Canadians in regard to the rougher
grades OF lumber. This would enable us
to smanufacture the better grades on
which there is a profit and for which
there is always ready market, but as
there is only about twenty per cent of
the logs suitable for the better grades it
can be seeu at once that British Column
bia requires at least the Canadian market.
The Washington state manufacturer can
dispose of his rough lumber at slaughter
prices in Canada, and sell the good
grades and make up thu loss in his own
country"
The deputation which will present to
the Dominion government the conditions
of the lumber industry in British Colum.
bia and urge an equalization Of the lum.
Der tariffs OF Canada and the United
States will be an influential one. There
will be representatives OF the boards of
trade of New Westminster, Vancouv yer
and Victoria, these being respectively
John Hendry, president OF the Great
Northern branch in British Columbia,
Harry Holgate Watson, secretary Of the
Mcdowell Atkins Watson Wholesale
Drug Association, and A G.. Hummer
felt.
The West coast manufacturers are still
wrestling with the problem of how to sell
the entire output OF their mills in terri
tory that is not capable Of absorbing it.
They have been working for an enlarged
market, and have also been forming
plans for a reduced output during the
temporary spell of light demand. The
prospect appears bright for some meas
ure Of success along both lines. Trade
has improved to some extent, and cas-
ern statesmen believe that prices even
now could be advanced, if some of ths
firms were not so eager to sell lumber.
The red cedar shingle situation pre-.
sents more favorable aspect this week,
but it is more of negative than posi-
tive character. The market has not
gone any lower, and appears to have
reached point from which advances
are possible, if not probable. In fact,
some of the local jobbers have sent out
feelers in the way Of an advance of two
or three cents, and the result has not
been discouraging. Most of the whole
salers have reduced their transit lines to