Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1909-04-22
THE LUMBER TRADE
SECRETARY WASTELL OUTLINES
CONDITION OF BUSINESS.
In nOnthly Trade Bulletin of the
Washington and Oregon Lumber
Manufacturers Association. April
opened EnC0ursgingIy, but Set.
ties Back.

The monthly trade bulletin for
April, issued by the secretary of the
Washington. & Oregon Lumber Man
ufacturers' Association, gives a very
good outline of the condition of busi-
ness at the present time and the
prospects for the future as regards
the lumber trade of that section, and
it also applies with accuracy to the
entire trade of the Pacific North
west. 1t recognizes the fact that
trade conditions of the present are
not satisfactory, and are not up to
what lumbermen hoped for at the
beginning of the year, but at the
same time holds out hope for the
future. The text of Secretary Was.
tells bulletin is substantially as fol-
lows:
"The average lumberman of Ore
gon and Washington in his attitude
last month paralleled our local cli-
matte conditions, and like the month
of March came in like lion and
went out like a lamb. The individ-
ual manufacturers appeared very op-
timistic on the first of March, but
when expected orders did not mater
ialize, became very much discouraged
with the outlook and yet in analyz-
ing the situation could not UNDER
stand why orders were not coming
in more freely, as climatic condi-
f., tions were very much improved over
January and February and as retail
stocks were known to be low and
spring orders were properly due.
"The month of April opened up
much more encouragingly and I'm
marked contrast to the discouraging
features of the rail shipping trade,
! evidently retarded by tariff agita-
tion and drop in steel market. The
Oregon is strong at good prices on
account of the extent of the build
ing that is being undertaken.
| "In the country districts, resi-
dences, barns and warehouses are
being erected and good many mills
find that they can devote their en-
tire attention to the local business
in their vicinity. In the city Of
Portland a very large number of resi-
dences are going up, as we'll as a
number of fine business blocks.
March building permits in Portland
aggregate $SS5,375, which is great
er than any previous years record
for the month of March.
"a Washington lumberman passed
through Portland on his return from
an eastern trip of about two months
duration, and called on his Portland
friends to talk over local conditions
and also to advise what he had noted
during his trip.
"He proved a veritable disciple of
good cheer in that, although recog-
nizing that business is sluggish at
this time in all lines, that prospects
are good for complete revival OF
trade within sixty days. He stated
that in Chicago thirty days ago 1t
was recognized that business was
dead and in analyzing the situation
and talking with great many peo-
ple he was convinced that the dull
ness was due entirely to sentiment
and that there is no vital weakness
whatever in trade conditions. This
sentiment is due to uncertainty in
regard to the tariff in a very large
measure, and people are inclined to
| postpone operations until something
definite is known as to the outcome
of the agitation for revision.
Bankers, car builders and rail-
road contractors of high standing
and influence assured him of their
absolute confidence that sixty days
hence the whole country would wit
ness active development and con-
struction work financed by the cheap
money offering today and giving en-
ployment to the unemployed laborers
of today. AS soon as prospective
railroad work is undertaken both in
construction of new lines and in car
building, lumber will be in strong
fdemand from this source and stimu-
lated by this activity other building
will be undertaken and retailers will
have to replenish their reduced
stocks. He reported that Colorado
territory was being overworked by