Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1915-11-05
LUMBER MEN EXPECT
GOOD SPRING TRADE
PROSPECT FOR HEAVY ORDERS
DISPELS GLOOM OF PAST
TWO YEARS.

The air of gloom that has hung
over the lumr industry of the Pa
cific Northwest for the past two years
and which has been reflected in prac-
tically every meeting of lumbermen
during that time, was conspicuous
by its absence at the regular meet
ing of the Washington branch of the
West Coast Lumber Manufacturers
association, which was held Friday
afternoon in Seattle, says the Tacoma
Tribune.
Instead of the usual discussion of
the best means of limiting produc-
ton, the talk turned entirely on the
best methods of preparing for a ire
mendous business in the coming
spring and the opinion of the lum-
bermen present was practically
unanimous that heavy orders are to
be expected during the winter.
News from the yellow pine field
showed that the lumber business in
that section was booming. Major
Everett G. Griggs of Tacoma read a
telegram from F. E. Weyerhaeuser
of st. Paul who sent extracts from re-
ports received by him from many
mills in the pine country. According
to all of these reports prices are adj
vancing rapidly and the mills are
running to capacity while the de-
mand is continually increasing. There
can be no doubt that these condi-
lions will be reflected on the Pacific
coast to a certain degree and in the
near future.
These were in accord with the fol-
lowing telegram received by A. G.
ARSON of the st. Paul & Tacoma
Lumber company from Harrington
Emerson of New York:
To DO Much Budding.
please tell President Bloedel that
I have lately conferred with big rail-
road men. steel men, and industrial
clients. There are plans under way
in the East for an immense building
program in the near future. The
Baltimore & Ohio railway has had
the biggest gross freight tonnage in
its history during September. They
have ordered more locomotives.
"The general opinion here is that
the war will last several years. The
immense crops, the balance of trade
in our favor and the prospect OF
spending several hundred millions on
preparedness, will bring the biggest
business boom in years. There will
be tremendous demand for raw
products, particularly lumber. There
is no question that energy and the
maintenance of prices will enormous
ly increase the demand for Pacific
coast lumber"
Following the reading of the tele
grams a general discussion of market
conditions was held. 1t developed
that orders had been light during the
past month, due chifley to the BAG
weather which has prevented build
ing operations and to the recent ad
vance in prices, as the retail yards
have been holding out in hopes of &
reduction in the list. The member!
of the association decided, however
4 -
i Mr.. Saunders of Vancouver, B. c.
told of better conditions in Canals
and declared that the British Colum
bia mills had advanced prices an av
erage of $3.50 and that stocks wer'
!, lower than they had been for years
He added that the British Columbi;
mills had too many orders on han'
to ship much lumber into the Unite'
} States at the present time.
/ Other speakers in the discussion
were: E. H. Lewis, J. H. Bloede
5 G. L. Johnson, c. c. Bronson. j. r
/ O'Donald, Neil Cooney, J. G. Dick
l son, and r. c. Joseph of Kansas City
g f. r. Hogg protested against any Q
= the association members taking OF
r ders at present prices for spring dc
{ livery and it was the consensus @
: opinion that this should not be don
n as better prices are expected to pre-
vail next spring.
: Need Selling Agency.
n One Of the most interesting talk
i ever given at an association meetin
n was made by Franklin Smith, speci'
= agent for the department OF con
s merce, who has just returned frol
n an investigation of lumber condition
l. in the Orient and Australia. NJ