The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1920-02-25

HAS PRICE DECLINE STARTED
The most encouraging news given Il
ff,is section in long time is the an
heuncement of the Weyerhauser syn
dictate, controlling II of the larges
sawmills in the northwest, including
the Potlatch and Elk River mills, thai
Iamber prices are to be reduced from
10 to 80 per cent at once and the re-
dueed prices are guaranteed unit
June 1.
IT is hoped this is the beginning OF
actual price reduction by the big bus
mess industries. The reduction IN
lumber prices was not made from any
philanthropic motive, but purely as a
business move 1.-THE high prices for
Humber threatened to stop construc-
ton entirely" is the reason given for
a reduction.
Now if the hardware manufacture
ers and dealers, and the building
trades unions will follow the lead
of this "big business" and reduce the
cost to the builder we may look FOR
an era of building such as the west
has not experienced in 20 years. There
can be no doubt that scores, yes thou
sands of buildings would be erected
and work given to tens of thousands
Df men in the northwest, II material
and labor prices were to be reduced
so that people can afford to build
No one can afford it now and 1t is
a common but truthful statement that
ayou can buy fairly good house and
lot now for less than the material for
a new house to duplicate it would
cost
A case in point was brought to no
tice recently. residence, carrying
$4,000 insurance was destroyed by fire
The owner thought he had it well in
sured He asked the insurance COM
pany to replace the house or pay the
insurance in full A contractor was
asked to figure on replacing the house
<SxIA Ats Dut tbC tOoI ct pcoVO- liz -
sssrance was promptly paid. Yet the
insurance was regarded as about what
the house was worth when it was
taken out four years ago.
Building material of every kind is
no high that building has been prac- |
iically stopped and carpenters and |
other builders are out of work. If |
prices are reduced SO that people can
sfford to build there will be 25 new |
rcsadences erected in Moscow within
a year and the same applies to many
ofher towns.
It is hoped that clothing, shoes and
,tAer necessities will follow lumber
nd the big manufacturers, whole
saiers and retailers who have been
grating the public for extortionate
s7ices will see the light as the lumber
interests have seen it, and reduce
,rfres so that people can afford to
,sIy Trade in all lines would be
stimulated if prices were to
Iecline from 20 to IS per cent and in
ome lines the manufacturer would be
making fair profit with a rs per
ent reduction in prices.
The latest German propaganda is
,ping sent out by the American Re
lei Committee for German Children"
t is being sent to all of the newspa :
ers and is a plea for funds for the ,
1ucation and to buy food and clothing i
n millions OF suffering children in :
Germany" That few newspapers will |
i've the plea publicity and that it will
e needed by few real Americans is
ertain- America as well as other
Buntries, is too busily occupied in ;
,eding and clothing the children of r
ermany's victims to devote any a
lnds or sympathy on the children OF
ermany When all of the Huns VIC
ms have been fed and clothed and
lucated we might take up the care b
the Huns progeny but not until q
en-.
"a "a n :
Governor Davis has decided to "let ),
III enough alone" and not try to be "
ected to the United States senate. Of
great many people will think the Is
vernon wise in reaching this de- 81
ZION. There is grave question x