The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-09-30

Unions, /. u. T.
Greeting: Since the issuance of
our Official Bulletin of September
Bird, we are able to report some
change for the better in market
conditions in the Northwest and in
the South. This information comes
through reports from our own Of
ficers and organizers, and through
the official publications of the OPP
orators, so the information is quite
general. While no great furry has
been experienced, and it is not like
ly that there will be, yet the pres
ent situation may be regarded as
forerunner of gradual improve
ment so far as the market condi-
tions are concerned.
In discussing the market, the
"West Coast Lumberman," issue of
September 18th, makes the fol-
lowing statements:
Increasing volume of business
both in lumber and shingles has
characterized the Pacific Northwest
lumber market in the past fortnight.
Moreover, the increased business has
resulted in making it more diff
A market summary would not be
complete, however, without pointing
out some Of the less favorable fea-
lures of the situation. Boards are
slow to move except at prices that
are ruinous. There seems to be
apparently a good many boards in
the East and South which the mills
are anxious to get rid of. On the
other hand some of the so-called
cut-prces which were made about
three weeks ago have been with
drawn and most buyers report a
gradual stiffening of the market
except on few items stated above.
There is no doubt at all but that
the lumber industry is recovering
from the slump that has prevailed
all summer. This is due to i'm
provement in broad fundamentals.
Little by little the situation is clear
ing up all over. For instance, we
now see the building situation at
Chicago relieved. San Francisco's
troubles are largely a thing of the
past and 50 it goes all over the
country. There is bound to be an
especially active building movement
through out this fall. There is
also very strong probability that
much more than the usual amount
of building will be carried on dur
ing the winter months"
In the same publication it is re-
ported that Southern mills have
on their order books more untitled
orders than at any time during the
past three and one half years.
with but two exceptions. The or
ders received in the first week in
September by the Southern pine
mills were 80 per cent higher than
those for the first week in Au-
gust, and 62 per cent higher than
during the corresponding week of
last year. Southern pine mills re-
porting to the association now have
on their books, unshipped, almost
10000 cars.
They also report marked increases
in the price of shingles. Production
of shingles has been light all year.
In commenting on the single stu
alton in the Columbia River sec
ton, they state that the single
situation is one that has filled with
despair the wholesaler who has any
unplaced business. Prices of around
$500 are now prevailing for dry
"Stars," while one car of green
STARS" was sold on the Portland
rate for $3.15. These quotations
were on the rail business. Prices
of 10 cents to 80 cents higher were
current in the cargo trade. Prac-
tically every single mill on the
it is at all possible to obtain logs.
It is also stated that the Columbia
river loggers expect raise of from
$1.O0 to $500 on yellow fir, while
the outlook for red fir and hem
lock is not SO good.
Such is the situation so far as
market conditions are concerned,
the price is going up, mills and
camps are resuming operation.
Official reports show that the
cost of living is on the upward
trend. These reports are short,
clear, and concise, they leave no
room for doubt.
Two very vital things that eff
feet the workers in the timber in
dustry are going up, lumber and
single prices, and the cost of liv-
ing. Now about wages! Have they
gone up? None whatever. There
will be no increases in wages UNI
til such time as the workers in
this industry ORGANIZE.
The time for a stop in wage re-
auctions has come, in fact they
should have been resisted months
ago, the industry as whole would
have been in better shape than it
is today had the workers resisted
the wholesale reductions that were
forced on them. 1t is the duty
of the workers in this industry ev-
erywhere to start RIGHT NOW to
strengthen their organization, not
only for the purpose of resisting
further reductions in wages, but
for the very legitimate purpose OF
demanding raises in wages.
On September LIST, further wage
reductions were made effective, the
employers said that they had to
make the reducing in order to con-
tinue operation, this in the face of
a rising market. 1t should be very
plain to the workers that there will
not be any voluntary raises in
wages, there never has been in
the past and the general attitude
of the operators does not indicate
that there will be change of pol
icy now.
Both white and Chinese single
weavers in British Columbia re
Gently went on strike to resist a
reduction in wages, and in many
cases they have succeeded. They are
unorganized were they organized
their chances would be greatly i'm