The Evening Statesman

SHUT DOWN TO HELP MARKET

Closing Movement the Most Successful Known.

SEATTLE, Wash., March 21.—All but twenty-five of the shingle mills in this state have notified the Interstate Red Cedar Shingle company that they will close for the period specified by the company as necessary in order to protect the market. These mills may close, but reports have not been received from them.

The closing movement is the most successful ever attempted by Washington shingle men. For the first time the extent of the co-operation of millmen with the new selling company is illustrated and the company has demonstrated that, since the wholesalers went into the combine, the entire shingle industry of the state is under control.

Large Mills Agree.

The large shingle mills which have refused in the past to join closing movements were the first, this time, to shut down their plants. They have been affiliated with the new selling company and approved the closing movement as soon as it was suggested.

Their influence was largely responsible for the general response to the notices sent out last Saturday by the interstate company.

A meeting of the board of directors of the Interstate Red Cedar Shingle company was held this week. At this meeting the reports showing a general observance of the closing order were made. It was found that about 300 of the 325 mills which were in operation at the time the order was sent out had either closed down or were doing so and that a sufficient number of other agreements were assured to reduce the number believed to be running to twenty-five.

Length of Close-Down.

It is intended that the close-down shall last for ten days or two weeks. The selling company, however, will influence the millmen in favor of a longer suspension of manufacture if market reports from the east are unfavorable at the end of the original time fixed for suspending operations.

Backward spring weather is blamed entirely for the failure of eastern yardmen to send in orders now. The early shortage in orders was traced to the belief in the east that the trouble between the selling company and the wholesalers would result in a break in the market. Since the compromise between the two interests was effected this cause no longer exists.

The weather in the middle west has been very severe during the late winter and spring. Shingle manufacturers and dealers are confident the weather will moderate this month, but they are determined not to begin cutting shingles until orders justify running on full time again.