14 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



decidedly discouraging to the average exporter. From the fact 

 that there is little demand for high priced furniture both the 

 mahogany lumber and veneer trade is comparatively dull, but 

 what business is being received is being handled at a fair margin 

 of profit. 



In spite of this comparatively slow sales period the average 

 operator is optimistic and is a strong believer that there will be 

 a renewal of active buying immediately following the election. 



Curtailment. 



The hardwood lumber manufacturers of the country are exer- 

 cising a lot of good common sense in cutting down their lumber 

 output to correspond with current conditions of supply and demand. 

 In spite of the legends of demoralized values that are going the 

 rounds, as a matter of fact hardwood values are in very fair shape. 

 The chaotic situation in yellow pine and hemlock prices as com- 

 pared with the hardwood schedule, reflects no little credit on the 

 policy that has prevailed in the hardwood manufacturing trade, in 

 the restriction of output to such an extent that values have not 

 been very seriously affected. It 

 is doubtful if the aggregate 

 hardwood output is reaching 

 more than 50 per cent of that of 

 a year ago, and it is equally 

 manifest that even a month 's 

 normal demand would clean up 

 every foot of surplus stock there 

 is in first hands. 



The hardwood manufacturers 

 of the country should be con- 

 gratulated on their conservatism 

 and good sense in handling their 

 end of this important crisis. Of 

 course those river niLUs which 

 Jiad logs cut and floated down, 

 have been and are still obliged 

 to put their crop into lumber. 

 This statement is also true of 

 the Mississippi delta country, 

 where quite a quantity of gum 

 and other perishable logs were 

 felled and had to be manufac- 

 tured into lumber in order to 

 preserve them. Otherwise cur- 

 tailment has been widely prac- 

 ticed throughout the South, while 

 in the great hardwood producing 

 sections of Michigan and Wis- 

 consin every effort has been 

 made to reduce output; even new 

 inill.s ready for starting have 

 been left idle. Also in the hard- 

 wood sections of Indiana and 

 Ohio there has been a marked 

 curtailment. 



Such conservatism will surely receive its just recompense just 

 as soon as demand gets back to normal. In the meantime let this 

 good and far-sighted policy continue, remembering that because 

 some one in another part of the country starts up a mill, it may 

 be because he is obliged to and should not be made an occasion 

 for others diffcrontly situated to follow suit. Manufacturers who 

 have no logical reason for starting up their plants ought to hold 

 out .just as long as they can; such uniformity of action and co- 

 operation can have but one result, and that the desideratum for 

 which all are anxious, whether they do their share to promote it 

 or 'not — the maintenance of a general and just standard of hard- 

 wood values. 



and the Inland Waterways Commission May 13, 11 and 15, at 

 Washington, promises to be an event which will make history Ini 

 the United States, and illustrates the President's well-known po~i 

 tion in the matter of conserving the natural resources. 



In calling this conference, Mr. Roosevelt sums up the gravity 

 of the situation in his usual concise and pertinent way: "Th.- 

 matters to be considered are not confined to anj' region or groui' 

 of states but are of vital concern to the nation as a whole, an. I 

 to all the people. They include the use and conservation of tli.- 

 mineral resources, the resources of the land, and the resources ..t 

 the water in every part of our territory. . . . Facts which 1 

 cannot gainsay force me to believe that the conservation of om 

 natural resources is the most weighty question now before tin 

 people of the United States. If this is so, the proposed contv 

 ence, which is the first of its kind, will be among the most iniji 

 tant gatherings in our history in its effect upon the welfare .i 

 our people." 



If there are 



The Axeman 



(Sec Supplement Drnwino hy Thomas J. NiehoU.) 



The swinging axes wake the forest cries, 



The echoes through the woodland xoildly spread; 

 And fallen leaves, from oiit their dank, brown bed. 



Send pungent odors to the autumn skies. 



And, as he drinks great draughts of morning air, 

 And as he notes the flying chips so white. 

 The axeman, swaying, feels that might is right 



And thanks the gods that living is so fair. 



No narrow walls to limit what he sees; 



No ivkite-faced weaklings to accost each day; 



But goodly stretches of great forest trees 



And sun-browned woodmen, eager for the fray. 



For him Pan's melodies are daily played 



By gleaming axes in the sylvan glade. 



L.iVRA R.MTZ LAW. 



An Historical Event. 



The great conference of state governors, scientists and business 

 men engaged in all lines, which will meet with President Roosevelt 



itizens to whom the announcement 

 of this gathering is a matter ii 

 iudiffcrenee, or of astonishmmi 

 that there should be felt th. 

 need of such a great gathem^ 

 of executive heads and scienti- 

 of the nation to confer upon lii 

 vast number of problems in 

 volved in such consideration — 

 they are not those who hav.' 

 rightly interpreted the signs . 

 the times for themselves, 

 those who have read and diy. - 

 ed the repeated warnings of >• 

 dents of economics, scientists :i 

 competent writers. It is n- 

 only illiterate and unintelligini 

 citizens who belong to this ini 

 thinking and improvident class, 

 but unfortunately many of i>in 

 ]>roniinent business men .in.i 

 even many high 'Up in natidii.i 

 affairs have been blind to con. 

 tions as they exist. 



It is strange that the men - 

 cupying the two most authorit.i 

 tive oflices within the gift of tli. 

 people should take positious s.. 

 diametrically opposite on these 

 great questions of public policy. 

 In striking contrast are Presi- 

 ilent Roosevelt's words — "It is 

 obvious that the prosperity which 

 we now enjoy rests directly updn 

 those resources; it is equally ob- 

 vious that the vigor and success 

 which we desire and foresee for 

 this nation in the future nnist 

 have this as its ultimate material basis,"— and the harangue ..f 

 Speaker Cannon at a recent gathering, when he made his posili." 

 plain by declaring that all this talk about the national resoui. 

 was "bosh;" that he had always had coal enough to keep In 



warm and a roof over his head. "To H with the natural i, 



sources!" he shouted. 



In addition to the governors, members of the Inland Water- 

 ways Commission, and other officials, nearly three score business 

 men's clubs and bodies of national scope and prominence will 

 be represented at the unique conference, including associations 

 dealing with agriculture, engineering, forestry, mining, watcrwri^- 

 improvement, geologj-, irrigation, pulp and paper trade, advan. 

 ment of science, law, medicine, chemistry, electricity, railroad n 

 and in fact almost all branches of the great industries which lKl^ 

 made this country what it is, and what — if President Roosev. It 

 be given his way — it will continue to be. 



