H A R D W OOD RECORD 



35 



i-ates with a view to lining up their rates in the lower peninsula ot 

 Michisran and that there are likely to be some advances. For examiilo. 

 luiuber takes sixth class in carloads in the official classification ; fourth 

 •class in less than carload lots. Lumber in Michigan that is practicall.v 

 on the commodity basis less than sixth class. For example, the rate on 

 one hundred miles on lumber today is seven cents for that distance. 

 The new sixth . class rate for one hundred miles is 8% cents for one 

 hundred pounds. After the class rates are established, what is there to 

 prevent the railroads from withdrawing the commodity rates and using 

 the regular classification basis, which would mean quite a stiff advance? 



The treasurer's report shovFed receipts $9,550.87 and disburse- 

 ments of $2,369.72, leaving a balance January 16 of $7,181.15. 



The report of the forest fire department showed receipts 

 .$4,099.80; expenses, .$620.13, with balance January 16, $3,479.67. 



Vice-president C. A. Bigelow, who officiated in place of Presi- 

 dent F. L. Eiehardson, in his absence, asked for a resolution on 

 the death of F. AV. Gilchrist, and appointed a committee to draw- 

 up such a resolution. 



The report of the grading rules committee follows: 



According to instructions received from the association, the grading 

 rules committee met together with the committee from the Northern 

 Hemlock and Hardwood Manufacturers' Association, in conjunction with 

 the National Hardwood Lumber Association at Chicago. January 13, for 

 a further consideration of the rules previousl.v submitted. The sentiment 

 of the members of the National association committee was to reopen the 

 subject, which the Michigan committee was not inclined to do. It was 

 finally decided to accept the report as presented, and the National asso- 

 <-iation committee take action on the same. 



Chairman Day stated that as a member of the committee he 

 could take no other stand than the one already presented, with 

 the result that practically all the points which were asked for 

 were conceded. One exception was taken in the matter of five-inch 

 strips being included in the seconds. It was stated that this was 

 the principal point which raised the objection last summer. If the 

 Michigan and Wisconsin associations would concede this point 

 there wOl be no difficulty in passing the present suggestion. 

 Under these conditions, Chairman Day stated that he had agreed 

 to take up the matter with the Wisconsin and Michigan delegates. 

 All of these delegates were willing to concede this point with the 

 understanding that paragraphs six, eight and nine should be 

 changed to a new paragraph to read as follows: 



"Ten per cent minimum width mentioned in all grades may be 

 one-quarter inch scant. ' ' This was accepted. The original read- 

 ing was: 



' ' Minimum width mentioned in all grades of firsts and seconds 

 as four and five inch must be of full width, five per cent of the 

 minimum width mentioned in all other grades, making one-quarter 

 inch scant." 



Chairman Day said that this was his recollection of all the 

 changes that were made with the e.xception of a few minor ones 

 as to the grading in white maple. He concluded his report by urg- 

 ing all members to attend the coming meeting of the National 

 Hardwood Lumber Association in the interest of the proposed 

 changes in hardwood rules. 



Chairman Hickok reported on the work contemplated for his 

 department for the coming year, and outlined a system of pre- 

 paring maps showing the whole territory and all conditions. His 

 work and his report were warmly commended by the association, 

 and the latter was adopted. 



The report of the market conditions committee as submitted 

 by Chairman Bruce Odell is summarized as follows: 



Stock report shows an unusual decrease in both the total of 

 the hardwood lumber at the mills and the amount unsold. The 

 decrease during the year 1912 amounted to thirty-six per cent. 

 The stock of hardwood lumber on hand January 1, 1913, was less 

 than sixty per cent of normal. Of this there was more than 

 seventy per cent sold. The largest decrease shown is in beech, 

 there being only about forty per cent of the normal stock on hand 

 at present. The stock of birch shows about the same. Stock of 

 maple shows less than sixty per cent of normal, and maple flooring 

 about the same. 



The comparatively warm and open winter curtailed logging 

 output so that it will not be possible for manufacturers to increase 

 their cut during 1913. January aspects indicate a decrease in 

 hardwoods of fifteen million feet from 1912. 



Attention was called to the valuable information furnished ii< 

 regard to annual cut. Estimates for 1912, 417,000,000 feet, and the 

 actual cut, 406,000,000 feet, a difference of less than three per cent. 



Chairman Odell called attention to the fact that if the pro- 

 ducers can start the year knowing how much available stock there 

 is on hand, and how much will be consumed during the year, the 

 information is worth the cost of the association work. 



Chairman Odell also referred to the increase in demand for 

 mixed soft elm during the last six months, which lias resulted 

 from an increased demand from automobile manufacturers. More 

 maple is also produced in automobile manufacture. It is esti- 

 mated that in Detroit in 1913 over fifty million feet of maple will 

 be consumed. 



C. A. Bigelow talked on the state employers' liability act, stat- 

 ing that under this act and under the insurance commission ruling, 

 employers of labor would be able to get liability insurance at 

 cost. It is intended to create a surplus, one-half of which will 

 revert back each year to the credit of the preceding year's 

 premium. 



The members discussed the question and it was concluded that 

 the matter was of considerable importance to all employers ef 

 labor. 



TEAFriC MATTERS IN MEMPHIS TEERITOEY 



The Southern Hardwood Traffic Bureau has been organized here. 

 It succeeds the Lumbermen 's Traffic Bureau of Memphis which was 

 launched here during the summer. George D. Burgess, of Russe ii 

 Burgess, Inc., is president; Walker L. Welford is first vice-presi- 

 dent and J. D. Alle^n, Jr., treasurer. J. H. Towuseud, who was 

 manager of the Lumbermen's Traffic Bureau, occupies a similar 

 relation to the new organizatiop. There is a board of managers 

 composed of fifteen lumbermen, whose terms of service are divided 

 as follows: One year — L. E. Brown, O. M. Krebs, Frank May, S. 

 M. Nickey and John W. McClure; two years — John Dwyer, S. C. 

 Major, W. S. Darnel, C. M. Green and James E. Stark; three years 

 — D. D. Nellis, C. B. Dudley, W. A. Bansom, F. F. Fee and AV. B. 

 Morgan. 



The principal purpose of the new organization will be the main- 

 tenance of equitable freight rates and facilitating the settling of 

 claims. It is regularly incorporated under the laws of Tennessee 

 and the change of name and incorporation has been made with a 

 view to allowing prominent lumbermen outside of Memphis to 

 become affiliated with this bureau. There are a number of rate 

 contests before the Interstate Commerce Commission affecting 

 Memphis and all points in the Central South and the bureau will 

 be quite busy with these during the next few months. Preparations 

 are now being made to argue these cases before the commission 

 which has suspended the advance pending hearing. 



The Southern Hardwood Traffic Bureau has already petitioned 

 the Interstate Commerce Commission to suspend the tariff recently 

 filed with that body by the Texas & Pacific Railroad. This new 

 tariff, unless suspended by the commission, will become effective 

 about March 1. The advance will affect tupelo gum from all points 

 along the Texas and Pacific to Mississippi and Ohio river crossings 

 and also ash and oak from all main line points on the railroad 

 to Mississippi and Ohio river points. The extent of the scheduled 

 advances is two cents a hundred pounds. The lumbermen will, if 

 they secure an order of suspension, make an effort to present testi- 

 mony showing that present rates are high enough and that any 

 advance will be unreasonable. 



No definite date has been set by the Interstate Commerce Com- 

 mission for the hearing in the Anderson-TuUy case, which involves 

 the issuance of through bills of lading on hardwood lumber ship- 

 ments from points west of the Mississippi river. It is understood 

 that this hearing will be held in New Orleans, but no definite time 

 has been fixed. There is a great deal of inconvenience and loss to 

 lumbermen in the present system of shipping on local biUs to ship 

 side, and the lumbermen here are very desirous that this matter 

 shall come up at an early date and that at the next hearing it may 

 be finally disposed of. 



