36 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



the paper with a few remarks of his own, which, together with the paper, 

 very favorably impressed the retail listener*. Mr. Hess, speaking for the 

 retailers, said that the question had been put to them in a different 

 light than ever before. 



Demurrage matters occupied discussion at the opening of Thursday's 

 session. There was also a talk on the utilization of the blight-killed 

 chestnut trees. John P. Wentling of the Chestnut Tree Blight Com- 

 mission delivered this talk and said that blight-killed chestnut can be 

 utilized, if cut soon after its death, for various purposes. 



At two p. m. on Thursday, those in attendance at the convention 

 were served with a luncheon. The principal speaker was the Honorable 

 William Hodges Mann, governor of Virginia. Dr. Joseph S. Dixon also 

 spoke. The lunchers were presented with suitable souvenirs. 



Semi-Monthly Meeting Memphis Liunbermeii's Club 



James E'. Stark, chairman of the law and insurance committee of the 

 Lumbermen's Club, scored the statement recently prepared by the board 

 companies showing premiums paid and losses experienced by the lumber 

 and woodworking industry of Memphis. He said that the statement would 

 not show anything like the total of the premiums paid by the lumber 

 firms, and that the greater portion of the loss ascribed to lumber firms 

 had been incurred in connection with woodworking enterprises not directly 

 identified with the lumber industry. It was shown that the total premiums 

 paid by lumber firms amounted to $86,306 per annum for the past ten 

 years and that the losses paid in the meantime had been $564,357.41. It 

 was shown, however, that the woodworking enterprises which paid 

 premiums of only $14,000 per annum had experienced losses of .fSOQ,- 

 970. '27. This left the actual lumber companies with losses of only $194,- 

 387.14 after paying premiums of $86,306 per annum, or $863,060 for the 

 entire period of ten years. Mr. Stark thought that the insurance com- 

 panies were making a little money out of the insurance carried for lumber 

 firms, and reiterated his belief that if the lumbermen kept up the fight 

 it would be possible to demonstrate to the insurance companies that the 

 rates were entirely too high on lumber insurance for Memphis. 



It was suggested that the secretary of the club send out to all lumber- 

 men of Memphis requests for accurate information as to the amount of 

 premiums paid and losses experienced during 1912. It is hoped, by this 

 means, to compile an accurate statement to be used as a basis in further 

 efforts in the direction of securing lower rates. 



The special committee appointed to take up with the management of 

 the new "Chicsa hotel the subject of finishing this structure in red gum 

 instead of birch reported that the outlook was reasonably favorable. It 

 will depend upon what the difference in cost is as between birch and red 

 gum. It is likely that the red gum manufacturers here will make up the 

 difference if it is not found to he too large. It is proposed to use the red 

 gum in its natural state so that it will show the high capabilities and 

 possibilities of this material as a finishing proposition. The report was 

 accepted and the committee was instructed to continue negotiations. 



There will be certain changes made in the method of electing ofllcers 

 of the club if the report made by the special committee appointed for 

 that purpose is adopted. The old campaign will be eliminated and the 

 nomination of officers and the election itself will occur the same evening, 

 this proving a feature of the annual banquet. These changes, however, 

 can not be voted upon until after the thirty days' notice required by the 

 constitution. 



John W. McCIure of the river and rail committee called the attention 

 of the club to the fact that thorn would he two important hearings before 

 the Interstate Commerce Commission within the near future. The first 

 is to occur at St. Louis, Feb. 10, and is to cover the proposed advance of 

 two cents per hundred pounds from Louisiana and Arkansas to points in 

 Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska. The second is to be hold at Memphis 

 and is to deal with the advance on rates on hardwood shipments from 

 Louisiana and Arkansas points to Memphis and from Memphis and Mis- 

 sissippi rivor points to Now Orleans. Mr. McCIure thought it was highly 

 important that, while these hearings are to be looked after by the 

 Southern Hardwood Traffic Bureau, the lumbermen themselves should 

 attend in as large a body as possible to the end that the right sort of 

 interest might be indicated in the proposition. He thought the moral 

 effect of such a course would be quite good. In making his report Mr. 

 McCIure took advantage of the opportunity of complimenting the Southern 

 Hardwood Traffic Bureau on the excellent work which it is doing in be- 

 half of the hardwood lumber industry. 



D. H. Hall of the D. H. Hall Lumber Company, New Alban.v, Miss., 

 was elected an associate member, and William Pritchard of the John M. 

 Pritchard Lumber Company was elected an active member. 



Meeting of Cincinnati Litmbermen's Club 



The regular monthly meeting and dinner of the Lumbermen's Club was 

 held at the Business Men's Club. Feb. 3. .\bout twenty delegates to 

 the convention of the Hardwood Manufacturers' Association of the itfnited 

 States were guests at the meeting. After a very toothsome beefsteak 

 dinner was much enjoyed by all present. President Shiels called upon 

 ex-Presldents W. B. Townsend and R. M. Carrier of the Hardwood Manu- 

 facturers' Association. Both of these gentlemen responded briefly and 

 then asked to be excused because of other business requiring their 

 attention. 



After the reading of the minutes. President .Shiels introduced Thos. E. 

 Hanlon of the Employers' Liability Assurance Corporation, who spoke 

 at length on the bill now pending before the Ohio State Legislature, 



called The Workmen's Compulsory Compensation Act, which seeks to place 

 a very serious burden upon the employers of labor in this state and, if 

 passed, would practically wipe out casualty insurance in the state and 

 give the state a monopoly that is considered very unjust, and the pro- 

 visions for the alleged protection to employes, irrespective of the rights 

 of employers, have stirred merchants and manufacturers to make a very 

 strong protest against the enactment of any such drastic legislation. 

 The club passed a resolution requesting the framer of the bill, Senator 

 W. M. Green, also the chairman of the Hamilton county delegation, Hon. 

 Thornton E. Snyder, to postpone final action on the measure for at 

 least sixty days, to give employers an opportunity to investigate the 

 proposition thoroughly. The secretary was ordered to send copies of the 

 resolution to both of these gentlemen and also to Governor Cox, asking 

 him to use his influence to have the matter delayed. In addition to this 

 action, there will be a large delegation of prominent business men at 

 Columbus on Wednesday to protest against the measure. Anticipating 

 a postponement, the club appointed a committee of three, consisting of 

 W. S. Sterret, C. L. Smith and Fred Mowbray, to investigate the bill as 

 propo.sed and to report at the next club meeting. 



An invitation from the National Wholesale Lumber Dealers' Associa- 

 tion, inviting the members of the club to attend its convention at Atlan- 

 tic City, March 6 and 7, was read, and President Shiels appointed W. A. 

 Bennett, T. J. Moffett and A. Schmidt to represent the club at this 

 convention. 



After the conclusion of business, the balance of the evening was 

 devoted to talks by a number of the visitors who wore called upon by 

 President Shiels. 



Builders' Exchange Organizes at Eoauoke 



The Builders' Exchange has been organized at Roanoke, Va., and 

 occupies a centrally-located three-story building fitted up with every 

 convenience for its members and patrons. The membership is over sixty 

 at present and comprises the leading architects, contractors, sub-contract- 

 ors, supply dealers, and the principal manufacturing interests of Roanoke 

 and adjacent territory. 



The tirst floor of the building is in use for exhibit purposes, there 

 being about forty exhibits of all kinds of building material. In fact, 

 everything is shown which enters into construction and the finishing of 

 buildings. The second floor is given over to reading and writing rooms, 

 estimating and consultation room, an auditorium, while the third floor is 

 divided up into suitalilo offices to accommodate some of the members. 



Traffic Matters Around Memphis 



J. H. Townsi^d, manager of the Southern Hardwood Traffic Bureau, 

 is authority for the statement that the steamship companies and the rail- 

 roads west of the Mississippi river, with the exception of the Southern 

 I'acific, have reached an agreement whereby through bills of lading on 

 export shipments of lumber will be issued after March 3. Mr. Townsend 

 has not received all the details of the adjustment as between Ihe steam- 

 ship companies and the railroads but it is understood that the western 

 lines will issue export bills on much the same terms as the lines east of 

 the Mississippi. The eastern roads have been requiring the engagement 

 of steamship room out of New Orleans and other ports before issuing 

 through bills and the western lines will require similar action on the 

 part of exporters of lumber as well- as other commodities. This will neces- 

 sarily entail some delay in the handling of export shipments, but it is 

 regarded as infinitely better than to handle lumber on local bills to ship 

 side. Lumbermen are therefore very much i^loased with this arrangement 

 as it is felt that it will greatly facilitate the movement of lumber to the 

 ports and thence to Europe. 



The Southern Pacific is still holding out and it is said by Mr. Town- 

 send that the case of the Anderson-TuUy Company, brought for the pur- 

 pose of securing an order from the Interstate Commerce Commission, 

 making it compulsory upon the western lines to issue through bills of 

 lading, will be continued. None of the other lines will be party defend- 

 ants to this action. The lumber exporters here are very anxious to 

 secure a ruling from the commission on this point and they are likewise 

 anxious to have the Southern Pacific in line with other roads in connec- 

 tion with the subject of through bills of lading. 



There will be a hearing at St. Louis, Feb. 10, in connection with Ihe 

 proposed ad^•ancc of two cents per hundred pounds on shipiuents of hard- 

 wood lumber and lumber products from points in Arkansas and Louisiana 

 to destinations in Missouri. Nebraska, and Kansas. There will also be a 

 hearing at Memphis Feb. 13, in connection with the proposed advance of 

 two cents per hundred pounds on shipments of hardwood lumber and 

 lumber products from points in Arkansas and Louisiana to Memphis and 

 from Memphis and Mississippi points to New Orleans. Lumbermen of 

 Memphis will appear at both hearings and the cases will be managed by 

 the Southern Hardwood Traflnc Bureau. The lumbermen of this point and 

 throughout the Memphis territory will co-operate with the oflicials of 

 this organization and it is certain that a large delegation of lumbermen 

 will attend as interested auditors or as witnesses. 



J. H. Townsend has recently returned from Washington, where he went 

 following the hearing at Cincinrati. He went to the capital city in 

 connection with important rate matters and is quite busy making the 

 necessary arrangements for the hearings already scheduled. 



Northern Cut and Shipments for 1911-1912 

 The Northern Hemlock and Hardwood Manufacturers' Association has 

 Issued a statement of the cut and shipments of hardwood and hemlock 



