40 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



' ct^ogoayAvyaitiKe^yMlttaiKrowi^^ 



The Mail Bag 



Any reader of HARDWOOD RECORD desiring to communicate 

 with any of tlie inquirers listed In this section can have the ad- 

 dresses on written request to the rHail Bag Department, HARD- 

 VvoolJ KECoRD, 537 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, and referring 

 to the number at the head of each letter and enclosing a self- 

 addressed stamped envelope. 



B 398— Bleaching Wood 



Saginaw, Mich., Fob. 14. — Editor IIaedwooii Hecoed : We are refcrreil 

 to you b.T IIarr.y D. Tieman, in charge of the Forest Products Laboratory 

 at Madison, Wis., to whom we had directed an inquiry with regard to 

 bleaching wood. 



We have met with a process of bleaching hardwood that removes all 

 sap and slain and natural color, leaving it a pure white. We are under 

 the impression that this is not a new process and we would like to have 

 you advise if you have met with any literature or advertising on the 

 sub.)ect. ■_ 



The .above concern hua been advised th.it the only process that we 

 know anything about for bleaching Avood is involved in that wliich 

 is known as the sulphur fume process. Sections of light colored 

 lumber or veneer can be suspended on wires by means of clothes- 

 pins or their equivalent in a tight box and by sifting a handful 

 of sulphur over live coals in an iron pan or kettle, the surface of 

 woods like maple can be bleached to a very white tone. 



Mr. Tieman probably had in mind the Kraetzer process of steaming 

 wood under pressure to contribute to its quick and accurate seasoning. 

 This process simply tends to make the color and tone of wood more 

 uniform, but does not change the color of woods that contain no 

 tannic acid. Woods that are rich in tannic acid, like red gum, red 

 oak, sycamore and mahogany, are materially darkened by this 

 process; and it is possible by treating wood in steam under pressure 

 for a considerable period to render white oak, for example, rich 

 brown in color, and carried far enough, will vulcanize the wood. — 

 Editor. 



B 399— A Correction 



Port Barre, La.. Feb. 1.5. — Editor Hahdwood Kecoud : The copy of 

 your issue of February 10 received. The article you published in regard 

 to The St. Landry Realty Company is correct in every particular with the 

 exception that it has not purchased any timberlands from the Port 

 Barre Lumber Company. Its timber lies in a different section of the 

 country altogether. 



This is rather doing an injustice to the Port Barre Lumber Company, 

 and will ask you to kindly correct it in your ne.'it issue and oblige. 



The St. Landbv Realty Company. 

 ' B 400 — Wants Butternut 



Rock Falls, 111., Feb. 13. — Editor Hardwood Record: Cartier-Holland 

 Lumber Company, Ludlngton, Mich., suggests that you could likely advise 

 me as to any firms manufacturing butternut. I want a carload of 4/4 

 and 6/4 firsts and seconds and No. 1 common, on grade. If you can give 

 me apy information on this line would appreciate the favor. 



The above inquirer has been supplied with a brief list of manu- 

 facturers of this wood, who possibly will be able to supply it. — 

 Editor. 



B 401 — Percentage of Moisture in Kiln-Dried Oak 



.Jackson, Mich., Feb. 10. — Editor Hardwood Record : Will you advise 

 me what is the percentage of moisture left in oak after it has been 

 through the average kiln? This question was askid me by a varnish 

 man. . 



The above correspondent has been informed that oak which has 

 passed through an ordinary dry kiln retains probably more than five 

 per cent of its weight in water. Capillary attraction in the wood 

 is so strong that no heat short of burning will compel it to give up 

 all of its moisture. 



Air-drying in a room of ordinary temperature, no matter how long 

 continued, still leaves in the wood enough water to weigh from eight 

 to ten per cent as much as the wood. — Editor. 



B 402— In the Market for Elm 



Chattanooga, Tenn., Feb. 5, 1013. — Editor Hardwood Record: Wc 

 are in the market for two or three carloads No. 1 common and better. 

 elm, 15", IG" and 17" wide, thoroughly dry. Can you advise where this 

 stock can be had ? . 



A I'st of manufacturers of southern elm has been forwarded to 

 the Chattanooga inquirer. — Editor. 



B 403 — Evidences of Interest 



As proof that it pays to take time to read a legitimate trade 

 paper, Hardwood Record submits the three appended communica- 

 tions coming respectively from a manufacturer of beds, a prominent 

 wholesaler in the East, and a manufacturer of shuttle blocks. These 

 men found in the last issue of Hardwood Record ideas which appealed 

 to them as being practically valuable in connection with their 

 business. — Editor. 



New York, N. Y., Feb. 14. — Editor Hardwood Record: In the last 

 Issue tiiere was an article entitled "New Zealand Hardwoods Might Prove 

 Satisfactory in America." We desire further information and would 

 like to know to whom to write for the same. We should like to get the 

 names of the woods which compare nearest to hard or i-ock maple, beech 

 and birch and rock elm. We would then want to import a sample lot. 



Cot Bed Company, Inc. 



Philadelphia. Pa., Feb. 15. — Editor Hardwood Record: I find in your 

 issue of Feb. 10 an article on page 34 entitled "I'ersonality In Salesman- 

 ship." This is one of the best articles that I have ever read and if all 

 the lumbermen would read the same, I know that they would be greatly 

 benefited. 



The luaiber business today is more or less like a race-track, one sales- 

 man merely trying to go faster than the other, without really consider- 

 ing the actual outcome of his labor. In other words, it seems to be 

 a case more of volume than of profit and, while I believe that competi- 

 tion is the life of trade in many instances, competition is the death of 

 trade as explained. 



I also must admit that the personality of a salesman is a great factor, 

 but that personality must be his integrity and truthfulness and fair 

 dealing with his customers. It is not the number of salesmen that are 

 on the road that counts, but the success of a business depends upon the 

 character of its representatives W'hose aim should be to make a fair 

 margin for those they represent. Such men are hard to get as fre- 

 quently such men consider themselves capable of going into business for 

 themselves. 



As stated above, I wish it wore possible for every lumberman to read 

 this valuable article. 



■ Lumber Company. 



Greensboro, N. C, Feb. 15. — Editor Hardwood Record: Your article on 

 page 34b, Feb. 10 issue, entitled "L^seless Hardwoods Will Have Value," 

 was very interesting. The gum you spoke of has l>een tried by the writer 

 for shuttle manufactui-e and it was found that it will warp and check. 

 .'Vs to the other woods you mentiou. it w-ill be interesting to note how 

 they will perform in service. My idea would be that the quebracho 

 would ans-vver very well. Can you advise me where I can get a sample 



of the wood? . 



B 404— In the Market for Beech 



New Y'ork, N. Y., Feb. 15. — Editor Hardwood Record : We are in the- 

 market for some %" No. 1 common and firsts and seconds beech and if 

 you can put us in touch with stune mill who can furnish same, we will 

 appreciate your attention. 



Lumber Company. 



While it is recognized that this is a particularly hard item to 

 secure under ordinary conditions, and especially hard under present 

 conditions of stock, it may be possible for this concern to fill its 

 requirements. It has been given ii list of pos.siblr producers of this 

 grade of stock. — Editor. 



B 405 — Wants Three and Five-Ply Panel Stock 



Cliicaga. Feb. l.S. — Editor Hardwood Record: Please put our name 

 on your I>ullotin service as we are in the market for three and fiveply 

 panel stock in beech, oak and mahogany and also for 1/S" oak and birch 

 door stock. Kindly see if you can not find some firms who can supply 

 us with the above stock. 



Veneer and I*anel Works. 



B 406 — Wants Stock for Packing Cases 



New York, N. Y., Feb. 22. — Editor Hardwood Record : Can any of 

 your readers quote on, or inform me where I may obtain, a considerable 

 quantity of any kind of softwood, sound knotted stock suitable for pack- 

 ing cases, 5/S" or 9/16" thick, 5 to 10" wide, some 3 and 4" taken, 

 5 to 10' long, bundled and marked for export, giving price delivered at 

 nearest port? Can use three to four cars monthly. This is a steady 

 business throughout the year. May be resawed stock. Must be wood 

 grown in this countr.v. . 



The above inquirer has been supplied with a list of several manu- 

 t:Mturers of crating lumber. — Editor. 



A prominent railroad in New England is re-trying the experiment 

 of preserving crossties by boring a hole through the middle and 

 filling with oil which cau be renewed from time to time. The hole 

 in each is an inch and a half in diameter and extends to within six 

 inches of one end of the tie, the open end being plugged after the 

 oil is put in. 



