26 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



E. C. Dayton, in telling of the sitnation in the Northwest, includ- 

 ing principally Wisconsin points, said that the price situation there 

 is serious and that there will probably be a general advance of twenty- 

 five per cent during the coming year. Sawmills of recent years have 

 not been heavily in the market for logs on account of trade condi- 

 tions but this year the demand has been abnormal and there is great 

 competition for birch, ash, maple and basswood. 



W. F. Morris of the Paducah Box and Basket Company, said that 

 gum logs are now bringing from two to three dollars more than 

 last year. Where gum stumpage exists it is being bought up in any 

 quantity by the hardwood mills. This condition is responsible for 

 the fact that gum stumpage. which five years ago could be bought 

 for four to five dollars an acre, is now bringing from fifteen to six- 

 teen dollars. 



President Jarrell stated that he now finds it necessary to get con- 

 siderable of his timber fiom as far south as Mississippi and that 

 there is great competition. He said further that the new regulations 

 governing milling in transit are serious obstacles in shipping logs 

 and that advanced freight rates is another factor contributing to 

 the veneer man's troubles. One member, speaking of conditions in 

 the West, said that poplar stumpage for veneering purposes which 

 not many years ago cost eighteen dollars, now costs twenty-four and 

 sometimes as high as thirty dollars. It increased during the past 

 year thirty-three and a third per cent, which increase it is believed is 

 permanent. 



Following the discussion of log conditions. Secretary Defebaugh 

 brought up the question of whether the association should join the 

 newly organized Chamber of Commerce of the United States. It was 

 voted that application should be made for membership and B. W. 

 Lord was elected delegate to represent the veneer and panel asso- 

 ciation at the next meeting of that body. 



It- had been anticipated that discussion of standard weights for 

 veneers and panels would prove particularly valuable. A special 

 committee had been appointed to investigate this and to compile such 

 a schedule of standard weights from information received by cor- 

 respondence from the members of the association. It developed, 

 however, during the committee report that the membership had 

 responded very unsatisfactorily and the results as compiled showed 

 such a marked variation that it was apparent that they were not 

 actual weights but merely approximate weights. In view of the great 

 variation it was not deemed advisable to take any action on the 

 schedule but it was referred back to the special committee which was 

 instructed to work the matter out on a more comprehensive and au- 

 thentic basis and report back at the next meeting. Members were 

 particularly requested to keep actual figures on veneer and pane! 

 weights so that they could respond to the committee's request on an 

 intelligent basis and enable the committee to compile a schedule 

 of standard weights which could be profitably adopted by the asso- 

 ciation. It was pointed out that in compiling standard of weights 

 on crated veneer, one of the most serious drawbacks is the lack of 

 uniformity in crating methods. To remedy this it would be neces- 

 sary to create a standard method of crating or to compile weights on 

 uncrated stock and let each man figure weights on actual stock, iu- 

 (duding actual weight on his own crating. 



Keports of standing committees followed. Committees on consti- 

 tution and by-laws, resolutions and arbitration had no reports to 

 make. The executive committee recommended that the work of the 

 association be carried out along the same lines as during the past 

 year. It stated that it has under consideration various features which 

 will be taken up at the next meeting. The membership committee 

 reported on its efforts to secure new members for the association, 

 which efforts resulted in the application of six concerns for mem- 

 bership. These concerns are the Buena Vista Veneer Company of 

 South Bend, Ind.; Kile ilanufacturing Company, Akron. O. ; Knox- 

 ville Veneer Company, Knoxville. Tenn.; Jamestown Panel Company, 

 Inc., Jamestown, X. Y. ; Georgetown Manufacturing Company, George- 

 town, Miss.; W. H. Gillen Veneer Company, Jackson, Ala. These 

 applications were accepted. 



Next followed the report of the railroad comnrittee by B. W. Lord, 

 chairman. 



The question of the elimination of the railroads" practice of con- 

 sidering thickness in classification for veneers brought forth con- 

 siderable discussion. The official classification specifips that veneers 

 one-sixteenth of an inch thick and under take veneer rate and stock 

 thicker than one-sixteenth of an incli takes lumber rate. In order 

 to eliminate this classification, Mr. Lord reported that it would 

 proliably be necessary to eliminate fancy figured woods and quartered 

 oak, which would undoubtedly cause considerable hardship to mills 

 handling such stock. Mr. Lord recommended that the matter be left 

 as it is at present. Another member expressed himself as believing 

 that the railroads should put thick and thin lumber for both lumber 

 and veneers under one classification. He said that in shipping mixed 

 cars, different rates were charged on the different character of ship- 

 ments. The speaker said that he understood that Illinois manufac- 

 turers can ship mixed carloads of thick and thin stock under one 

 rate. It was pointed out by Mr. Lord that this is entirely an intra- 

 state proposition. He said further that in shipments where tfiere is a 

 small amount of thin stock which takes the veneer rate and the 

 bulk of the stock is heavy, the heavy stock can be billed at a 

 minimum carload rate and the thin stock as a local shJJ)ment. Ma- 

 hogany, according to the speaker, takes the first class rate and 

 cannot be shipped as lumber under the official classification. Mr. 

 Lord said there are three classifications in this country — the official, 

 southern, and the western — and that they all differ as to the mini- 

 mum thickness and as to weights. He cited the condition as existing 

 on shipments from his mill in Kentucky, saying that if he shipped 

 thi-ough the official district the shipments are under control of three 

 dift'erent classifications, so that not only the rates may be different, 

 but the minimum weights also. Mr. Lord said that there seems no way at 

 present of changing this condition, but that the Uniform Classifica- 

 tion Committee is trying to put into effect more reasonable classi- 

 fications. This committee has not yet come to lumber products, but 

 it is ho])ed it will do so in the near future. President Jarrell 

 commended Chairman Lord of the railroad committee on his work. 

 He said that the association had conferred with the Western Classi- 

 fication Committee and that they had the information just as Mr. 

 Lord explained it: namely, classification on stock one-sixteenth inch 

 and above as lumber and everything under that as veneer. 



Mr, Lord said his concern discontinued cutting one-sixteenth inch 

 stock two years ago and now- manufactures one-fifteenth instead. He 

 quotes on one-fifteenth and bills it out that way, the orders being 

 accepted as one-fifteenth. The railroads, however, put the veneer 

 rate on the car and Mr, Lord took it up with the Southern and 

 Western Classification committees, Tlie gentlemen sent representa- 

 tives to Mr. Lord's mill, where he proved to them that he manu- 

 factured only one-fifteenth inch stock and shipped it as such. The 

 committee of representatives took it up with the different railroad 

 officials, who would not, however, accept the one-fifteenth stock as 

 lumber. The question, however, was fought out to a finish and 

 several months ago the railroads rescinded their former decision and 

 are now accepting the one-fifteenth inch stock on the lumber rates. 

 The difference is .li.'40 of an inch. Mr. Lord said that he believed 

 the Uniform Classification Committee will figure on the basis of one- 

 sixteenth and thinner instead of on the Southern and A¥estern Classi- 

 fication of one-eighth inch and thinner. President Jarrell closed 

 the discussion with a statement that the committee is ready at any 

 time to take up any matter which any member submits of interest 

 to the question of railroad classification. 



The nominating committee recommended the re-election of the 

 present officers as follows: 



rnESiDENT, C. T. Jarrell. 

 FiKST Vick-President. B. W. Lord. 

 Second ViCE-rnESiOEXT, A. E. Gorham. 

 Third Vice-President, C. H. Barnaby. 

 Secretary and Treasurer, E. II. Defebaugh. 



Three directors to take place of throe whose terms expire : .1. C. Hill, 

 II. .7. Barnard, M. W. Peiry. 



It was decided by vote to hold the next meeting of the association 

 at Chicago, At a previous meeting it was decided that all annuals 

 shall take place at Chicago, but the meeting place for the semi-annuals 

 has been open. The meeting then adjourned. 



