30 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



Jime 25. 1919 



.CIIAS. F. 



FISCIlEIt, NEW YORK CITY, 

 DIKECTOR 



D. E. CHIPPS, FOKT WORTH, TEX., 

 DIRECTOR 



A. WASHINGTON, NASHVILLE, TENN., 

 DIRECTOR 



while computing the cutting villus of the lower grades Is a custom as old 

 as the trade Itself and Is embodied in our present system of Inspection. 

 If this Is unsolentiflc then our rules are to the same extent unscientific. 

 Whenever changed customs of the trade require that all grades be made 

 on basis of the cutting value of lumber then will the demand come for a 

 similar change In the rules. Perhaps some day a real scientist may devise 

 or discover a scientific method of rulemaking, but we feel that before 

 accomplishing this result the said scientist will devote himself to growing 

 trees more scientlfleally than nature has evolved. A regularity in the 

 growing of knots and other defects would be most desirable and would 

 greatly facilitate the solution ot inspection problems, or perhaps the sim- 

 plest method would be the elimination from timber growth of all defects. 

 But this Is a problem for the future and in the meantime if the science 

 of Inspection rules can be measured by the successful and practical appli- 

 cation of rules which are satisfactory and acceptable to the trade as a 

 whole, then our entire membership, who in the last analysis are the actual 

 rule-makers of our organization, may lay some claim to the scientific 

 attainment. 



Single Standard op Inspection 



Since our last annual meeting a new phase has developed in the organ- 

 ized opposition to our system of inspection. The Hardwood Manufac- 

 turers' Association, which has for years promulgated a set of inspection 

 rules opposed to our own, discontinued its organization for reasons best 

 known to Itself, and the individual members affiliated themselves with the 

 American Hardwood Manufacturers' .\ssoclatlon, an organization which 

 had previously adopted the policy of neutrality as to Inspection rules and 

 which from Its Inception had expressed the desire for a single uniform 

 standard of inspection. At the flrst meeting of the comblneti membership. 

 In Louisville during December, 1918, the American association revealed 

 the change In the complexion of the organization with reference to inspec- 

 tion rules by voting to adopt and puljlish a new set of rules and to 

 organize an Inspection service along entirely different lines from the 

 National. However, in compiling their new rules, the American associa- 

 tion gave evidence of the very large duplication of membership between 

 that organization and our own by paying us the compliment of adopting 

 our rules practically In toto. with some slight changes which need not be 

 discussed here in detail. The main point which should be emphasized 

 and which marks a long step forward toward a single standard of inspec- 

 tion Is the fact that the new rules follow our principles of inspection and 

 abandon the old idea of the IIardwo„d Manufacturers' Association which 

 was the bone of contention In the hardwood trade for a great many 

 years. Although the rules adopted by the American association are 

 admit ediy only temporary rules to be used until such time as a more 

 selentllic method of inspection may be developed bv them it is to be 

 hoped that nothing will be done to revive the spirit of rivalry which 

 formerly ..xl.sted on the part ot the Hardwood Manufacturers' Association 

 t.nvard the National, and there are grounds for hope that these two organi- 

 Z\"""; '".V'-^V"'- '«■■*'■« <i"l'll™tl„n of membership, n,ay reach a mutual 

 understanding which will lead to uniform inspection. 



In fact, the rules, as they are now. are practically uniform, so that the 



ih!s. dl^ r' •"' ■'"'I-' '" ""• ""■'"""'' "' •■'"P'>"'« »"" "''"-■ Perhaps 

 he e dlirerences may be overcome in the course of tln.e. It should be 



uncnon's T "^ 'h'T' '*"" •'"'""■•■"' "-'"■'"<-» has for its principal 

 funct ons the advertising and market extensi.m work, and the compiling 

 and dissemination of infonnatlon regarding supplies of lumb and ales 



records. These two functions in themselves will doubtless require the 

 greater part ot the time and effort of that organization, so that the ques- 

 tion of inspection rules and service will not be emphasized in the sense of 

 becoming an active competitor with our organization. 



It is to be deplored that the opportunity was lost in December, through 

 no fault of our own, to bring about uniform inspection, particularly in 

 view of the fact that there are enough disturbing factors in the hardwood 

 trade without injecting a new set of rules into the situation. Let us hope 

 that the cool heads will prevail in both organizations at least until such 

 time as all reasonable efforts for mutual understanding are exhausted. 

 If the situation should later de%'elop into an open fight, we stand on 

 solid ground because we know that we are right, and, Judging the future 

 by the past, we need have no fears as to the outcome of such a contest. 



CHANGES 

 General Instkcctions 

 Under caption "Manufacture" on page 9, substitute for second sentence, 

 "It should be edged and trimmed carefully to produce the best possible 

 appearance while conserving the usable product of the log." 



Standard In.spection 

 cotton wood 

 Add "Sound stain shall not be considered a defect in any grade." 



ME.XICAN and AFRICAN MAIIOGAXV 

 CAPTION NO. 2 WORMY 



Change the lengths to rend "2 feet and over long." 



Walndt 

 caption firsts and seconds 



Change lengths to read "not to exceed 45 per cent of » and 9 feet 

 lengths." 



TTalnut 



SELECTS 



Change lengths to read "admitting not to exceed 10 per cent of 6 and 7 

 feet lengths and not to exceed 50 per cent under 10 feet long." 



ADDITIONS 

 Caption Mexican, African and Cuban JIaiiogany 

 NO. 3 common 

 No. 3 common must be 3 inches and over wide, 2 feet and over long and 

 must contain at least 25 per cent of sound cuttings. Jlinimum width of 

 cuttings li/j inches, and no cutting considered which contains less than 3G 

 siiuare inches. 



Caption Steamed Walnut 



Insert under caption Walnut, Standard Inspection : 



When walnut has been steamed and is sold and specified as "Steamed 

 Walnut" it shall be graded according to the above riili's. except sap shall 

 not be considered. 



The report of the comniittco was adopted by a unaiihuous vote 

 of those present. 



(Conlinmd on page 44> 



