Mny 1". IfilO 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



32a 



The spring meeting of the Michigan Hardwood Manufacturers' 

 Association was held at the Statler hotel, Detroit, Mich., Friday, 

 April 25 at 10:00 a. m. There was a representative attendance 

 and the proceedings were full of interest. The roll call indicated 

 a very large percentage of the membership present. 



The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. The 

 secretary's report was read, approved and filed, and the treasurer's 

 report indicated a balance on hand in the general fund of $6,344.88 

 with $4,286.53 still due from members, also a number who have 

 not yet responded. There was also $1,530.12 in the forest fire 

 fund, which includes $500 in Liberty Bonds. In commenting on this 

 report President Saunders explained that there had been some 

 criticism as to the amount of assessment during the year. When 

 the budget was proposed there was figured $5,500 for emergency 

 work, but as this was disposed of February 1 tliat amount would 

 not be used. However, as many members had paid in full and 

 others partially paid, it seemed best that this assessment be carried 

 through to the end of the period and then finances readjusted 

 based on what was in the treasury. On being questioned as to th? 

 amount to be assessed next year, the secretary could not tell as 

 it would be based on actual shipments made, but it was thought 

 it would not exceed 3c, possibly 4c per thousand feet, barring un- 

 foreseen expenses. 



On reijort of the legislative committee. President Saunders ex- 

 plained the proposed changes in the compensation law. We have 

 since been advised that the amendment to that law did not pass. 



No report from the railroad committee was heard because of the 

 absence of the chairman. The report of chief warden Morford of 

 the Forest Fire Protective Department was read and approved. In 

 this report a recommendation of assessment of Ic per acre and %c on 

 cord wood was carried and those interested in this department will 

 be called on later for this amount. 



Chairman Brownlee of the special committee to combat the 

 activities of the non-partisan league reported that the amount 

 due from the manufacturing lumbermen was not yet received in 

 full and members not having paid for this work will be asked to 

 contribute on the same basis as those who have already paid. Mr. 

 Jackson made a motion that the secretary write to those not hav- 

 ing paid. 



Secretary-Ti-easurer F. F. Pish of the National Hardwood Lum- 

 ber Association then addressed the members on lines of interest 

 in hardwood lumber. He explained the part his association had 

 in the distribution of lumber for government requirements and 

 amount of hardwood lumber on hand when the armistice was signed, 

 which was estimated at from 25,000,000 to 100,000,000, the major 

 part of which was thick oak, 2" and thicker, wagon material. No 

 inventory of the above stock has ever been received. The Na- 

 tional Hardwood Lumber Association has passed the 1,000 mark 

 and is looking forward to a very successful meeting June 19 and 

 20 at the Congress hotel, Chicago. Ex-President Taft is among the 

 speakers and an excellent program has been proposed. One new 

 feature this association is figuring on is a traffic bureau and the 

 Michigan association was requested to name someone to act as its 

 representative in that bureau. 



President Saunders called attention of the members to the Na- 

 tional Hardwood Lumber Association, whose rules they use, and 

 urged them to become members of that association and also attend 

 the annual meeting. 



Chairman Abbott then presented report of the market condi- 

 tions committee, which was discussed from all standpoints. The 

 report was considered a very conservative one, was accepted and 

 placed on file. Mr. Abbott explained that hereafter the, price list 

 would be issued in printed form and would include other features 

 not covered by present lists. The report appears on another page. 



It was the intention to hold the next meeting of the market 

 conditions committee in the upper peninsula, and probably the 

 new book will contain a list of upper peninsula prices. It is also 

 probable that the July meeting of the association will be held in 

 the upper peninsula, presumably Mackinac Island. 



The president called attention to some criticism of the associa- 

 tion's sales reports because they did not record all the sales made, 

 only the high figures being shown. After some discussion it was 

 agreed that the lower peninsula should be divided into four 

 groups and the upper peninsula into one or two groups as agreed 

 to by the members there. Motion to adopt this was made and 

 carried unanimously. 



In the discussion regarding a loggers' association, it was deemed 

 best to have it a separate organization as it would then better serve 

 the purpose intended. 



Mr. Bigelow made a report on "The Northern Hardwoods of 

 America." The secretary read a letter from Roy H. Jones on the 

 subject, which report has been printed and mailed to the member- 

 ship. The time limit of joining this organization was extended 

 to May 10 and it was hoped several more of the Michigan manu- 

 facturers would avail themselves of the opportunity. 



Southern Logging Conditions Improving 



Material improvement is shown in tlie weather and in conditions 

 surrounding logging operations in Memphis territory. F. R. Gadd, 

 manager of statistics of the American Hardwood Manufacturers' 

 Association, who recently returned from an extended trip through 

 Arkansas, reports that the ground is drying out rapidly and that 

 men and teams are beiug worked in the woods to far better ad- 

 vantage. Prominent Memphis lumbermen, with mills at points in 

 eastern Arkansas and northern Mississippi, say the same thing and 

 further confirmation is found in the statement of the Valley Log 

 Loading Company which shows substantial increase in the quan- 

 tity of logs oifered for loading. "We loaded 500 cars on the Yazoo 

 & Mississippi Valley road during April and 104 on the Missouri 

 Pacific system. We now have two of our loaders in operation as 

 against only one a short time ago. Furthermore, we are planning 

 to put another in commission within the next few days for the 

 reason timt there is rapid increase in the rate at which logs are 

 coming out.' ' 



A number of prominent Memphis manufacturers of hardwood lum- 

 ber are resuming operations after an extended peroid during which 

 their mills have been closed down altogether or have been, at best, 

 only intermittently operated. Included among those which have 

 already resumed within the past two weeks or who are planning 

 to do so immediately are: Russe & Burgess, Inc., Gayoso Lumber 

 Company, May Brothers, Memphis Band Mill Company, McLean 

 Hardwood Lumber Company, Bellgrade Lumber Company, Green 

 River Lumber Company, Nickey Brothers, Inc., James E. Stark & 

 Co., Inc., and the Lamb-Fish Lumber Company, Charleston, Miss. 



The American Hardwood Manufacturers' Association estimates 

 that hardwood production during the next six or seven weeks will 

 be on the basis of 70 per cent of normal. It shows, through its 

 actual stock reports, that production for the month of April was 

 only 60 per cent of normal for the hardwood producing area as a 

 whole. 



There has been comparatively little rainfall during the past 

 two weeks. There is still a considerable quantity of surface mois- 

 ture but every lumberman and everyone else in touch with con- 

 ditions agrees that conditions show vast improvement as compared 

 with those prevailing during the latter part of March and the first 

 half of April. 



