i8 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



Shebmebviu,e^ IU/., Nov. 3. — Haddwood Kbc- 

 ORD, Chicago ; I -would like to know on what 

 dale the din>enslon stock manufaetiiivis are to 

 meet in Chicago. I'lease let me hear Irom you 

 in i-egard to this association. — H. C. Sciinkiukk. 



Pktbrsbueg, Ind., Nov. 6. — H.irdwood Uec- 

 oiiD, Chicago : We are glad to know you are 

 soiug to have a meeting: of manufacturers of di- 

 mension stock, such as wagon, table, diair stock, 

 etc. We have always realized that none of us got 

 anywhere near what this stock is worth. I'or in- 

 stance, take chair stock or any other dimeusion 

 stock cut to till the place, no difference whether 

 it is cut from waste or Ursts or seconds, wi' 

 Bgure that any lumber company, when it conies 

 to cutting dimension stock such as chair stock, 

 or plain and quartered oak table tops, will find 

 If they Bgure close that all this stock after leav- 

 ing the big sawmill cost S7.50 per M feet to 

 manufacture and put in the car ready to ship. 

 On the other hand, when these large clialr fac- 

 tories, table companies or any other large fur- 

 niture factories see that they cannot purchase 

 the stock cut ready to fit the place, Ihey will 

 go out and buy a grade of lumber to suit them. 

 which may be firsts and seconds, and pay a first- 

 class price, or maybe get a common gr.ide and 

 cut It up in the same dimension stock which 

 we mill men are cutting for less than half the 

 price. We do not see why there canno' lie some 

 arrangement made so as to advance the prices 

 of dimension stock. We feel that no companj^ 

 ought to get out any chair stock, plain sawed, 

 running from 1 to .3-inch squares 12 to -14 inches 

 long, for leas than .$35 per M feet, based on a 

 10c rate of delivery or destination. We duly 

 believe that it is not outside the bounds of 

 right, and we realize that there are lots of 

 shippers that do not realize over .$!(! to S22 

 per II. which is a very low price. While basing 

 the price at J.'SS per M it leaves the mill man 

 about ?28 to S30 for his stock, according to the 

 dryness of the stock. Stock running from .SIO 

 to $22, if carefully figured, will show any mill 

 man that be is only realizing from .$;► to .S12 

 per M for the lumber clear. Dimension stock is 

 supposed to be clear, while on the basis of $32 

 to S3.T per M feet he can figure that lie is get- 

 ting $10 to $22 out of the lumber. In regard 

 to the wagon stock, it does not cost nearly as 

 much as this stock, is generally manufactured 

 on the big saw and does not have to go over the 

 rip or equal'i^er saw. nor does it have to be re- 

 bandied so much : hence, the cost is bound to be 

 less In the manufacturing, as we believe all mill 

 men understand the cost of getting out wagon 

 stock. We do not think we will be able to send 

 a representative to meet witli you on November 

 21, but shall be pleased to send one if possible 

 If all manufactun^rs look at this matter and 

 feel as we do, we do not tbink but ibat they 

 will realize that we arc somewhere near right 

 or within the bounds of reason in re«?ai'd to 

 dimension stock. If there is any way tliat you 

 can modify or better our views, we are open foi* 

 advice and would he pleased to hear fiom yoil. 

 Thanking yon for your invitation to attend this 

 meeting, and your Interest In this matter which 

 concerns us all so much, and the valuable infor- 

 mation we get from time to time out of the 

 HAiiDWOon Ri-;roi!n. and trusting the meeting 

 will be profitable and of benefit to us ail In 

 future, Ct;M.Mi.vs I.br. Co., by J. C. McDevitt. 



RirFFAi.o. X. Y.. Nov. S.^HAnowooD Rkoord. 

 Clilcaeo : Answering your favor of the .Id in 

 regard to dimension stock meeting, we doubt 

 very much whether one of our firm can attend, 

 as the writer will have to be in the Kast and 

 our Mr. Angus McLean in Canada. To state our 

 position briefly, we may say that there are man- 

 ufacturers whom we call upon that acknowledge 

 that dimension stock Is wortlt a great deal more 

 to them than firsts and seconds lumber, and they 

 say as Ions as people are willing to cut It and 

 sell It for the price of common lumber, they look 

 1 upon the manufacturer as an easy mark. We 

 tried to manufacture some of this, but found 

 that, at the lirlces for which It was selling. It 

 was better for us to throw all the material we 

 . would naturally put into dimension stock into 

 . the wood pile. We think the time has come when 

 the manufacturer should be awakened to the 

 fact that this lumber Is worth at least the same 

 pilce as firsts and seconds, anrl they can easily 

 get It If they will all pull together In the mat- 

 ter. If any member of our firm can possibly 

 attend this meeting, we will be rm hand.--Mt'Oii 

 McLean Lbr. Co., by ITugh ^Icl.ean. 



Ciir.RAW. S. C, Nov, n. — MAitnwonn Hr.conn. 

 Chicago: We are In receipt of your hrtter call- 

 ing attention to the cf»nfe?-ence to he held In 

 t^lcago. and stating Its purpose. This Is a very 

 Important matter. Wo are engaged almost ex- 

 clnslvely In manufacturing hardwood dimension 

 stock for the eastern market. Our prices are 

 twenty per cent higher than those asked by the 

 West Virginia and Ohio mills, and consequently 

 onr trade Is very much rurtalted, as we only get 

 the orders that cannot be supplied from that 

 territory. We do not think It will be possible 

 for us to have a repi-esentative at the meeting. 



but our output of oak dimension stock Is about 

 15,000,000 feet per year, and if the meeting will 

 get together and formulate a price list, we are 

 willing to obligate ourselves not to sell under 

 the price list. Missionary work along this line 

 is m<»st needed iu AA"est Virginia, as mills there 

 are doing more to demoralize prices in the east- 

 ern markets than in any other territory. — W. L. 

 Clement Liin. Co., by W. L. Clement. 



St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 13. — Haudwood Recoup, 

 Chicago: We note with considerable interest 

 your editorial menlion of the proposed dimension 

 stock manufacturers' meeting in Chicago on tlie 

 21st. No doubt a great deal of good can be 

 done at sucli a meeting, and this seems to us an 

 opportune time to commence a much-needed re- 

 form in this particulai' department of the bard- 

 wood business. Our firm will be represented, 

 and we beg to thank you for the interest you 

 have taken in arranging for lliis meeting. — Gau- 

 ETSOiN-GREASO.N Lbr. Co., W. W. Dings, Sec'y. 



WAI-DEXBtUG, .\RK., NoV. 11. HARDWOOD REC- 

 ORD, Chicago : I endorse this dimension stock 

 movement with all my ability. While my busi- 

 ness is very small in this line, I realize that 

 this branch of the hardwood industry has been 

 neglected to the extent that prices are to a 

 certain extent dependent upon the traveling pur- 

 chaser, regardless of quality or grades. This 

 part of the hardwood " industry, being one of 

 the most essential now in everyday use, sliould 

 be based on standard prices and grades instead 

 of being at the mercy of those who are regard- 

 less of the usefulness of the article or the cost 

 of manufacture. — O. P. Frve. 



flREEXBBIER. TEXX., NoV. 13. MARDWOOD REC- 

 ORD, Chicago : I heartily endorse the meeting 



CHARLKS 



I'.ACON, GRAND RAI'IDS, .MICH.. 

 SKCRKTAHV. 



to devise some way of bettering conditions of 

 dimension stock manufacture. — P. B. Swirr & 

 Sons. 



Mi.xNEAPOLis, Minn., Nov. 13. — Hardwood 

 Record, Chicago : We notice that you recently 

 issued a call lo aliout two thousand hardwood 

 nianutacturers to meet in Chicago on the 21st 

 and d.scuss ail matters pertaining to dimension 

 stock. Wliile we are hardwood manufacturers, 

 for some i-cason we were not informed of tlils 

 ineetine. .Mlliougli tile rusli of business may 

 prevent our iittt-nding. we are In full syinpatiiy 

 Willi the n!o\i'nn'nt ami believe mucli good will 

 be accomidislied. Kindly put us on yniir list 

 so that when future calls are issued we will not 

 be forgotten. Hoping the meeting will be largely 

 attendeo and much good will result, we are yours 

 truly, Pavsdx S.mitii Lbr. Co. 



HowEi.i., Ark., Nov. 3, — Hakhwixid Rkcord, 

 Chicago: While we will not be able to have 

 a representative at your meeting Xoveniher 21, 

 wv do fee! Interested In It and think It very 

 niiicb tieeded. Yours truly, C. H. Watson & Co. 



liicii.Moxii. Ixii., Nov. Hi. — Hardwood JtKCORD, 

 Clilcago : ^^'e liav(? your favor relative to meet- 

 ing of manuraciurei-s of dimension stock. While 

 we are hardly lu this class, wi* always discourage 

 dimension stor-k. as prices have never lit'<'n sat 

 Isfactory or what they should be by a great 

 way. If all concerns or peopb' rurnlHliIng dimen- 

 sion stock would take a dllTerent sianrl. they 

 oiiirht to realize and could realize a iiricc much 

 above "ommon grades. Hut when stock Is cut 

 out practically clear lo working sizes. It sliouid 

 be worth about firsts and seconds price. We 

 trust the conference will be a great benefit, as 



that which is good for the dimension men will 

 surely bring up the price of regular stock to 

 those handling It. Yours truly, C. & W. Kramer 

 Co., C. H. Kramer. 



Wanakbna, N. Y., Nov. T.^Uardwood Rec- 

 ord. Chicago : We authorize you to attach our 

 name to a call for a meeting of hardwood dimen- 

 sion slock manufacturers. If possible, we will 

 be there. Yours truly, J. W. Ventres & Co. 



NORTHVILLE, MiCH., NOV. 3. — HaRDWOOD REC- 

 ORD, Chicago : We are heartily in accord with 

 the plan you desire to carry out. It will be 

 impossible for us lo be represented at the gath- 

 ering, but we wish to assure you that we would 

 be much pleased to see a plan such as you pro- 

 pose carried through. — J. A. Dl'buar Mfg. Co. 



EVansvii.le. Ind., Nov. G. — Hardwood Record, 

 Chicago : Replying to yours of the 3d Inst., 

 will say that while not directly Interested Id 

 the dimension lumber business, my sympathy Is 

 with the contemplated movement" which I re- 

 gard as a wise one. If there is a line of business 

 that needs commercializing, it certainly is this 

 one. — Jas. Piatt. 



Haakwood, Mich., Nov. 0. — Hardwood Rec- 

 ord, Chicago: We are entirely out of Ihe dimen- 

 sion business at present, and would therefore 

 not care to attend the meeting, iftit we are of the 

 opinion that cooperation and the establishment 

 of values on some recognized basis is very neces- 

 sary. Wishing you success, IIaak Lbr. Co., John 

 H. Haak. 



Stalwart, JIicii., Nov. 0. — Hardwood Rec- 

 ord. Chicago : I am certainly interested In yotir 

 meeting, but it will be impossible for me to 

 attend. Thanking you for Informing me of .it, 



.Vl.l^RED COTTOX. 



Rochester, N. Y., Nov, 10. — Hardwood Rec- 

 ord, Chicago: Am pleased lo Iiear that there Is 

 to be a move to Improve the dimension business ; 

 would like to attend the meetiug on the 21st. 

 I was five years cutting dimension stock in Ken- 

 luckv: could not make it pay except what could 

 not be sold only as \Vood. I claim consumers 

 manufacturiug standard goods can give the price * 

 of firsts, .sawing, waste, and cost of cutting, 

 ilxpected to liave been south manufacturing 

 liardwood before this: should have cut all waste 

 and cut up culls in clear stock, leaving the wood 

 at mill. The time will come when wood will not 

 be sliip))ed on long hauls. Hopiug to hear good 

 results, O. M, WiLCOx. 



Spot. Texx.. Nov. 4. — Hardwcihd Record, Chi- 

 cago : Referring to your call, will say that we. 

 like ninny others, have lost liileresi in dimension 

 stock. Ila\'e tried lime and again '. j 'onvert 

 iiiucli of onr slumpage into dlmensinu, but the 

 iMst prices obtainable for it were so much lower 

 than for other lines of production that we 

 ilropped til" proposition. We believe that if the 

 limension stock producers succeed in establish- 

 ing a safe and just standard ot prices, which 

 will lie reasonably constant, and make uniform- 

 ity of manufacture and grade the watchword, 

 a fair margin of profit will accrue to wise and 

 Industrious management. Slumpage is woefully 

 scarce in regions where freight rates are reasoii- 

 able, but plentiful in sections tliat could coD- 

 tribute largely to stock deficits, were it not for 

 prohibitive freight rates on roads which do not 

 yield to till! small mills which are the life of 

 ibis parlicuiar branch of the imlustry. If a 

 proper di.sposillon was shown liy manufacturei-s 

 to pay producers a value commensurate with 

 present high prices of slumpage. and a price cor- 

 responding to that paid for hardwood lumber, 

 the chaotic condition of tlie dimension stock 

 business would gradually assume steady and nor- 

 mal conditions, and would be out on "dress pa- 

 rade" with Its woodworking confreres in other 

 lines. Kaiimaxx Stave & Lit.mber Co.MrANY. 



t=^.\sT Wali.ixgford. Vt.. Nov. '.'•. -Hardwood 

 Ui>:coRD, Chicago : I am Iborongbly In acci>rd 

 with the Record's position as to the dimension 

 liiisiness, !ind heartily wish an organization 

 inlglil be formed with every maimfaclurer of 

 this class of liinilicr a nieniber. I have done 

 consldcralili' in the line of siiiall dlinciision Uim- 

 ber jind find the prlcr-s altogiMluT too small to 

 yield a fair protit. The ninniifiiciiiii'i-'s profit 

 on almost all classes of goods Is altogether too 

 small as compared with the profit of those who 

 liatidle Ills products. Take witodeii toys, for In- 

 stance; tli>' .jobber Into whose hands they almost 

 Invariably go from the manufacturer gets at 

 least 10 to 20 iier cent, and then the retailer 

 makes on many articles from loo per cent and 

 upward to even 2oo per cent on some things, and 

 nil this with no trouble except the small Items 

 ali'Midnnt on buying nnd selling: while the man- 

 uractiirer. the man who has more lo do and 

 more to risk than all the others, gets the small- 

 est profit, and often loses mouev In bis anxiety 

 to build up a trnde that will use up Ids small 

 waste, 1 bave found, and 1 think others will 

 agree with nie. that It Is usiiallv more profitable 

 to throw anything below the iisunl size, say for 

 ordinary <'lialr slock. Into ibc wood pile and use 



