November 10, 191G 



Friday, November 10, has been fixed as the date and Memphis 

 as the place for the meeting of oak manufacturers from every 

 part of the United States to perfect the organization of the Ameri- 

 can Oak Manufacturers' Association. Invitations ha%-e been sent 

 out to 1,250 oak manufacturers in everj- part of the United States 

 and Canada asking them to be present and to become charter mem- 

 bers of the association and enough responses have already been 

 received to give the impression that the attendance will not only 

 be very large but that it will be quite representative. 



A group of Memphis lumbermen have already taken the initial 

 steps in the organization of this association. They made applica- 

 tion some days ago for a charter under the laws of Tennessee and 

 this instrument has already been issued. Among the incorporators 

 named therein are: W. A. Eansom, S. M. Nickey, R. L. Jurden, 

 James F. McSweyn, .T. B. Stark, and Ralph May. 



It is set forth in the charter that the association is for the 

 purpose of exploiting oak forest products and promoting social 

 intercourse among its members. No capital stock is shown. 



It may be stated that the American Oak Manufacturers' Asso- 

 ciation will be modeled along the lines of the Gum Lumber Manu- 

 facturers' Association which has proven one of the most success- 

 ful organizations of its kind in existence. It is hoped by the 

 members of this organization to do for the oak lumber industry 

 what the Gum Lumber Manufacturers' Association has done for 

 gum. 



No effort whatever will be made to control prices and the asso- 

 ciation will seek to avoid any possibility of conflict with the pro- 

 visions of the Sherman law. However, reports will be secured 

 from its members regarding the amount of lumber on hand from 

 time to time and reports will likewise be compiled showing actual 

 sales of oak lumber and products made therefrom. This informa- 

 tion will be distributed for the benefit of all who are identified 

 therewith and the members will thus be far better informed than 

 at present not only regarding the amount of oak lumber on hand 

 but also in regard to the extent and character of demand therefor. 



The conviction has been growing for some time that there is 

 going to be a very big foreign business after the war in Europe 

 is over. It is likewise recognized that there will be a number of 

 other important problems to solve in connection with the handling 

 of this foreign business and the association will do what it can 

 to pave the way for a large and profitable business with European 

 countries. But, while a great deal of attention will be devoted 

 to the solution of problems connected with the marketing of oak 

 lumber abroad, the association will take a very active interest 

 in develoiiing increased outlets for oak products in the United 

 States. It will conduct a vigorous and efficient publicity cam- 

 paign with this end in view, and those identifie.l with the associa- 

 tion are confident that, in the light of what has been accomplished 

 by the Gum Lumber Manufacturers' Association, this can be done 

 with comparative ease and with full success. 



As giving some idea of the character of the association, it may 

 be stated that the following signed the call for the meeting to 

 be held here November 10: Gayoso Lumber f'onapany, Fenrod, 

 Jurden & McGowen, the Green River Lumber Company, the Mem- 

 phis Band Mill Company, May Brothers, the Memphis Veneer & 

 Lumber Comi)any, Nickey Bros., Inc., and James E. Stark & Co., 

 Inc., all of Memphis; Faepcke Leicht Lumber Company, Chicago; 

 Lamb-Fish Lumber Company, Charleston, Miss.; Mowbray & Robin- 

 son Company, Cincinnati ; W, P. Brown & Sons Lumber Company, 

 Louisville; Carrier Lumber & Manufacturing Company, Sardis, 

 Miss.; John B. Eansom & Co., Nashville, and the Himmelberger- 

 Harrison Lumber Company, of Cape Girardeau, Mo. 



The call itself follows: 



•riio oak Industry Is the onl.v H.'anch ol' the liardwooil lumber trail.' 

 that ddcs not have'an association to exploit its uses and lieep the manu- 

 facturers familiar with the amount of stoel< on hand. 



The undersigned have started the nucleus of an association for this pui- 



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pose, to become nation-wide. Can we count on you to become a charter 

 member and attend an organization meeting to be held in Memphis at the 

 Hotel Chisca on Friday, November 10, 1016, at 10 a. m.? 



We need the co-operation of every manufacturer of oal< forest prod- 

 ucts and we can malie this the leading association of its Icind in the 

 country, the dues w'ill have to be determinetl at the meeting to be 

 held later, but would probably not be to exceed five cents per thousand. 

 All we want now is your willingness to join. 



Closer co-operation among the manufacturers would make this a very 

 small investment for the results attained. Compare your sales for oak 

 now and for the past ten years, and we think that you will agree that 

 there is a great opportunit.v for results in an association of this kind. 



There are no selfish motives involved and we want .vour co-operatiou. 

 Oak forest products occupy the third place in point of production. Why 

 not make it occupy third place in point of consumption V" 



This organization is regarded as of vast importance to Memphis 

 because this city is the center of the largest oak producing terri- 

 tory in the United States. Memphis has been for many years 

 regarded as the largest hardwood lumber market in the coun- 

 try, and it is suggested by those identified with the new organiza- 

 tion that, since Memphis will be its headquarters, this city will 

 become the "oak center of the universe." 



Free Port at Copenhagen 



The Royal Danish Consulate is distributing throughout this 

 country an illustrated description of the Free Port facilities at 

 Copenhagen. This is run by the Copenhagen Free Port Com- 

 pany, Ltd. 



Work on this immense development was begun less than 

 twenty-five years ago and has ever since commanded attention 

 on all sides. The Free Port has long since surmounted the diffi- 

 culties attending the first years of its growth, and is now utilized 

 to its limits in over-sea trade. The booklet says that Danish 

 waters still are the natural route of traffic to the Baltic coun- 

 tries, and that Copenhagen, notwithstanding the Kiel Canal, holds 

 tlie commaniling position for passage of freight to these countries. 



The booklet is evidently gotten out for the purpose of illus- 

 trating work which is now being carried on to extend the grounds 

 of the Copenhagen-Free Port Company with warehouses and quays 

 in order that ample preparations may be perfected 'in time to 

 meet all demands. The company not only carries on the busi- 

 ness of the free port as such, but also does a considerable ware- 

 housing business, undertaking the storing and transporting of 

 goods within the limits of the port. All rates are levied on the 

 basis controlled by the Danish government. 



According to the pamphlet, the chief advantage, of the free 

 port is that of being exempt from paying duty when goods are 

 shipped, the duty benig paid on the removal of the goods into 

 the customs territory. Goods for transshipment abroad passing 

 through the Copenhagen harbor will in this way be free of duty 

 and no examination by the customs authorities and clearance will 

 delay and add extra charges to the transmission of the goods. 



The booklet, which can probably be secured by applying to 

 any Danish consulate, gives a complete description of the way 

 the free port may be used and its advantages and facilities. 



Millions of watches have been sold for one dollar each which it cost 

 only 11 cents to make. — Advertising did it. 



A chap who sells a mail order physical culture scheme spent $30,000 

 for space in magazines last year. — And he is still at it. Whyf 



One ready-made house firm used more than $100,000 worth of space 

 in national magazines in 1915. They get a good price for lumber. — 

 Can vou ? 



The manufacturers of substitute roofings spent over $200,000 for 

 space in national magazines in 1915. — How many advertisements for 

 wooden shingles did you see? 



