10 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



Sliming trade maV know exactly what to depend on in the way of 

 grades from manufacturers. 



Up to a dozen years ago there were local bureaus which governed 

 hardwood inspection in Boston, New York and Baltimore that were 

 fsirly well defined. Philadelphia. Buffalo, Cincinnati, Nashville, St. 

 Louis, Memphis and Chicago had practically only the rules of custom. 

 Then came into existence the National Hardwood Lumber Dealers' 

 Association, which had its birth in Chicago, and its work has resulted 

 in a vast amount of good to the trade, especially in an educational 

 nay. Primarily the system of rules formulatsd by this association was 

 intended as a basis on which the jobber might buy lumber from 

 the manufacturer. It was discovered soon afterward that this was 

 an entirely selfish and one-sided proposition and steps wer3 taken 

 tc reorganize the rules and put in effect a system on which the 

 jobber was willing both to buy and sell lumbsr. With enterprise 

 this association organized an inspection bureau under the head of 

 an inspector general, who had subordinates stationed in many lum- 

 ber-producing sections, who were authorizad to issue bonded cei^ 

 tificates of insjiection. The work instituted by this association has 

 progressed to the extent that for the last few years a bonded in- 

 spection certificate has been a negotiable document on which lumber 

 could be bought or sold. The system has had its drawbacks and 

 its imperfections, but to the minds of many it has been fairly 

 satisfactory as a whole. 



A few years ago quite a number of leading manufacturers of 

 hardwoods conceived that the National Association was dominated 

 by the jobbing element in the trade and that they were not being 

 considered, especially in the grading of lumber, and therefore they 

 organized a second association known as the Hardwood Manufac- 

 turers' Association of the United States. This latter organization 

 has prospered until its membership numbers a large portion of the 

 leading producers of hardwood lumber in the country. This asso- 

 ciation has another set of rules which ara not entirely in harmony 

 v.ith those of the National Association. It therefore has come about 

 that buyers of lumber are sometimes obliged to pnrchase under 

 National rules and again are forced to buy under Manufacturers" 

 rules. As a matter of fact, the general results of the two rules as 

 applied by the average inspector do not vary materially. Recent 

 advices that hav2 been received by the Hahdwood Record from 

 leading jobbing houses of the country aver that they do not care a 

 rap under which inspection they buy, as the lumber reaches their 

 yards in practically the same grad?, no matter from whom tliev 

 |)urchasc. 



Both associations lontain a large number of sagacious, upright 

 and enterprising men, who are well up in the dctJiils of the lumber 

 trade and are in the business for the soh^ purpose of making money 

 justly. The present situation is an embarrassing one, notably to 

 the jobber and consumer, as it is prone tor get up arguments over 

 the application of the various confusing rules in force. A large 

 portion of the hardwood lumber produced in the United States now 

 goes forward to the consumer inspected either under the ruljs of 

 the National Association or of the Manufacturers' Association, but 

 there are still in force specific rules for inspection in eastern Massa 

 chusetts known as "Boston Survey," and in New York under the 

 rules of the New York Lumber Trade Association; in other 

 localitiss there are other fairly well established rules that do not 

 entirely agree with the rules of either of the associations. 



It would seem logical and just that means be taken to codify it 

 set of rules that would bs mutually satisfactory to manufacturer, 

 jobber and consumer. There is enough money to be made legit- 

 imately in any of these departments of the hardwood lumber busi- 

 ness to justify men jmrsuing it on lines of absolute equity and fair- 

 ness without recourse to any subterfuge to mix or falsify grades; 

 and apparently there is no reason except association pride that pre- 

 vents the two big associations from getting together on an agreed 

 plan whereby the actual inspection of hardwood lumber shall be 

 made just and as uniform as it is possible to make lumber which 

 grows under s\i<li a variety of conditions as does American forests. 

 A base of judgment is possible; the only vital question at point be- 

 . tweo.n the two associations is, "Who sliall apply the rule?'' 



It should be possible to relieve from all extraneous influence 

 every lumber inspector, that he should make an intelligent and 

 honest inspection of lumber that passes through his hands regardless 

 of who made it, who bought it, or who sold it. That desirable end 

 is undeniably fast approaching. The Hardwood Record is not going 

 to take the liberty to attempt to elaborate any specific plan for 

 this desideratum, but there is honesty enough and brains enough in 

 the hardwood manufacturing and jobbing trade of this country to 

 elaborate and put in force a system that will be just alike to manu- 

 facturer, jobber and consumer. 



The Hardwood Record, however, would like to make one sugges- 

 tion, and that is for the maintenance of two separate and distinct 

 organizations in the hardwood lumber trade: one organization should 

 comprise the manufacturing element; the second should comprise 

 'the jobbing element. The first association in its conferences, which 

 work is now largely of an educational character, would discuss tim- 

 ber growth, stumpage values, the details and cost of saw-milling, 

 curing and marketing of lumber; while the second association would 

 have as an object of existence the discussion of sources of supply, 

 the physical qualities of woods from various sections, values, and 

 the marketing of the product to the consumer. The two associa- 

 tions would have in absolute joint interest but one feature, and 

 that feature a just, equitable and satisfactory basis of inspection, 

 and a satisfactory application of the named rules of inspection. 

 The two associations would constitute a system of iiardwood govern- 

 ment equivalent to that employed in the confessedly successful 

 conduct of affairs of this nation. There would be the two houses of 

 a hardwood congress, and by mutual agreement only could the basit 

 of hardwood inspection be amended. 



The foremost and most progressive people in both associations 

 strongly favor universal inspection. All seem to be willing to adopt 

 the give and take policy. Why, then, can't these big men in thii 

 great industry who are honest of purpose and sincere in their be- 

 liefs get together, and get together right, and simplify this hard- 

 wood inspection proposition to the end that when a consumer of 

 hardwoods in any part of the civilized world buys a car of American 

 oak or American poplar or American maple ho will know exactly 

 what he is going to get for his money. 



It is up to the good men of the trade to perform this service, not 

 only for their own advantage, but for the good of the lumber-con- 

 suming public. 



President Van Sant's Address. 



other tlian the address delivered before the Hardwood Manu 

 facturers' Association of the United States at its recent Nashville 

 meeting by President R. K. Van Sant, there has been no contribu- 

 tion to hardwood lumber literature of equal importance in 

 many years. Mr. Van Sant is a recognized authority on grading 

 and marketing hardwoods. He has been prominent in the industry 

 for many years and his paper has been most highly commended 

 from all sources. The individual connected in the hardwood trade 

 who has not read this document, dealing as it does with salient 

 and important facts pertaining to the various phases of hardwood 

 manufacture and sale, has missed something that is of intrinsic 

 value to him and his calling. Every line of it bristles with busi- 

 ness, integrity of purpose and common sense. Other documents 

 of great value to the hardwood industry were presented at this 

 meeting, but head and shoulders above the others was the address 

 of President \'an Sant. The address appeared in full in the Hard- 

 wood Kkcoui) of .Ian. 'iiV 



National Hardwood Association. 



The next big hardwood lumber convention will he that of the 

 National Hardwood Lumber Dealers' .-Usociation, which will con- 

 vene in annual session at I'ulValo. N. Y.. probably on Thursday and 

 I'Viday, May 18 and 19. 



It will surely be a well attended and inlcicst inj; meeting, and 

 much legislation of importance is eonlemphiled. Hesides Buffal* 

 hardwood dealers are noted for their hospitality, and the Queei 

 City of tlie Lake is an ideal convention city in May. 



