HARDWOOD RECORD 



contends that he knows of no fancy prices having been paid for logs 

 by Memphis manufacturers, but that such prices have been paid by 

 many buyers from Indiana and northern Kentucky, who have bought 

 logs anil shipped them to that territory, manufactured them into lum- 

 ber and sold the lumber as Indiana stock. 



The writer observes that at the present time there is not fifty 

 per cent of the quantity of logs cut at shipping points that there was 

 a year ago. in spite of the prices offered, and that the amount gotten 

 out is less year by year. He says the logs that are cut at the present 

 time could not be replaced, grade for grade, even at an advance of 

 five doUars a thousand. He says they could not be replaced simply be- 

 cause the timber is not in the country. 



He continues, saying that at this time, at the height of the log 

 season, when naturally there would be a great quantity of logs at 

 the track, he doubts if there is enough to nin the sawmills in Memphis 

 ninety days. He says he means to include in the above all the logs 

 within a radius of one hundred and fifty miles of Memphis. He in- 

 sists that there are no logs to cut the price on. and there is not enough 

 standing timber within the radius named owned by people who do 

 not operate sawmills, to run all the Memphis mills for two years. 



The writer says that consumers who are buying lumber, are buying 

 it at the lowest price that ever will be known, as every c-ar they 

 buy is just like going out and getting so many gold dollars for ninety 

 cents each. He says it is observable that the few operators in the 

 South who purchased their timber years ago at a very small valuation. 

 are those who at the preseJit time are making the lowest prices. They 

 seem to fail to realize the present value of their standing timber, but 

 if they would take time to figure out the cost at the time of its pur- 

 chase, and compounding annual interest at sis {ler cent, as they should, 

 together with tases. they would see that the present value of their 

 timber would be considerably above what many of them figure at this 

 time. 



The writer admits that Hakdwood Becobid is right in contending 

 that there is an extraordinary cost in log handling from stump to 

 mill in the Memphis section, but he doubts if this cost will ever be 

 materiaUy lowered. He asserts that this extra cost over northern 

 operators is based on the inefficiency of labor, climatic conditions, 

 high cost of feed (such as hay at #2S a ton, and a dollar a tushel 

 for com. husks and all) : extraordinary development of the coimtry, 

 creating a corresponding demand for labor, etc. The writer farther 

 says that the price of lumber will have to be advanced ten dollars 

 a thousand all around before the manufacturers of southern hard- 

 woods can make a reasonable profit on the money they have invested, 

 and in his opinion this advance wiU come very soon, because there is 

 not timber and logs enough in the country to go arotind. 



Undeniably there is a good deal of both truth and logic in the ob- 

 servation made by the writer on the question, and Record is very glad 

 in having inspired the "getting something started"' in the line of a 

 discussion and analysis of this important subject. 



Wood VS. Metal Automobile Bodies 



In a recent interview with a manufacturer oi wood automobile 

 bodies made on behalf of Habdwood Becobd, the manufacturer gave 

 bis reasons for preferenc-e for wood bodies in the following terms: 



"The wood body is lighter in weight. Weight increases tire wear 

 and cost. A steel body is not so resilient as the wood body and is 

 bound to crystallize and eventually crack. There is no way yet de- 

 vised of obtaining a steel body where the finish will become perma- 

 nent or even reasonably secure for even a short time, which is an 

 important consideration to the consumer. While the manufacturer 

 can paint sheet steel with a reasonable amount of success, it must 

 be recalled that the automobile in the hands of the user is bound 

 to get scratched and marred more or less, and every time the paint is 

 scratched or chipped down to the steel, it is sure to rust and disin- 

 tegrate the metal. Again, if the steel material used in automobile 

 bodies is not coated with a copper plating, an electric galvanizing 

 or some other anti-rust coating, the moment it is exposed to the 

 atmosphere, corrosion sets in. When corrosion once starts it cannot 

 be stopped, as it will eat itself away under the paint and through 

 the enamel and steel. The final issue comes with the owner of the 



automobile when it comes to repainting the body of his machine. Xo 

 amount of sanding, hammering or sand blasting will eliminate the 

 corrosion of steel. In surface appearance it may be nibbed out. but 

 it is there to stay, and when painted over it continues to. corrode, 

 and the paint is sure to flake off. Even if the steel is painted with 

 an anti-rust coating, as mentioned above, there is little possibility of 

 the paint staying on." 



Bepairs to a badly damaged steel automobile body are out of the 

 question, as it cannot be successfully accomplished. A cast aluminum 

 body has many of the defects of the "stovepipe-steel" automobile 

 body. It is almost impossible to hold a finish on it, and when repairs 

 become necessary the machine has to be sent back to the factory to 

 effect them and surely will prove very expensive. 



From the automobile buyers' viewpoint there is nothing to be said 

 in favor of metal automobile bodies of any sort, save that they can 

 be formed into more ornamental lines, and make more fancy appear- 

 ing bodies than is ordinarily possible in wood construction. On the 

 other hand, there are scores of good reasons why a substantial wooden 

 body, made of poplar on an ash frame-work, is superior to any type 

 of metal one yet devised. It is more comfortable in both summ'er and 

 winter to the occupant; it will outwear the running gear and engine 

 of the automobile; it will hold its finish indefinitely, and is no 

 higher in cost. 



Forthcoming Lumber Conventions 



The Southern Cypress Manufacturers' Association will hold its 

 semi-annual meeting at Savannah, Ga.. on Xov. 27-29. 



The Xational Bivers and Harbors Congress will hold its annual 

 meeting at Washington, D. C, on Dec. 6-S. 



The annual meeting of the Xational Veneer & Panel Manu- 

 facturers" Association will be held at the Auditorium hotel, Chicago, 

 on Dec 12-13. 



The Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen's Association will hold its 

 annual meeting at Evansville, Ind., on Jan. 18. 



The Hardwood Manufacturers' Association of the United States 

 will hold its annual meeting at the Sinton hotel, Cinciimati. O., on 

 Jan. 30-31. 



The Yellow Pine Manufacturers' Association will hold its annual 

 meeting at Xew Orleans, La., on Feb. 6-S. 



The annual, meeting oif the Lumber Sales Managers ' Association 

 will be held at the Auditorium hotel, Chicago, on Feb. 16-17. 



The National Wholesale Lumber Dealers" Association, at a place 

 yet to be designated, will hold its annual meeting on Mar. 6-7. 



The Price Situation in Soft Woods 



Prices obtaining in soft woods have more or less of a reflected 

 influence on hardwood values, especially on low-grade stock. Manager 

 Bronson of the Xational Lumber Manufacturers ' Association in a 

 letter under date of Nov. 7, reciting lumber production and move- 

 ment for September, representing 582 mills, states that twenty-five 

 showed no cut or shipment during that month. The total cut of the 

 mills that reported during September was 781,500,000 feet, with ship- 

 ments slightly in excess of this quantity. 



Mr. Bronson notes that on the face of these totals, the situation 

 looks favorable, but when it is considered that since the close of 

 September yellow pine values have broken heavily, and there is no 

 improvement in values on the Pacific coast, it is evident that the 

 adjustment of supply and demand has not yet gone far enough; and 

 that either stocks are too large or the spirit of demoralization still 

 makes too free offerings, with a consequent price demoralization. 



The report referred to covers twenty-three states, involving all 

 the recognized lumber producing states save Pennsylvania. Xew 

 York and Xew England. The report says further that certain groups 

 of states show well defined conditions. Arkansas and Louisiana pro- 

 ducing less lumber than they shipped. This condition is due partially 

 to a curtailment, either voluntarily or forced by labor conditions. It 

 is alleged that no sooner had a better statistical position in soft 

 woods been brought about by curtailment, chiefly west of the Mis- 

 sissippi river, than the mills east of the river took advantage of the 

 situation, most of them maintaining full cut or an increased output, 



