HARDWOOD RECORD 



31 



'DAY LETTER, THE WESTERN UNION TELEGUAPH COMPANY. 



BSl CH Jp 112 Collect Blue. 



Ft. Wayne, Ind., Sept. 26, 1011. 

 Crosby-Chicago. 



Chicago, III. 



Got at bottom of picture matter. Photographer's clerk who took and 

 developed the kodak pictures tor me and who sold me the photographer's 

 plates of the balance of the pictures we used, informed me that a young 

 man named Fee was inquiring for some pictures of the wreck and in con- 

 versation stated he wanted to show damaged steel car. Clerk told Fee 

 about my pictures and says he finished up some for him, among them 

 being some from my films. Have not seen Hardwood Record and don't 

 know what pictures used. Who sent article from Fort Wayne? Photog- 

 rapher's clerk offers to refund money for plates if you desire to return 

 them. Frank D. Walter. 4 :51 P. M." 



We have also in our possession the original statement of Mr. C. W. 

 Miner and the original affidavit of Mr. Walter ; 

 "Miner's Studio, 



121 West Wayne St., 



i't. Wayne, Ind., Decetnber 14, 1911. 



I, Charles Miner, declare that Frank D. Walter, advertising manager of 

 the Journal-Gazette, Fort Wayne, Ind., commissioned me to take photo- 

 graphs of the Pennsylvania 1{. R. Co.'s wreck on the outskirts of this 

 city in August last, said photographs intended to show as clearly as 

 possible the relative effects of the collision and derailment of the steel and 

 wood cars or coaches in the train. A number of photographs were so 

 taken by me and said Walter selected therefrom such negatives as he de- 

 sired, the number and nature of which I am no longer able to call to 

 mind. From the balance of the negatives, prints were made for public 

 sale. I find further and so state that some prints were made by a clerk 

 from the negatives selected by Mr. Walter before delivery to said Walter, 

 and said prints, the number of which I do not know and am unable to 

 ascertain, as this clerk is no longer employed by me and whereabouts now 

 unknown, were sold. (Signed) C. W. Miner." 



"State of Indiana, Allen County, ss : 



I, Frank D. Walter, declare that on the morning of August 14, 1911, I 

 received a telephone message instructing me to have photographs made of 

 the wreck of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company's passenger train whicn 

 occurred on the outskirts of Fort Wa.vne, Intl.. on the evening of August 

 13. Said photographs to show, as clearly and distinctly as possible, the 

 relative effects of the wreck upon steel coaches and wooden coach which 

 comprised the train. 



I further declare that instructions were immediately given by me to 

 Charles Miner, a photographer of this city, who on that day made a 

 series of photographs of the wreck for me. From the negatives taken I 

 selected such as best suited my purpose. Several days later several other 

 views of the wreck which were taken after some of the wreckage had 

 been removed were purchased by me, the negatives being secured and not 

 the pictures, in each instance. Some of the negatives forwarded by me 

 were photographer's plates and some kodak films. 



I also declare that the statements submitted to me by Charles Miner, 

 said photographer, substantiating his connection with the above facts, are 

 true and correct and that Mr. Miner was prevented from swearing to 

 same because of severe illness which prevents him from leaving his office 

 except to journey In a closed conveyance to his home. 



I further declare that if his statements are challenged, Mr. Miner 

 stands ready to affirm same by due process of law. 



(Signed) Frank D. Walter. 



Subscribed and sworn to before me this 14th day of December, 1911. 



(Signed) lONE M. GiCK, 



(Stamp) Notary Public, Allen County, Indiana. My Commission expires 

 April 28, 1914. 



(SEAL.)" 



Should you desire anything further regarding this matter don't hesitate 

 to call on the committee ; who, while they are not quite clear as to your 

 -Tight to ask these questions, seeing that you are not a member of the 

 N. L. M. A. or a contributor to the expense incurred, still know you have 

 frequently expressed your love for the lumbermen in general ; also feel 

 that none of your criticism springs from any malice toward the lumber 

 fraternity, but are solely instigated by the overwhelming desire that has 

 seized you to keep them from wasting the money, by diverting it from 

 some of its present channels. We are led to believe this from your lan- 

 guage : 



"Now this association again asks the hardwood trade to contribute to 

 its bills for a general defense of the lumber industry. It may be all 

 right for the hardwood element to dig deep into its pockets and join the 

 National in this campaign, but would it not be of essentially more promis- 

 ing value if hardwood producers should inaugurate a campaign of its own, 

 and work on distinct lines of exploiting its own woods in its own way'? 

 To a man up a tree it would look as if this would be the logical way for 

 the hardwood element to spend its money in a campaign of general "pub- 

 licity, because in this manner it would have the advantage of at least 

 selecting competent talent to carry on an intelligent campaign." 



Are you the man up a tree, or are you the proverbial Ethiopian in the 

 woodpile? 



We recognize "the big undertaking that the lumber trade has to go up 

 against," and feel under many obligations for the kindly expressions with 

 which our efforts have so far been received by the members of the lumber 

 press other than yourself. However, in your Judgment they may not be 

 competent critics either of language or art. We feel in a degree thankful 

 to .vou for the statement that "the general text of the pamphlet is 

 rattier a commendable document" and deeply regret that "the cartoons 

 have comparatively little strength." However, we console ourselves with 

 the remembrance that we furnished a key to our cartoons. Why don't 

 you do likewise to the "funny" pictures in your paper? 



In conclusion : In your issue of October 10, under the title of "Untruth- 

 ful Advertising." you sa.v. "Does it seem logical if cypress possessed the 

 attributes alleged by the professional publicity promoter, and endorsed 

 by the members of the Southern Cypress Manufacturers' Association, as 

 being 'the wood eternal.' and 'it defies all rot influences' ; that it would 

 not be THE material employed for railroad ties, at least in the section 

 where it grows and where it has the least cost." 



We ask ,vou to inform us what kind of ties are used in the section where 

 cypress grows: Wo noticed that in the issue of the Southern Lumber- 

 man of about October 21, this question was asked you but we have failed 

 to note .vour reply. 



We might be able to judge somewhat of the value of your criticisms if 

 you would furnish us with this information. 



Yours truly, 

 CoiiMiTTEE on Advertising and Publicity, 



A. T. Gerrans, Chairman. 



The subsequent correspondence follows: 



, „ „ Chicago, December 20, 1911. 



A. T. Gerrans, 



Ilouma, La. 



Dear Sir : Accept my thanks for your favor December 2r;. There is 

 very litde involved in this document with which I was not familiar. 

 \yrite to inquire if .vou intended this document for my personal informa- 

 tion or for publication. I would like to have your permission to print it, 

 not tor the purpose of continuing the controversy with vou, since I can 

 have no hope of reaching the same conclusions as vourse'lf in the matter 

 ot the proper methods of lumber publicity, but for the reason that one 

 of Mr. Walter's letters to Crosby presents added evidence of the frailty 

 of steel car construction, which is a subject in which I am particularly 

 interested. ■' 



Kindly advise. Very sincerely vours, 



H. H. Gibson. 



„ „ ,,., Houma, La., Dec. 30, 1911. 



H. II. Gibson. Editor. 



Hardwood Record, Chicago, 111. 

 Dear Sir : Replying to yours of the 26th. beg to advise that you have 

 my permission to print my reply to you, although I can hardly see why 

 you ask my permission. It looks to me after you have published your side 

 ot the question that the least that you could do would be to publish the 

 reply to same. You asked the committee definite questions. You got 

 definite reply. However, you are at perfect liberty to take such action 

 as you see fit. Yours truly, 



A. T. Gerrans. 



Chicago, .January 2, 1912. 

 A. T. Gerrans, 



St. Louis Cypress Co.. 



Houma, La. 



Dear Sir: I have your favor of December thirtieth. In the interim 

 between my letter of December twent.v-sixth and your reply, I handed 

 my associate, E. H. Defebaugh, your letter for perusal, and he unfortu- 

 nately has mislaid or lost it. Am therefore obliged to ask you to send 

 me a transcript of this document for which I shall be pleased to pay the 

 cost. 



However, I do not believe that if you were fully acquainted with all 

 the facts in this matter that you would care to have the communication 

 printed. There is no doubt that Crosby ordered these photographs made, 

 but unfortunately for him, the Fort Wayne man did not regard the order 

 of sufficient importance to carry out his instructions, and the result is 

 that all the negatives he secured from him were a set of postal card pic- 

 tures, which were placed on general sale in Ft. Wayne, and which I have 

 been able to buy in dozen lots up to the time my requirements were ful- 

 filled, about a month ago, and of which I have quite a quantity still on 

 hand, and a couple of negatives which were made by Herbert W. Fee, the 

 young man who originally put me in touch with the proposition. Inci- 

 dentally, there should be no mystery about the identity of Fee, since he is 

 a brother-in-law of the Ft. Wayne advertising manager. 



Then, recall the fact there is an explanation required of why an at- 

 tempt was made to withhold the publication of these pictures, and the 

 evidence connected therewith at the time, when they not only constituted 

 news, but were important in showing the superiority of wood over steel 

 in passenger car construction. 



If you will duplicate this communication of yours, I will print it if 

 you want It printed. 



I am putting this proposition up to you simply in a spirit of fairness, 

 which I hope you will appreciate. 



Contrary to your opinion, I am in no wise specifically after Crosby's 

 scalp. I simply hold that he or no other professional publicity promoter, 

 to my knowledge, is competent to successfully handle out the problems 

 that beset the lumber trade at the present time in securing an intelligent 

 publicity that shall make for the Increased utilization of lumber. 



Kindly advise your wishes in the matter, and very much oblige. 



Very sincerely yours, 



H. H. Gibson. 



New Orleans, La., Jan. 5, 1912. 

 H. H. Gibson, Editor, 



Hardwood Record, Chicago, 111. 



Dear Sir : I herewith confirm my night letter of yesterday as follows : 



"Replying to your letter January second, American Lumberman has 

 copy of committee's report answer to your editorial. Borrow it and I will 

 send them another copy. If they have lost or mislaid it apply to Barns 

 or Baird. Regarding printing same, I have already answered your former 

 letter. (Signed) A. T. Gerrans." 



I thank you for the admission that a specially employed photographer 

 was placed on the job, and that the committee has not made any mis- 

 statements. ( ?) Your statement that there is an explanation required 

 wh.v an attempt was made to withhold the publication of these pictures 

 is debatable. Who, having the right, demands such explanation? 



I shall be pleased if you will eliminate all "spirit of fairness" from 

 your correspondence as you do from your editorials. Come out in the 

 open and tell the lumber world at large what you are driving at, or are 

 you not taking yourself too seriously? 



Yours truly, 



A. T. Gerrans. 



Hardwood Record confesses that the foregoing correspondence is 

 not worth printing. The evidence submitted by Mr. Gerrans to sub- 

 stantiate the claims published over his signature covering the photo- 

 graphic accomplishments of his committee is not of a character that 

 would constitute proof in any court in the land. His man, "Crosby- 

 Chicago," simply got the double cross from Mr. Walters. He sold 

 him a few postal card filins made by a photographic clerk in Fort 

 Wayne, and a couple of similar films that he purchased from his 

 brother-in-law, Herbert W. Fee, who had turned in the full set of 

 photographs to Hardwood Eecoed with which to illustrate the 

 original Story published about the frailty of steel cars in the Fort 

 Wayne wreck. 



The only important feature brought out by this controversy is the 

 fact that this advertising committee, headed by Mr. Gerrans, is in 

 no wise depending on its own talent to analyze the means necessary 

 to properly exploit lumber looking to its increased utilization, but 



