C. A. BiGELOw, Bay City. 



(!. V(IN PLATEN, BOY.NE CITY. 



MEMBEKS OF EXECUTIVE BOARD. 



DIGGIXS. I'.VIiII.I.Ar 



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Michigan Manufacturers Meet 





I By Ti'h'graph from 



Today, .lauuary 25, at the Ponteliartrain Hotel, Detroit, was held 

 the midwinter meeting of the Michigan Hardwood iManufacturers •' 

 Association. There was an attendance of forty-one at roll call, 

 which is about the average number at these meetings. 



President Bigclow presided, and Secretary Knox recorded. 

 The secretary reported that every member of the association 

 had reported on his stocks of lumber for 1911; that hardwood and 

 hemlock stocks made a fairlj' good showing, except some grades 

 of maple. He stated that numerous inquiries were being received 

 for maple for many new uses, especially from abroad. The secre- 

 tary asked members to forward to him a list of all inquiries for 

 lumber received by them, that they can not supply, so that he 

 could issue a weekly list of requirements to other members. 



The secretary stated that the Pacific Coast rate case, affecting 

 shipments from the lower peninsula of Michigan to the Coast, was 

 still pending. No decision had yet been reached by the interstate 

 Commerce Commission, owing to some other unsettled questions 

 upon which its decision would hinge. He reported that the com- 

 plaint filed was likely to open up the Michigan rate question, and 

 may result in other changes very favorable to Michigan lumber 

 rates, and to the benefit of members interested in milling-in- 

 transit. He reported that the subject would be reopened by the 

 Interstate Commerce Commission at Washington on January 29. 



Treasurer Mitchell's report showed total expenditures for the 

 year of $5,880 with receipts of $6,372, leaving a balance of $491 

 on hand January 15; in addition to this, the association has certif- 

 icates of deposit amounting to $4,000, showing total net assets of 

 $4,991. • 



D. H. Day, chairman of the grading rules committee, reporteil 

 in behalf of that committee. He recommended carrying over the 

 hemlock )nsp(M:tion question without change, and did not com- 

 mend the employment of a hemlock inspector at the present time. 



F. A. Diggins, chairman of the legislative committee, in liis report 

 said that business men should take time to serve in state or national 

 legislative bodies, as more could be accomplished by representatives 

 of a given interest from the inside than by fighting from the outside. 



Cliairman Odcll, of the market conditions committee, submitted a 

 report, of which the following is an abstract: 



The volume of hardwood business during 1911 was good, with 

 prospects for better values being obtainable during 1912. Stock on 

 hand at the sawmills of members of the association is less at the 

 present time than in January, 1911, and sold up closer. There is » 



—30— 



StafE Kepi'csuutativo.) 

 lighter supply and better demand in beech and Jvo. 3 hardwoods than 

 for a long time past. The stock of No. 3 on hand in Michigan mills 

 is 3,000,000 feet less than a year ago. Twenty-four million feet of 

 coarse hardwoods were cut into ties during 1911. The prospects are 

 that the tie production in Michigan during 1912 will be fifty per 

 cent greater than last year. This method of handling coarse logs 

 is practically a solution of the low-grade Michigan hardwood problem. 

 There is every indication that beech, after years of education, is 

 finally appreciated by consumers in the United States and Europe. 

 The demand thus far this year has so cut into the supply as to in- 

 sure higher values. 



Ash, basswood, birch, elm and maple met with a good demand dur- 

 ing the most of 1911. The unsold stock on hand January 1, 1912, 

 indicates a demand equal to the supply. 



The trade in all kinds of hardwood lumber throughout the state is 

 very satisfactory. The hemlock demand is stronger than for years 

 past, and better prices are anticipated. 



The discussion of this report brought out the fact that the only 

 increase in maple on hand is in flooring stock, and that that is in the 

 hands of manufacturers remanufacturing their own lumber into floor- 

 ing at railroad mills. It was further shown that tire stock for water 

 shipment was the lowest ever known in the history of the hardwood 

 trade of tlie state; that the outlook for No. 3 common looked strong, 

 while the stocks on hand were low. 



The forest fire protective committee, of which F. L. Richardson 

 is chairman, recommended the ranger system to obviate danger from 

 fire. He stated the cost per acre was slight. 



The secretary read an article by H. B. Wyman, of Munising, show- 

 ing the good work that is being done in northern Michigan by the 

 ranger system. It was voted that a fire protection association bo 

 formed, and a committee was appointed to el.aborate the details of 

 such an undertaking, and to ask tiniber holders to back the move- 

 ment financially, pro rata, according to the extent of tlicir holdings. 

 On motion, the grading rules committee was instructed to work cut 

 specific rules for a white maple grade, and report at the April meet- 

 ing, with the object of having the rules incorporated in the grading 

 rules of the National Hardwood Lumber Association at its Chicago 

 meeting next June. 



An invitation was received from Frederick Klaiiprotli, vice-presi- 

 dent of the National Box Manufacturers' Association, to attend a 

 meeting of that organization in Chicago, in Fobruarv. .\ committee 

 cif lliree was ap|i(iiiil(>d In .'iltend thi<i meeting. 



