22 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



months that it has been in operation he has observed that be- 

 cause of the "compulsory'' provision in the law, the liability in- 

 surance taken out under it has assumed large proportions, and 

 hence the cost of working of the law has been reduced to the 

 minimum. He said further that the law has resulted in keeping 

 within the state a large amount of money formerly going to in- 

 surance companies outside. 



Following the roll call the president appointed the credentials 

 committee. 



After reading various communications, Secretary J. E. Rhodes 

 read his annual report as follows: 



Report of Secretary 



Having l)ocn nmploycd in .lanuary. I am al)lo to roporl upon tlio worl; 

 o£ the association for live months only. Durinj; the previous months of 

 the year the association was principally cngaised in an eflfort to raise money 

 witli which to conduct the proposed advertising campaign. 



The following are the more important mailers that have occupied our 

 attention up to this time. 



The National Lumber Manufacturers' Credit Corporation has made a 

 material gain, and is now in the best linancial condition of its existence. 

 Arrangements for cooperation with the bureau of information of the 

 National Wholesale Dealers' Association are being considered, and it is 

 hoped that definite plans will be worked out which will bo of decided ad 

 vantage to both organizations in this work in the near future. Superin- 

 tendent Biederman will report briefly some of the details of the work of 

 the corporation. 



Pursuant to instr\ictions of the board of governors yonr secretary ap- 

 peared before^ the ways and means committee of the House of Kepresenla- 

 tives at Washington, D. C, .Tan. 13. and entered a protest against the re- 

 moval of the dut.v on lumber. Wp have been in touch with developments 

 since, and at no time has it seemed advisable to initiate a vigerous cam- 

 paign to secure the retention of the tariff on lumber. While il is probable 

 that the tariff bill as Anally adopted will provide no dup- on lumber, it 

 would seem advisable for this convention to set forth the in.iustlce of such 

 action until Canada shall have removed certain disoriminalions against o\ir 

 forest products. 



A conference was called in Chicago April 4 in conjunction with the 

 National Association of Box Manufacturers as a result of whi<-h the Na- 

 tional Classification Committee of Lumber, Boxes and Allied Interests, rep 

 resenting all organizations interested in the wi-lfare of the wooden box 

 indnstr.y, intervened in the now famous Pridham case. The effective work 

 of this committee in presenting the evidence of the lumber and box interc'sts 

 to the examiner of tlie luterstate Ccmuueree Commissicui will ln' i-xi)lained 

 brielly by W. Ft. Miu-gan. chairman of the committee. Your seiretary was 

 made secretary and treasurer of the National Classification Commitne. and 

 is in touch with this work. 



\Vc were instrumental in securing the retention of a large portion of 

 the appropriation for the maintenance of the timber testing and lalinratory 

 work of the Federal Forest Service, after the entire appropriation bad been 

 stricken out of the Agricultural Appropriation bill by the House of Uep- 

 resentatives. 



The monthly statistics of cut and shipments inaugurated two years ago 

 have been continued up to this time with the cooperation of over 700 

 sawmills, but they are not satisfactory because the hardwoods and soft- 

 woods are not separated in the totals. This work costs about .$200 per 

 month, and it will be advisable to either increase its scope slightly, or 

 arrange so that each of the affiliated as.sociations shall simultaneously issue 

 the totals of production and shipments as reported by the mills within 

 their own territories, the Naticmal association combining the results and 

 publishing the summary. As most of the associations already issue these 

 statistics monthly, this plan would obviate the necessity of the National 

 association, requesting returns direct from the individual mills and prevent 

 the duplication of much of the work done by the member associations. 



Your si'cretary is a member of the boaril of directors of tho American 

 Forestry Association, and together with 3. B. White, chairman of our 

 conservation committee, who is also a member of the board of directors 

 of the Amevii'an Forestry Association, had the pleasure of representing 

 the lumber manufacturers at a meeting of the Ixiard held at Asheville, 

 .\. ('.. JIareh 24. The secretary is also a member of the board of editors 

 of the American Forestry Magazine, anil is also a member of a sub-com- 

 mitlee of the forestry committee of the National Conservation Congress. 

 These facts are mentioned to show that we are closely in touch with the 

 fori'stry movement. Men prominent in this movement in the United States 

 appreciate the active cooperation of the lumbermen, and realize the de- 

 velopment of economic conditions that is necessary before wo can apply 

 sclent Iflc forestry methods to our business. It behooves us to keep closely 

 in touch with the forestry movement. 



The National association was represented at the hearing upon track 

 scales and track scale weights before the Interstate Commerce Commission 

 at Washington. I). C. April IG by George K. Smith of St. Louis, who 

 will report upon the same. Briefs have been filed by the West Coast Lum- 

 ber Manufacturers' Association and by the Southern Cypress Manufacturers' 

 Association. Tt Is a matter In which our ccimbiued membership Is very 

 nuich interested. 



Believing that our members would be interested in being advised of 

 those matters before Qongress which in any way affect the lumber industry, 

 we liave issued occasional circulars covering very briefly information con- 

 cerning proposed legislation and the activities of various government de- 

 partments. These circulars will be issued while Congress is in session, and 

 ■sent to tltose members desiring them. 



Certain interests are seeking to discredit the wooden shingle, and the 

 agitation against it has been carried into various cities where ordinances 

 to prevent the use of shingles for new construction are being con- 

 siderid. The principal point of attack just now is Birmingham, Ala., 

 where the Southern Cypress Manufacturers' Association and the West 

 Coast Lumber Manufacturers' Association, through the otfice of the Na- 

 tional association, are co-operating with the local lumbermen in an effort 

 to counteract the efforts of the substitute interests. 



The foregoing refers briefly to the more important accomplishments of 

 the National association during the past five months. It is proposed 

 that the association should undertake various lines of work for the benefit 

 of the lumber industry, among which the following are suggested : 



The standardization of patterns and sizes of dressed lumber in soft- 

 woods, a suggestion not difficult of accomplishment if taken up seriousl.v. 

 Also to work out with the box manufacturers a standard of box lumber in 

 order that a standard of strength tests and sizes for boxes may be uni- 

 versally adopted, as is so much desired by the various classification com- 

 mittees of the railroads. 



An exhaustive investigation of the progress made to date in the 

 utilization of waste material both in the woods and sawmills, to he made 

 by an expert working under the direction of a committee, who will be 

 competent to recommend siich further experiments as may be necessary 

 to carry present processes of utilization to the highest commercial etBciency. 



The establishment of a traflic department for the purpose of investigating 

 comparative railroad rates on lumber and other commodities, and to 

 handle transportation questions of common interest coming before the 

 Interstate Commerce Commission. 



To promote the proposed forests products exhibition, organizing a stock 

 company to finance the same for the purpose of advertising lumber 

 products in that manner without any direct financial returns other than the 

 reimbursement of costs. 



The establishment of an Insurance Department for the management of 

 a uuitual iuter-insurance feature, which it is believed would produce a 

 revenue snificient to pay all expenses of the organization : and to keep in 

 touch with insurance legislation. Including workingmen's compensation, in 

 the various states, as well as to report to the manufacturers the affairs 

 and standing of the board fire insurance companies. 



The employment of a professional forester of national reputation, who 

 will consult with and advise private owners of timbcrlands as to (he 

 best methods by which scientific forestry can 1>e applied to practical log- 

 ging operations In order that the timber supply may be perpetuated. It is 

 contended that conditions exist in various sections of the country which 

 make sui-h work feasible at this time. or. which at least justify experiment, 

 and that if the lumbermen do not themselves take the Initiative In adopting 

 such methods, they may some day be compelled to do so. 



Obviousl.v. not all of these suggestions can be adopted now. although 

 it will 111' seen that there is much which the association i-an do for the 

 rood of the Industry, which cannot he done by the territorial associations. 

 We are very sure that the National T.,imiber Manufacturers" Association has 

 justified its existence tip to this time. It will be able to accomplish 

 results in the future only in proportion as It is supported by those in 

 whose Interest it Is conducted. 



Report of Treasurer .T. A. Freeman, of Pasadena, Cal., was then 

 read by Secretary Rhodes. , 



Secretary Rhodes then read the rejiort of the meeting of the 

 board of governors., They held a meeting at the hotel on Monday 

 preceding the convention. The conclusions of the governors are 

 embodied in the report of the resolutions committee appearing at 

 the end of this story. 



W. K. Biederman, manager of the National Lumber Manufac- 

 turers' Credit Corporation, publishers of the Blue Book, with 

 offices in St. Louis, Mo., reporting on the work of that department 

 of the National Lumber Jranufacturers' Association, said that 

 the Credit Corporation is in excellent shape in every way, and its 

 usefulness is growing. He said that it is planned to open up a 

 branch office in Chicago in the near future. 



President Griggs then introduced Alfred G. Cruickshank, of New 

 York, who spoke on the subject "The Business of Government 

 and the Government of Business." This talk appears as a spe- 

 cial article in this issue of n.\RDW00D Record. 



Col. L. C. Boyle, of Kansas City, an attorney prominently con- 

 nected with lumber affairs, spoke convincingly on the subject of 

 "Workmen's Compensation Legislation." This address will apnear as 

 a special article in the .Tune 2.') issue of ITardwood Record. In com- 

 menting on the provision in the Ohio law which provides that an ein- 

 jiloye can, if he wishes, have a jury trial, Mr. Boyle said that this was 



