CllAKl-ES U. liAKXABV. (iUICKM ASTI.E. IND., 

 ItKKLECTED PHICSIUIJNT 



been confined to a very small percentage of members regularly employing 

 the service. In the recommendations submitted to you by the Inspection 

 rules committee they have advised some modifications that will, in their 

 opinion, remove this criticism. You, no douht, have given due con- 

 sideration to the recommendations and I have no fear that other than 

 wise counser will prevail. This I will say; there is no niemljer of the 

 association who would not be wor.ie off with every rule in the book written 

 to suit his taste exactly and with no association to enforce such rules 

 than he is today with some rubs which may not suit his fancy, but with 

 many other rules which are to his interest, all of which are rendered 

 effective by the prestige which the association possesses at this time. 



I can not emphasize too strongly the quality of this membership aud it 

 is a source of much pride to me that the best firms in all branches of 

 the trade are now on the membership roll. I am proud to be on this list 

 and consider it a great honor indeed to have served as your president. 



It is with pleasure that I call your attention to the reporting system 

 which hits been installed during this year. In our first call for reports 

 from the consuming trade we requested a financial ri'porl, as well as 

 statement of amount aud kind of lumber consumed annually. Over fifty 

 per cent responded to our first letter and at the present time we have 

 over five hundred reports on file, which can be obtained on request. This 

 department has great possibilities and those who have used it are enthusi- 

 astic in their praise of its value. It has already passed the experimental 

 stage and we are satisfied will prove of great value to our members. 

 Up to the present time no charge has been made to the members for these 

 reports, but to perfect the department and render it more elfieient means 

 an additional expense aud possibly a slight charge for these reports will 

 be found necessary. 



We are closing the year in sound condition financially, as the secretary- 

 treasurer's report will show. It has been suggested that an increase in 

 annual dues or inspection fees should be considered at this time, to the 

 end that the association be enabled to establish a reserve fund and be 

 placed on a strong financial basis. The field for new members is 

 rapidly narrowing and less revenue will accordingly be forthcoming from 

 initiation fees. As mentioned above. 100 new members have been enrolled 

 this year, which has brought us a revenue of ?4,<l()0. but we cannot 

 expect to continuously derive this amount from that source, and I recom- 

 mend that the subject of an increase in annual dues be considered at 

 this meeting. No association of any kind does so much for its member- 

 ship on such small annual dues. 



Very few of the officers and directors have charged their expenses in 

 attending Iroard meetings. We have now reached a point where we 

 should assume these expenses. When the association was struggling for a 

 foothold and funds were scarce these men gave their time and expenses 

 freely and are still doing so. 



You will later hear the reports of the inspection rules committee, spe- 

 cial committee on overweight claims, transportation committee, forestry 

 committee and waterways committee. The members of these several com- 

 mittees have given much time and thought to their subjects, always bear- 

 ing the good of the a.ssociation in mind. 



The year's work as your chairman has been most pleasant. I wish to 

 lake this opportunity to thank the members, officers, directors and mem- 

 bers of committees for their kind and loyal support and to assure them of 

 my grateful appreciation. I also desire to thank the lumber press for 

 its assistance and support of the association. 



We must not overlook the fact that the success of our association is 

 largely due to the wise and intelligent management of Secretary Fish and 

 his able assistants, the chief inspector and his efficient deputies. 



The addi-e.ss of the secretary-treasurer, Frank F. Fisli, was then 

 read as follows: 

 —,38— 



FKANK F. FISH, l 1 i IC.\( :i i. SFt lil'.lAU V 



llItSON E. YEAGEK. BUFFALO, N. Y.. 

 Fl ST VICE PKESIDENT 



Beport of Secretary- Treasurer 



The National Hardwood Lumber Association, during the fiscal year 

 which closes with this convention has made greater progress in every 

 department than in any previous year in its history. There is no market 

 or section in the United States or Canada in which its rules do not govern, 

 nor is there any section in which buyers are unwilling to recognize its 

 official inspection. The figures which are presented in this, my eighth 

 annual report, show in detail the exact amount of lumber Inspected in 

 the various markets, the increase in membership, and the resources as 

 indicated by our books at this time. 



In drafting tills report and statement it is impossible to list the asset 

 of greatest value and importance, which consists of the confidence and 

 good will of practically <'very important buyer of hardwoods throughout 

 the United States and Canada, who has become convinced, thnmgh many 

 tests, that the present rules and their ofllcial application, through the 

 inspection bureau, furnish protection and provide fairly for his interests. 

 .\ large number, probably a majority of the new members who have 

 joined our ranks during the year, have done so in recognition of the 

 valuable services rendered to all branches of the hardwood industry, hut 

 there are a nimiber who have become identified with tills association 

 because they found it dilHcult in some cases, and absolutely impossible in 

 many instances, to obtain recognition from rt^presentative buyers unless 

 they placed themselves in a position to furnish the biuided certificate in 

 case of a dispute or dilTerence after the arrival of their stocks. It is 

 therefore evident that this association has established a service that has 

 become an absolute necessity in many instances to the successful conduct 

 of business. 



The figures iiresented in this report show that the lnspe<'tion depart- 

 ment has olficially inspected a larger amount of lumlier eiuring the past 

 twelve months than in any similar period in the record of the department. 

 While this increase In volume is gratifying, far greater satisfaction is 

 offered in the indisputable evidence to follow, of greater efficiency. This 

 is evidenced by the fact that fewer re-inspections and complaints have 

 been registered on a volume of 170,000,000 feet than were received during 

 .years when the inspection bureau totals were less than 80,000,000. No 

 one can successfully contradict the statement that a greater degree of 

 uniformity exists today in the application of National rules by the force 

 of licensed inspectors than ever before. 



It is my belief that the force of inspeclors now in the employ of this 

 association Is the most competent .'tnd reliable that can be secured. Our 

 confidence in the judgment and ability of the force is best illustrated by a 

 brief statement of a general offer that is being made whenever serious 

 complaint or criticism is offered. Occasionally a letter is received charging 

 that the inspector representing the association in some market has dis- 

 criminated unfairly against the shipper and in a few Instances the 

 charge has l>een made that such inspector is influenced to the detriment 

 of the shipper by local buyers. In all cases we ri-jily to the writers t^f 

 these letters urging that they meet the chief inspector of the association 

 at the point where the lumber is located and go over it with him, and 

 the association guarantees to pay railroad fare and all other expense of 

 the shipper if, after the investigation, he is not convinced that the 

 original inspector's work was absolutely fair to his interests and that he 

 received the protection to which he was entitled under the National rules 

 of inspection. During the year this proposition has been accepted by a 

 number of firms and without exception the charges of unfairness or incom- 

 petency have l>een withdrawn and the association files now contain 

 numerous letters testifying that the charges brought were without founda- 

 tion and that the error was that of some inspector other than the National 

 Hardwood Ltmiber Association's dejuity. 



The figures in detail of the Inspection department for Ihe year ending 



