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HARDWOOD RECORD 



are hardwood manufacturers in any other part of the country, 

 both as to total stocks on hand, stocks on hand unsold, and pre- 

 vailing prices realized from sales. The northern manufacturer 's 

 lumber is probably no better than is the lumber of the southern 

 manufacturer, nor is the product of the northern mills any better 

 suited to the purpose for which it is used than is the product of 

 the southern mills for its particular purposes. It is simply a con- 

 dition which has been brought about and maintained by the close 

 working together of the members, their absolute sincerity in their 

 dealings with each other, and their absolute lack of fear of the 

 trustworthiness of their competitors. 



As stated by the manager of one of Michigan's biggest opera- 

 tions, there is less warring among the manufacturers than formerly. 

 They may have grievances but they hesitate a long while before 

 laying tliemselves liable to the inevitable loss resulting from enter- 

 ing a commercial battle with a competitor on an unnatural basis. 

 Furthermore, with a better understanding of each other, the feel- 

 ing of the various members as regards their competitors seems 

 to be broader and bigger than in former years. This is more or 

 less of an ideal condition but it is one which, if general through- 

 out the lumber producing states of the country, would unques- 

 tionably result to the vast benefit of the lumber industry as a 

 whole. 



Loss and Damage of Freight 



ACCOEDING TO A EECENT EEPORT the per cent of loss and 

 damage of freight to total revenue on the various railroads of 

 the country increased more than 33^ per cent from 1902 to 1912. 

 The total payment on damage claims was more than twice in 1912 what 

 it was ten years before. The latter condition is due as much to 

 increased total revenue indicating increased shipment, as it is to 

 increases in the actual damage, but nevertheless the percentage itself 

 is a strong indication in that it shows that there has been a marked 

 acceleration in loss with the increased use of the fiber container. 



The percentage of damage to freight revenue in 1902 was .915 and 

 in 1912 was 1.288. In 1911 it was 1.277 and in 1910, 1.140. The 

 figures for these three years note an increase in loss to the railroads 

 simultaneous with the increase in shipments in containers other than 

 those made of wood. This is merely another proof of the fact that the 

 wood container is in most cases superior to all others. 



Favor Higher Rates 



IN AN INTERVIEW published in a manufacturers' publication one 

 of the largest shippers in the country, J. Ogden Armour, is quoted 

 as saying that he favors the granting to the railroads of a general 

 increase in rates. Mr. Armour is quoted further as saying that all 

 rates should be increased and at once; that they are far too low to 

 enable investors to get fair returns from their investments, and an 

 increase in rates should result in immediate improvements in all trades 

 and commerce. 



Mr. Armour contends that everybody should be willing to have the 

 rates raised, when everybody would find improvements which would 

 benefit them. There is too much interference in this country, accord- 

 ing to the prominent citizen in question, by the government with the 

 manner in which the railroads conduct their business. 



The same articles quotes various other shippers of enormous quan- 

 tities of freight, all of whom hold the same opinion as expressed 

 by Mr. Armour. 



Theoretically, the contention of these men is undoubtedly based 

 on logical deductions. It is unquestionably a fact that if the railroads 

 secured greater revenues and if the railroads immediately sank this 

 added income in improvements of service and extension of lines, 

 developing new territory, the country in general would prosper. 



It is equally true that if the railroads were given added earning 

 power their stocks would immediately attain a much more favorable 

 condition. This condition would certainly be reflected on stocks in 

 general. Furthermore, with the railroads feeling that they were earn- 

 ing all they could possibly be expected to, they would certainly feel 

 more inclined to get into the purchasing market themselves. 



On the other hand, it is argued that while the railroads would, of 

 course, earn more if they were allowed the proposed advances in 



rates, the increased revenue derived would not be turned into develop- 

 ment of new territory, but would be diverted into other channels, and 

 that is the point on which the matter hinges. There apparently is no 

 way of proving the justice of either side of the controversy and insofar 

 as the public concerns itself with such questions it is pretty much 

 up in the air as to whether or not it would feel any favorable effects 

 from the advances sought by the railroad companies in the East. 



On the face of it it seems that it would be a difficult matter to 

 convince the average consumer that he would be benefited by raising 

 the cost of the commodity he buys to the extent that the cost of 

 shipping it is increased. It is a safe bet that ninety-nine per cent 

 of the population of the country would prefer "a bird in the hand," 

 as exemplified by the present level of rates, to the "two birds in 

 the bush, ' ' as exemplified by more or less emphemeral dreams on the 

 part of the railroad officials regarding the possible development of 

 new territory, the opening up of new lines of consumption, and hence 

 increasing the general prosperity of the country. 



An effort has been made to graphically show the situation in a car- 

 toon appearing on page 19 of this issue of Hardwood Eecosd. 



A Business Administration 



THE ABOVE DESIGNATION is occasionally applied to the admin- 

 istration of an incumbent of the White House at Washington. It 

 is more frequently applied to the administrations of various officers 

 holding office in the different trade associations of the country. It is 

 nowhere more strikingly apparent than in an association directly con- 

 nected with the lumber business ; an association which stands as the 

 father of lumber associations, specifically the National Lumber Manu- 

 facturers' Association, headed by E. H. Downman, of New Orleans, 

 La., with J. E. Ehodes, Chicago, as secretary and manager. 



Mr. Rhodes, of cjurse, has to do with the active administration of 

 the affairs of the association, and it is probably due to his efforts more 

 than to anything else that the National Lumber Manufacturers' Asso- 

 ciation has attained the vastly important position it now occupies. 

 Instances are constantly comiiig to light tending to prove the absolute 

 capability of Mr. Rhodes for the position he now holds. One of the 

 latest of these is the decision governing the handling of news matter 

 pertaining to the association, to the lumber trade press. A rule has 

 been adopted that all news matter will be mailed to all trade publica- 

 tions simultaneously, thus insuring all the papers getting the same 

 advantage of news notices. At the same time the association announces 

 that it will do everything possible to get the information to the papers 

 while it is still fresh. 



It is this very spirit of cooperation which makes Mr. Ehodes popular 

 with the lumber trade publications of the country. Hardwood 

 Eecord heartily endorses his decision and believes that it is merely 

 another instance proving that the present policy of the National 

 Lumber Manufacturers' Association is one which will render it one of 

 the most powerful trade organizations in the couatry. 



A Midsummer Day Dream 



THERE IS ABUNDANT EVIDENCE of summer but none of 

 oppressive heat and humidity in the picture appearing on the 

 front cover of this issue of Hardwood Record. It may properly be 

 called a midsunmier day dream ; and though there is no Shakespeare 

 available to put it in the form of dramatic comedy, every man can do 

 that for himself as he sits in his office or toils in his workshop, and 

 yearns for the eternal hills, the pathless forests, and the brook that 

 goes on forever. 



The picture represents a cascade in Little river, Tennessee. The 

 photographer caught it at an opportune moment. The shadows are 

 exactly right from the viewpoint of the artist. The apparent abun- 

 dance of sunshine above is filtered down through the roof of leaves 

 and branches, and just enough reaches the rocks, water, and tree 

 trunks to give the proper flash and glint of highlights. The velvety 

 softness of the dark areas are rare effects which nature often shows 

 but the camera is seldom able to reproduce as faithfully as it has 

 been done in this picture. 



As to what lies below the foaming surface of the pool, each one's 

 imagination must decide independently of any outside suggestions. 



