i2 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



No. 3 common hardwood, the production and marketing of low- 

 grade hardwood should be watched closely, as it will be the first 

 item to respond to adverse conditions. We should continue to 

 encourage its use where it has not been used before. The use 

 of northern hardwood ties has greatly curtailed the production of 

 low-grade hardwood lumber. There is no probability of an over- 

 production of ties of this kind and w-e should encourage their 

 use. 



There is a prevalent opinion that the small amount of hard- 

 wood lumber available will be required to meet even a very 

 light demand, and while your committee does not consider mater- 

 ial advances in prices advisable at this time, it is very decid- 

 edly of the opinion that the market is strong at the recommenda- 

 tions of the April meeting. 



Hemlock 

 In our opinion, some of the producers have not shown the 

 strength in the hemlock market that stock conditions warrant. 

 A review of our reports shows a constant decrease in amount of 

 stock since 1910, there being less than half as much now as then. 

 The hemlock stocks for the different years show as follows: 



■Tulv 1. 1010 •...'. 10.3,000.000 



.Tul'v 1, 1011 1(i2.000.000 



.lillv 1 1012 113,000.000 



.Tilly i; 1913 90,000.000 



With the above showing and the estimated cut for 1913 being 

 14,000,000 less than for 1912, surely there should be no weakness 

 shown. Having reduced our stock 103,000,000 or more than half 

 in the past three years, and having reduced it 37,000,000 in the 

 past year, 23,000,000 in stock, and 11,000,000 in cut, why should 

 there not be an element of strength in the hemlock market, even 

 if large quantities of yellow pine are coming north ? With all 



the yellow pine that may be moved into the North, there will 

 still be a demand for the small amount of hemlock that we will 

 have to furnish. 



There is a good movement of hemlock now and practically all 

 carload orders are for quick shipment, indicating that dealers 

 are carrying small stocks and buying only to meet their immedi- 

 ate requirements. With the territory that gives hemlock prefer- 

 ence over yellow pine and the business that is wanted for quick 

 shipment, there should be a good demand for all the available 

 hemlock stocks. 



In the hemlock market, however, there is a lack of the specu- 

 lative feature at this time, and rail shippers seem to be favored 

 on account of being able to meet the immediate requirements 

 feature of the market. If this condition continues throughout the 

 season, the stock for water shipment may meet with slow sale 

 until rail stocks are exhausted. 



While the movement of hemlock may seem slow to some pro- 

 ducers, they must take into consideration the amount of stock 

 on hand and that it is not possible to ship as much from a 

 90,000,000 stock as from a 190,000,000 stock. Crops are good 

 throughout the country, and especially so in the hemlock con- 

 suming district. A severe car shortage seems imminent and un- 

 avoidable. We venture the opinion that whoever can furnish 

 hemlock lumber promptly after September 1 will be in position 

 to command a good price for it. 



Hemlock lath occupies a strong position, the total stock being 

 about 13,000.000 as against about 27,000,000 three years ago, and 

 about 15,000,000 one year ago. Prices are ruling firm at about 

 the top figure. 



'v;v;;;v;;^^^5^^jtOA^aA;v)tta^ 



-5^ Wisconsin Manufacturers Meet -^ 



The mid-suiiiriier niftting of the Northern Hemlock and Hardwood 

 Manufacturers' Association held in Green Bay, Wis., July 23, brought 

 out perhaps the largest attendance of any session in recent years. 

 The sessions were held on the shores of Green bay, on the veranda 

 of tlie Bay View Beach resort. 



The address of President Kdward IT. Ilamar, which opened the 

 meeting, follows: 



President's Address 



Since our last quarterly mcctins nuich history lias boon made In asso- 

 ciation work. There have been held two association meetinss. one in 

 Kansas City anil one in Chicago, each of which accomplished work that 

 will be of lastini; lienefit to the lumber manufacturers. I hail the pleasure 

 of attenillnj; both of these meetings anil was very much impressed with 

 their elHcient work. The National Lumber llanufacturers' Association 

 meeting, held in Kansas City, adopted a number of very important reso- 

 lutions, among them one endorsing the forest products exposition and 

 authorizing the boai'd of governors to devise means for financing and 

 carrying on that part of the work. A committee was immediately ap- 

 pointed by the president, and action on the proposition was so rapid 

 that the capital stock of .$25,000 has already been underwritten by seven 

 members of the association. It is to the credit of the National that it 

 has listed among its members men liberal and liroad enough to see and 

 realize the tremendous possiliilitics of an advertising scheme of this kind. 

 The forest products exposition, which was first endorsed by this associa- 

 tion. Is now an assured fact. 



Another resolution that was adopted by this association was one author- 

 izing the board of governors to devise means for organizing or taking 

 over one of the now existing inter-insurance companies. I believe that 

 the National is working along the right line in fathering this inter- 

 Insurance scheme. It is only eighteen months ago that we of onr own 

 association were trying to devise some plan for organizing a company of 

 this kind, but were forced to abandon the plan on account of limited 

 membership. 



The National Hardwood Lumber Association meeting held in Chicago 

 was quite as Important a« the Kansas City meeting. At this meeting 

 new grading rules were adopted which we believe more nearly conform 

 to the present methods of grading lumber. The manufacturers who 

 attended this meeting came away feeling well satisfied with the work 

 accomplished, and convinced that they had been fairly treated. A great 

 many of us feel that even the new rules are not exactly what are needed. 



but as they are a great improvement on the old ones, we should be satis- 

 fied to let the matter rest for some time. 



A few days ago there convened In Chicago a representative body of 

 about one hundred of the leading manufacturers from all parts of the 

 United States. If anyone wishes to know what is the matter with the 

 lumber business, he has only to read the report of that meeting. The 

 manufacturers of substitutes are spending the enormous sum of six and 

 one-half million dollars annually in advertising, while the manufacturers 

 of wood, outside of .a very few. arc spending nothing. 



Hemlock has received some hard knocks recently through the press. 

 Whether or not these derogatory press items have been published through 

 the infiuence of the press bureaus of the manufacturers of substitutes, 

 or of other associations In carrying on their advertising campaigns, I do 

 not know. I am a great believer In competitive advertising. I believe 

 that the more associations advertise the woods which they represent, the 

 more trade will be stimulated ; but I do not believe that any wood should 

 be advertised at the expense of another. All of the difTerent associations 

 should join hands to make the advertising campaigns carried on by them 

 clean ones. One of the best methods of advertising that can Im? adopted 

 by any association is an exhibit :it the forest products exposition, and I 

 recommend that action he taken by this association to formulate a plan 

 to have the woods that it stands for represented. 



Just now we are hearing a great deal about community building. This 

 is a work in which every lumberman should be Interested. He should do 

 his share towards the upbuilding of his district by joining in on any 

 proposition that will tend to increase its growth. One of the l)est methods 

 of community building and one that will increase building and the sale of 

 lumber Is through the organization of building and loan associations. A 

 progressive and honestly managed building and loan association is one 

 of the best assets which any community can have. It is the key with 

 which every wage earner may have a certainty of unlocking the door of 

 success. Through it he may finally pay for bis home and by economy and 

 care rear and properly edueate his children and lead them an example of 

 a correct and successful life. 



We have a number of problems to face to which very careful tbought 

 must be given during the next few years. First and foremost an^ng 

 these problems Is that of labor. There is no denying the fact that there 

 is a growing unrest in labor circles. Especially Is this true of common 

 labor. From my observations I am of the opinion that there arc suffi- 

 cient men In the country to perform the work there Is to do, but In 

 trying to better their condition they have become restless to such an 

 extent that their lalior is becoming Inefficient. The laborer works a few 



