HARDWOOD RECORD 



17 



to wboiiipvtn- wishes to purchase it. It is hoped to pay six per cent 

 <livitleiicl thereon, provided the earnings of the corporation permit. 



The holding ol an exposition either in Chicago or New Yorls during 

 the coming winter or spring is contemplated, but definite arrange- 

 ments cannot be made until the enterprise is properly financed for 

 the sale of stock. 



Thus this long-talkedof-effort on the part of the manufacturers of 

 the products of American forests to preserve their rightful markets 

 has at last reached a definite basis and it is hoped it will continue as 

 auspiciously as it seems to have begun. 



Strong Enough to Walk Alone 



A REALIZATION OF THE SPLENDID QUALITIES contained 

 in the wood within the, bark of a red gum tree is becoming 

 more and more apparent from year to year. The remarkable suc- 

 cess w'ith which the efforts to exploit this beautiful product of 

 the domestic forests have been met is a matter of history and 

 doos not need to be reviewed on this occasion. It is unques- 

 tionably a fact that where red gum has not been adopted, it is 

 not because it is not known, but rather because, like every known 

 species, it is not adajjtable for every conceivable purpose and fur- 

 ther because certain users are too strongly wedded to certain 

 other kinds of hardwoods to pass them up for the sake of tr^'ing 

 out something with which they are not very familiar. .\lso, the 

 nnhealth}- reputation as to warping, checking, twisting, etc., which 

 red gum formerly deserved has had a great deal to do with its 

 (-onsumrlion and even now is checking its progress, to an appro 

 ciable degree. But with the employment of the most modern meth- 

 ods of curing red gum, its general use to the extent to which it 

 can be produced is a pretty well assured fact. 



Ked gum's success can be attributed to its exceptional physi- 

 cal qualities, combined with an entirely pleasing color and a really 

 beautiful grain. Bear this statement in mind. We now come to 

 the real point of this editorial, which is that it is an entirely 

 foolish policy to rob such an e.xcellent wood of the publicity to 

 which it is entitled by reason of the aforementioned virtues and 

 give this publicity to other woods which in themselves are amply 

 able to stand on their own legs. By this it is meant that attempts 

 on the part of numerous manufacturers of furniture and house 

 fittings of various kinds are making a mistake in attempting, and 

 in most cases attempting successfully, to market red gum products 

 as mahogany or Circassian walnut. 



Of course in the first instance, it is usually true that the wood 

 does not masquerade as mahogany, but is merely described as 

 having mahogany finish. On the other hand, however, it is a very 

 common sight to see in furniture stores beautiful samples of red 

 gum chiffoniers, bureaus, dressers, etc., in connection with which 

 no effort has been made to give red gum its justly due credit. These 

 lines are almost invariably listed boldly as Circassian walnut. 



It is unquestionably true that by so listing their stock, dealers 

 can realize more handsomely from such goods than if the wood 

 were marketed under the name "red gum.'' On the other hand, 

 the present course is foolish in that the supply of Circassian wal- 

 nut and mahogany is not r-o great as it has been and the price 

 of articles made from these two beautiful woods will probably 

 Qcver again attain the former level and will unquestionably rise 

 as the years go by until eventually it demands a price that is pro- 

 hibitive for a great many home builders. Hence they will turn 

 to the woods which offer a satisfactory appearance at prices more 

 easily within reach. One 01 these woods is going to be red gum 

 for a good many years to come. Therefore, why not provide now 

 for this future contingency and create in the public mind the most 

 favorable impression possible of manufactured products made from 

 red gum veneer or lumber .' Such a course will not only return a 

 better average price for red gum products for all time, tut will 

 materially lessen the ultimate cost of marketing such products 

 when they become one of the standards used by the average house- 

 holder. Of course it can be argued that the dealer is entitled to 

 all he can get out of his immediate sales and, judging from some 

 of the price marks on reil gum articles, he is realizing very hand- 



somely. This argument would assuredly hold good wherever such 

 a dealer or manufacturer contemplates retiring from business 

 within the next two or three years, but if he is building his busi- 

 ness with the intention to continue indefinitely and to expand, he 

 should consider seriously whether or not red gum should not im- 

 mediately come into its own and be allowed to walk on its own 

 legs, thus gathering strength for the more serious trials of man- 

 hood. 



Crops and the Railroads 



^IIILK THE MA.JOKITY OF SHIPPERS other than farmers 

 ' usually find more cause for sorrow than joy in the annual 

 crop movement in the vast farming regions in the West, due to the 

 fact that this contingency requires the movement of most of the 

 freight cars and available cash in the country to that section, the 

 lumber trade atMeast, can find a measure of satisfaction in the 

 condition this year Inasmuch as the railroads find themselves not 

 overly equipped with rolling stock to take care of the tremendous 

 grain shipments, they are under the necessity of buying a 

 large amount of lumber for the purpose of repairing such rolling 

 stock as is not now in good condition, and, with carbuild- 

 ing companies, are mighty busy right now in the construction of 

 new freight cars. Thus, while the old adage '-It never rains 

 but it pours" is applicable to this condition, on the other hand, 

 another old saying having to do with an "ill wind"' also applies 

 to the present situation. 



Steel People Behind This? 



^IIE LATi-:,ST A.\D UXE i>F THE ilUST SERIOUS ATTACKS 

 ••■ on the use of forest products for building purposes is the 

 1 roposal contained in a drafted revision of the building code of 

 New York City, which is being submitted by the revision com- 

 mittee on that subject. The revision specifies that lumber or 

 wood of any kind is to bj eliminated from all buildings oyer 

 twelve stories high. Its seriousness does not lie entirely in the re- 

 vision as it stands, but in its serious possibilities to the lumber 

 trade. It is a fact that the modern sky-scraper as it stands today 

 contains but a small percentage of wood in its entire construc- 

 tion but it would seem the natural sequence of the successful cul- 

 mination of such an effort on the part ef wood substitute advo- 

 cates would be that they endeavor to have passed similar action 

 regarding building construction coming under the twelve-story 

 limit. Of course it is not sn absolutely assured fact that such 

 would be the case, but i.t »s the logical conclusion. Tho present 

 code in New York City permits the use of fireproof wood iu the 

 sky-scraper type of building and it is probable that those inter- 

 ested in steel products and other so-calleil fireproof building mate- 

 lials are even jealous of this concession to wood and are behind 

 the movement to absolutely eliminate this so-called fire danger. 

 .Vs to the necessity for such a measure, it has been proven in 

 these columns time and time again by actual and specific illus- 

 trations that properly installed woodwork is in no way a source 

 of fire danger. It is not necessary to review these arguments as 

 the lumber trade as individuals is probably well posted. 



The tremendous import of this proposed revision cannot be too 

 strongly and emphatically urged. It is not a local proposition con- 

 fined in its interests to the members of the trade operating in New 

 York City, for if New Y^ork should adopt such a regulation now 

 it unquestionably would lead not only to the adoption of similar 

 rules for building construction of all kinds, but would be adopted 

 by other large communities all over the country. On the other 

 hand, if by successfully setting forth the arguments in favor of 

 wood the lumber trade can convince the administration of New 

 York City that the passage of such a regulation would work a 

 tremendous injustice, a step of vast importance in combating wood 

 substitutes would be accomplished because of the precedent estab- 

 lished. 



On the other hand, the actual passage of the revision might pos- 

 sibly have beneficial effects in that it would certainly bring the 

 lumber trade to a realization of the fact that it must go after the 

 quostion on a broadei" basis than it has heretofore. Some en 



