28 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



May 10, 1922 



{Continued from pane 2<>i 

 men, who believed that every boy needed the discipline of a useful 

 trade, got him a job in a woodworking plant, where he could learn the 

 woodturner's art. 



Young Huthsteiner remained at the woodturner's lathe until he was 

 about 20 when he quit this engrossing business to go clerking on a 

 steamboat running the sluggish Ohio river between Louisville, Ky., and 

 Evansville, Ind. He kept at this until he became head clerk or purser. 



By 1892 Mr. Huthsteiner had tired of cussing nigger roustabouts 

 and seeing the world from the mud deck of a river steamer and went 

 back to Tell City to resume the dignities of bank clerk. For the 

 next tivc years he was a banker and forgot the picturesque language 

 of the riverman. Then he quit to go into the general insurance 

 business. 



It was not until 1907, that, by buying a little stock in the Tell 

 City Furniture Company, he became interested in the furniture busi- 

 ness. His active interest in the furniture business did not, however, 

 begin until March, 1912, when he was offered the job of manager of the 

 Tell City Furniture Company and at the insistence of the directors of 

 the company, accepted it. 



Since that time Mr. Huthsteiner 's biography has been involved in 

 the growth and increasing prosperity of the Tell City Furniture Com- 

 pany, of which he is still manager and treasurer. Since he took hold 

 of the plant its production capacity has been more than quadrupled. 

 The plant has been improved to a state of high mechanical efBciency 

 and the company placed in a strong financial condition, which permits 

 the regular payment to the stockholders of satisfactory dividends. 

 When Mr. Huthsteiner took hold the factory was producing a very 

 ordinary line of bedroom furniture, but it is now turning out a high 

 class line that will stand comparison with any in the country. The 

 highest manufacturing standards are maintained at the plant and 

 some of the finest veneers and hardwood lumber obtainable are used 

 in the furniture produced. 



During his career as a furniture manufacturer Mr. Huthsteiner has 

 found the. time and energy not only to improve his own organization, 

 but to take part in the j)rogressive co-operative movements of the in- 

 dustry. He has been an active member of the National Alliance of Case 

 Goods Manufacturers and a member of its executive committee since 

 its organization. He is also a member of the National Council of Fur- 

 niture Associations, being a delegate to that body from the National 

 Alliance of Case Goods Manufacturers. He was a member of the school 

 board of Tell City for eight or nine years and president of the Tell 

 Citv Chaml)er of Commerce a number of years. 



Detroit Buyers Announce Strengthening 

 of Hardwood Market 



"There has been a considerable strengthening in the undertone 

 of the market, and quotations are now made at advance figures 

 over a month ago," begins a consensus of opinion on the hardwood 

 lumber outlook, which was formulated by the Purchasing Agents' 

 Association of Detroit at a lumber commodity meeting of that 

 organization in Detroit, Mich., on April 22, with C. H. Stever as 

 chairman. 



The market survey continues: 



However, because of special conditions, financial and otherwise, 

 affecting various firms, lumber desired in large quantities by firms of 

 high credit rating is being secured at the same prices paid a month 

 ago. But this is proving increasingly difficult, and we do not believe 

 that this will prevail much longer. 



The expected increase in purchasing for building is now taking 

 place to a large extent. Further, the long-hoped for increase in rail- 

 road buying is beginning to be noticed. On the other hand, buying by 

 the furniture industry, and particularly the agricultural industry, is 

 still on a small scale, but the outlook for both of these is for a gradual 

 increase in purchases. 



One unforeseen factor which will greatly affect the lumber market 

 are the flood conditions throughout almost the entire Mi-ssissippi Basin 

 and principal tributaries. These are more severe than for a number of 

 years and are putting out of operation a large number of lumber mills. 

 This condition by lessening supply will, to that extent, have an upward 

 effect upon the market at least until these mills are able to run again, 

 which will probably take two or three months. 



.Summarizing: In placing orders at today's prices for requirements 

 during the next three months buyers will be safe, because any price 

 changes which take place will be upward and not downward. In this 

 we refer particularly to the best grades of hardwood lumber which are 

 used so extensively in this territory. There is still .so much greater 

 supply than demand of cheaper grades that real price concessions are 

 made to move same in large quantities. 



F.\CTORY AND CRATING LUMBER: This market is paralleling 

 very closely the developments in the hardwood market. There is a 

 strengthening in price for the best grades, and every indication that 

 prices will be higher than they are today during at least the next three 

 months. There is still the same lagging behind in price for the cheaper 

 grades because of the very slight demand. And appreciable price con- 

 cessions can be obtained in quantity purchases. 



Clubs and Associations 



Manufacturers Confer and Will Confer with Hoover on Grade- 

 Marking 



To make arrangements for putting into effect the resolution of tbe 

 National Lumber Manufacturers' Association adopted at the recent meet- 

 ing in Chicago, which called for co-operation with the Department of 

 Commerce for the grade marking of lumber and other means of protecting 

 the buyers and users of lumber. John W. Blodgett. president, and Wilson 

 Compton, manager, of the National association were in conference with 

 Secretary of Commerce Hoover at the Department of Commerce, April 25. 



Plans were discussed whereby the department and the National asso- 

 ciation will join in the effort to encourage the observance throughout the 

 lumber trade of definite standards of grade and quantity, standard sizes 

 ami grades, and will discourage the making of deliveries short in amount 

 or inferior in quality. Mr. Hoover offered enthusiastic aid in carrying out 

 this work from which much good is expected to result. 



A committee composed of one member from each subscribing associa- 

 tion of the National will be appointed for the purpose of considering this 

 subject in detail with Secretary Hoover. The following principles will 

 si'rve as a guide for the committee: (1) The grade marking of lumber, 

 as a means of protecting the buyers and users of lumber. (2) Such 

 marks, in connection with the grade marking as will make possible the 

 idiuitification. through the association, if any, to which it belongs, of the 

 mill manufacturing and shipping the lumber. (3) The placing, in each 

 car of lumber at the mill shipping such lumber, of a card giving a piece 

 tally of the grade or grades of lumber contained therein. (4) A sim- 

 plification and standardization of sizes, fair and equitable to the producers 

 of lumber, which will eliminate the waste incident to excess variety, 

 and confusion, of sizes. (5) The rigid maintenance of grades (and of 

 standard sizes,- if established) through association inspection. 



The National representatives also gave the secretary an invitation to 

 use as he sees fit all of the statistical information which is compiled and 

 distributed by the National association. Such information, if the secre- 

 tary desires it. will be placed in his hands immediately upon being com- 

 piled. He is being urged to give this lumber information publicity ea<'U 

 wpck. If such arrangement is made it will be the first involving the 

 I)ublication by the department of trade association statistical information 

 covering periods of less than one month. 



Michigan Millmen Meet in Detroit May 18 



A special meeting of the Michigan Hardwood Manufacturers' Associa- 

 tion will be held at the Statler Hotel, Detroit, Mich., Thursday. May 18, 

 at 10 a. m., Detroit time. F. (». Harden, president, and .T. C. Knox, secre- 

 tary, are urging a full representation of the membership, as matters of 

 importance, such as standardization of sizes and grades of lumber and 

 current information surrounding the lumber industry, are to be handled. 



Millwork Cost Bureau Moves 

 The Millwork Cost P.ur.-au. formiM-ly locatiMl at 11 South La Salle street, 

 Chicago, has removed its beadtiuarters to more cotiimodimis and convenient 

 olH< »'s at 60."» North Michigan avenue. In advising of the change Secretary 

 W. r. Flint writes : "The expanded service and increased membership 

 have overtaxed our former tjuarters, and it became necessary to obtain 

 more space. The change places us in position to render even more etficient 

 service than heretofore." 



Southwestern Millmen to Meet in Texas 



George Schaad. Jr.. si'crptary of the Southwestern Hardwood Manufac- 

 turers' Club, with headquarters at New Orleans, calls attention of the 

 members of that organization to the fact that the May meeting of the 

 club will be held at the Render Hotel at Houston, Tex., instead of at New 

 Orleans as usual. The meeting will take place on the third Wednesday of 

 the month, May 17. Plans are being made for a record-breaking gather- 

 ing, with special efforts being made to draw into the meeting practically 

 evi-ry hardwood operator, whether member or non-member, of the great 

 Lone Star State. 



