18 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



October 10, 1922 



John W. Blodgett, 

 Chairman of Committee 



John H. Kirby. 

 Manufacturers* Representative 



Dwight Hinckley, 

 Wholesalers' Representative 



various branches of the lumber industry, their best judgment as to 

 what should be done to effectuate simplification and standardiza- 

 tion and how it should be brought about. It seemed to be the 

 general opinion that some agency should be set up that would be a 

 center of information, direction and stimulation of the program 

 that should be independent of any existing trade organization, 

 although i' was suggested that the National Lumber Manufac- 

 turers ' Association, with its headquarters in Washington, might be 

 able to provide the machinery of administration through which 

 the proposed bureau or committee could work. 



The committee met with Mr. Hoover in the afternoon and John 

 W. Blodgett, chairman, explained to him how the committee has 

 been chosen and that it was in Washington to report progress and 

 push the work to a successful conclusion as soon as possible. He 

 thought that in a day or two they would be able to clarify the 

 situation. Each member of the committee then told Mr. Hoover 

 of the progress of the simplification idea in his particular depart- 

 ment of the industry, and all agreed that the idea had taken root, 

 that much educational work had been accomplished and that it is 

 only a matter of time when the goal set by Mr. Hoover would be 

 realized. In the course of the informal conversation that followed, 

 Mr. Hoover said, among other things: 



There are now twelve lumber associations that maintain an inspection 

 service. I think it would be a great step to get these existing services open 

 to the public. Then we could have some sort of a clearing house In that 

 line and in time inspection will become more and more centralized. In 

 suggesting national inspection, nation-wide not governmental inspection 

 but by the industry itself, is intended. I noticed one association (Mr. 

 Hoover referred to the National Hardwood Lumber Association) got clear 

 out of bounds on this subject and played on the use of the word "national." 

 This must be an entirely voluntary enterprise on the part of the industry, 

 and if it can be accomplished will be one of the greatest forward steps ever 

 taken by American Industry as a whole. There should be set up a staff 

 with a directing mind of the first order, behind which the Central Com- 

 mittee should stand in the tedious and comprehensive task of effecting 

 grade simplification, size standardization and certification of quality and 

 quantity, or inspection, of lumber throughout the country. This man 

 needs to be chosen from the industry, should not be a sheer expert, and 

 should be of such standing that his name will command attention and 

 respect. This enterprise cannot be put through solely by a committee of 

 busy men absorbed in their own affairs. There must be a continuous cen- 

 tral activity. I feel gratified that so much substantial progress has come 

 out of our conference here last spring. Of course, it is not to he expected 

 that so large an undertaking could be accomplished in a few months. 

 Naturally, there are discordant elements. But the problem now Is to get 

 Into practical operation the consensus of Judgment of the industry on 

 tlH'se subjects. Some sort of a continuous staff Is necessary to that end. 



After conferring with Mr. Hoover the committee went into active 

 ooiiflideration of the simplification program step by step, being 



assisted by W. A. Durgin, Mr. Hoover's chief of Division of Sim- 

 plified Practice. It is expected that it will take the committee three 

 or four days to draft its conclusions regarding simplification and 

 the administration of its effectuation. The members of the com- 

 mittee who were or will be in attendance are: Chairman John W. 

 Blodgett, Grand Eapids, Mich., president of the National Lumber 

 Manufacturers' Association; John H. Kirby, Houston, Tex., presi- 

 dent of the Southern Pine Association and former president of the 

 National Lumber Manufacturers' Association; John E. Lloyd, 

 Philadelphia, president of the National Eetail Lumber Dealers' 

 Association; Dwight Hinckley of Cincinnati, director of the Amer- 

 ican Wholesale Lumber Association, representing the lumber whole- 

 salers; W. E. Hawley, Duluth, Minn., representing the Association 

 of Railway Executives and the building engineers, and E. S. Hall 

 of Chicago, representing the American Institute of Architects. 



Committee Reports Progress to Hoover 

 The Central Committee on Lumber Standards, having devoted 

 the afternoon and evening of October 3 to canvassing the "agenda" 

 prepared as a guide for its deliberations, spent October 4 in deter- 

 mining the form of organization to be set up in order to work out, 

 as well as to effect the general accep ance of its final conclusions 

 regarding simplification and standardization of the lumber indus- 

 try. Late the afternoon of October 4 the committee reported to 

 Secretary of Commerce Hoover the result of its deliberations so 

 far, in substance, as follows: 



The Chicago standardization conference in nominating the com- 

 mittee, designated John W. Blodgett, Grand Eapids, Mich., presi- 

 dent of the National Lumber Manufacturers' Association, as chair- 

 man, and Mr. Blodgett has undertaken to act as the executive 

 head of the committee's activities. W. E. Hawley of Duluth, mem- 

 ber of the committee, representing the American Bailway Associa- 

 tion and the engineering profession, was elected vice-chairman. 

 Dwight Hinckley of Cincinnati, director of the American Wholesale 

 Lumber Association, was elected secretary, and John E. Lloyd of 

 Philadelphia, president of the National Eetail Lumber Dealers' 

 Association, treasurer. R. G. Merritt was appointed executive 

 secretary. Mr. Merritt has had a long experience in lumbering, 

 forestry and commercial economics and is thoroughly familiar -ivith 

 the lumber standardization movement. 



The various departments of the lumber and allied industries, 

 trades and professions concerned in the standardization movement 

 will be called upon to designate members of a technical staff which 

 (Continued on page 20) 



