36 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



W. A. GILCHRIST, MEMPHIS. TENX., 

 MEMBER EXECUTIVE BOARD 



CLINTON CRANE, CINCINNATI. O., MEMBER 

 EXECUTIVE BOARD 



JOHN W. LOVE, NASHVILLE, TENN., 

 MEMBER EXECUTIVE BOARD 



commercial and luanufaoturins zone of whicU this city is the metropolis, 

 and the center, into direct connection with the vast expanse of the 

 Atlantic ocean, where she can compete with the world. Hence, even if 

 it should turn out, gentlemen, and especially you gentlemen of Cin- 

 cinnati, that the fourth section of that much condemned act of last 

 June, intended to regulate commerce, should become effective, it will 

 have little if any effect as to whether the long or short clause is lit- 

 erally construed so far as it may affect the commercial progress of 

 Cincinnati, for it will have less effect upon it than upon any other city 

 In the world. 



The mayor expressed a most natural query that arose in his grand 

 noble and fertile mind as to why we met here. Well, now, to my mind 

 that is a pertinent question, to which some one might reply that it is 

 because Clint Crane lives here. There is no doubt but what Mr. Crane's 

 living here had a great deal to do with it. I heard another man say 

 that it was because Lewis Doster's sweetheart lives here ; and another 

 gentleman not far away said quickly. "Which one?" I heard still 

 another say. "It is because Bill DeLauey wanted it here, for he does 

 not want to go away from home so soon after the dividend period 

 until he can become accustomed to carrying so much money around." 



These and similar reasons may largely account for this convention 

 having been held here. But why should it not be held here? Geograph- 

 ically it has the advantage of perhaps any city within the territory of 

 the organization because of the magnificent characters of the representa- 

 tives of the lumber trade who are in business here. Its geographical 

 advantages added to their attractions is a sufficient reason to my mind 

 why we should meet here, because they stand for the "square deal." 

 The lumbermen of Cincinnati as a rule are prompt paying. [Applause.] 

 They do not kick: they do not make unjust claims [Applause], and 

 these good qualities make them eligible to a preferred place in the 

 affections and the hearts of all manufacturers of hardwood. [Applause.] 



And not only that, gentlemen ; the convention met here in in03, 

 1904, 1908 and 1910, together with the semi-annual meeting in 1903. 

 at every one of which meetings the membership of this association was 

 very materiall.v increased. 



Now, gentlemen, I am not going to detain you at all ; in fact, the 

 president said he called on me because he knew I would be brief. 



There Is just one matter further that I want to refer to seriously 

 now. There seems to he a sudden awakening on the part of the business 

 men throughout the world — throughout this country especially — to the 

 fact that this is the psychological moment when they should take a deep 

 Interest in the important questions that have heretofore been left to the 

 self-seeking demagogue and to the equally self-seeking muck-raker. They 

 feel that the time is now ripe, and should have been long ago, for them 

 to take an active part in all these important questions. Hence we 

 are delighted in this organization to know and to appreciate the fact 

 that a city like Cincinnati, a metropolis as it is, and enjoying the care 

 and guidance of its estimable mayor, so long as this condition of affairs 

 continues, we can anticipate no danger so far as Cincinnati is concerned, 

 or the hardwood manufacturers of the United States, but that all our 

 conditions will remain reasonably just and fair, and that we will not 

 be governed and hammered down by the demagogue and the mucl;- 

 raker and all which that implies. If their machinations were allowed 

 to continue, the souphouse would take the place of the factory and the 

 auction-room the place of the savings bank. 



But if the business men continue to Interest themselves with these 

 important questions no such calamity will happen. So let us all continue 



to "boost" and the world will boost with us; let us knock not, lest we 

 knock alone. 



Mr. Wallver: Gentlemen, all visiting members and their friends 

 are invited to attend a smoker this evening in this hall at eight 

 o'clock, as guests of the Lumbermen's Club of Cincinnati. 

 [Applause.] 



President Carrier then delivered his address, as follows: 



PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS 



Gentlemen : This is the tenth year of our association, and It has been 

 one of unusual progress, both in efficiency in its work and increase in 

 membership. 



The hardwood lumber industry ranks very prominently in the com- 

 mercial world, but there are a number of abuses existing in the methods 

 of merchandising our products that should be remedied. When we com- 

 pare our industry with others of equal prominence, we are impressed 

 with the lack of control of problems of vital interest to us, and if the 

 hardwood lumber people expect to realize the maximum results from 

 their operations they must awaken to the Importance of following more 

 progressive methods in their business than they have in the past. 



Statistics published by the government and verified by our association 

 show an alarming decrease in the hardwood timber supply, which neces- 

 saril.y means constantly increasing values of stumpage, with little hope 

 of practical reforestation — a condition, the gravity of which must be 

 recognized by every operator. 



With these thoughts in mind, it is my purpose to touch upon a 

 number of points that seem pertinent and vital to our best interests, 

 and which, it is hoped, may awaken those interested to a better under- 

 standing of the situation, and lead to the inauguration of more advanced 

 methods. 



In my judgment one of the most important problems in connection 

 with our business is the subject of grading hardwood lumber, one In 

 which the producer, wholesaler and consumer are all interested and in 

 the solution of which all must participate and co-operate. The exist- 

 ence of more than one grading rule presents the opportunity for the 

 mixing and substitution of grades, not because of any great apparent 

 variation in the rules, but because of the confusion caused by the very 

 existence of more than one rule. The producing and wholesaling elements 

 have been blamed for the manipulation of grades, and there Is no ques- 

 tion that each branch has indulged in these practices to a considerable 

 extent. However, they are not entirely responsible for these transac- 

 tions, but have been forced into it, in many Instances, by the purchasing 

 element. By such methods the consumers encourage and keep alive 

 these practices, either through ignorance or a desire to purchase below 

 the market. Apparently many of them do not realize the importance of 

 buying standard grades, which have standard values. Any other practice 

 results disastrously to all concerned. 



There are purchasers of lumber who are absolutely ignorant of what 

 a grade of lumber is, and many of them employ inspectors equally as 

 Ignorant. An Incompetent Inspector, as every well-informed lumberman 

 knows, is an expensive luxury at any price. If the users of lumber 

 would familiarize themselves with the rules, employ competent Inspectors, 

 buy standard grades and Insist upon getting them, they would then 

 know exactly what they were receiving, and they would also assist In 

 overcoming these evil conditions that confuse and force them to work 



