SipiciiilHT 20, 1921 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



21 



News from the National Capital 



Suggestions from the Lumber Trade 



Mr. Axel H. Oxholm, Chief of the Lumber Division, has just 

 returned from an extensive trip through the Northeastern States, 

 where a series of conferences were held with the local lumbermen 

 and lumber exporters. Meetings were arranged in the following 

 cities: New York, N. Y.; Buffalo, N. Y.; Nortli Tonawanda, N. Y.; 

 Boston, Mass.; Portland, Mc, and Bangor, Me. After having briefly 

 explained the organization of tlie Lumber Division, and the service 

 this division is prepared to render the lumber industry, the lumber- 

 men were asked to offer suggestions for the planning of the work 

 of the division so as to enable the Department of Commerce to 

 work along practical linos. 



It appeared that the lumbermen desired the Department to 

 continue the work of investigating foreign sources of supply and 

 markets, and declared themselves satisfied with the work already 

 done along these lines in previous years. Furthermore, they sug- 

 gested that the information already published should be kept up to 

 date by additional statistical information from time to time. 



Suggestions as to Trade-Marking and Uniform Grading Bules 



A great many exportors desired to have the Lumber Division pre- 

 pare a report on the trade-marking practices abroad in connection 

 with lumber aud also to make a tentative proposal regarding a uni- 

 form trade-marking system for American lumber for export, pref- 

 erably to be taken up through various export associations. 



Various other questions, such as an efficient arbitration service 

 abroad to settle claims and the bringing about of more uniform 

 grading rules for exports, were also brought up, and it was requested 

 that the department should use its influence with the lumber 

 exporters to have them come together in regard to these matters and 

 adjust them satisfactorily. 



Literature and Conversion Tables 



Kxporters having had experience abroail were anxious to have 

 the Lumber Division prepare some literature outlining the prop- 

 erties andTises of our principal species of lumber for export. Such 

 reports, to be published in the form of pamphlets, should contain 

 such information as might bo useful for importers and consumers 

 abroad; in other words, they should be written for the foreign cus- 

 tomers. If such pamphlets could be translated into one or various 

 foreign languages the material would be more valuable. By having 

 the Government publish these pamphlets a greater importance 

 would be given this material and it would not be treated as ordi- 

 nary advertising matter. 



In connection with these activities it was also urged that the 

 department publish in some form its tables showing the conver- 

 sion of European standard of measurements to American standard 

 and vice versa. This would greatly assist the American exporters 

 and their foreign customers in their dealings. It was suggested 

 that a blank space be left for the exporters to have printed their 

 names and addresses so that they could inclose these tables with 

 their sales letters or send the tables to their customers for New 

 Year, together with calendars and other advertising matters. 



Nomenclature Suggested 

 It was also suggested that tlie Lumber Division should, in co- 

 operation with other Government bureaus and trade associations, 

 bring about a more uniform nomenclature, covering various species 

 of lumber both for domestic and foreign trade. The present system 

 is often very confusing. This work should be undertaken in con- 

 nection with the trade-marking of lumber by indicating the species 

 of wood at the same time. It is also urged that the department 

 assist the lumber exporters in having certain practices corrected 



•Taken from wei'lilv "Ciininicrce Reports." U. S. DopnrtmiMit of Com- 

 miToo. unrtrr date of Si'i)lrinlii>r 19. 



regarding the careless handling of American lumber in some for- 

 eign ports when being unloaded from the vessel. A great deal of 

 damage is inflicted upon the American exporters every year in this 

 way. 



New England Lumbermen Handicapped 

 It was very apparent that the lumbermen in New Euglaud 

 States were handicapped because they are not as well organized as 

 the lumbermen in other parts of the country. It is evident that 

 if the Lumber Division is able to carry out its plans to be of the 

 best possible service to tlie lumber industry, a great deal will depend 

 upon a close coiiperation with the local associations in each dis- 

 trict. Otherwise it will lie practically impossible to reach but a 

 limited number of operators and exporters. This question was dis- 

 cussed and there seemed to be some interest among t!ie lumbermen 

 to do something along these lines. 



Hardwoods Have Been Neglected in Maine 

 A peculiar condition exists in tlie State of Maine. While the 

 stands of spruce and the pine have been exploited very extensively 

 in the past, leaving at the present time only small quantities avail- 

 able for export, the hardwoods have been partly neglected. There 

 are excellent stands of maple, birch, poplar, and other species for 

 which the local lumbermen have not found a good market. There 

 do not seem to be any important industries in that State using hard- 

 woods as raw material. It is firmly believed by local experts that 

 the hardwood industry would be a profitable activity and the de- 

 partment's assistance was requested in enabling the Maine lumber- 

 men to have the hardwood stands opened for exploitation. This 

 could be done if a profitable market could be found for them 

 abroad or in the United States. 



Mr. Oxholm will remain in Washington a short time and will then 

 proceed, on September 17, on a similar tour to the Pacific coast. 

 This trip is expected to last about 30 days. Later this fall a trip 

 will be taken through the Middle West, the Mississippi Valley, the 

 Gulf and South Atlantic States. The itinerary will be announced 

 later. 



A sweeping world-wide survey of the commercial laws of foreign 

 countries, on a scale greater than ever has been attempted by a 

 government, will be launched shortly by the new Division of Com- 

 mercial Laws, of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. 



A series of carefully prepared questionnaires will form the liasis 

 of the survey. These will be sent to legal authorities throughout 

 the world selected by representatives of. the Bureau of Foreign and 

 Domestic Commerce, and through the cooperation of representa- 

 tives of the Department of State in the foreign countries. 



When the raw material is received in the Bureau of Foreign and 

 Domestic Commerce, it will be edited, carefully, and, with the 

 assistance of learned counsel, prepared in the form of special 

 booklets as follows: 



(1) ''Doing Business Under Foreign Laws," with full jKuticu- 

 lars as to the operations of foreign branches of American firms, 

 organizing companies under foreign charters, taxation, etc. 



(2) "Agency Laws of the World," with proper forms for 

 powers of attorney. 



(3) "Bankruptcy Laws of the World." 



(4) "Negotiable Instruments Throughout the World." 



(5) "Sales Contracts and Foreign Laws." 



(6) "Commercial Disputes Before Foreign Courts." 



The aim of the investigation is to place at the disposal of the 

 American business man and his counsel full information on the 

 principles of foreign commercial laws. 



