November 20, 1918 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



31 



lwws«CTOSi!TOigM!)^TO!MmiWt^^ ijvgtv«^TOtBa;t<:*:TOm'mwawA!>^.'W.->' 



Clubs and Associations 



Logging Meeting Called Off 



The Appalaobian Logging Congrtss, which had arranged to hold a meet- 

 ing November 26 and 27 at Lexington, Ky.. has been postponed to a time 

 and place not yet announced. That action was taken because of a new 

 outbreak of influenza. 



Federated Industries to Meet 



The National Federation of Building Industries will meet at Atlantic 

 City, December 11. The various phases of the building industry will be 

 duly considered, and plans will be formulated and recommendations to the 

 war industries board will be made. A large attendance is expected ami 

 excellent results are anticipated. 



Vehicle and Implement Men Meet 



A series of meetings by farm implement and vehicle manufacturers was 

 held in Chicago, November 19 and 20. The farm wagon department of 

 the National Implement and Vehicle Association convened at Hotel LaSalle 

 and carried out a program consisting of discussions and papers on the 

 following topics : Government War Needs ; The French Wheel Order ; 

 Standardization and Pulilicity ; Permanency of Elimination, and .\fter 

 the War Problems. A number of other trade matters were considered, 

 such as cost education, wagon terms, uniform wide-tire laws, wagon and 

 truck warranty, and factory management. 



The thresher and tractor divisions held its meeting at the Auditorium 

 hotel. The wagon association by unanimous vote declared in favor of 

 abiding by the government eliminations and standardization of wages for 

 a period of two years. 



Conference on Cutover Lands 



The Memphis Chamber of Commerce and the Southern .\lluvial Land 

 .Association are proceeding vigorously in securing detinite data regarding 

 lands in the valley territory available for use of returned soldiers and 

 sailors who show an inclination to engage in agriculture. These two 

 organizations were authorized, in resolutions adopted at a conference of 

 governors, legislators, bankers, land owners and other interests of Missis- 

 sippi, -Arkansas and Tennessee held at Memphis, November 15, not only 

 to invite the cooperation of other bodies in this part of the country in 

 securing all possible information as to the quantity, location and price 

 of such lands, but also to ask them to aid in securing passage of necessary 

 legislation in furtherance of this movement in both state legislatures and 

 congress. 



Dr. Elwood Mead was the principal speaker at this conference. He is an 

 international expert in land settlement and is the closest adviser of Secre- 

 tary Lane of the interior department in getting the soldier-farm question 

 settled. He made it perfectly clear, however, that the government will 

 not buy these lands outright for soldiers and sailors, but will expect states, 

 communities or individuals to arrange for sale of these properties to the 

 heroes of the war as they come back. He said the government would pro- 

 vide the necessary homes and equipment and that it would not settle on 

 farms any men who did not show distinct inclination toward agricultural 

 life and activities. 



Some owners of lands in this territory have lost some of their enthu- 

 siasm for the government plan since they have found that the government 

 will not buy these properties outright. Others, however, feel that such 

 lands as are sold will be developed so well that they will greatly enhance 

 the value of adjoining properties, thus compensating for any loss that 

 may be experienced through sacrifice of lands sold at this time. 



Memphis Clears for Battle 



J. F. McSweyn, president of the Lumbermen's Club of Memphis, fired 

 the opening gun in the campaign for the election of officers for the ensuing 

 year when, at the meeting of the club at the Hotel Gayoso, Saturday, 

 November 16, he named two committees to select candidates for president, 

 two vice-presidents and a secretary-treasurer. These committees are com- 

 posed of the following : C. K. Tustin, W. L. Crenshaw, Bart Tully, Joe 

 Thompson, F. B. Robertson and F. T. Dooley. They will make their 

 reports at the next meeting of the club, scheduled for December 7. The 

 election itself, a big event every year, will be held December 14. 



J. H. Townshend. secretary-manager of the Southern Hardwood Traffic 

 .Association, brought a vast shout from members of the club when he 

 announced that the embargo on shipments of lumber to all territory east 

 of the Mississippi and north of the Ohio and Potomac rivers had been 

 lifted, and that it would no longer be necessary to secure permits cover- 

 ing such shipments. He had just received a telegram from the car service 

 section of the United States railroad administration to that effect, and this 

 was the first intimation lumber interests of Memphis had regarding this 

 distinctly helpful relief. 



J. II. nines, chairman of the law and insurance committee, announced 

 that the lumbermen might, if they acted promptly, secure modification of 

 the pending revenue bill in congress, with particular reference to income 

 and excess profits taxes. He intimated that Secretary of the Treasury 

 McAdoo was in a willing mood and urged the members of the club to 

 take action immediately. 



Dr. C. U. Williamson, who has become spiritual adviser to the lumber- 



men, delivered a brilliant address on the part Memphis lumbermen should 

 l)lay in bringing about "the day of the common man." saying that the 

 sreat victory on the field of battle in Europe would mean little if it did 

 not improve the opportunity and the conditions of lite surrounding the 

 great mass of common peoi)le in the United States, In Europe and in every 

 other country in the world. 



Earl Palmer responded on behalf of the lumbermen, and after express- 

 ing appreciation of the address of Dr. Williamson compared the contest 

 in Europe to a vast game of poker. He disclaimed any knowledge of this 

 mighty game, but his intimate use of poker parlance utterly belied his 

 disclaimer. 



Export Booking Department Organized 



The export booking department of the Southern Hardwood Traffic Asso- 

 ciation, which was formally launched at Memphis Tuesday, November 19, 

 at a meeting of the executive and advisory committees recently appointed 

 by President James E. Stark, will proceed vigorously with the chartering 

 of sailing and other vessels tor handling shipments of hardwood lumber 

 and forest products to Europe. 



Practically all of the fifteen members of these two committees attended 

 this meeting and it was the consensus of opinion among them that there 

 will be a tremendous demand for these commodities from Europe and 

 that, for the time being, there will be comparatively little ocean freight 

 room available in the ordinary way. All are anxious to begin shipping 

 as soon as possible, however. Hence the effort that will be made to secure 

 vessels of any kind under charter terms. 



The belief in an exceptionally heavy demand from Europe is based 

 primarily on two facts : First, that foreign markets are practically bare 

 of hardwood lumber, and second, that this demand must be filled largely 

 from .America. 



Already orders are being received at Memphis and J. H. Townshend 

 reports Inquiries from one British firm alone involving 50,000,000 feet. 

 Some importers of American hardwoods are placing their orders now, 

 instructing the sellers to pile the stock and care for it properly until such 

 time as it may be shipped. 



It is agreed by all members of the association that this export booking 

 department, which will eventually have charge of all phases of handling 

 foreign and coastwise movements of hardwood lumber, represents the most 

 important departure made by this organization during its entire existence. 

 Ultimate plans contemplate establishment of forwarding agents at all of 

 the principal southern and eastern ports, quoting of rates, chartering of 

 regular steamers and such other activities as will enable the department 

 to render maximum assistance to members of the organization. 



It is expected that the department will play an exceptionally large part 

 in utilization of the big mercantile fleet being constructed in this country. 

 Members of the association are too proud of this American merchant 

 marine to overlook any opportunity of taking advantage of everything 

 it offers. 



With the Trade 



West Virginia Box Factory Burned 



On November 14 a large factory at Elkins, W. Va., and belonging to 

 the Elkins Box Company, was totally destroyed by fire, causing a loss 

 of ,$200,000. An explosion of dust in a pipe which carried shavings from 

 the works is thought to have started the fire. The company for the past 

 two years has been engaged in war work, manufacturing barbed wire 

 reels and boxes for the allies. 



Oldest Lumberman Now Living 

 The Canadian Lumberman prints a picture and sketch of Collins La 

 Fortune of Port Dover, Ontario. He has passed his hundredth year, and 

 for eighty-five years was engaged in the lumber business, but he has now 

 retired and expects to find his exercise hereafter in fishing, hunting and 

 working In bis garden. He commenced the lumber business when he 

 was fifteen years old by cutting white pine ship timber. 



Memphis Mill Burns 



Fire of unknown origin destroyed the main buildings of the L. D. Mur- 

 relle Lumber Company, I'lum street and Illinois Central railroad. North 

 .Memphis, and caused an approximate loss of $49,000. More than $100,000 

 worth of lumber was saved by prompt work. The fire occurred early on 

 the morning of the tenth. Directly opposite the plant of the Murrelle 

 company is the Kelsey Wheel Company, valued at several hundred thou- 

 sand dollars, and it bad a narrow escape. 



Soldier's Letter from France 



The letters which follow were written from Prance, Sept. 16 and Sept. 

 28, to his family by Lieut. Joseph T. Mengel, son of C. K. Mengel of the 

 C.'c. Mengel & Brother Company, well-known lumbermen of Louisville, 

 Ky. ' Lieut. Mengel is with the 146th field artillery, battery D. He was 

 commissioned a first lieutenant at the officers' training school at Fort 

 Sheridan, 111., last November, and was Immediately sent overseas: 



*We hlive Veen getting little bunches of mail every now and then lately 

 and I am fortunate enough to have gotten three in this last lot. Please 

 do not use any address but 146th field artillery, lor though our postofflce 

 number is the same wherever we go, the other is sure to reach me and Is 

 sufficient. 



