22 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



April 10. 1919 



They could ?pc no silver lining in any overhanging cloud. One in 

 particular voiced the seeming sentiments of many when he told me 

 that unless there was a quicklyi marked change in the way orders 

 were coming in he' was going to close the plant completely. Every- 

 one complained of lack of orders. As for getting an order for sup- 

 plies from one of them — well one just couldn't seem to do it, that's 

 all. 



As you know, I have no direct interest in lumljer manufacturing 

 or selling. I do have a vital indirect interest, because if a panel 

 or furniture manufacturer uses lots of lumber the chances are that 

 he uses lots of the product made by the house I represent. So I 

 regard it as a valuable exjierience that, by chance, early in each 

 trip I met a hardwood lumber representative who was making the 

 same towns that were on my schedule. 



In January neither of us got an order from the man who talked 

 of closing his plant. In March, exactly sixty-one days later, the 

 lumber salesman received an order for eight cars of lumber, one 

 car to be shipped every thirty days, and I got a very substantial 

 order for my house. It is reasonable to suppose that a marked 

 change in business had taken place, because no manufacturer is 

 apt to buy raw materials if business is stagnant. 



There is a point about the lumber order that I want to em- 

 jihasize, without any moralizing on my part. I'll leave that to 

 your editorial pen, but some of your readers should find some food 

 for thought. Between the buyer and seller there was the usual 

 line of talk about prices. The buyer brought out evidence that 

 he had been quoted prices ranging from one to three dollars per 

 thousand feet less than what the salesman was offering the same 

 grades of lumber for. The lumberman, however, stood by his guns 

 and refused to change his original quotations. He talked about the 

 quality of his product and the general satisfaction previous ship- 

 ments had given, and was eventually rewarded with the order and 

 a remark from the buyer to the effect that from previous experi- 

 ence he knew what he was going to get, and would rather pay a 

 few dollars more for that lumber than a few dollars less for an 

 inferior product that would show more waste in the remanufactur- 

 ing. 



This lumber representative and I got considerable enjoyment 



along the trip by developing a sort of competitive scheme. At 

 night we would compare our so called efficiency of the day. If we 

 made a sale at every call we were one hundred per cent efficient 

 for the day. For five consecutive days we each ran perfect. At 

 High Point our efficiency got bumjied. He ran about 60 per cent, 

 while I checked in at 66% per cent. Here the advantage was with 

 me, as I made less calls, but the total value of orders was far from 

 disappointing. This efficiency game may mean little to you, but 

 during tlie days we were together neither of us ran below 50 per 

 cent, and we were booking orders for future as well as for im- 

 mediate shipment. 



In general on the entire trij) I found that tlie only manufacturers 

 to make any complaint whatever were a few who make the cheaper 

 lines of furniture. Most of these said that they had orders for two 

 or three patterns of their better grades that gave them enough to 

 do. Walnut and mahogany veneered goods in period designs were 

 in demand, but solid plain oak was "dead.'' 



Some were getting new designs ready for the New York exhibit 

 which takes place during the fifteen days beginning March 30. 

 Others were making ready for the Jamestown exhibit in April. 

 The "blues" prevalent in January had vanished and there seemed 

 a general feeling that by fall some of the retail furniture dealers 

 would be "yelling their heads off" for goods. The manufacturers 

 say that orders are coming in in such a way as to show that the 

 dealer is simply buying to fill in sold stocks, and if the public 

 should show a sudden tendency to buy, the dealer may find himself 

 like the nigger in the scow "up the creek without a paddle." 



Skilled labor is in considerable demand. Almost without excep- 

 tion I found manufacturers could use cabinet makers, finishers or 

 skilled machine men, but they don't come around. So promising 

 unskilled men are being taken on and developed as fast as possible. 



This isn't much of a letter, but I hope it may encourage some 

 pessimist. If I told you the amount represented in the orders I 

 took you would think I was boasting, but I will tell you a little 

 about the lumber salesman. I don 't profess to know whether or 

 not he did a good business, but in fourteen days he booked orders 

 for seventy-two cars, and he didn't shade his prices one "two- 

 bit" piece. He seemed reasonably well satisfied. M. A. B. 



Lumber Storage Sanitation 



Lumber stored in well-roofed sheds is usually in pretty fair con- 

 dition, so far as decay is concerned, provided any sort of care is 

 taken of the foundations; but that statement cannot be made of 

 lumber yards generally. However, many large yards are models of 

 orderliness, cleanness, and good arrangement. Most large com- 

 panies are well aware of the deterioration which neglect of their 

 piles and grounds will cause, and measures are taken accordingly, 

 but elsewhere, neglect is too often apparent in damp situation, 

 undraincd yards, and decaying foundations. In places like that, a 

 lumber yard health officer is needed to prescribe rules and regula- 

 tions for the welfare of the lumber. Perhaps the prescription might 

 be worded about as follows: 



Strong efforts should be made to store the product on well-drained 

 ground, removed from the possible dangers of floods, high tides, and stand- 

 ing water. 



All rotting debris scattered about yards should be collected and burned, 

 no matter whether it be decayed foundation and tramway timbers or 

 stored lumber which has become infected. In the case of yards already 

 filled in to considerable depths with sawdust and other woody debris the 

 situation can be improved by a heavy surfacing with soil, slag or similar 

 material. Weeds should be cut away from the piles to allow good ven- 

 tilation. 



More attention should be given to the foundations of lumber piles In 

 order to Insure freedom from decay and better ventilation beneath the 

 stacks. Solid foundations should never be used. In humid regions the 

 etock should not be piled less than 18 to 24 inches from the ground. 



Wood blocking used in direct contact with wet ground should be protected 

 by the application of creosote or other antiseptic oils or else replaced by 

 concrete, brick or other durable materials. Treated skid timbers would 

 also be highly advantageous. 



Foundations should be built so that the piles will slope approximately 

 1 inch to every foot of length. 



In most regions lumber should not be close piled in the open, but should 

 be stuck with crossers at least 1 inch thick. Lateral spacing is also very 

 desirable. Roofing or coyer boards on the piles should not be neglected, 

 »n„d *;hould extend over for several inches in front and back. 



Instead of throwing the stickers about on the ground to become infected 

 with decay they should be handled carefully, and when not in use piled 

 on sound foundations and kept as dry as possible. If pine, saturated with 

 resin, or the heartwood of such durable species as white oak or red gum 

 be employed, the danger of possible infection will be greatly decreased. 



In storage sheds the necessity for piling higher from the ground is very 

 apparent In many cases. The same remedies apply here as for pile founda- 

 tions in the open. The sheds should be tightly roofed and the siding should 

 not be run down below the bottcun of the foundation sills. Free air cir- 

 culation should be allowed from all sides beneath the Inclosure. Only 

 thoroughly dry stock should be stored in close piles under cover. 



Should fungous outbreaks occur in storage sheds not constructed to meet 

 sanitary needs the infected foundation timbers should all lie t(frn out and 

 replaced with wood soaked in an antiseptic solution or by concrete or brick. 

 In all cases the new foundations should be so constructed as to keep the 

 lumber well off the ground, and the soil and timber immediately adjoining 

 the Infected area should be sprayed or painted with an antiseptic solution 

 of a water-soluble salt, like sodium fluorid, mercuric chlorid, zinc chlorld, 

 or copper sulphate. 



