24 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



Batum. Moliauiinei.lan pilgrims from Bokhara cross tbe Caspian on 

 their way to Mecca, some of them with beards, teeth and finger nails 

 dyed a carrotty red. Queer looking home-made carts, constructed en- 

 tirely of wood, even with wooden pegs for nails, and pulled by the 

 water buffalo, are common in this section. The Russian regiments 

 all singing as they march are most entertaining. Falcons are still 

 used by hunters and we saw several returning after a day's hunting, 

 with a good supply of small birds. A funeral procession in this land 

 has some features that seem odd to an American. Four men carry 

 the lid of the coflin on their shoulders, and following them arc six men 

 carrying the cotlin with the deceased plainly, in view of all. Wine 

 is made in the country districts and brought to Batum in goat skins, 

 pig skins and sometimes o.xskinf. I am told they are not always too 

 sanitary. Queer looking little victorias which are called droskies are 

 ever present ready to take you on a gallop most anywhere in Batum 

 for twenty-five kopecs, which is equal to about twelve and a half 

 cents in our money. Batum has a fine boulevard and bathing beach 

 and every day there is "September Morn." The beach for men and 

 women is separated only by about two hundred feet of air, not even 

 a wire fence. Mot a batli lioufo in sight and both men and women 



undress on the beach and take their bath, "au uaturel" — not a 

 bathing suit on the entire beach. 



I noticed men both at Batum and Tiflis with strings of bead.s in 

 their hands or around their necks. I thought it was something like 

 a rosary and had some religious significance, but I found out that 

 it was worn only by men who did not smoke and was used as a play- 

 thing to keei) their fingers busy. 



The Kussian calendar is fourteen days behind ours and it seemed 

 strange to arrive in Batum as we thought on October- 2 and find out it 

 was September 18. Batum was part of Turkey until 1878, when the 

 treaty of Berlin gave it to Kussia and since then the Russians have 

 made wonderful improvements and built a new Russian town with 

 paved streets and fine parks. 



The old or Turkish Batum remains unchanged with Mosciues, 

 bazaars and coffee shops. Everything is done in the most crude way, 

 just as it was done in the time of Christ. The Mohammedan does 

 not want new civilization and says that when Mohammed returns to 

 earth they want him to find everything just as he left it and he 

 probably will unless woman suffrage extends tn Turkey and the 

 ladies get a chance to change things. 



\ygoi.v;aoa^;>^'.;g.yxeo^:>tiiati>.'TO5t;^^ 



aM.i^Hyx 'W^iVi'a'. 



Talk to Gum Manufacturers 



Editor's Note 



The following communication, although somewhat riiili 

 iiiti'i-ior finish manufacturer, who. owinp to unsatisfactory 

 hnviiig secured gum that was seasoned in a satisfactory lii 



The writer has noticed that a gum manufacturers' association has 

 been formed for the purpose of furthering the sales of gum, and 

 educating the consumers of lumber up to the desirability of gum as 

 a substitute for other woods. 



The millstone around the neck of gum is substitute. 



"So other wood occupies this undesirable position. 



Is oak a substitute? Is ]ioplar? Is ash? jS'o; tliey stand uu 

 their own merits. 



The very name, ''gum," carries a Ijurden of o]iprobrium. 



This probably applies more particularly to the domestic trade; but 

 at that, the exports of gum for 1912 (60,000,000 feet), were pitifully 

 small, representing only the good end of the cut of eight or nine 

 ordinary mills. 



The writer's first introduction to gfum was in 1888. At that time 

 considerable effort had been made toward introducing gum on its 

 merits; and quite a number of architects were impressed enough with 

 its beauty, and what was still more appealing, its low ]irice, to 

 specify it for interior finish. 



The results, however, were discouraging and disappointing. The 

 material was restless" and tried its best to leave the wall to which it 

 was nailed and crawl around the room. 



How much of the gum you are shipping today is as straight as 

 poplar? 



The writer 's first view of gum was of a pile of base blocks, about 

 fifty in number, whose dimensions were I%"x3i4"-^"". These blocks 

 had warped from 14" to %", and were so very crooked that the 

 dimensions are vivid to this day in his memory. 



This trait showed up everywhere, and gum got so black an eye that 

 no one wanted it at any price. Persistent salesmen occasionally per- 

 suaded reluctant consumeis to try it and only incurred the enmity of 

 the customer afterward. 



Of course better methods of production and better methods for 

 re-manufacture came with the years; but today, gum is being used 

 principally be^'ause other woods have gone so high in price that it 

 is cheap enough to permit of its use. 



Would gum be used to any extent today if poplar, basswood, birch, 

 etc., were at the same "jirice level? 



What a humiliating position for a beautiful and honest wood ; tlie 

 bulk of it used only because it is cheap! 



This beautiful wood a substitute when it ought to hold its head 

 high and point to its surpassing i|nalitiesl 



ill. is printed without comment. It is written by au 

 •xpciience with gum, twice abandoned its use ; but latterly, 

 iini'i', has become an enthusiast over it. 



(let away from the word "substitute." 



Fine every man in your employ who uses this word a thousand 

 dollars. 



('onsigu this word, once for all, to the limbo of oliliviou. 



You are selling a wood that is superior to jioplar. to liasswood. to 

 birch and the rest of the close-grained woods. 



Suppose you could ship gum of any width (Iio.v boanls iiicliuled) 

 that is as straight and flat as poplar. 



Couldn't .your salesman talk enthusiastically on the following points 

 as compared to ordinary poplar: 



Perfect as to being flat and .straight. 



Stronger by far. 



Can be brought to a smoother surface; consequently will take a 

 better polish in finishing. 



Will not split as easily. 



Comes in more desirable widths and lengths. 



Is ' ' springier. ' ' 



Is harder; therefore is not so easily marred or dented. 



That it has a far richer and more pleasing appearance. 



That it has more character and "life." 



Suppose you could ship gum that will lioJcl its shape after it is fin- 

 ished, better than ordinary poplar. 



That the tendency to come and go under varying atmosijlieric con- 

 ditions is almost entirely eliminated. 



That the tendency to warp and twist is gone. 



That it can be kiln-dried in less time. 



Th.nt it will not shrink appreciably in kiln-drying. 



That it will not case-harden in kiln-drying. 



That it will increase the capacity of the customer's kiln. 



That it is a thoroughly dependable and honest wood. 



That it will not rot or decay as easily; therefore has a longer life. 



And then, could not your salesman end up with : ' ' And it 's a 

 bla.sted shame that I'm quoting you this price." 



Suppose that besides, you could effect an economy of from three 

 to four dollars per M in the production of this kind of gum, and in 

 addition reduce your investment in slowly drying lumber by anywhere 

 from .$10,000 to $25,000, wouldn't this interest you.' 



Why not put gum ' ' on the map ' ' as the lumber ? 



Quite a number of your neighbors are producing this kind of gum. 



Every producer and user of "Kraetzercured " lumber is cognizant 

 of these facts. A Re-manufacturer. 



