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Meeting Michigan Manufacturers]^ 



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The miil« inter iiicetiiiK "•' tlie .\li.'hiK;ui I l.-ir.lwiio.l Mamitjii'tiirers ' 

 Assoi-iation was lu'l<l iit the I'oiitchiiitiiiiii Hotel, Detroit, Wednesday, 

 January -21. In the absence of President !•'. L. Richardson First 

 Vice-President C. A. Bigelow presided. Forty firms were represented 

 and nuich interest was manifested in all of the subjects under disius 

 Fiou. and a general optimistic feeling, as to the outlook for the 

 toming year, prevailed throughout the entire meeting. 



Secretary Knox's report was read, approved and placed on file. 

 The report follows' 



1!)1L' was one of llic licsl years fur llic raanulacUnini; lumlicrincn nf 

 MichlKan and the year liIKi has in many points ciinaii'il it. Wc slartcil 

 In llic past year witli every feeling of ciintidence for a successful year 

 and I l)elieve most of the manufacturers consider the past year to have 

 l)een ai)ove tlie-avoragc and we ari' lool<lng for a good year for 1014. 



Our stocli reports, witli the same numl)er of memliers reporting as one 

 yvnv ago. will show more stocljs on hand than a year -ago. Init less than 

 for lillL'. 



Our general assess-[iic nl I, -vied :it 111.- (I.1oI.,t nieeling has netted us 

 $7.S:;m..-|1 on basis of :;!)1.4 J.s.'.Mi; IVei al -Jc \irv Ihousand. There are still 

 three meml)ers to hear from and we h:ive had the |inimises of tlieir paying 

 the amount duo us at an early date. 



Our treasurer's report shows a uei e;isli lialauee in the general fund 

 of $.><.Gl.-i.r).S and in the forest tire fund .$l.t>4H.2.-i. There is still on.' 

 assessment in the latter fund due. which we expect to get later on. 



Tlie secretary's office lias l)een' reporting recent sales from cargo and. 

 ear shippers liy circular and wi' are informed that this work has met 

 with approval at your liands. We are pleased to give this information out 

 for the henefit of the general trade and are open to any suggestions 

 along this line of work. 



We are phrased lo report that we have at last received something 

 dcHnite on our Pacific Ciiast rati' case, which we starti'd four years 

 ago. We have an order from the Interstate Commerci' Commission cover- 

 ing reparation on -iS!) cars amounting to .fli.sno.ll and this is ordered paid 

 \)y Kchrnary l.">. This amount does not cover all the cars presented and we 

 are looking for an additional order covering other shipments. 



The question of Michigan lumher rates is still before us and has not 

 yet been settled. I believe a conference of tbe railroads, shippers and 

 the Slate Railroad Commission would do more to bring about a better 

 understanding between the sbipirers and carriers, than anything that 

 could be done. Our railroad committee has handled this matter very 

 judiciously and Chairman Kallnii will liavi> a report to make liefore the 

 meeting toda.v. 



One of the topics announced iit mir i-all for meeting was "Logging and 

 Camp Expense,'- and it is lielievi'd that something to the benefit of lum- 

 bermen could l>e gotten out. through a conference on the subject. The 

 Northern Hemlock and Hardwood Manufacturers' Association some time 

 ago formed two new committees; one upim standardization of logging 

 accounts, and one upon the welfare of men in the camps, hoth of which 

 are well worthy of ccmsideration and if properly handled can be made of 

 much value to tlu memliers. • 



The treasurer's report indicated a good balance on hand in the 

 general fund and also in the forest fire fund. 



FiVe new members were enrolled at the meeting: The North West- 

 ern Cooperage and Lumber Co., Gladstone, Mich.; The Spies-Thomp- 

 son Lumber Company, Menominee; The D. N. McLeod Lumber Com- 

 pany, Garnet; The W. R. McMauus Lumber Company, Petoskey; 

 The Strable Manufacturing Company, Saginaw. 



Chairman Ballon of the railroad committee then submitted his re- 

 port, which was accepted and placed on file. It stated that the Michi 

 gan Hardwood- Manufacturers' Association has filed protests with 

 the State Railroad Commission against the proposed canceling of the 

 lumber commodity rate, which would put lumber under the pro|iosed 

 sixth class rate. Information was furnished the State Railroad Com- 

 mission to show the effect of the change on the cost of shipping lum- 

 ber within the state. An examination of the previous year's ship- 

 ments by a large number of lumbermen disclosed the fact that the 

 proposed change in rates would amount to an increase of from seven 

 to sixty-eight per cent in the cost of shipping lumber. The average 

 increase amotmted to twenty-four jier cent. 



When this matter and the data backing it up were brought to the 

 attention of the railroad managers, they veere convinced that the 

 announced change was inopportune, and they made it known that there 

 was no serious intention of putting the rates into force. However, the 

 protests remain on file witli the State commission, and their presence 

 acts as a bar to the filing of notices of change in rates by the rail- 

 roads. It is now the plan of the association to call a conference early 



—18— 



III l-'ehniary, uihI Ikhc ri'pie.senluti\es present from all the railroads 

 at interest, as well as from all the lumber shippers in the state. It 

 is believetl that a conference can be had whereby the lumber shippers 

 .iiid the railroad companies can agree upon a basis for lumber risks, 

 so that the protests can be withdrawn and the railroad companies 

 jiermitted to file rates that will be agreeable to their patrons. 



The railroad committee of the association has emjiloyed E. R. 

 Darwin as an attorney to act for the assoidation in these hearings 

 before the State Railroad Commission. 



Fred A. Diggins had no report to make for the legislative com- 

 mittee, but expressed in a few well chosen words, his appreciation of 

 the thoughtfulness and good will of the association during his illness 

 a year ago. He urged the members of the Michigan association to 

 remain loyal to the National Hardwood Lumber Association. 



The absence of Bruce Odell, chairman of the market conditions 

 committee, was noted. In his absence .John C, Ross, of Bay City, 

 read the report which follows: 



I-'nini stock reports received your comniitti-c believe that asli, bass- 

 wiMid. Uirch and elm prices should remain about the same as at present 

 but that beech and maple should rule higher. To some of you it may not 

 .seem advisable to change prices at this time, but we believe that the 

 growing de'mand for beech and the prices it has been selling at fully 

 justify an advance. We think maple should rule higher as it is a wood 

 that is being more generally used and the supply is becoming less every 

 year and can bo had in quantities only in Michigan and Wisconsin, and if 

 (here is any wood on which we should he firm and should get better prices 

 for. we think it is maple, as to a large extent Michigan and Wisconsin 

 liroduce the bulk of this wood. 



Oak. which is maple's nearest competitor, brings much higher prices, 

 especially is this true of the tliii-k. wliieli is used for practically the 

 same purposes. 



We think the manufacturers will have no ti-ouble in getting the recom- 

 mended prices this year, as while general business may not look so good 

 to some, we must remember that the hardwood situation is very firm, and 

 that owing to the open winter, up to the present time, the output for the 

 co'ming year is g6ing to be curtailed considerably. 



Recent sales reported to this association since .Tanuary 1 indicate a 

 much heavier demand than for the preceding sixty days. The reports also 

 show that some sales have been made at an advance of hist .vear's prices. 



In regard to hemlock : While we would not recommend a change of 

 IMiees at this time, we think tbe market is very firm, with the prospect of 

 an advance in the near future. From reports received, there will be about 

 L'O.OIKi.OOO feet less put In this .year than last. 



Lath are firm at present prices, with a very small .stock on hand. 



('has. P. Hickok, chief warden of the Forest Fire Protective De- 

 ]iartment, read his report which outlined the proposed work for the 

 coming season. 



On motion, the time for deducting the cut on lands from the list 

 of those patrolled, was limited to March 1, 1914. Two observation 

 towers, recommended by Mr. Hickok, were authorized at an expense 

 not to exceed $200. 



Then followed a general discussion along lines relating to the eni- 

 ]iloyers' liability act — various members recited their experience on 

 different phases of the law. 



.\ committee consisting of Bruce Green, F. L. Michelson and W. 

 C. Hull, was appointed to look into the subject of standardization of 

 logging accounts and make a report at the next meeting of the as- 

 sociation in April. 



Then followed the announcement of the status of the association 's 

 cooperation in the Forest Products Exposition. The Michigan Hard- 

 wood Manufacturers' Association will unite with the Northern Hem- 

 lock and Hardwood Manufacturers' Association, covering the upper 

 jieninsula of Michigan and Wisconsin in a joint exhibit to be shown 

 both at Chicago and New York. Plans which have been pretty Tvell 

 matured pro\ide for a modern bungalow of reasonable price but 

 of comfortable design and equipment which will be made, trimmed 

 and furnished throughout, as far as woodwork and woodenware and 

 concerned at least, with products of the forests of Michigan and 

 Wisconsin. Different rooms will be trimmed in different woods 

 and different types of furniture will be shown illustrating the ex- 

 cellent effects that can be gotten from working in northern maple, 

 birch, beech, elm and similar woods. 



The meeting then adjourned. 



