C. H. KK.\Mi:l!. lUCIIMOXD, IND., PRESI- HEUXA yulXf;. EVANSVII.LE. IXD., EIRST 



''f'^"^' VICE-PRESIDEXT WALTER (RIM. SALKM. IXD.. SE.UM) VICE- 



I'RESIDEXT 



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Indiana Lumbermen s Annual 



Present, past ami future lianlwuo.i lunibeimeu ot iiidiaua -^nt 

 together in their fifteenth annual homecoming, an unique fum- 

 tion in lumber association meetings, at the Hotel Denisou, In- 

 dianapolis, January 14. About two hundred members of the 

 hardwood trade who have operated or are operating within the 

 state, joined in an uplifting gathering at which good tVllowshiii 

 was predominantly evident. 



The morning was spent in greetings and making new aci|uaiiit 

 ances in the hotel lobby, the business session being called to 

 order at two o'clock in the afternoon by President Van B. Per- 

 rine, Fort Wayne. President Perrine was not in good voice, owing 

 to an accident he received some little time ago, and confineil him- 

 self to a few short remarks, in which loyalty to the Indiana asso- 

 ciation was the most evident note. 



President Perrine called to the attention of his hearers the 

 fact that the Indiana association has contributed officers to the 

 National associations on various occasions. He said: "We, as 

 an association, should not take up business seriously but rather 

 confine our efforts to good fellowship, home-coming and love for 

 our fellow-lumbermen. I am going to pass over the subjects on 

 which we have papers ably written, and am not going to attempt 

 to give my views on the tariff and banking questions. You will 

 have you own, and each one of jou will admit, whatever they 

 may be, that when you make money they are right — when you 

 lose money they are wrong." 



Secretary C. H. Kramer of Rii-hmond then read an interesting 

 report, as follows: 



We have gathered here today In our fifteenth annual session. Our 

 worthy president in his address one year ago stated to .vou that this 

 association was allowing the other larger associations to do the work 

 — that we now are an association of good fellowship rather than a busi- 

 ness organization, which is quite true in the main — as no very im- 

 portant work has been brought out the past year and not a statistical 

 association. I shall burden you with but a few remarks, so that the able 

 addresses of (his afternoon may be more appreciated by you. 



You will remember trade reports early in the year, 191,3. to the effect 

 that stocks were short all over the entire field and that production had 

 been greatly diminished, and everything in the hardwood Jine was sale- 

 able at very satisfactory prices, and some referred to same at highest 

 prices ever known. The conditions then seemed wholly natural, the de- 

 mand seemed to be on no unusual circumstances. This, however, did not 

 seem to hold very long. Tiie first few months brought in very good 

 results, but activities began declining and from no apparent causes the 

 short stocks both at the mills and in the hands of the consumers, did 

 not create any flurry. The consumer seemed to be somewhat at sea 

 —32— 



J luturc cunditiuus. his tVeliugs wen- 

 iirdcrs for any considerable amount 



>f lumh, 



Uiy 



i; as 111 placing 

 future require- 



Tbis conservative feeling carried through almost the remainder of 

 the year, with, however, an occasional opening up, that here and there 

 a good sized order was placed. Most of our members have fared well for 

 the year as a whole, the first half they did exceedingly well, the latter 

 iKilf considerably less. From indications, as the opening of the new 

 .Mnr progresses, the feeling seems very strong that business of most 

 :ii] kinds will be very materially increased. At present there is a fairly 

 good demand fci- most hardwoods — .lust the last few weeks a very notioe- 

 al>le activity in placing of orders, and in most cases single carload orders 

 are for quick shipment. Just recently one of our wholesale customers 

 in an inquiry for about twent.v-five carloads of lumber, stated, "Can 

 liu.v only for prompt shipment, so quote with this in view, as we are 

 liaving orders cancelled with great regularity if shipments are delayed," 

 which shows conclusively that not only the dealers are short in their 

 snppl.v. but the consumers are as well, and are buying only for imme- 

 diate requirements, which to me. seems a very good barometer with not a 

 compie.v meter to read. 



Much has been said to discredit the use of lumber in many years, 

 many thousands of dollars are being spent annually by manufacturers of 

 substitutes, and it will require many thousands to set our wares aright i 

 and against some of the substitutes, but with ail the substitutes, which 

 may and are brought about, there seems to be still a good demand for 

 all kinds of lumber. This should bring (he manufacturer, however, 

 a most careful study as to obtaining at all times the most valuable 

 product from his raw material and to study carefully channels wherein 

 he can place the entire output to the very best advantage possible. Con- 

 servation, to a degree, can be practiced through the uses of lumber ; 

 when and where not to use it. consulting with your customer as to the J 

 most suitable material for his lines of work. 



.\nother step that will greatly add to conservation and the life of our) 

 forests, as seems true, is the finding of a paint which is claimed to be 

 fire proof. 



.\s far as I have learned, no serious losses of any nature have been 

 sustained by members of our association during the past year, other than 

 that as caused through an act of Providence, being the flood of last 

 spring. Many of you sustained losses directly immediately by having 

 your lumber, logs. etc.. drifted away, some never to be found oi 

 turned, and by the heavy earth deposit left on your lumber still on] 

 stick, making same undesirable and less valuable. Many sustained 

 losses directi.v. but at an extended period, by having shipments on route ] 

 to customers unable to get deliveries to points in flood district, and by 

 having good accounts with customers in flood district, who suffered very j 

 heavy losses and were placed in such a condition as to be wholly unable , 

 to meet their obligations for possibly many, many months. You simply 

 had to carry the burdens as no ot-her recourse, all of you, I dare say i 

 may have stood it willingly and gladly. 



I believe every manufacturer, every dealer, every consumer of lumber 

 is having fewer claims every year, along the line of grades, as the rules! 

 are more stable, very few, if any. radical changes being made, and when ' 



