HARDWOOD RECORD 



17 



a roraanufacturing plant of their own, which would not only- guar- 

 antee gnni trim being put in first-class shape, but would eliminate 

 the possibility of unfair prices being asked for this class of com- 

 modity. This man said that he had recently been talking witli the 

 head of a Chicago concern which makes a business of contracting 

 for the furnishing of the material for interior finish. The lumber- 

 man saiil he had asked the interior finish man why he did not devote 

 some attention to gum. The reply was that there was no apparent 

 logic in doing so when he could give satisfaction with other woods 

 at much lower prices. 



He stilted that in Chicago ho would have to pay in the neighbor- 

 hood of about $80 for rtd gum trim, whereas he could secure other 

 satisfactory woods for ouch better figures. The lumberman made 

 the observation that there is a vast difference between this $80 and 

 the approximate figure of $28 which would be realized by the lum- 

 berman for the material which he furnished to the trim manufacturer. 



The first suggestion, however, is the most desirable one, and it 

 really seems that the idea is excellent, although, of course, there 

 will be wrinkles which would have to be ironed out before it could 

 be put to practical application. The purpose of such a factory should 

 not be to disrupt the market and to enter into any unfair compe- 

 tition with already well established interior finish plants, but would 

 be, on the other hand, as suggested, merely that the advocates and 

 manufacturers of red gum should have a dependable medium through 

 which to market their wood to the consuming trade, and be abso- 

 lutely assured of perfect attention. The prime object would be a 

 sort of advertising proposition for reil gum. Tliat is, by insuring 

 a perfect product and perfect installment and care, the real possi- 

 bilities of the wood would be more adequately brought out. 



Of course, such an organization could not attempt to arbitrarily 

 unilersell the goods of old, established concerns, for obvious reasons. 

 Jfevertheless, there is no reason why such a plant could not be made 

 a paying proposition, purely from a direct business standpoint. In 

 addition, its direct value to gum manufacturers should be very 

 considerable. 



In Lieu of the Five Per Cent Increase 



A PROMINENT HARDWOOD MAN has mailc a suggestion iu 

 connection with the argument, pro and con, regarding the pro- 

 posed five per cent increase in general freight rates. He suggests 

 that the railroads can better recoup their losses, if they are sus- 

 taining losses, or can increase their revenue by earning that increase 

 through a limited time service, charging ten per cent bonus over 

 established rates on a regular form schedule for freight service. 

 For instance: He says that if a railroad will guarantee to deliver 

 a car on an unloading track at Detroit or Chicago in six days or 

 less from Cincinnati, it would earn this bonus, and that in case of 

 failure to do so only the present rate would be assessed. 



This lumberman avers that two-thirds of the shipments could be 

 sent on this quick-service plan, and that the returns to the railroads 

 would more than compensate for any shortage in rates which they 

 might reasonably claim. 



It is, of course, impossible to state whether or not the idea is 

 based on sound and substantial facts, and whether it would actually 

 work out in practice. It is unquestionably a fact, however, that an 

 express freight service for all freight shipments would be welcome 

 and would actually be used a great deal if it could be maintained 

 on an efficient basis. It is a question as to whether or not shippers 

 would be willing to pay as high a bonus as ten per cent, except in 

 unusual cases. 



Hardwood Record does not suggest that this matter be gone into 

 thoroughly in connection with the discussion of the proposed increase, 

 but merely presents the idea as an offering from one of its sub- 

 siribers. 



One Line of Development in the South 



ON \ARIOUS OCCASIONS Hardwood Record has observed that 

 it would be entirely logical for woodworking plants to establish 

 themselves in various parts of the southern hardwood producing 

 territory. H.vrdwood Record has argued that there is no logical 

 reason for shipping the products of the forests north in raw state 



under the heavy freight rate, remanufacturing them into various 

 lines of finished articles and paying an additional freight item to 

 get them back into the rapidly developing southern market again. 

 It has called attention to this particular circumstance in connection 

 with the manufacture of mahogany into various Uncs of high-grade 

 furniture, and the possibilities for such manufacture in New Orleans 

 <ind other southern sections. 



It has been particularly gratifying to note the rapidity with which 

 this condition is developing throughout the entire South. Prac- 

 tically every week there is a notice of the incorporation of some 

 kind of woodworking factory in the heart of some big hardwood 

 producing center in some southern state. Thus it would seem that 

 the proposition is working out to an entirely logical conclusion. 



The woodworking man has come to the conclusion that he could 

 not profitably import his raw material, remanufacture it and ship 

 it south again on a basis that would be entirely satisfactory. He 

 has further realized the rapidly developing possibilities in the devel- 

 oping markets of the South itself, and the chances for establishing 

 a satisfactory trade direct through removing his operations, or re- 

 establishing himself in some prominent center in the Southland. 



These new enterprises cover all sorts of endeavors imder the 

 general woodworking head, and give conclusive proof that the wood- 

 workers are alive to their opportunities and that the southern market 

 as it exists today is offering some unusually good opportunities in 

 the way of developing trade. 



Wood's Place in Building 



As A BUILDING MATERIAL wood lias ii phue which no sub- 

 stitute can fill as well. No one claims that lor all kinds of 

 buildings wood is the best, nor that it is suitable for all structures; 

 but there are many places which nothing else can fill so well as wood. 



The Chicago Record Herald of March 1 contained a long article 

 in which wood was unfairly knocked. The article's tone, argument 

 and conclusion indicate that it was written in the interest of brick 

 manufacturers. Prospective builders were advised to use brick, be- 

 cause they are asserted to be more durable than wood, and because 

 the upkeep of a brick house is less than of one built of lumber. 



The reasoning overshoots the mark. A brick house may stand 

 longer than one of wood, but even that will not hold in all cases. 

 The walls of many a brick building crack, sag, crumble, and become 

 unsightly, while those of a wooden house hold their own. It is 

 largely a matter of soUdity in building and care afterwards. There 

 are wooden buildings in this country about as old as any of brick, 

 and they look fully as well. There are many frame houses in New 

 England dating long before the Revolution, and they are good j'et, 

 and instead of deteriorating with age they have become more vener- 

 able and more attractive. The Hancock house at Lexington, Mass., 

 and the house at Concord with the bullet holes in the walls, made 

 April 19, 1775, are examples. There are scores of others. 



But durability is not the only point to consider in building a 

 residence. It is not the chief point. Few men build a house with 

 the idea that it will be sheltering somebody one hundred or four 

 hundred years hence. They build for themselves and for use during 

 their own lives and their children's lives, perhaps; but what interest 

 have they in erecting a landmark for some future archaeologist to 

 examine? If that is the purpose, why not construct a heap of 

 earth, as the mound builders did? It is admitted that an earth 

 mound will long outlast wood, brick, or even stone. 



That is not, however, entitled to consideration as serious argument. 

 Houses are built for present use and for a reasonable time in the 

 future. With this object in view, no material equals wood, within 

 certain proper limits, ami those 'imits are pretty broad. Wood has 

 a beauty which other materials cannot approach. It is capable of 

 infinite variety. It will conform to tastes. It satisfies where dull, 

 monotonous brick walls only irritate and aggravate. It is a finish 

 for the outside and within. Its soft colors appeal like the tones of 

 a Persian rug. The influence can be felt, can be appreciated, can 

 be enjoyed, but cannot be described. 



These are some of the objects in view when a man builds his 

 residence of wood. He may be a little selfish in not caring much 

 about what is going to happen in three hundred years; but he does 



