HARDWOOD RECORD 



35 



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The Mail Bag 



Any reader of HARDWOOD RECORD desiring to communicate 

 with any of the Inquirers listed In this section can have the ad- 

 dresses on written request to the Mall Bag Department, HARD- 

 WOOD RECORD, 537 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, and referring 

 to the number at the head of each letter and enclosing a self- 

 addressed stamped envolepe. 



B 677 — Wants Swamp Ash, Mulberry and Black Locust Squares 



l..iuisvlll.\ Ky., Mai-, r. - Kilitor II.vianvo,ii> ItKConD : Wo liavo a cus- 

 uTiiiT lu this city who is just aboiii to start a hasobnll hat factory. He 

 < in the market for swamp ash, mulbcri-y and black locust. lie wishes 

 l;c ash to be 3 inches square x 3S inches long, and the mulberry and locust 

 e wants in squares 2'^xll inches, and 1*4x0 inches. If you can give us 

 he names of any parties who lould furnish us this stock, we would appre- 

 iatc same. 



This concern has been given a list of possible producers of the 

 ^tock desired. Others wanting the information can have it on 

 jipplication to H.\i:d^\ood Record. — EinTOH. 



B 678 — Wants Yellow Pine Plastering Lath 



Williamsport, Pa., Mar. 4. — Editor II.\ituwoOD Record: Will you kindly 

 furnish me with the names of mills manufacturing ."-foot yellow pine 

 lilastering lath V 



Hakdwood Record will appreciate it if any concern in a position 

 to furnish this stock would write this concern, using the keyed address. 

 — Editor. 



B 679 — Wants Market for Second-Growth Hickory Dimension 

 Dennison, O., Feb. 27. — Editor H.iuDwooD Record : Can you give us 

 the names of firms that use small dimension pieces cut from strictly sec- 

 ond-growth hickory ? 



This concern has been given the names of prospective buyers of 

 this stock. Others interested can have the address on application 

 to this office. — Editor. 



B 680 — ^Wants Market for Butternut Logs 



(South Bend, Ind., Feb. 27. — Editor Hardwood Record : We have on 

 hand about 50,000 feet fine butternut logs which we wish to cut into lum- 

 ber, but not being acquainted with users of this material, we will greatly 

 appreciate it if j-ou will give us the names of such firms as you know to 

 l.c users. Thanking you in advance for your kindness. 



Lumber Companv. 



This concern has been advised that it will probably be to its 

 advantage to market these logs in log form, and has been given a 

 list of a few prospective customers. Others interested can have the 

 address on application to this office. — Editor. 



B 681 — Wants Names of Manufacturers of Wood Screws 



.New York, Fol). 2S. — Editor Hardwood Reoi.rd : I shall feel greatly 

 obliged if you will put mc in touch with some manufacturers of American 

 wood screws. This inquiry is made for my brother, who resides in Lon- 

 don, and who desires to import these goods. Thanking you in anticipation, 

 I am 



The writer of the above letter is a responsible party located with 

 a reputable concern in New York. He has been given a short list 

 cf wood screw manufacturers in the United States, and if any of 

 our readers are interested they can have the address on application. 

 — Editor. 



B 682 — Wants to Manufacture White Birch 



.Syracuse, X. Y., Mar. 3. — Editor Hardwood Record : Can you tell me 

 through your paper what is the best thing to manufacture white birch into? 

 I have a friend who has 12.000 acres, upon which is a large quantity of 

 white birch. 



This inquirer has been advised that the wood he probably has in 

 mind is the paper birch, as the real white birch is but a minor 

 species. A great deal of the paper birch is manufactured into 

 spools, spool barrels and spool heads. It is an important item in 

 the manufacture of pails and buckets. It is also used for box 

 manufacture, for porch chairs and for the turned parts of other 

 chairs and similar articles of furniture. It is used for clothespins 

 and quite a quantity goes into the manufacture of crates. Dry 



measures are also made from this wood, as are handles of various 

 kinds. 



Woodenwaro hoops also furnish a considerable source of con- 

 sumption for white birch, as do the following: Interior finish, 

 mouldings, saw horses, table slides, wheel parts, washboards and 

 wash benches. — Editor. 



B 683 — Wants Northern Hardwood, Oak and Oum Squares 



New York, JIar. ;i. — Editor Hardwood Record; We would thank you 

 to Insert the following in your "Mail Bag" : We are in the market for 

 hardwood squares IH'Xl'/l: "P to 3x3, in lengths running from IS inches 

 to 36 inches, principally 30 inches. We can use the.se in oak, ash, blrcb, 

 beech or maple principally, and preferably in oak. 



We are also In the market for several cars of gum squares 2K'x2%x24 

 to oO Inches, sap no defect. 



We would appreciate it very much if you could furnish us with the 

 names of mills getting out this kind of stock. 



This concern has been advised of the names of several people 

 who are probably in the position to take care of them. Others 

 interested can have the address on application. — Editor. 



B 684 — Wants Birch Squares 

 New York, Feb. 27. — Editor Hardwood Record : Can you give me the 

 uames of any manufacturers of birch squares? 



This concern has been given a list of manufacturers of northern 

 dimension stock. Those readers interested can have the address on 

 application to this office. — Editor. 



B 685 — Defines "Merchantable Timber" 



The following letter has recently been received from nn esteemed 

 reader of Hardwood Record, located in Kentucky. It has to do 

 with a "Mail Bag" item which appeared in last issue, which 

 attempted to define ' ' merchantable timber, ' ' at the request of 

 another reader. 



The following definition is an unusually clear and concise way 

 of putting it: 



Lexington, Ky., Mar. 3. — Editor Haedwood Record : We notice an 

 answer to the Philadelphia inquiry as to the definition of the word "mer- 

 chantable" when applied to standing timber, and we take issue with you 

 on your answer. We agree that it is a ditHcult matter to draw a strict 

 line defining "merchantable stock." 



The writer has always gone on the theory that in the purchase of stand- 

 ing timber, or in the purchase of logs, each particular case should stand on 

 its own footing as regards the term "merchantable." As an illustration : 

 Taking two separate and distinct lots or boundaries of standing timber. 

 One, for the sake of argument, we will admit is twenty miles from trans- 

 portation facilities ; the other lot is ten miles from transportation. The 

 two lots, however, when delivered to the point of transportation are of 

 equal value. The low-grade timber, such as rough oak, rough or scrubby 

 poplar, beech, pine and other cheap woods, standing on the tract twenty 

 miles distant cannot be handled at a profit for the reason the expense 

 incurred in handling will be more than the price at which the manufac- 

 tured product from these cheap woods could be sold, but could likely be 

 sold at a profit if brought from the tract only ten miles distant. 



Both the seller and buyer are presumed to know the conditions, and 

 we think the proper construction to be placed upon the term "merchant- 

 able" is where timber, when handled in the most advantageous way, 

 manufactured to the best advantage, and sold to the best advantage, 

 snows a reasonable profit over and above cost of production. 



That class of timber, trees or logs when handled, manufactured and sold 

 to the very best advantage that shows a loss or falls to show a reasonable 

 profit over and above the cost of production should not be considered mer- 

 chantable, and we feel that each particular trade or transaction should 

 stand upon its own footing. 



This same question arose between the writer and some other parties 

 owning timber in eastern Kentucky. The w'ritcr Insisted on a clause 

 reading as follows : 



"For the purpose of this agreement, the term 'merchantable' is under- 

 stood to be and means that class of timber, when handled, manufactured 

 and sold to the best advantage, will show a reasonable profit over and 

 above cost of production." 



B 686 — Wants Grape Crates Knocked Down. 



Lockport, N. Y'., Mar. 5. — Editor Hardwood Record: Can you give me 

 the address of any firms in the East that make a business of selling box 

 boards of any required dimensions? I wish to get some crates about one 

 foot square on the ends and two feet long, ends to he made of elm and 

 slats of basswood, preferably. I would like good clean stock, knots al- 

 lowed If they are sound. The crates are to be shipped In a knock-down 

 condition with the exception of the ends, which are to be nailed up. 

 Boards are to be surfaced one side. Crates arc tor use in the shipment 

 uf grapes-. . 



