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HARDWOOD RECORD 



November 25, 1921 



ligbt with the public. We are pictured as ruthless destmctionists. As 

 a matter of tact, the trees were put here by nature to be manufactured 

 by man for his use and it has simply fallen to our lot to do the butcher- 

 ing. But even the hostile sentiment being builded up by this unfair 

 publicity cannot bring about the writing of mandatory laws upon our 

 statute books requiring us to reforest, if to reforest our cut-over lands 

 does not pay. The committee should understand the lumbermen of this 

 section are not opposed to wise reforestation and conservation laws 

 suitable to take care of the future supply of timber, but we feel that the 

 public should pay for this work and not the lumbermen. The com- 

 mittee should, we feel, be careful in making its report, not to propose 

 any plan which shall include as a feature the penalising in any way 

 whatsoever of the lumber manufacturers, as if they have been all these 

 years committing some heinous oCEense, for which they must offer up their 

 pound of flesh. In searching over the various progressive reforestation 

 plans of Europe, nowhere will the committee find that their laws have 

 proceetled upon any penalty theory nor upon any theory that did not 

 regard the work first, last and all the time, as a strictly paying prop- 

 osition. We — that is, the hardwood contingent, at least, of the in- 

 dustry — respectfully urge upon this committee the justice of the various 

 European plans in these respects. 



Mr. Pritcliard submitted that -while soft wood may be grown to 

 merchantable proportions within 30, 40 or 50 years, such was not 

 the ease with hardwoods, except, perhaps, walnut, probably the 

 most valuable of the hardwood species. This, he admitted, might 

 be grown to merchantable proportions within, say, 40 years. 



He gave it as his opinion that so far as most of the hardwoods 

 are concerned, reforestation on a big scale is "impracticable." 

 He stressed the point that on nearly all of the rich alluvial land 

 throughout the Mississippi valley reforestation is not even de- 

 sirable for the reason, as he stated, that it proves much more 

 profitable to convert the denuded land, with its luxuriant soil, into 

 plantations than to strive for half a century or more to re-grow 

 the hardwood timber. Such, he stoutly maintained, would be a 

 grave economic mistake. It had never seemed to the hardwood 

 people, Mr. Pritchard declared, that the major premises upon which 



most arguments for reforestation have heretofore proceeded have 

 been correct. He reiterated his demand that the manufacturers 

 be not penalized for past performance; that if they are forced to 

 take any steps whatever on the subject they be given evidence in 

 advance that their efforts would pay; expressed grave doubts as 

 to whether or not the proposed legislation would be advisable, 

 and claimed that the question would in time do much to solve it- 

 self through a much closer utilization of the forest products as 

 they dailj' become more and more scarce. 



"Do you, Mr. Pritchard, think the hardwood people can make 

 their industry permanent?" queried Dr. Hugh P. Baker, vice-chair- 

 man of the committee. 



"I do not," was the frank, blunt answer of the witness. 

 ■ ' Moreover, I do not think it economically advisable for them 

 to try to do so," added Mr. Pritchard, "in view of the fact that 

 their denuded land, which in our section is practically all alluvial 

 and very rich, is extremely valuable for agricultural purposes." 



When Dr. Baker asked the blunt question as to whether or not 

 the hardwood people had any further interest in the timber re- 

 sources than merely to cut them out and "get theirs without ever 

 a thought of the future," Mr. Pritchard emphatically asserted 

 that as far-sighted Americans they as well as all others felt the 

 utmost solicitude over the outlook. Mr. Pritchard denied that the 

 hardwood jieople are even indifferent toward reforestation and 

 much less are they actively hostile. He again affirmed that in 

 the Southern territory the soil is too valuable for farming to be 

 devoted to regrowth of timber and that it was only in such case 

 that the hardwood people had failed to boost reforestation, but 

 that so far as other land less suitable for agricultural tillage and 

 more suitable for re-growing hardwood trees is concerned he was 

 sure the hardwood manufacturers could be counted on to a man 

 to do their part in the great work of perpetuating the nation's 

 timber supply. 



Proposes Lumber Disarmament 



Cleverly linking up his idea with that behind the great confer- 

 ence of nations now sitting in "Washington, L. E. Putman, directing 

 manager of the American Wholesale Lumber Association, recently 

 issued a plea for "Disarmament in the Lumber Industry." Mr. 

 Putman argues for the value of avoiding private quarrels and 

 bickerings with the industry and presenting a solid front to the 

 world at large. As a means of bringing about this happy situation 

 he proposes "the establishment of an institute, similar in character 

 and scope to the institutes of the oil, steel and packing industries." 

 He would call this "The American Lumber Institute." 



Pleading for peace within the lumber industry that it may main- 

 tain the confidence and respect of the public Mr. Putman says: 



Now it isn't so important what we fellows within the industry say to 

 each other. Especially can it be constructive it we conline our muck raking 

 to our own branch of the business. But that doesn't seem to satisfy. We 

 usually insist upon telling the world that the crooks, parasites and other 

 undesirables have all flocked to the lumber industry and settled in the two 

 branches other than our own. 



It so happens that I have had an opportunity to herd with all three 

 branches and I find some mighty fine people in each of them. I will re- 

 luctantly admit, however, that I have seen the feet of some of the humanly 

 weak brothers in all branches slip. 



Again I say — what have we arrived at ? We have abused each other pub- 

 licly until we have finally about convinced the Government and a large 

 portion of our citizens that the lumber business has a monopoly on unfair 

 methods and unprincipled men. We have spent hundreds of thousands of 

 dollars fighting among ourselves but we kick like bay steers at giving up a 

 few ttin dimes to create a demand, build good will and educate the public 

 on our product. 



Mr. Putman states that in his "Disarmament Congress" he 

 "would give each of the three branches of the lumber industry an 

 equal voice," and he would have them "arbitrate their differences," 

 just as his own association is now so successfully doing. "I would 

 let all of the soap box orators and would-be economists feel per- 

 fectly at home," he says, "whether by spitting on the floor, writing 

 on the walls or filling dictaphone registers. I would invite in all the 



officers and directors of all recognized associations and let them go 

 on record as to whether they were manufacturers, wholesalers or 

 retailers. Some do all three and still keep out of jail, but at this 

 Disarmament Congress we wouldn't want the Japs trying to speak 

 for the Chinese; neither would we want to leave the interests of the 

 Belgians to the tender care of the Germans. That's been tried, you 

 know. ' ' 



Such an institute as he purposes, Mr. Putman believes, 'could per- 

 form over a dozen valuable services for the lumber industry and do 

 nothing but good for any branch of that industry. ' Among these 

 beneficial services he names the following: 



Cause all of those engaged in any phase of the lumber business to meet 

 at least once a year and get better acquainted ; Allow each branch of the 

 business to get before the others, the important part that that branch 

 plays In the Industry ; Allow the different branches to point out the 

 shortcomings of the other branches and assist in correcting them ; Exert 

 a strong influence to wipe out the petty Jealousies and animosities now 

 e.\isting between the different branches without any real cause ; Discuss 

 ways and means for increasing the use of the product in which we are 

 all interested ; Assist in standardizing the products we handle to the ad- 

 vantage of all concerned, including the public ; Increase the value of the 

 money being spent by the manufacturers, w'holesalers and retailers in 

 creating good will for themselves ; Unite all branches of the business In 

 their efforts to get a fair deal from the railroads, insurance companies, 

 labor organizations, governmental agencies, and other national move- 

 ments ; Assist In working out a source of information pertaining to the 

 production, distribution and consumption of lumber and wood products In 

 conjunction with the Department of Commerce, so that all of us may con- 

 duct our businesses more intelligently and based upon facts rather than 

 guesses or imaginations ; Assist in keeping the public constantly advised 

 as to the current value of lumber which I think is now greatly misunder- 

 stood by statisticians. 



Such an Institute or bureau could build an organization which could 

 direct the general research, trade extension, advertising, promotion and 

 publicity work for the whole industry and give detailed assistance to any 

 individual, association or concern when called upon to do .so in such a way 

 as to Increase the general efficiency and lower the cost of the merchandis- 

 ing of lumber and wood products throughout the country. 



