Deipmbcr 10, 1921 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



19 



News from the National Capital 



Forestry Question Will Be Threshed Out 



The Interstato Commen-e Coiniiiission furtlier suspoiidcil until 

 January 7, 1022. the operation of ail scliedules published by the 

 Alabama & Northwestern Railroad, which provide for the cancella- 

 tion of the existing commodity rate of 11% cents per 100 pounds on 

 lumber and articles takin_g the same rates from points on the 

 Alabama & Northwestern Railway to Selma, Ala., the operation of 

 wliich was suspended until December 8, 1921, by an order pre- 

 viously entered. 



The commission further suspended until January 12 the operation 

 of schedules which propose to eliminate the application of the rates 

 on lumber and other forest products from points in southeastern ter- 

 ritory to stations not shown in the tariff located between two points 

 of destination named therein on the Norfolk & Western Railway, 

 the operation of which was suspended until December 13, 1921, by 

 an order previously entered. 



* * * *■ 



The American forestry question will t)e threshed out before the 

 House Agricultural Committee in a week of hearings beginning 

 January 9, according to an announcement by Chairman Haugen. 

 This comes as a climax of a year of work by the National Forestry 

 Program Committee to get a thorough plan for the maintenance of 

 forests before Congress for action. 



It is just a year ago that the National Forestry Program Com- 

 mittee was named, with the paper industry, as represented by the 

 American Paper and Pulp Association; the lumber industry, as 

 represented Ky the National Lumber Manufacturers' Association; 

 the publishers, as represented by the American Newspaper Pub- 

 lishers' Association, and other national and local groups, as mem- 

 bers of the committee. From this union of interested groups came 

 the Snell bill. 



Hearings of last year came as Congress was about to adjourn, 

 and action went over to the Sixty-Seventh Congress, where Con- 

 gressman B. H. Snell again introduced the forestry bill. The intro- 

 duction of essentially the same bill followed in the Senate, Senator 

 Medill McCormick of Illinois being the sponsor. 



* * * * 



Sawn lumber totaling 675,000,000 feet had been sold b.y Finnish 

 exporters up to October 1, according to a report from Trade Com- 

 missioner Graves, at Riga. This represents approximately 60 per 

 cent of the stocks on hand, leaving an unsold balance of approxi- 

 mately 4.50,000,000 feet on hand. Sales in 1920 up to October 1 

 were reported to have totaled 750,000,000 feet. With the improved 

 demand which has appeared recently in foreign markets, especially 

 in the United Kingdom, the Finnish shippers hope to move upwards 

 of 200,000,000 feet before the close of navigation in December. 



Of the quantities sold for export this year, 200,000,000 feet have 

 been contracted for in England, 140,000,000 feet in France and 

 Belgium, 120,000,000 feet in Germany, 80,000,000 feet in Holland 

 and 50,000,000 feet in Denmark, and the balance to other countries. 

 Export sales in Sweden up to October 1 are reported to have 

 amounted to more than 600,000,000 feet. 



Manufacturers Offer Economic Data to House 

 Committee on Forestry 



The resources of the National Lumber Manufacturers' Associa- 

 tion for the furnishing of "industrial and economic facts pertain- 

 ing to timber growth and lumber manufacture and consumption" 

 were placed at the disposal of the Committee of Agriculture of the 

 Hous» of Representatives by the board of directors of the associa- 

 tion at a meeting held in Chicago at the Congress Hotel on Decem- 



Ijer 1. The directors, in the resolution which they adopteil. offered 

 the committee the services of John H. Kirby, president of the 

 association, and George S. Long, chairman of the forestry com- 

 mittee, men, they explained, "who are particularly ((u.alified to 

 enlighten the committee on the essential facts involved in this 

 important problem." The resolution was introduced by J. W. 

 Blodgett of Grand Rapids, Mich. 



The preamble to the resolution explained the motives of the 

 directors in thus offering the association's full co-operation with the 

 House committee. This said: 



Where.xs. The directors of the National Lumber Manufacturers' -Asso- 

 ciation recognize the existence of a pul>lic necessit.v in the rcphu-cment of 

 forests adequate for the needs of future generations, and l)plieve that it 

 warrants the serious and constructive consideration b.v the nation : and 



Whekeas, We believe it is an obligation of government, both federal and 

 state, through legislation to extend financial aid to securi' to the genera- 

 tions of the future these timber requirements, and that it is the duty and 

 obligation of every citizen to aid the governmeDt to reach a wise, just 

 and effective solution of its forest i»rol)Iem ; and 



Whereas. We recognize that tlie future public needs for forest products 

 can not be adequatel.v supplied without the reforestation of some lands 

 which are now held in private ownership, and we believe that owners of 

 forest land will co-operate with the government in such action as may in 

 fact Ije necessary to enable the government at public expense to safeguard 

 this recognized public necessity, therefore, be it, etc., etc. 



An extended discussion which preceded the adoption of the reso- 

 lution established quite clearly that it is not meant to commit the 

 association to any particular forestry legislation or policy, but 

 merely to give what aid the association can to the formulation of a 

 bill, which will adequately safeguard both private property rights 

 and the interests of the general public. In previous instances, which 

 are familiar to the industry, the directors of the association have 

 formally endorsed the principals of the Snell bill, but have reserved 

 the right to demand the full recognition of the rights of private 

 property as delegated in the Constitution. 



The House committee will begin its hearings in Washington on 

 January 6. 



The meeting at Chicago was presided over by President Kirby, 

 and in addition to the questions of forestry and the plan for a new 

 American Lumber Congress, the association 's national advertising 

 campaign, the attack of the Brick Manufacturers' Association on 

 wood as a building material, timber testing work of the Forest 

 Products Laboratory and other matters were handled. In the mat- 

 ter of the advertising campaign it was decided to put the responsi- 

 bility for advertising "copy" up to E. P. Allen, director of pub- 

 licit.y, under the general direction of Secretary-Manager Compton 

 and the advertising committee. The causes of the misunderstanding 

 which has developed between the association and the brick manu- 

 facturers will, following the suggestion of Edward Hines, be inves- 

 tigated b.v a committee from the association, which will seek a 

 friendly conference with the officers of the brick association. J. S. 

 Newlin, an expert from the Forest Products Laboratory, presented 

 considerable data on the economical sizes and capacities of build- 

 ing timbers. 



A resolution was adopted regretting the death of D. O. Anderson 

 of Marion, S. C, former chairman of the advertising committee, and 

 paying tribute to his splendid character both as a man and busi- 

 ness man. 



Action was taken to discharge the legal formalities necessary for 

 a final dissolution of the Forest Products Exposition Company. 



The report of the very .successful endeavors of the committee on 

 taxation was made by R. B. Goodman, chairman, and Judge W. S. 

 Bennett, counsel for the committee, who was elected to membership 

 at this meeting. 



