14 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



April 



1917 



The man with the saw would do well to turn his attention to the 

 high stumps. If they are sound several thousand shingles might be 

 made from each of- them. The old-time lumberman in that region 

 thought he was not doing his duty and living up to traditions if he 

 did not cut stumps at least ten feet high. 



The photograph was made for H.^rdvtood Eecord by Darius Kinsey 

 of Seattle, Wash. 



Practical Patriotism 



WITH THE PEODUCTION of adequate food supjilies recognized 

 as just as vital to the national defense as the creation of equip- 

 ment and large armed forces, public attention naturally focuses these 

 days upon the most logical means of meeting a serious food situation. 

 Aside from the regular agricultural channels there is probably no 

 other one factor that could have such a specific influence upon the 

 food supply of the country as the lumber manufacturing trade. With 

 thousands and thousands of acres of cut-over lands, some of it con- 

 taining the richest soil in the world and most of it of such a character 

 that it would be highly productive of agricultural products, in the 

 hands of well organized and financially strong institutions, the lum- 

 ber manufacturing trade is today in a position to render a service to 

 the country that would be second to no service that could possibly bo 

 rendered by any other industrial unit. 



Already there have been voluntary movements to get the most pos- 

 sible out of productive cut-over lands in the way of foodstuffs that 

 will have their effect in mitigating very trying conditions in exact 

 proportion to the extent to which they are carried out. There can 

 be no question as to the possibility of making money out of the 

 adequate use of cut-over lands, but regardless of that fact the lumber 

 manufacturing trade owes to the country a willingness to turn to agri- 

 cultural production every foot of productive cut-over land which it 

 can secure labor to work. 



Reverting to the selfish standpoint, there is no doubt that a gen- 

 eral movement in this direction now would do more in a year or two 

 to increase the market value of these lands than events in their 

 normal course could possibly do in a much longer period. The very 

 fact that this service was being rendered in behalf of the country 

 would focus the attention of the country upon that effort, and so the 

 public at large would have a much better perception of the oppor- 

 tunity which these cut-over sections afford to the settlers under 

 normal times. In short, the service would constitute the very best 

 type of advertising that could possibly be secured, but beyond that 

 there would be the satisfaction of knowing that each acre planted 

 perceptibly strengthened the position of this country in its inter- 

 national relations. 



Timber Mobilization for War 



THE CALL HAS COME FOR THE MOBILIZATION of the 

 country's timber resources for the war, and the call has found 

 the lumberman ready. The order for the quick production of enough 

 material to build one thousand ships of three thousand tons each 

 can be filled without hesitation or delay. It is anticipated that most 

 of the demand for ship material wOl be met by the southern yellow 

 pine mills and the western mills that cut Douglas fir. There is no 

 doubt that the jsroducers will be able to come to time, although the 

 time is short. It is the plan to have the ships upon the oceans within 

 a few months, and the American flag will then be in evidence on 

 the waters to a greater extent than ever in the past. 



The call will come for immense numbers of array wagons and 

 motor trucks, and that call will find the manufacturers ready. Nu- 

 merous wagon factories are prepared to fill orders of any possible 

 size. This is a change from what Washington was up against in 

 the Revolution, when no factory was prepared to accept an order 

 for more than a dozen wagons, and many contracts were given for 

 one or two wagons in a place. The vehicles will use hardwoods 

 principally, and oak, hickory, elm, maple, cottonwood, ash and poplar 

 will receive large calls. Scarcity of raw material is out of the ques- 

 tion and facilities for rapid seasoning are adequate. 



The demand for hickory and ash handles will attain large propor- 



tions, for trench digging is now one of the soldiers' chief duties. 

 But most of the increase in handle production may be expected for 

 the purpose of supplying the farmer and the truck gardener, for the 

 agricultural resources are being mobilized, and this year's acreage 

 may be expected to surpass anything in past years. The following 

 advertisement was copied from a small country paper in a rural com- 

 munity and is quoted as a sample of what is going on all over the 

 country : 



' ' Farmers, plant every acre and every rod you can. You can sell 

 everything you can raise, no matter what it is. Don't be afraid of 

 raising too much. We can supply you with plows, harrows and all 

 kinds of farm and garden tools. Buy them at once; get to work. 

 It is the best chance to make money out of farming' that you ever had. 



' ' John Smith & Son. ' ' 



Advertisements similar to this are carried by papers in every 

 section of the land. The result is tlie handle trade is bound to be 

 great. It is fortunate that plenty of raw material for handles is 

 available. 



A demand of yet greater dimensions will come to the boxmakers. 

 Army supplies must be shipped and here is one place where the sub- 

 stitute package will not do. The boxes must be of wood in order 

 to stand the hauling, the loading and unloading, the rain and snow 

 and the exposure which must be the fate of army supplies. 



We have the wood in abundance, and the box factories are equipped 

 to turn out the product in enormous quantities. The coopers will 

 be called upon for the old-time flour barrel, because paper sacks 

 wUl not meet the transportation requirements of war. The crackel 

 box and barrel, the pork barrel, the sugar barrel and scores of other 

 kinds of boxes and barrels must be had. The manufacturers are 

 mobilized and are ready for the word. 



The gunstoek proVjlem does not bother us. American walnut has 

 stocked the guns of the Allied armies for two years, and we have 

 plenty of the same stuff left to equip our own armies; and here, 

 too, the walnut mills are ready to take care of the business. 



During the past few years the sawmills of the country have been 

 able to produce much more lumber than was needed. These mills 

 liave now become a potential resource, to be called into action when 

 needed. Everything is ready. The lumber interests are mobilized 

 and can furnish everything needed in their line. 



The Lumber Commissioners 



FOUR MEN HAA^E BEEN COMMISSIONED TO GO ABROAD 

 to investigate the quantity and kinds of lumber that will be 

 needed in rebuilding the portions of Europe which have been devas- 

 tated by war. They axe men well qualified for the work. There 

 were more than one hundred applicants for the job, and the four 

 were the result of sorting and resorting. They are R. E. Simmons, 

 N. C. Brown, A. II. Oxholm and John R. Walker. The government 

 pays one-fourth of the expense and the National Lumber Manufac- 

 turers' Association pays three-fourths. 



It is expected that the work will require two years and that the 

 commissioners wUl gain first-hand information by visiting the war 

 zones and seeing for themselves. 



It would be somewhat difficult to plan the itinerary of tlie com- 

 missioners at this time. The war zone is a somewhat changing piece 

 of geography. Natuj'ally, the commissioners while on duty in the 

 war area will trail along a little behind the barrage fire and not try 

 to keep tally on the houses while in the process of being knocked to 

 pieces. 



While the war lasts the activities of the commissioners will be con- 

 fined to districts this side the German lines, for it is apparent that 

 they would be unwelcome persons in the realm of the kaiser. 



The work cut out for them is a man's job. They should bring back 

 with them many a prospective bill of lumber; but it will all be in 

 the future, because it is improbable that any sales will be made until 

 hostilities cease. 



The softwoods will naturally sell in largest quantities, but the hard- 

 woods ought to receive many calls for interior finish; floors and 

 furniture. 



