April 25, 1917 



Hardwood Record — Veneer & Panel Section 



23 



Rotary Gum Meeting at Memphis 



Enthusiasm and Optimism Mark Gathering. Important Discussions on 



Costs, Inspection and Ethics 



I HE COMMERCIAL ROTARY GUM Association, 

 which is affiliated with the Gum Lumber Manu- 

 facturers' Association, held an enthusiastic meet- 

 ing at Memphis, Tenn., April 1 7. R. L. Jurden 

 of Penrod, Jurden & McCowen, Inc., presided. The ses- 

 sion began at 1 I o'clock and continued until 4:30 p. m., 

 with only sufficient interruption to allow for luncheon. 

 The attendance was unusually large in proportion to the 

 total membership. Several important steps were taken in 

 the interest of the industry which this organization rep- 

 resents. Those who were on the program did their part 

 ■with enthusiasm and the meeting 

 proved anything but a cut and dried 

 affair. In fact, the most impressive 

 Feature of the sessions was the spirit 

 sf helpfulness and practicalness dis- 

 played by all who participated in the 

 discussions, and E. H. Defebaugh of 

 Hardwood Record, expressed regret 

 that all the members were not present 

 to participate in the discussions and to 

 receive the benefits thereof. 



In the discussion of trade reports 

 it was made clear that there is an ex- 

 ceptional demand for gum veneers 

 :rom every direction and that prices, 

 on account of this unusual demand 

 and on account of the advance in the 

 price of logs, machinery, labor and 

 every other item entering into the cost 

 of manufacture, are tending toward 

 a higher level. It was also empha- 

 sized that there is a pronounced 

 shortage of logs for use of the veneer manufacturers 

 and that this condition also made for an exceptionally 

 strong market. But the point was clearly brought 

 out during the discussions that, high as prices are, veneers, 

 everything considered, are selling for less than they have 

 been selling for heretofore. In fact, some members 

 declared it impossible to advance prices fast enough to 

 keep veneers in line with the advancing tendency in 

 everything entering into the cost thereof but there is no 

 doubt, after listening to the discussions on this point, that 

 the veneer manufacturers are determined to do their best 

 in this direction. 



One of the most fruitful topics of discussion during the 

 day centered around the formulation of a uniform system, 

 of cost accounting. H. J. Ingram read a paper which was 

 scheduled on the program as the "Report of the Cost 

 Committee" and this was regarded as so interesting and so 



R. L. JIRDEN. MEM 

 COMilEKCI.AL UOT.iUY 



full of valuable information that it was ordered printed 

 in pamphlet form and distributed to the members, includ- 

 ing those who did not attend. It was agreed by those pres- 

 ent that it was quite difficult to formulate a system of 

 cost accounting that would be satisfactory to all concerned 

 but, on motion of Mr. Ingram, the chairman was author- 

 ized to appoint a committee of three to formulate a uni- 

 form system of cost accounting. Up to this time this com- 

 mittee has not been named but this will doubtless receive 

 the early attention of Mr. Jurden. The belief was ex- 

 pressed that a uniform system would lead to greater 

 uniformity of prices and that it would, 

 at the same time, prove an important 

 factor in enabling the veneer manu- 

 facturers to secure a profit on their 

 operations. It was shown that, so far, 

 the best system developed is that of 

 figuring the cost per hour of operating 

 each lathe but it was recognized that, 

 in working on the various thicknesses, 

 there was considerable difficulty in 

 ascertaining this cost per lathe on a 

 scientific and trustworthy basis. The 

 statement of G. W. Sparks, that he 

 was drying veneers as cheaply as they 

 could be dried, brought out lively de- 

 bate on this point, with the ultimate 

 decision that, how^ever cheaply any 

 member may be handling any process, 

 there is always a cheaper method of 

 doing it and that it was up to the mem- 

 bers to get down to the lowest basis 

 possible in each process. 

 Byram Veneer & Lumber Company, 

 the discussion on "Inspection Rules" 

 and handled these largely from the standpoint of showing 

 that, in some important respects, they did not protect the 

 interests of the veneer manufacturers. He thought that, 

 in following these rules in some particulars, there was en- 

 tirely too much waste encountered by the manufacturers, 

 and further, that the rules were not quite specific enough 

 to show just what was meant. He particularly objected 

 to the selling of wide panel stock and the matching of 

 the narrower stock forming part of the order. He did 

 not believe that the veneer manufacturer should do any- 

 thing but manufacture veneers and that he should not, 

 under any circumstances, attempt to do the work of the 

 cabinet maker. He advocated selling ten inches and up 

 and getting everything out of the log there was in it. 

 B. W. Lord heartily endorsed this suggestion and said 



ITIIS, I'ltESIDEXT 

 Gt'M ASSOri.VTIOX 



W. E. Tuxford, 

 Byram, Miss., led 



