HARDWOOD RECORD 



10 



LATH 



The lath market is aourishiDg and only small stoths on hand, there being 

 fl. 469. 000 on hand April 1 compared to lo.327.000 on hand one year ago. 

 The unsold stocks a year ago amounted to 10.183,000 and we now have 

 5,260,000 unsold. 



HEMLOCK BARK AND PLLP WOOD 



Your committee has been unable to gather suflBcient information upon 

 which we would feel warranted in rendering a report and we would, there- 

 ■fore. request that the matter of hemlock bark and pulp wood be taken up 

 by the association as a whole for general discussion at this meeting. 



General Conditions 

 The fact that a state of warfare now exists should cause us no immedi- 

 ate alarm as to the consumption of our products. The demand for our 

 products must necessarily continue, although tlio uses may be somewhat 

 changed. Another feature to consider is our production. We have esti- 

 mated what we will produce, but will we have the labor with which to do 

 so. The labor situation is growing more serious every day and will con- 

 tinue so. The enlistments will draw lieavil.v from our workingmen, if not 

 <lirectiy, certainly indirectly. We are sure to lose our men, and from 

 where are we to replace tliem, even at advanced wages? 



This was followed by discussion which, boiled down, revealed a 

 sentimont that flooring stocks may not go up to the present recommen- 

 dation but that cull hardwoods will go considerably beyond the figure 

 mentioned in the report. 



It was voted that the Forest Fire Protective Department be given 

 assets based on assessment of three and one-half cents per acre. 



\V. T. Mitchell, who attended the recent reorganization meeting of 

 the National Lumber Manufacturers' Association, reviewed the ac- 

 complishments at that gathering, reporting in a formal way to his 

 home body. No action was taken. 



There was some discussion on the question of raising foodstuffs on 

 waste and cutover lands, this subject being introduced by the reading 

 of a letter from William C. Redfield, Secretary of Commerce, in which 

 it was urged that the members do whatever they possibly can to aug- 

 ment the food supply. One manufacturer stated that his company is 

 loaning the use of unoccupied land adjacent to its operation for the 

 raising of foodstuffs by its employees. Another said that his company 

 is furnishing seed potatoes on notes without interest. It was moved 

 that a committee be appointed to draft resolutions supporting the 

 government in the present crisis and to do whatever possible in the 

 way of lining up Michigan 's manufacturing industries in behalf of 

 the food situation. 



Secretary Frank F. Fish, of the National Hardwood Lumber Asso- 

 ciation, spoke briefly, mostly relative to the necessity for all Michigan 

 members attending the coming convention of his association if they 

 desire the grade changes put into effect. He said that without ques- 

 tion the request for changes will be adopted if those really interested 

 win come out and record their vote, but that it wiU undoubtedly be 

 defeated if these votes are not forthcoming. 



The meeting then adjourned. 



'i :;a^t;N:/*l>5oio^.Uh>X:J^C iBt~:A^;i^:^^ 



Meeting Yields Big Results 



The spring meeting of the Northern Hemlock and Hardwood Manu- 

 facturers' Association closed April 27 with the adoption of resolutions 

 that are regarded as the most i-adical and unusual ever presented at a 

 lumbermen's gathering. Their unusual character was incident to the 

 war crisis now confronting the nation and it was made evident in the 

 resolutions and in the addresses previous to their adoption that the 

 lumber manufacturers of the nation will play a leading part in the na- 

 tional defense policy of the country. Besides pledging support to 

 President Wilson during the present war, the association went on rec- 

 ord as favoring a national prohibition law governing sale and manu- 

 facture of liquor during the food and war crisis. It was also recom- 

 mended that members of the association urge all their employes to in- 

 crease and stimulate production of food products by utilizing all 

 vacant land possible and the buj'ing of young beef stock for pasturage 

 on cutover lands. The resolutions adopted also contain two important 

 ■ jjaragraphs on lumber trade extension as follows: 



Whereas, at the last meeting of the National Lumber Manufacturers' 

 Association a resolution was passed providing, among other things, that 

 the contributions of the regional associations to the National be limited 

 to three-quarter cents per thousand, this amount to cover all the 

 activities of the association, and also providing for the cancellation of 

 individual subscriptions to the association. It appears that this action 

 will limit the funds of the association for all purposes, to less than 

 5100,000, of which amount not more than .$7,">,000 will be available for 

 the promotion of tlie use of lumber in trade extension activities, necessi- 

 tating the cancellation of a large part of the work already started which 

 has shown such excellent results, and which is so much needed to combat 

 the growing inroads which substitutes are making on the consumption 

 of lumber ; now. therefore, be it 



Resolved, that this association is opposed to any curtailment of the 

 trade extension activities and is in favor of an enlargement of this work 

 and is willing to pay a larger assessment than ' three-quarters of a cent 

 per thousand for the purpose of continuing the work of promoting the 

 use of lumber and to counteract the large amount of adverse legislation 

 and misrepresentation wliich has seriously hurt the lumber business 

 during the past five years. 



The meeting opened with the address of President J. J. Lingle, of 

 Westboro, Wis., who touched upon the war problems confronting lum- 

 bermen of the nation in complying with the gigantic expenditure of 

 money in domestic industries in filling the needs of England, France 

 and Russia and those of a merchant marine and army equipment prob- 

 lems of the United States. Mr. Lingle said: "The problem will re- 

 quire the best thought and the sagest counsel and advice that we can 



bestow or secure. It involves the whole field of political economy and 

 presupposes a multitude of vexing difficulties which must be met and 

 conquered. It ought to be approached in no haphazard fashion, but 

 should be worked out carefully and logically by our experts and special- 

 ists in the several fields." 



The finances of the association were shown to be in excellent condi- 

 tion by Treasurer George Foster's report, to the effect that the asso- 

 ciation and hemlock promotion bureau had $5,000 each to their credit. 

 Secretary O. T. Swan reviewed the association's plan of work and 

 cited the new government demands for lumber such as army and navy 

 barracks and the importance of the association learning what demands 

 for lumber will be made by the government and also the necessity of 

 the government making known the size, dimensions and grades of the 

 lumber desired so that lumbermen may readOy conform to these re- 

 qiiirements. 



F. B. Mocdj-, eonstrvatiou commissioner of Wisconsin, gave an 

 interesting address on the plan under which federal and state govern- 

 ments will contribute funds for the fire protection of standing timber. 

 Comment along the same line was made by Edward S. Bryant of the 

 United States Forest Service, who happened to be in Milwaukee at the 

 time. ' ' The Freight Rate and Legislative Situation ' ' was discussed by 

 A. L. Osborn of Oshkosh, chairman of the bureau of transportation and 

 legislation, who reviewed the work of the association's traffic depart- 

 ment under F. M. Ducker, and th.e eflforts being made to procure equit- 

 able rates for the lumbermen of Wisconsin and northern Michigan. 



George H. Chapman of Stanley, as chairman of the bureau of grades, 

 made a report on the new grades and hardwood rules to the effect 

 that proposed changes were approved by the rules committee of the 

 National Hardwood Lumber Association and that these will be finally 

 passed upon at the mettiug of the latter body in Chicago in June. The 

 Northern Hemlock and Hardwood Manufacturers' Association will 

 meet at that same time and place, as will Michigan manufacturers. 

 No action on No. 3 hemlock was taken at this time as the recommen- 

 dations of the bureau were not regarded as suffieiently definite and 

 final action will be taken later. The proposed changes in hardwood 

 rules are as follows : 



Proposed Rctles for Selects 

 Under caption. Standard Inspection — .\sh, Basswood, Bay Poplar, 

 Beech. Birch. Black Gum. Buckeye. Butternut. Cherry, Chestnut, Cotton- 

 wood. Soft Elm. I!ed Gum. Sap Gum, Quartered Ked Gum, Uackberry. 



