i6 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



August 10, 191" 



slightest effect upon the one great purpose of supplying the country 

 with what it needs to prosecute the war to a successful issue. The 

 wood best suited to a particular use has been forthcoming without 

 a hitch and without a discordant note from dealers in other kinds of 

 wood. This is a record which speaks well for the organization, the 

 business integrity, and the patriotism of the lumber business in this 

 time of trouble. 



It has been found to be about the only large industry so organized 

 and equipped that it is capable of immediate expansion to meet the 

 increased needs due to the war. There may be shortages in other 

 lines, but none in the lumber supply, though the war should go on for 

 years. 



Replanting the Forests 



THE FOREST SERVICE HAS PUBLISHED BULLETIN 475 

 which deals with "reforestation on National forests." It is a 

 pamphlet of sixty-four pages, compiled by C. R. Tillotson, and it is a 

 handbook for the forester rather than popular reading for the ordi- 

 nary citizen ; yet the jjaniphlet contains much information for the 

 general public. 



Calculations might be made from data contained in the bulletin, 

 showing that the production of seeds by cone-bearing trees west of 

 the Rockj' Mountains greatly exceeds in bushels the production of 

 wheat in the United States. 



The methods employed by the Forest Service in collecting tree seeds 

 are described in great detail. Gathering tree seeds is an important 

 business in some regions. The old method of robbing the squirrel 

 hoards is still in good standing in the Forest Service. The squirrels 

 gather seeds for winter, and the forest rangers hunt the store places 

 and rob them. The methods by which this is done are minutely 

 described without any disapproval. Several years ago some of the 

 societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals criticized the Forest 

 Service for robbing the squirrels of their winter food; but evidently 

 the criticism failed to make converts among the seed gatherers, who 

 replied that the end justified the means, and that the squirrels ought 

 to be glad of the oppo];tunity to work in the great cause of forest 

 conservation. The squirrels have nut yet presented their side of the 

 case. 



lu one forest in a single season 610 bushels of cones were taken 

 from squirrel caches, and 1,137 bushels in another. One extra indus- 

 trious forester took sixteen and one-half bushels of cones from squirrel 

 stores in one day. Many a man can remember his boyhood excursions 

 and the lickings he got for robbing birds nests. What would he have 

 got had he garnered sixteen and a half bushels of spoils in one day? 



Isn't It Worth While? 



THERE ARE SO MANY REASONS why every sliipper of lumber 

 and every other commodity should help win the war on wasted 

 cars that any reasons that might be advanced against the propaganda 

 for full loading are negligible. 



There is the usual appeal to patriotism in campaigns for full load- 

 ing, but beyond that it is merely a question of common sense business 

 policy. If the caiiacity of the carrying line can be increased by 

 twenty-five per cent to fifty per cent through proper attention to 

 capacity loading, it is very apparent that twenty-five per cent to fifty 

 per cent more of all commodities can be moved without the delay 

 incident to providing new equipment. This twenty-five per cent to 

 fifty per cent increase is altogether likely to become the deciding 

 factor in the question of life or ilcath for more than one industry. 



The inspiration to co-operate in the movement is heightened by the 

 co-operative spirit which the roads, and particularly some of the 

 southern lumber carrying roads, are showing. An illustrated item 

 regarding proper and improper loading in a recent issue of Hardwood 

 Record brought to a focus certain efforts by one of the southern roads, 

 namely, the Rock Island lines, to push the propaganda to the limit. 

 Tliese cuts were reproduced iu the Employees Magazine at the request 

 of II. R. Fertig, car distributor for the Rock Island system. In 

 acknowledging the cuts and sending on a copy of the magazine, Mr. 

 Fertig sends the following letter: 



' ' I'ermit me to express my appreciation of your kindness in sending 

 the cuts of the heavily loaded and the light car of lumber, which we 

 have received, and will use in connection with the article to ajjpear 

 in o\iv Employees Magazine. 



' • We will be very glad to give the Hardwood RECORD'credit for the 

 insertion, and in this connection we are wondering if there is any 

 objection to our making further use of the cuts in connection with our 

 plans of conservation of equipment, such as we did in getting out the 

 attached letterhead to be used in handling light loading. 



' ' We wish to express to you our appreciation of the fine spirit among 

 the hardwood shippers, with which our efforts to • ' win the war on 

 wasted cars" has been met. We have never received such hearty 

 co-operation from any producers which excels the interest taken by 

 the shippers whom you represent, considerable of which is no doubt 

 due to our good friend Mr. Townshend, who is doing more, probably, 

 than any other rei^resentative of any traffic association to bring about 

 closer relations between the producers and the carriers. 



"If at any time we can reciprocate for the favors shown us, kindly 

 call the way we can serve you or your pcojile to our attention." . 



H. E. Fertig. 

 If there is anyone who doubts that the movement to lessen the 

 waste in freight carrying capacity is worth while, let him read care- 

 fully the last paragraph of Mr. Fertig 's letter. Let him then sit down 

 for a few moments of quiet reflection and follow that by getting de- 

 cidedly busy. 



Three Strong Points 



MANY A VISIONARY SCHEME HAS BEEN PROPOSED for 

 saving waste and turning it to account in winning the war; and 

 there have been many sensible plans also. Three strong points stand 

 out prominently from the multitude of good suggestions. One is, 

 build more silos; the second is, ircrease the canning facilities; the 

 third is, make greater use of evaporators as a means of saving the 

 fruit. 



The silo saves the forage crop and makes it last longer, go farther, 

 and accomplish more. A given number of acres will feed more live 

 stock, put more fat on their bones, put more milk on the dining tables, 

 and more money into the jiockets of the farmers. 



The cannery performs a similar service for the fruit and vegetable 

 crop. A few days suflSces to spoil many fruits and vegetables after 

 they reach maturity, unless artificial methods are employed to save 

 them. The cauuery provides the means for accomplishing this. 



Wliat is true of the cannery, holds true of the evaporator or dryer 

 also. Many fruits and vegetables cannot be canned economically, for 

 one reason or another, but it is often practicable to dry them and in 

 that way preserve and prepare them for market. 



These three methods of preserving the products of the land have 

 long been in use, and the only reason why special attention need be 

 directed to them now is that a great emergency has arisen which was 

 not present in the past. The country faces two grent problems — 

 larger production and more careful saving. It is responding to the call 

 for larger production more energetically than it is meeting the demand 

 for more careful and systematic saving. 



The best silos are built of wood, and wood is abundant. There is 

 enough to provide every farm in the land with one or more silos. 

 The efficiency of many a farm might be doubled if silos were provided 

 and used with intelligence; and the change can be made quickly. 



At present there are some obstacles in the way of greatly enlarging 

 the canning business. Tin is scarce and cannot be immediately in- 

 creased, because it is mined, chiefly, on the other side of the world, 

 and ships tor transportation arc lacking. In many instances glass 

 jars might take the place of tin cans; but glass is high in price. 



The evaporator might take the place of the cannery in many 

 instances. Evaporators can be built of wood, without tin or glass; 

 and the evaporated fruit goes to market in wooden boxes and wooden 

 barrels and drums. Once- again it is the forest that meets the emer- 

 gency, for all the shipping containers that can possibly be needed 

 may be supplied cheaply and quickly by the sawmills and box factories. 



