September 10, 1917 



Shipping Outlook at Memphis 



J. H. TowBshend, secretary-manager of the Southern Hardwood 

 Traffic Association, Memphis, Tenn., has issued a circular letter to 

 members of that organization calling their attention to the fact that 

 ' ' the car situation as a whole has not improved and that there is very 

 little prospect of its improving." He says that some of the hardwood 

 mills at junction points are receiving as high as 80 per cent of their 

 requirements in the way of cars for handling outbound shipments of 

 lumber but he gives the following conditions as obtaining on certain 

 typical divisions of these roads : 



Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific. 100 per cent of requirements; Missouri 

 Pacific, 33% per cent; Yazoo & Mississippi Valley line of the Illinois Cen- 

 tral, 37 % ; Texas & Pacific, 50 ; V. S. & P., 50, and Southern Railway in 

 Mississippi, 25. 



In this connection Mr. Townshend says: 



We again urge all members to ship all the lumber that can possibly be 

 moved as promptly as possible. The general car situation, from informa- 

 tion obtained, looks very discouraging. Crops are greater this year than 

 ever before in the history of the country and will require more cars to 

 move than formerly The carriers have bought some new equip- 

 ment and will, about next May, be in position to deliver about 100,000 

 new freight cars, but they will not be in position to add any new motive 

 power. 



Mr. Townshend says that the reports which are being sent in daUy 

 by members of the association are enabling the latter to keep a close 

 check on the carriers and to greatly facilitate the handling of equip- 

 ment. 



Another move has been made, or is in process of being worked out, 

 looking to the establishment of subsidiary committees at various points 

 in the Memphis or valley territory that will co-operate with the car 

 service committee at Memphis which is in turn subject to the general 

 Car Service Commission at Washington. These committees will be 

 appointed by the carriers at Little Rock, Pine' BlufE and other points 

 where they may prove helpful. In this connection, it may be an- 

 nounced that the Southern Hardwood Traffic Association will have a 

 representative at all of the meetings of these sub-committees to the 

 end that the interests of its members may be wholly safeguarded. 



The brightest aspect of transportation conditions here, now is to 

 be found in the increase in the niunber of flat cars for handling logs 

 to the mills at Memphis and elsewhere in this territory. It is officially 

 stated that there are more flat cars available now than for some time 

 and that prospects point to a still further gain in the near future. The 

 Yazoo & Mississippi Valley line of the Illinois Central system has 

 agreed to furnish enough additional cars to enable the Valley Log 

 Loading Company to put anotlier of its log loaders in use on that 

 road and the general superintendent of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain 

 & Southern has promised to undertake to relieve the lack of equip- 

 ment for handling logs on that system. Meantime, practically all the 

 mills at Memphis are able now to work on fuU time and in some in- 

 stances they are securing quite a quantity of logs ahead. However, 

 accumulation of a surplus of logs on local yards is almost out of the 

 question under present conditions. 



Practically ideal weather continues for the cutting and hauling of 

 logs and this work is making excellent progress. More timber is 

 being prepared for shipment than the railroads are able to handle 

 but just now particular attention is being devoted by the millmen 

 and the carriers to the moving of the logs which have been exposed 

 for some time and which have been damaged by worms and other 

 insects. The quantity is reported quite considerable and no effort 

 will be spared to avoid the loss that would be entailed in the destruc- 

 tion of these logs. 



There is a controversy at present between members of the Southern 

 Log Association, with headquarters in Memphis, and officials of the 

 Valley Log Loading Company regarding a proposed advance of 40 

 cents per thousand in the charge for loading logs on the Yazoo & 

 Mississippi Valley line of the Illinois Central. This advance became 

 effective August 15 and was based on the increase of $10 per day 

 for engine service furnished by the railroad company. Members 

 of the association, however, say that the advance of 40 cents per M 



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for loading logs is equivalent to an advance of $30 per day for engine 

 service, with the restilt that they regard the increased log loading 

 cost all out of proportion to the condition on which it is based. Indi- 

 cations are that a satisfactory adjustment will be reached. 



Eight-Hour Day and Other Vital Matters 

 Agitated in Washington 



Among the matters at Washington having a hardwood angle may be 

 mentioned the following. The question of prices of lumber and other 

 war materials, which is being considered by the Federal Trade Com- 

 mission and the Council of National Defense. The former is investi- 

 gating the cost of production of lumber such as the government needs. 



Bills have been introduced in congress by Representative KeUy of 

 Pennsylvania to provide for the government to take over all timber- 

 lands in excess of 100 acres in a contiguous tract, cut the timber and 

 utilize or sell the product at fair prices, as a war measure in order 

 to insure adequate liunber supplies. 



The labor question in the lumber industry interests the government 

 very much. The eight-hour agitation in the far west is sympathized 

 with by certain government officials, but many lumbermen here say 

 that the western lumbermen made a mistake in saying they would 

 accept an eight -hour day if it is made national. The western people, 

 it is said, rely upon the southern pine interests to beat the proposition. 

 However, it may not be beaten. Senator Poindexter has introduced 

 a bill for a national eight-hour day in lumber mills shipping stuff in 

 interstate and foreign commerce. Senator Jones of the same state 

 has presented memorials in favor of the proposition and Senator New- 

 lands of Nevada, one of the democratic leaders, has spoken in favor 

 of further government regulation of the lumber industry, including 

 hours of labor, wages and price fixing. 



Important Foreign Trade Happenings 



Hardwood supplies the world over are in such demand for war 

 purposes that several governments are taking a hand to protect their 

 own interests in that connection. The latest development along 

 this line is the action of the British Board of Trade in taking pos- 

 session of all stocks exceeding 5000 feet of mahogany and American 

 walnut in logs, plankSj and boards, which was recently reported to 

 the department of commerce at Washington b}' tlie American consul 

 general at London. 



The consul general in Paris has also reported recently that the 

 French Government has issued a decree prohibiting the exportation 

 from French colonies and protectorates, except Tunis and Morocco, 

 of the following woods: box, cherry, cotton, ebony, guiaucum, palm, 

 soapbark, rose, to all destinations except France, other French 

 colonies and protectorates. However, the consul general adds that 

 a ministerial order recently issued at Paris permits the exportation 

 of all woods above prohibited to the usual allies of France and to 

 American countries. 



The United States Government is also taking steps to conserve 

 its hardwood resources. President Wilson has issued a proclamation 

 prohibiting the exportation of any wood and manufactures thereof 

 to Germany, her allies, and to territory occupied by German troops, 

 or to neutral European countries except under special license. 



The President's proclamation also specifies that exports of ash, 

 spruce, walnut, mahogany, oak and birch woods, which are ex- 

 tensively used for airplane production in this country, will not bo 

 permitted to countries allied with this country and to neutral coun 

 tries outside of Europe, 'except under special license. This condition 

 applies to hardwood ashes also, and to turpentine, rosin, and wood- 

 pulp. 



Plenty of hardwood will be used in manufacturing 40,000 freight 

 cars which the United States is to supply Russia with as a war 

 measure, at a cost of $700,000,000, also including the cost of 2,500 

 locomotives. 



