36 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



September 10, UI17 



un our Paeiflc coast. A siusle raft contains as much timber as several 

 schooners will carry. 



Wood Exports Still Fall 



The most discourayiug statement as ti> e.^cports ye( issued is that foi- 

 .luly, which Includes just four classes against fifteen or twenty under 

 ordinary circumstances, while the declared value of the shipments from 

 this port is reduced to an insignificant sum. Even in spruce there has 

 been a drop, and such woods as oak and poplar tigure on the list with purely 

 nominal quantities. Shipments of maiuifactures of wood have been 

 eliminated, the exhibit inilicating impressively the effect of the restrictive 

 measures adopted by foreign governments. While the corresponding month 

 of last year was a poor period, the declared value of all the shipments 

 from Baltimore in July, Itil", totals only .$.37,OSri, or aliout one-third of the 

 value of the shipments for July, !!»](;. One of the striking developments 

 is the increase in the declared value of spruce, the :!.Si.i,i>UO feet shipped 

 last July being estimated at .'t;34,2.'.;), while the 449,UIJ0 feet .shipped a year 

 before were Invoiced at only *2S,3S7. This indicates either a big advance 

 in the quality of the stocks exported or a marking up of prices, with the 

 latter probably the case. It looks as if no e.xpansion in the export move- 

 ment i.s to be looked for while the war lasts, even though any embargo 

 of exports to neutral countries will be without effect because exports to 

 those countries had practically ceased some time ago. 



Fighting Blood Will Tell 

 Hugh P. P.aker, dean of the New V.ok State t'ollegi' of Forestry. Syra- 

 cuse, N. 'Y., is one of the "rookies" at tlie Second Reserve Officers' training 

 camp at Fort Sheridan. Dr. Baker had been without a vacation for sev- 

 eral years, and in accordance with university custttm. l)eginning tlie first 

 of .Vpril had been given a vacation for a year to engagi' in travel and 

 study. After taking a short rest at the old family home at St. t'roix Falls, 

 Wis., he started on a trip througli the western forestry and lundjering 

 operations, and had gone as far as Tacoma, Wash., pre[iaratory to sailing 

 for a six months' investigation of forest conditions in China and India. 

 But he comes from a fighting family, whose father. Major Baker, made a 

 notable record during the Civil War. lie decided, therefore, that there 

 is need for men of his age and experience in the new army, and the open- 

 ing of the training camp here found him on hand, reaily to dig trenches 

 and do any task assigned. There are many prominent Unnbermen in train- 

 ing, and the practical experience which they have gained in the rugged 

 (jutdoor life of timber operations comes in good stead'now. 



Lumber for Rebuilding French Tcwns 



If present plans are carried out. the in\:ided parts of France will be 

 rettuilt on a larger and finer scale tlian l)erore they were leveled hy the 

 tierman armies. Narrow streets in cities and towns will lie widened. 

 The little one and two-story dwellings so well known to .\merlcan timrists 

 will Ite enlarged and beautified. Insanitary conditions will be generally 

 eliminated and other conditions measuralily lmi)roved. In all iirobaiiility 

 these sections of France will afford a market for qnantilies id' .\merican 

 lumber and other building materials. 



Escorts for Lumber Ships 



The matter of escorting luiiiliercarrying ships in Swedish waters is 

 being discussed in Sw'eden. Naval vessels are to protect vessels in their 

 voyages along the coast, within the three-mile limit, until they pass out 

 to open sea. It should not 'lie necessary to guard trading vessels in the 

 territorial waters of a neutral country; hut the <;ermans pay no atten- 

 tion to law or custom when it suits their convenience to attack, conse- 

 quently a guard ship will tend to discourage those acts of jiiracy. for 

 the (lermaus will hardly attack Swedish war vessels. 



American Walnut Commandeered 



On .\ugust "^4 the British government took iiossission of all lilack walnut 

 logs or lumber in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, in lots of ,"1,(1110 

 feet or more. I'ossession was taken of mahogany in the same manner. 

 The wood is wanted for gii\'ernment work. 



The Rocky Mountain Pines 



Forest Service Bulletin 41I11 has liein pulilished. It deals wltli the 

 piues of the Uocky Mountain region. It includes six white pines, which are 

 western white pine, limber pine, wliiteliark pine, Mexican white pine, 

 Mexican pinon, nut pine, singleleaf |iine and bristlecone pine. The fol- 

 lowing yellow pines are recognized: .Vrizona pine, western yellow pine. 

 .\pache pine. Chihuahua pine and lodgepole pine. Trevo pines, which once 

 had a place in lists of trees 01 that region, are no longer recognized by 

 (Jeorge B. Sudwjrth. author of the liulletin. 'I'hej- are Arizona longleaf pine 

 and sliort pirn", it is now claimeil tliat it was a mistake to regard these as 

 separate species, the first named being the same as Apache pine, the second 

 identical with lodgepole pine. This Inilletin will prove of great value to 

 persons who are .seeking accurate information regarding the trees of the 

 Itocky Mountain region. 



Noted Scotchman Formerly West Virginia Lumberman 



'Ihe West Virginia hnrdwiind trade is Imasting today of llie appointmeiil 

 of one of its former mendjers to a high position in the Britlsli war govern- 

 ment. .Major-Geuei'al Sir Eric Campbell Geddes, who was recently named 

 to succeed Sir Edward Carson as first lord of the British admiralty, re- 

 ceived his first schooling In the lumlier business at Nicollette, W. Va.. 

 wliere he was employed b.v the Nicola interests. Tlie miw distinguished 

 otfleial came from his home in Scotland at the age of seventeen with letters 

 of introduction tn James I. Buchnnnon. a friend of the family. Through 



Mr. Buchanuons efTorts he was given work by Frank F. Nicola and soon 

 impressed his employers with bis ability. He also established quite a 

 reputation for himself in the surrounding country fur his physical prowess 

 iind wonderful physique. 



After being with the Nicola interests for four years Jlr. Geddes went 

 to India, where he took over the management of a lumlier business. That 

 was in 1S97. lieturning to England in five years he became associated 

 with the Great Eastern Uailway company, and at the outbreak of the war 

 was appointed hy Lord Kitchener as organizer of munitions supply. His 

 record there led to the appointment of deputy director general. 



In I'JKi. ha\>ing gotten tlie munitions supply department properl.v 

 organized, he undertook the work of reorganizing the French railway sys- 

 tem and his success there drew the atteutioh of Sir liouglas Ilaig. who 

 had the engineer attached to his staff with the title of director general 

 of transportation. Suhsequently he liecame inspector general of transporta 

 tion and general superintendent of the whole army transport service, in 

 which capacity lie had served when called to the leaib rship of the British 

 admiralt.^". 



A Good and Bad Wood 



Greenheart is considered the strongest wnoil known, and likewise one 

 of the most duralde. It comes from the northern coast of South America. 

 Its highest use is in tin- manufacture of fishing rods. ,V rod weighing 

 only a few ounces has been known to hold a shark as strong as a horse. 

 The wood has Ijad as well as good qualities. The internal stresses are so 

 great that logs split at the ends, unless great care is taken to prevent it. 

 In South America tlie logs are kept buried in mud until ready to ship. 

 This iircvents splitting for the time lieing. but after the logs are on 

 shiphoard headed for market the I'lids may open like the moutlis of alli- 

 gators. In sawing tlie logs at tlie mill, they sometimes tly open before 

 the saw has time to <ipen them. The wood is reputed to be poisonous and 

 death of workmen, resulting from splinters in their hands, has been 

 reported. The I'an.'inia raiial locks are of this wood. 



Economize with Time 



The following suggestion was recently sent to manufacturers b.v the 

 Illinois Manufacturers' Assceiation: 



A greater shortage of men is pending. The value of time is some- 

 thing that will appeal to every superintendent, every foreman and 

 every employe. "Work hard and etlieiently while you are working. 

 Cut out the waste motions. Do your work In the most practical man- 

 ner. Don't send your men to the store room or stock room or tool 

 room a dozen times a day when one trip would suffice. Eliminate 

 circuitous journeys for material to machine and from machine to 

 store room. 'Watch the unnecessary movements around an office. 

 Encourage long machine runs by bunching schedules of like opera- 

 tors. Bunch orders for supplies to .save deliver.v cost.s. 



Inland Water Transportation 



The Bureau of Foreign and iHiriicstic Comnierce, Washington, D. C. 

 has published a brief history of the navigation of the rivers of the 

 Inited States, and lays particular stress on the facilities afforded by 

 these streams for carrying freight in this time of need when the 

 railroads are overburdened. In describing steiis being taken to turn 

 tliese waterwa.vs to practical account the report says: 



A.S a working start to attain the goal the I'nited States Department 

 of Comnierce has begun specialized endeavor to encourage shippers 

 to use the waterways. .\ subconiiTiittee of the National Defense 

 Council, headed hy Gen. W. M. Black, is engaged in solving the 

 physical dItliouUies confronting the boat lines. The Interstate Com- 

 merce Commission is prepared to enforce the law wliu-h iirovides for 

 the ph.Nsical connection between rail and water and the issuance of 

 joint bills of lading. The railroad ^'ommlttee of the National De- 

 fense Council has expressed willingness and desire to assist in the 

 development of water-borne commerce as a relief measui"e. Mlssis- 

 slupl \'alle.v business men have formed a valle.\'-wlde association, 

 which has begun the organization and financing of two navigation 

 comiianies. Valley trade centers, led b.\' the river iiort of New Or- 

 leans, are now making distinct progress in the building of river-front 

 co-ordinatlve river-rail terminal and warehouse facilities. 



Both necessity and good business principles now prompt the valley 

 to redevelop Its wate!-wa>' transportation system, at a time when 

 the Federal Governnieiit and even the railroads are anxious to do 

 eyer.v iiossible thing to make the movement a success. I'luler these 

 circumstances the third period of Mississijipi valley traiisjtortation 

 econom\' is being ushei-i-d in in a most auspirinus manner. 



Woods Which Sawmills Do Not Get 

 statistics of sawmill output do not give full justice to some of the 

 woods cut ill .American forests: because only a portion of the woof! 

 passes through sawmills before it reaches ■the ultimate user. .\iiiong 

 such are hickory, persimmon, dogwood, Osage orange, and southern 

 red cedar. .\ ciiiisideralile jiercentagc of these woods goes to shops 

 and ractiirii-s in tlic lunii ul billets, bolls or logs, witlmui being sent to 

 sawmills. 



Hickory is a good example. Not more than one-third of the hickory 

 lilt in the forest is sawed into lumln'r and listed as lumber. Latest 

 sawmill statistics give the annual output of hickory lumber at about 



Kill. i.Oili) feet but the total aniouiit used is nearly 4iiil.oiio,000. To 



quote the exact figures compiled truin shops and factories making hau 

 dies, vehicles, and other articles of hickory, the total yearly use is 

 :'..sO, 1)04. "1:11 feet. The person who would quote sawmill figures to show 

 total use of hickory wnuld miss It liy nearly seventy five per cent. 



The siiiiii- 111, -111, ill wi.iilil iiiis-j ilie iiiit|int III' dii^w I hy a much wider 



