September 25, 1917 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



37 



would meanwhDe bare to take large risks on insurance and pay heavy 

 rental for ground. 



Tlie war department expects a big demand for timber from the American 

 expeditionary forces. Recently the lumber committee handled a requisition 

 from the war department for a lot of bridge stringers 8 by 16 inches wanted 

 in building transportation lines tor Gen. Pershing's forces. This was the 

 third order of consequence for lumber or timber from Pershing, the first 

 being for wharf material and the second for material for a cold storage 

 plant. 



As the demand for timber grows for shipbuilding and for army uses it 

 is thought by some lumbermen that it may be necessary to get some body, 

 perhaps the lumber committee or Judge Lovett; the priority commissioner 

 on the War Industries Board, to pass upon the question which branch of 

 the government shall have Its order filled first. At the same time it is stated 

 that there has been no conflict yet between the departments. 



Another suggestion heard in well informed circles is that it may be 

 necessary to limit the private use of timbers in order to insure the govern- 

 ment's getting what it needs for various purposes. Eventually it may be 

 necessary, it is said, for some government authority to say whether private 

 timber orders may be filled or whether shipments under the same may be 

 made. However, it is said that this is not contemplated immediately. 



In view of the efforts of southern pine interests to obtain higher prices for 

 their timber for shipbuilding, it is reported that western lumber interests 

 will likewise seek an increase in their price of $.35 for wooden ship material. 



Suspends Veneer Rate Increase 



By an order issued recently the Interstate Commerce Commission has 

 suspended until January 18, 1918, certain provisions in tariff I. C. C. No. 

 3885 of the Soo Line proposing to cancel a 12 cent carload commodity rate 

 on birdseye maple veneer between Chicago and Escanaba, Mich. The can- 

 cellation would have had the effect of substituting a class rate of 22 cents 

 per 100 pounds. 



Another order issued I>y the commission also suspends until January IS 

 a number of provisions in tariffs of the Soo Line, Northern Pacific and 

 Great Northern railroads which provide for increased rates on wooden 

 pails and tubs in straight or mixed carloads between points located on their 

 lines. The carriers proposed to substitute Class C rating for Class D 

 rating, which would mean an increase from 4 to 7.5 cents per 100 pounds 

 in the rates. 



Handle 23 Per Cent More Traffic With 3 Per Cent More Cars 



"Operating statistics for the month of June for railways having a total 

 of 196,1.31 miles of line, which are just available, show a remarkable 

 increase in operating efficiency as compared with June, 1916," says the 

 RaiJicay Age Gazette. "The revenue freight ton mileage of these roads was 

 23 per cent greater than It was in June of last year ; and they handled this 

 largely increased business with but one-tenth of 1 per cent more miles of 

 line, 1.8 per cent more freight locomotives and 3.2 per cent more freight 

 cars than they had last year. Perhaps what this really means can be best 

 indicated by showing what were the increases in ton miles of freight per 

 mile of line, per freight locomotive and per freight car. 



"The increase in freight traffic in the country as a whole per mile of line 

 was 23 per cent ; per freight lo'comotive, 21 per cent ; and per freight car, 

 19.6 per cent. The increase in freight car efficiency was partl.v due to an 

 increase in the average miles moved by eaclT car dally from 27.3 to 29.1 

 miles; partly to an increase in the average load of loaded 'cars from 25.2 

 to 27.9 tons. The average miles made per locomotive per day increased 

 from 65 to almost 78 ; the average tons per train from 642 to 715. 



"Relatively the largest increase in traffic took place in western territory, 

 the total ton mileage in that territory exceeding that of June, 1916, by 

 almost 33 per cent. This is reflected in the statistics of operating efficiency. 

 The increase in traffic handled per mile of line in that territory was 32.7 

 per cent ; per freight locomotive, 29.9 per cent, and per freight car, 26.6 

 per cent." 



Building Permits for August 



The United States government is not required to obtain a municipal 

 building permit before it proceeds to erect a structure within the limits 

 of a city. It Is superior to the local authorities. Moreover, a large per- 

 centage of the construction work now under way is outside of cit.v and town 

 boundaries. These preliminary statements are made to explain away in 

 part the unfavorable building reports for August. The explanation is 

 perfectly valid. 



The official figures of building permits, issued in 114 cities, as received by 

 the American Contractor, Chicago, total $49,118,123, against $73,614,908 

 for August, last year, a decrease of 33 per cent. This is not an excessive 

 decrease, as things have been going of late. Activities for the first quarter 

 of the year were very close to the first quarter of 1916. April showed a 

 decrease of 8 per cent, which increased to 34 per cent in May and June. 

 The shrinkage for July increased to 49 per cent, due to abnormal permit- 

 seeking conditions in New York City during July, 1910. And August re- 

 turns to about the same pace as that recorded for May and June, which 

 is practically a two-thirds activity. 



These figures, as stated above, are exclusively for construction work to 

 be carried on within city limits. LTp to within the past several months or 

 until the United States entered the war, city construction was typical of 

 that for the nation, for growth was centered mainly in the cities. But the 

 war has carried construction work to the country. Not only is this true 

 of the great army cantonments that have arisen as if by magic within the 

 past several months, but the new or stimulated war industries are also 



being perfected very extensively beyond the borders of municipalities. 

 Witness the big ship yards, munition factories, and other important indus- 

 tries that are under rapid construction in unsettled districts. This, in 

 itself, has ser%-ed to deaden the construction work in the cities temporarily, 

 for many thousands of workingmen and others have been drained from the 

 cities, thereby reducing the construction necessities of the cities. 



The city constructional relaxation, however, is not complete. There are 

 a few lively exhibits. Of the 114 cities included in the appended table, 



29 show an increase, a few of them notable ones. Thus, New Bedford, 

 Mass., shows an increase of 518 per cent; Wilmington, Del., 121 per cent; 

 Wichita, Kans., 120 per cent ; Atlantic City, 171 per cent ; Atlanta, Ga., 

 98 per cent. In most instances special causes can be traced, however, for 

 the increase. 



The total number of permits, issued in these 114 cities for .August, was 

 18,894, compared with 26..804 tor August, last year, a decrease of about 



30 per cent, or practically the same as the decrease in the estimated 

 costs. 



Whole Resources Needed for the Cause 

 ".ill the nation's resouires — materials, fnoil supplfrs, lumber, metal, and 

 man power — are needed," says the Chamber of Commerce of the United 

 States in an appeal to its members and to the business world of Apierica 

 generally to organize, mobilize, economize, and work hard tor the success 

 of the cause of the United States and its allies in .\rmageddon. 



The national chamber points out that the government needs business 

 and business needs the government and that now is the time to prove that 

 business is a friend of the public and to obtain a fair deal for the business 

 world. 



American Hardwoods in England 



American hardwoods can now be admitted into England only under 

 license, and that means so much red tape that tew people on this side 

 care to go to the trouble of sending cargoes. Some of our woods which 

 formerly had larger sales there, are now of little importance in that coun- 

 try. The latest list of Edward Chaloner & Co. of Liverpool gives 

 the situation of several American woods, as follows : 



Oak — No arrtvals during the past month, and the consumption has been 

 1,000 cubic feet of planks. Stocks consist of 9,000 cubic feet of planks. 



Elm — No import during the past month, and there is not any stock. 



Ash — No import or consumption during the past month. Shipments 

 would command high prices. 



Walnut — Shipments would obtain high prices. 



Ciuni — There are inquiries for boards of all grades and high prices 

 would be obtained. 



Yellow poplar — High prices would be obtained for good logs and 

 boards. 



Birch — Imports and consumption during the past month have been 1.000 

 cubic feet. Prices for logs and planks are high. 



Hickory — There is good inquiry for fresh, prime wood. 



Excelsior Machines in Switzerland 



Excelsior machines now in use in Switzerland are nearly all of German 

 make. They are clumsy and slow, and there should be a market in that 

 country for the high-class .American excelsior cutters. The end of the 

 war ought to see some machines from this country in operation there. 



Hardwood ^ews ISfotes 



-■< MISCELLANEOUS >.- 



The Virginia Hardwood Lumber Company, Waitesville, W. Va., has as- 

 signed. 



The Knoxville I'able & Chair Company, Knoxvillc, Tenn., has increased 

 its capital from .$50,000 to $100,000. 



The Tony Wedges Furniture Works, Roundup, Mont., were destroyed by 

 fire. 



The L. H. & D. Fibre Furniture Company has incorporated at Grand 

 Rapids, Mich., at $5,000. 



The Ilarrimau Hardwood Lumber Company located at Harriman, Tenn., 

 has changed its name to the Enright Lumber & Coal Company. 



At Wilmington, N. C, the Cape Fear Ship Yards Company has been in- 

 corporated. * 



C. D. Le Master has been appointed receiver for the Mechanics Planing 

 Mill Company. Fresno, Cal. 



Retaining the same name, the St. Louis Box Factory, St. Louis, Mo., 

 has incorporated with a capital of $40,000. 



The death is announced of Horace A. Reeves, Jr., who for years has been 

 wholesaling in pine and hardwood lumber with offices at 402 Crozer build- 

 ing, Philadelphia, Pa. 



Fire losses have been sustained by the Mooresville Furniture Company, 

 Mooresville, N. C, and by the George E. Rathiel Manufacturing Company, 

 St. Louis, Mo. 



Recently incorporated concerns are : the Forester, Harvie Lumber Company, 

 Whitesburg, Ky., capital, $20,000 ; the Lee Furniture Manufacturing Com- 

 pany, Memphis, Tenn. ; the Kinge & Winge Shipbuilding Company, Seattle, 

 Wash., with a capital of $60,000 ; and the Holland Ladder & Manufactur- 

 ing Company, Holland, Mich. 



The business conducted heretofore under the style of the One Minute 

 Washer Company, El Reno, Okla., is now the Morris Manufacturing Com- 

 pany. 



