42 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



November 10, 1917 



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Clubs and Associations 



Hoo-Hoo Out of Debt Will Incorporate 



Secretary K. D. Teniinnt of Iloo-Iloo has addressed to tlie members 

 the followlUB optimistic letter: 



At a meeting of the Piipromo N'lnc of lloo Hoo which was held in St. 

 Louis on Oct. 27. it was toiind that owlii); to the generous response of mem- 

 bers in all sections ot the country to tlie appeal i'or funds to talie care 

 of the balance of the old Itidebteilni'ss of the oriier that we are able to 

 malie financial arrangements to pay olT the entire outstanding debts of 

 UooIIoo in full and give instructions to arrange for the incorporation 

 of the order at once. This means that IIoo-IIoo will be free from ail debt 

 and in po.sltion to go ahead and carry on its worlt with renewed strengtli 

 an<i vigor. 



The supreme nine were greatly pleased with the returns for dues collec- 

 tions during the current year. These were shown to l>e over one-third 

 greater than for the same period last year and Indicates that, in spite 

 of adverse war conditions, the vitality of IIoo-Hoo is stronger and the 

 order is in a very active and nourishing state. 



Arrangements were also made at this meeting to perfect an organiza- 

 tion that will talie' charge of the lumbermen's comfort fund. There is 

 a considerable amount of information still to be gathered before the 

 order can announce its final plans regarding this fund, but Secretary- 

 Treasurer Tennant expects to be able to make further announcements 

 within tlic next day or two. 



Memphians Leave for Washington Conference 



It. L. Jurilcn, II. H. Weiss and W. P.. I'.urlic, members of the Southern 

 Hardwood Emergency Bureau, left ilcmphis for Wasliington on Wednes- 

 day In resiMtnse to a hasty summons from the committee on raw materials 

 of the Council of National Defense. Ualph May of May Brothers, and 

 W. A. Ransom of the Gayoso Lumber Company, who were among the 

 Memphis firms agreeing to furnish units for the wooden ships being con- 

 structed by the emergency fleet corporation, accompanied these gentle- 

 men. 



No Intimation was given as to the reason for the hurry-up call for the 

 members of the emergency bureau. It Is generally believed that their 

 advice is sought regarding certain contracts for southern hardwoods to be 

 awarded In the immeiliate future. 



Again Urges That National Association Facilities Be Used by 

 Government 



President .lohn M. Wood.s of the National Hardwood Lumber -Association 

 has addressed Secretary of the Navy Daniels again urging that the services 

 and facilities offered by the National be used In facilitating purchases 

 of lumber by the Navy Department. The letter follows : 



The National Hardwooii Lumber Association, consisting of over !)00 

 firms, representing every large lumber market and hardwood producing 

 section of the nation, is anxiou.s to assist the national government in every 

 possible way. Six weeks ago. it placed unreservedly at the (lispnsal of the 

 purchasing " office ot the shipping board, its heartiest ci"i|)cration and 

 assistance, including the services of our large corps of trained iuspectors. 

 which Is an absolute guarantee that all purchases of lumber by the gov- 

 ernment, or otherwise, will get the quality and quantity purchased. 



Fully realizing the great responsibilities of your high office and the tre- 

 mendous demands upon your thought, time and strength, we felt that 

 possibly in the stress of Important matters, the offer made by our associa- 

 tion had not been called to your attention. Under separate cover please 

 find constitution, by-laws, list of members and book of rules for the meas- 

 urement and Inspection of hardwood lumber. 



To Conserve Car Service 



The National Wliolesale Lumber Dealers" Association through Its spe- 

 cial railroad conference committee issues as an appeal In behalf of full 

 loading and quick handling of freight cars the following communication 

 from the Government Car Service Commission : 



Your letter of the 12tb instant, has been received, with reference to 

 the general transportation conditions at present existing and Inquiring 

 as to probable future conditions. 



The commission begs to reply that the embargoes referred to are the 

 result of general congestion on the lines mentioned, and while conditions 

 nia.v be somewhat improviMl during the next few weeks, yet It is likely 

 that when cold weather arrives with Its consequent slowlng-down effect 

 on the railroads, and with probable increased offerings of freight, the 

 congestion may be of serious consequence. 



No one can actually forecast the extent to which the facilities of the 

 transportation lines will be overburdened during the coming winter, but 

 It is generally conceded that the increasing demands of the Government 

 will retard the handling of nian,v classes of commercial freight. 



Embargoes and preferential ctrders will of course be based on the 

 relative importance of commodities, and no doubt some classes of freight 

 will be more or less delayed In movement. We cannot hope to eliminate 

 these troubles, but the extent of minimization depends upon efforts of 

 the carriers plus detailed and individual efforts of freight shippers and 

 receivers. 



One of the greatest factors In a condition ot this kind is the prompt 

 unloading of cars. It would surprise you to know the vast number of 

 loaded cars held in various railroad yards and terminals waiting acceptance 

 and unloading by consignees. Every car so held adds to the drain on 

 facilities of the carriers. This commission. In conjunction with various 

 sub-committees located throughout the country. Is exerting ever.v effort 

 to reduce the accumulation of loads held for consignees, and we take this 

 opportunity to ask the active co'iperation of your committee of the National 

 Wholesale 'liUndier Dealers' Association. If you will help us to control 

 these accumulations, the result will be equivalent to an extension in rail- 

 road facilities and the benefit will be mutual. 



Your expression of the cooperation extended by your association is ver.y 

 greatly appreciated. 



The forms referred to are designed to place before the officials of 

 shipping companies constant record of the performance of their own 

 working forces and of those from whom they receive materials or equip- 



ment. The forms are now In general use and are proving their value. 

 They can be secured from the Government Car Service Commission. 



Memphis Lumbermen Subscribe $530,000 



Members ot the Lumbermen's Club of Memphis subscribed for $530,000 

 worth of the bonds of the Second Liberty Loan, according to tlie report 

 of the special committee appointed at tlie previous meeting to solicit 

 subscriptions from the lumbermen. It became noised around before the 

 meeting at tlic Hotel Gayoso, October 29, that the showing would be ex- 

 cellent liut the announcement of the actual results of the work of the 

 committee was received with very great enthusiasm. No details were 

 given regarding the amounts subscribed by the various members. James 

 E. Stork, chairman of the committee, contented himself with the simple 

 declaration that the members ot the club had "made good" on the resolu- 

 tions adopted at the previous meeting pledging their enthusiastic and 

 loyal support to the government, to President Wilson and to the soldiers 

 in the army in connection with the subject of helping to provide funds 

 for winning tlie war. 



There was considerable discussion of the question of adopting a uniform 

 plan for dealing with the problem presented by the 3 per cent war tax on 

 freight bills imposed by the government, effective November 1. It was 

 the sense of the meeting, howe%'er, that no hard and fa.st rule could be 

 adopted and that the Individual members would have to deal with this 

 subject according to the special conditions surrounding tlieir business. 

 The best suggestion made was that calling for quotations on the basis 

 of "freight allowed," thus throwing the war tax on the consignee. There 

 appears to be no doubt that the lumbermen intend that the receiver 

 shall pay this tax and they are working hard, individually, to work out 

 plans to tills end. "Freight allowed" quotations, it was emphasized, would 

 enable those having lumber sold ahead to protect themselves against ad- 

 vances in freight rates after such sales were made, 



A letter was read from a well known Baltimore firm suggesting that 

 the club appeal to the secretary of the treasury for the establishment of 

 a federal reserve bond abroad with a view to facilitate the financing of 

 ' foreign business In lumber as well as other commodities. This com- 

 munication was, without discussion, referred to the law and Insurance 

 committee. The club. It may be stated in passing, however, is keenly 

 interested In every move that will aid in Increasing exports of lumber 

 and forest products. 



J. E. Dniweber and E. F. Glaser of the Kraetzer-Cured Lumber Com- 

 pany, which recently opened sales offices In Memphis, were elected active 

 members at this meeting. 



There were about sixt.v members present at this meeting and the usual 

 luncheon w'as served. President Ralph ^May occupied the chair. 



Townshend Encouraged Over Prospects 



J. H. Townshend, secretary-manager of the Southern Hardwood Traffic 

 Association, Memphis, accompanied by Edward .\. Haul of St. Louis, 

 one ot the attorneys of this organization, has returned from Washington 

 where he, Mr. Haid and J. V. Norman, the other attorney, went to hear 

 the testimony Introduced by the representatives of the carriers in the 15 

 per cent rate advance case which came up before the Interstate Commerce 

 Commission Monday morning, November 5. 



The representatives of the carriers completed their testimony sooner 

 than expected and the shippers are now introducing their evidence. They 

 win have certain days on which to do so and the lumliermen will present 

 their evidence Tuesday, November 13. Mr. Townshend will then intro- 

 duce testimony to show that lumber Is paying more than other commodi- 

 ties. If it Is demonstrated that the carriers need an advance he will 

 urge it for the war period only and on the basis of cents per hundred 

 pounds rather than per cent. Mr. Townshend, Mr. Haid, James E. Stark, 

 president ot the association, and other gentlemen held an informal con- 

 ference at Memphis, November 7, at which it was decided that M'r. Stark 

 should be one of the witnesses before the commission for the association. 

 Other gentlemen will be selected to appear. Mr. Townshend and the two 

 attorneys already mentioned will be there Tuesday, 



Mr. Townshend is rather encouraged in the belief that the carriers 

 have failed to introduce evidence showing conclusively that tliey must 

 have higher revenues. Mr. Haid has completed an analysis of the state- 

 ments submitted to the commission by representatives of the carriers and 

 he says that these show that these roads are enjoying a ratio of earnings 

 nearly 1 per cent larger than the minimum named by the commission at 

 the previous hearing as the basis for determining whether or not they 

 should be entitled to higher revenues. He also said that the figures pre- 

 sented showed that these roads had enjoyed larger net earnings during 

 1917 than for any recent years with the single exception of 1916 and 

 1910. 



These facts are regarded as very Important by both Mr. Haid and Mr. 

 Townshend for the reason that the association won Its previous big 

 victory last summer through its ability to show that the evidence pre- 

 sented by the carriers themselves defeated their contention that they were 

 entitled to higher rates as a basis of greater revenue. 



Mr. Townshend says that the association will not oppose an advance 

 in hardwood freight rates if the carriers are able to show that these are 

 absolutely necessary but he declares that it will fight for a much smaller 

 advance than 15 per cent In the event the commission Is in favor, when 

 the testimony is ail In, of allowing higher rates on the various commodi- 

 ties now' on trial. 



