22 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



December 25, 1917 



the West Coast Lumbermen's Association, is also reporte<l to have 

 prospects for an army commission. 



Meeting of Lumbermen 



A representative delegation of lumbermen from the National 

 and other trade associations attended the recent conference of war 

 service committees here called by the Chamber of Commerce of the 

 United States. The lumbermen atteudini; the meeting talked of 

 the possibility of greater co-operation in the industry and between 

 it and the box industry and related industries. The lumbermen 

 had an advantage over most of the other industries represented at 

 the conference because they are already largely mobilized for war 

 work for the government. The lumber delegates registered as 

 follows: 



J. E. Rhodes, National Ljnnber Miinufacturers' Association ; A. U. 'I'lirii- 

 bull, N. r. Pino Association, Norfolk, Va.: Sam E. Unrr, Niitionnl Hani- 

 wood Luniber Association. Cbicajjo. Til.: E. T. Allen, National I.imiiImt 

 Manufacturers' Association ; M. E. T'ri'iscli. .N'atioual Wholi'sale I.iiniliiT 

 Dealers' Association, New York : E. E. Perry, .National Wholesale LiiinhiT 

 Dealers' Association, New York: Thos. A. .Tones, Coluinbus Tjiunber 'I'raile 

 Bxchanse, Columbus, Ohio: ,T. C. Marshall. Lumlier Trade IO.\i'hnngc, Co- 

 lumbus. Ohio. 



Mr. Rhodes, acting chairman, addressed the meeting and explained 

 the extent to which lumbermen had been able to assist the govern- 

 ment in its herculean task of jiutting tlie country on a war footing, 

 and dwelt with particular emphasis upon what the Southern Pine 

 Association has been able to do. 



Supplies of Walnut 



An authoritative statement has been obtained about the recent 

 government conference with walnut men and the situation generally 

 as regards walnut lumber supply. The statement is as follows: 



The director of lumber and members of his stalT have completed a survey 

 of the walnut situation in which they have had the assistance of a num- 

 ber of well-known specialists in manufacturing walnut lumber. The result 

 is reassuring as to the adequacy of the American supply for gun stocks 

 and airplane propeller material, in view of the requirements not only 

 of the United States but of its allies. As a result of the confei'ence it 

 seems desirable that R. H. Downman, director of Inmber, should be ad- 

 vised by individuals who are in a position to supply either walnut logs or 

 walnut tlitches, S" and over wide and S' and over long, with a state- 

 ment of prices they want for the material. While the amount of walnut 

 available seems to be sufficient for all practical purposes, parties sub- 

 mitting this information may be provided with a market for their proiluct 

 with which they are not now familiar. Ordinarily, the supply of walnut 

 most suitable in size and quality and near the existing market will, no 

 doubt, have first call on the business. This suggests a means by which own- 

 ers of walnut can show their patriotism. 



It is inadvisable for them to attempt to profiteer in walnut. There is 

 nothing in the situation to justify inflation of prices. Figures at which 

 present business is being placed are such as to Insure a satisfactory 

 profit. 



Four substitutes for walnut for gun stocks are available and in the 

 order of their suitability they are birch, mahogany, maple and gum. The 

 United States government has not had to use any of them. The Russian 

 Government has had many gun stocks made of birch. 



This government has in sight a definite supply of 2^^" birch as a re- 

 serve against any temporary break in the walnut supply that might result 

 from a long spell of bad weather or poor condition of the country roads. 

 Walnut is preferred for gun stocks, but this government will use substi- 

 tutes for it if necessary. 



A high compliment was recently paid to the lumber industry by 

 Mr. Barouch of the War Industries Board, in charge of the raw 

 material division, when he declared that no industry has done more 

 than the lumber industry in assisting the government in its war 

 preparations, and that opinion was shared by the secretary of war. 



While the lumbermen realize that the necessities of the nation 

 made it possible for them to demonstrate the efficiency of their 

 organizations, and conclusively prove that there has been no desire 

 on their part to profiteer at the expense of the people, they have 

 sufficient faith in the patriotism of the majority of men identified 

 with other industries, to know that had they been called upon for 

 similar service they would have as fully measured up just to 

 the opportunity. 



Forest Service and the War 



In the forester's annual report he points out the methods and 

 plans of the Forest Service to turn its resources aiid facilities over 

 to the assistance of the war forces. Speaking of the use.s of wood 

 along that line, he says: 



On aircraft the efforts of the service have Iniluded the development 

 of methods by which spruce and nsh can be artificially dried without 

 loss of strength and toughness, obviously involving supplementary strength 

 tests ; tests to detennlue the best substitutes for these species, and for 

 each species selected the development of safe methods of artificial drying; 

 study of the clTects of steaming on mechanical properties of ash and 

 spruce, to develop the best conditions for bending; the selection of the 

 woods most suitable for propellers ; tests to dcterndne the proper methods 

 of conditioning and the best technique for propeller construction ; strength 

 tests on veneers and built-up construction ; advice and assistance on specl- 

 ficntions ; and the training of inspectors of wood for airplanes. 



On wooden ships an attempt is being made to cover the whole field of 

 the proper technical use of wood, including specifications, the best methods 

 of conditioning, preservative treatment against decay and marine borers, 

 the selection of substitutes, steaming and bending, etc. 



lOfl'orts on vehicles have been centered mainly on the development of 

 ■nu'thods of drying the hardwoods which are used, and assistance to nuinu- 

 facturers in putting the best methods into commercial practice. Wherever 

 possible assistance has been given to hardwood distillation plants In order 

 to increase the production of acetone and other products so greatly in de- 

 mand for munitions making. A commercial demonstration has shown that 

 the cost of producing ethyl alcohol from wood waste can be materially 

 reduced. Profitable production is Important from the standpoint of 

 munition making, and also food conservation. Methods have been devel- 

 oped in commercial demonstrations under which walnut and birch can be 

 kiln dried for gun stocks in a much reduced time with comparatively little 

 loss. 



In general, much assistance has been given on a great variety of war 

 problems relating to forest resources and the manufacture, purchase, and 

 most efficient use of wood and other forest products. 



Data urgentl.v needed as a basis for airplane design and construction, 

 regarding such matters as the selection of the best species and the best 

 substitutes, the development of safe methofls of artificial drying, and 

 the best technique in construction, can not be supplied as rapidly as they 

 are needed with the present force and equipment. An increase in funds 

 for this important work is urgently called for. 



Chair makers Are Handicapped 



A Washington newspaper publishes the following explanation of why 

 there is said to be a shortage of furniture in the North : 



"If some of our brethren of the North have no chairs to sit in, blame 

 it on the war," remarked Zeb Vance Walser, a prominent lawyer of Lex- 

 ington, N. C. at the Raleigh. "That part of North Carolina in which I 

 live — the western part — has become one of the most important furniture 

 manufacturing centers of the United States." continued Mr. Walser, "and 

 the manufacturers have just begun to feel the pinch of the war. In 

 other words, they have only recently come to understand and to realize 

 in the full sense that furniture making is not classed as an essential 

 industry. The result is that the factories of western North Carolina are 

 bulging with furniture stock that cannot find its way to market. There 

 is no trouble getting the furniture as far as Washington, but there it 

 stops, and it has been practically impossible to get transportation farther 

 north. It is, of course, a matter of deep concern to our manufacturers, 

 and means that if there is no relief the factories will have to shut down. 

 I have no doubt that If the exigencies of war should demand it the fur- 

 niture men would accept the situation cheerfully, for they know, as we 

 all know, that everything must be subordinated to the requirements of 

 the war." 



The Webb Bill 



The Webb export trade bill in which lumbermen throughout the country 

 are very much interested, has passed the senate at last and gone to a con- 

 ference committee representing the two houses of congress, where dif- 

 ferences between them will be adjusted. The bill permits combinations 

 among exporters so that they can compete with foreign monopolies in the 

 markets of the world. 



The Eight-Hour Law 



The Western Pine Association, which emphiys 10,000 men and has an 

 annual cut of 2,200,000,000 feet, has announceil that it has adopted the 

 eight-hour working day, which will go into effect January 1, 1918. 



Not only is eight hours proposed for logging camps and lumber mills, 

 but, in a bill recently introduced by Representative Kelly of Pennsylvania, 

 the eight-hour principle would have to be applied to the production of all 

 sorts of manufactures of wood, and to the products of every factory, mine, 

 workshop and other establishment if it is to enter interstate or foreign 

 commerce. 



Forest Products Statistics 



Director of the Census Rogers recommends in his annual report that 

 statistics of forest products ought to be coiiectecl and published regularly. 

 It is well known that the main feature of such statistics heretofore has 

 been their irregularity and the lack of plan and system in their com- 

 pilation and publication. Another criticism has been the delay in such 

 publication, such statistics often being two or three years late. 



Federal Trade Commision's Report 

 The Federal Trade Commission has submitted its annual report, saying, 

 among other things : 



The general investigation of the lumber Industr.v commenced during 

 the fiscal year 1910 was continued, especially with respect to the funda- 

 mental conditions in private holding of timber and the manufacture of 

 lumber and with methods of trade organization in the lumber industry. 

 During the fiscal year 1917 the commission has assisted the forest service 

 in the preparation and publication of several numbers of its series of 

 "Studies in the Lumber Industry." In its work on the problems of the 



