January 25. 191S 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



46a 



plantations have been made. In fact, the cigar-box cedar tree was 

 introduced into the East Indies and the experiments there with a few 

 trees in various parts have shown that this species can make for itself 

 a happy home outside of its native habitat. 



The planting of cigarbox cedar would pj'ove a very profitable invest- 

 ment. The attractive profits about which the promoters of eucalyptus 

 plantations in California prophesied may be realized from cigar-box 

 cedar plantations under proper and common-sense management. While 

 it may not be the best investment for the private individual who wants 

 quick returns on his money, it will yield satisfactory returns in the 

 long run to permanent institutions or to the state. All the tree wants 

 is a little attention and support from the state and it wUl soon become 

 thoroughly established. Should the Indian Government, for instance, 

 undertake to make extensive plantations, it would find that by the 

 time the wood is exhausted in the West Indies, India would be ready 

 to supply cedar logs for the American markets. This happened pre- 

 cisely with cinchona, papaya, and rubber, all tropical American prod- 

 ucts originally, but at present the choice cinchona, papaya and rub- 

 ber are of East Indian origin. Experience has shown that the cedar 

 can be easily propagated by seeds and cuttings, and since all parts 

 of the tropics seem to be suitable for its satisfactory development, 

 its cultivation should be undertaken on a considerable scale. 



In order to provide an adequate supply of cedar for future use it is 

 very important to conserve what there is now on the stump, and also 

 to encourage a new crop on unused lands. Conserving cedar by judi- 

 cious cutting and utilization of all merchantable parts of the trees 

 felled is practically impossible under conditions as they now exist 

 in the tropics. Fire, which is the greatest evil, cannot be controlled 

 at present and the natural growth of young cedar will continue to be 

 destroyed. It is believed that planting unused lands on an extensive 

 scale by the government is the only way of helping to provide supplies 

 of cedar for future use. 



If there is ever to be a scheme of planting in any of the countries 

 south of us, it must be undertaken by the state or by some perpetual 

 institution. While it seems reasonable that private individuals can 

 plant cedar and reap the benefits within a life time, it is iriiprotant that 

 the state provide the land OHTiers with a practical object lesson as to 

 how to plant, and indicate the importance of protecting the plantation 

 from fire. With reference to the future forecasts of cedar values, no 

 one can say anything definite, because the lumber prices of the future 

 are likely to be much higher than they are now. Cigar-box cedar 

 which is one of the most valuable and highly-esteemed woods in com- 

 mon use will continue in use and will not depreciate like some other 

 woods are apt to do. 



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Associations and Men 



The lumber and allied trades are fortunate in the number and 

 value of their associations. Sometimes it is suggested that the 

 industry is over-organized, but it may be taken for granted that 

 non-essential associations, to use an adjective much in vogue at 

 present, are likely to be eliminated or to disintegrate from natural 

 causes. The fact that most of them persist is sufficient proof 

 of their reason for existence. 



The associations are doing a lot of good, practical, profitable 

 work, of course; and this work shows a dollars-and-cents profit 

 on the investment made by the members in the form of dues. But 

 ia it not worth remembering, especially at this season, that the 

 personal gain is even more worth while than the commercial? The 

 man who is a good association member is a bigger and better man, 

 as a rule, than the one who refrains from mingling with his fellows, 

 and who makes himself self-sufficient for the needs of his own 

 business. This is without reference to the obvious business advan- 

 tages, particularly evident in the lumber trade, of extensive 

 acquaintance. 



We have in mind one of the best lumbermen in the country. 

 His experience and native ability have made him successful in a 

 branch of the business requiring particular skill and specialized 

 knowledge. He is a nominal member of a few associations — not 

 many — and he does not attend the meetings of even those few. 

 His career could be taken to prove that associations are unneces- 

 sary, and that the really capable man can get along without them. 



But there are scores of other lumbermen whose success can be 

 attributed specifically to intelligent use of associations. Meeting 

 other lumbermen under the favorable conditions created by the 

 associations has meant an increased knowledge of men and markets, 

 of production and consumption, of manufacture and manipulation; 

 and has created assets of unquestioned value in the successful 

 operation of the business. Consequently, for one success made 

 without assistance of association influence, there are dozens to 

 which it has contributed. 



Office Efficiency Methods 



This is the time of year when office methods can be scrutinized 

 to good advantage. 



Is every operation being handled with the least labor and timef 



Is all of the information which should be on hand readily avail- 

 able without undue difficulty and expense in maintaining the 

 records t 



Is work being duplicated unnecessarily? 



The simplification of office routine is something that deserves 

 as much attention as the improvement of methods in the mill or 

 on the yard. Similarly, the accomplishment of the end is not only 

 a technical improvement, but means economy. "Overhead" is 

 another term for office expense; and there is no better way of 

 cutting down overhead than to reduce the amount of labor required 

 to handle office records. 



Most office systems are like Topsy: they just growed. As a 

 business develops, especially if its expansion has been so rapid 

 that its guiding spirit has had little opportunity for the study 

 of details, the need for improved methods becomes more and more 

 evident; and that is why the services of an expert accountant, 

 with broad experience and preferably some knowledge of the par- 

 ticular business affected, can be used to good advantage. 



Because a "system" was installed years ago, it does not follow 

 that no further improvements can be made. A hardwood manu- 

 facturer of large interests employed an office manager a few 

 years ago, and he made many changes in the methods of handling 

 routine operations. Undoubtedly his system was a great improve- 

 ment over the crude and laborious plan formerl.v in use. However, 

 he recently stated that, after an inspection of the system by one 

 of the famous firms of expert accountants, an entirely new plan 

 was devised and inaugurated. 



"The new system," the lumberman explained with delight, "is 

 simpler, more complete as to data recorded, and makes running 

 the business as easy as falling off a log. Ever since I have been 

 in the game I have been irritated by the difficulty of getting at 

 information that I felt I should have in order to know what was 

 being accomplished. The /lew sj'stem gives me all of this, gives 

 it to me immediately, and makes a routine out of what formerly 

 required special investigation and consumed time and money. I 

 certainly made a good investment in hiring those accountants." 



The man who hesitates to spent $25 to $50 a day for a limited 

 period for the services of an expert in office methods may be 

 losing that much every week because of the increased time required 

 to do things which could be simplified by short cuts. He might be 

 able, instead of putting on another girl, to get along with his 

 present force, if the methods in use were improved. Services 

 of this kind are worth all they cost — and the disposition is to 

 make them cost more, instead of less, as their value is appreciated. 



