Fouruary 25, 1918 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



21 



to the whole mahogany trade, but will be suggestive to the con- 

 sumers. 



B. S. Huddleson of the Huddleson-Marsh Mahogany Company -a 

 speaking of the diflicultics that have made trouble in the past for 

 mahogany importers, mentioned the investment of vast sums of 

 money advanced to logging contractors in the tropics and whcr- 



.T mahogany grows, and the desirability of checking the con- 

 iiacts and the investments in this field, as, if not carefully watched, 

 some smart logger will have enough money in his own bank to eat 

 up all the profits out of five years' business. 



In commenting on the experiences of the past he felt it was a 

 crime that the mahogany operators had not been in closer touch 

 with eich other and a more harmonious spirit shown, for many a 

 dollar had been lost because of the inability to keep a close enough 

 tab on costs and other matters connected with the business. 



F. L. Hagen, manager of the domestic lumber department of the 

 I. T. Williams & Sons Company, stated that orders were plentiful 

 enough, but there was difficulty in getting stock from the mill.'; 

 and forests which makes it almost impossible to keep up stock, 

 and the trials of the wholesaler and consumer from a delivery 

 standpoint were almost beyond human ability to help things along. 

 However, the taking over of the railroads by the government may 

 assist the situation. Of course while it is necessary to assist the 

 government in every way possible — and no business man desires 

 to prevent this effort — still the commercial interests of the country 

 need more assistance from the railroads than they have had for 

 the two years. 



Andrew T. Knox of the L. E. Moore Stave Company, 11 Broad- 

 way, Xew York, was a busy young man last year endeavoring to 

 get into the shipping room lumber and staves which had been 

 contracted for previously. A. T. says that the embargoes have 

 almost ruined most people. "We keep cars coming in from all sec- 

 tions all the time, and some that were supposed to be delivered last 

 fall have not arrived yet. The demurrage rule, calling for a 

 penalty of $5 per day over the regular time, runs up into money, 

 but often you can afford to pay the high price of lighterage and 

 relieve yourself of the increased cost of demurrage." 



W. K. Knox, president of the company recently returned to 

 Xew York from a two weeks' trip to the offices and mills at New 

 Orleans, Greenville, Mobile, Savannah, and other southern opera- 

 tions. 



C. R. Mengel and J. C. Wickliff of the C. C. Alengel & Bro. Com 

 pany at Louisville, have spent several weeks in the East in con- 

 nection with association work in the mahogany trade. Like other 

 operators, they are very much enthused over the co-operative efforts 

 being worked out between mahogany operators and the govern- 

 ment. Speaking of the consumption of mahogany lumber, Mr. 

 Mengel stated that the increased needs of the government would 

 probably make it troublesome to take care of the various demands 

 from a domestic standpoint, but the operators are going to do their, 

 best to give industries using mahogany the best service possible 

 and they are co-operating with each other to that end. 



Charles Dudley of the Dudley Lumber Company, Memphis, 

 dropped into Chicago last week enroute to the North. lie was in 

 his happiest frame of mind, and even though it was almost im- 

 possible to handle material during the past few weeks, his com- 

 pany had made some very good shipments, and given the govern- 

 ment priority on most of its material. 



Geo. P. Kerns of the Geo. F. Kerns Lumber Company, Chicago, 

 in talking about shipments of hardwoods, remarked recently that 

 on his desk that day were invoices and bills of lading for twenty 

 cars of material. The embargoes made it very hard to carry out 

 even government orders, notwithstanding the fact that he has ma- 

 terial on the yard, and to get a car, have it loaded, start it moving 

 seven miles a day, and then have it mixed up with an embargo, 

 certainly made delivery a trying proposition for every man in the 

 business. 



Paysoii Smith of the Paysou Smith Lumber Company, Minnea- 

 polis, who attended the Indiana meeting, certainly demonstrated 

 that he is a spellbinder as an orator, and his renewal of old ac- 

 quaintances made a happy event of his life in attending the meet- 

 ing. He said the firm was very active, and everything was all set 

 to fill an order, the real problem being making deliveries. 



R. M. Carrier of Sardis, Miss., accompanied by Mrs. Carrier, 

 and Lew Doster of Atkins' fame, spent a couple of weeks during 

 January and February with his father. Cash Carrier who is build- 

 ing a railroad in Florida. Believe mc all the parties concerned 

 had a jolly good time. The ex-hemlock manufacturer of Buffalo, 

 Florida tiraberland owner and railroad builder, made things so 

 happy for the visitors that they wanted to spend the winter. Lew 

 said it was not orders that he wanted so much, yet he had to have 

 them as much as he appreciated the visit, and a broken arm could 

 not keep him from talking saws or acting the part. Carrier at- 

 tended the hardwood manufacturers' meeting, and reports a good 

 volume of orders, but the same old scarcity of equipment for de- 

 liverv. E. 11. D. 



Change in Food Administration 



The campaign to conserve food is nationwide, and the people have 

 responded with splendid spirit. An important change in the man- 

 ner of carrying on the campaign is forecast in the Weekly Bulletin 

 of February 9. This bulletin represents the press section of the 

 U. S. Food Administration. It is there pointed out that the tendency 

 is to decentralize the work. It is passing from the general govern- 

 ment to the different states as rapidly as they organize and make 

 ready to handle the work. Each state will handle food matters 

 within its own borders, subject only to general supervision by the 

 government. Each state is expected to organize its counties. 



"On With Business" 



The Hardwood Manufacturers' Association of the United States 

 does well to reproduce in its February 18 bulletin a letter it received 

 from R. H. Sexton of the "Build a House Exposition," Grand Cen- 

 tral Palace, Xew York City. The letter has to do with the import- 

 ance of sustained national production and contains its own best 

 explanation. The letter, which occupies the front page of the bul- 

 letin, follows: 



New York, February 1, 191S. 

 Hardwood Manufacturers' .\ssociation of D. S., Cincinnati, O. 



Gentlemen: In these strenuous times we all recognize that the chief 

 business ot the nation is war, and so first of all let our slogan be "On 

 with the War." Now, while the limelight of publicity is pointing In the 

 ilirection of the men responsible to the government for the cfllclent and 

 vigorous prosecution of the war, and they are speeding up the movement, 

 those of us not engaged in more important duties should lond our efforts 

 in behalf of our country and ourselves in the speeding up of business. 



We should not let the difflcultles of war, transportation, coal, labor, 

 high cost of living, or any other excuse, stay the hand of business. Now 

 that our boys arc at the front, there is more reason than ever that those 

 of us at home should provide the means ot supporting them. This cannot 

 be done by standing Idly by or holding tight. We must move, create and 

 conserv-e. 



In England and Canada they have a slogan "Business as Usual." 

 Everywhere one can see this sign on the factories and shop windows. 

 "Business as Usual" undouljtedly serves Its purposes as a cheerful placid 

 slogan, but It does not lit in with the aggressive policy of .\nierlca. "On 

 With Business" more nearly expresses the energy and aggressiveness In 

 keeping with the spirit of the country. 



In vigorously attacking this problem of business, we sliouul produce 

 necessities and suspense with luxuries. We should remember that the 

 housing, feeding and clothing ot our people must go on to enable us to 

 provide the sinews of war. Production and conservation should be kept 

 constantly in mind. War must go on, but business must Inevitably con- 

 tinue, and it is our patriotic duty to support both. 



Chambers of Commerce, Boards of Trade, Industrial organizations, 

 newspapers, magazines, motion picture houses everywhere should get 

 behind this movement. Pulpits should resound with the slogan "On 

 With Business." Lot us attack the problem with energy. Get rid of 

 apathy I It is not excuses, but results that count. 



Will you not do your bit by spreading this gospel, and In this manner 

 hearten the boys at the front and those of us ut home whose livelihood and 

 existence depend on the continuation of business? R. II. Sexton. 



