May 10. IJIS. 



II. U. OOODMAN, t.iMil)M.\.N. WIS., 

 I'KESIDE.NT 



O. T. SW.VN, OSnKOSH, WIS., SECHETARY E. J. YOUNG, MAPISdN. WIS., ONE OF THE 



UOBT8 



f t 



i-y^J^eeting of T^orthern Manufacturers'^ 



Tuesday anil Wednusda.v, April 27-28, were chosen for the dates of 

 the ri>(;ular ()iiarforly meeting of the Northern Hemlock and Hard- 

 wood Manufacturers' Association. The sessions were held at the 

 New Park hotel, Madison, Wis., in order that the members of the 

 association might l)C given an opportunity of visiting the Forest 

 Products Laboratory which is maintained at Madison by the Forest 

 Service. The meetings are ordinarily held at Milwaukee or at various 

 summer resorts in Wisconsin anil upper Michigau lake 7)oints. 



The report of Treasurer Foster showed the funds of the associa- 

 tion to be in excellent shapr. 



Secretary's Report 



O. T. Swan, newly apjiointed secretary, delivered a detailed report 

 of his plans and hopes, which follows in summarized form: 



The association consists of eighty lumber manufacturers, cutting yearly 

 from 700,000,000 to 000.000,000 foct. It has won a notional standing: 

 through Its activities. The headquarters of the association wore moved 

 from Wausau to Oshkosh. Wl.s. Several non-member manufacturers have 

 Indicated tbelr Intention of Joining the association In the near future. 



There are certain classi's of mills, exclusively manufacturers, which do 

 not feel able to take full membership in the association. There is another 

 group whose Interest so far as advertising and certain other features are 

 concerned arc identical with those of our members. This situation indi- 

 cates that It ought to lie possible to strengthen the association by pro- 

 dding for different classes of membership or alSliations ; by a plan pro- 

 viding for subscriptions not to membership, but to distinct classes of 

 association service, the Idea being to combine certain features of the 

 method used by the Southern Pine Association and the Wood Preservers' 

 .\ssociation. 



If this change of plan is carried out. It should be followed by a vigorous 

 membership campaign. 



OTHEn SlGOESTIONS 



The weekly sales bulletin should carry reports on 10,000,000 feet op 

 more weekly. The statistical bureau has plans to increase the number 

 and scope of these rcpiirts. Some firms are keeping an index to tht- 

 weekly sales reports. If this is of value, the association should provide 

 such an Index for all members. Other firms have requested that a tabula- 

 tion of sales reports for a certain period should also be presented cur- 

 rently in the bulletin. Both of these suggestions will be compiled with 

 If they can be worked out in proper form for bulletin publication. The 

 bulletin should carry a column headed ".Association .\ctlvitics" In which 

 news Items submitted by different firms relating to their operations sboold 

 appear. 



The bnrean of statistics has recently Inaugurated two additional 

 projects, one to cover a lumber production cost study. The bureau of 

 advertising has completed contracts for Its current funds. The new birch 

 samples are the most attractive which have been used by the association 

 up to this time. 



Perhaps the greatest immediate need of the association Is for expert 

 advice on freight rate matters and for the services of a rate man who 



—14— 



shall devote his entire thought to your interests in this connection. I 

 have yet to leuro of a manufacturiTH' association which has efltabiisbcd 

 a traOic bureau which did not feel that the results were satisfactory. 

 Gradks and .Standauos 



The bureau of grades is giving attention not only to inspection matters, 

 but to certain broader grade matters which may assume Importance later. 

 Kor instance, a Joint committee of the Furniture Manufacturers' Federa- 

 tion and the National Hardwood Lumber Assuclatlon Is conducting grade 

 investigations, and the government is working on a plan to bring about 

 more uniform grading and these proposals must be followed and checked 

 l>y the practical men of the Industry. Various engineering societies and 

 other organizations are preparing specifications for standard manuals 

 Including speclficatlohs for wood. Our association sliouid keep In touch 

 with what Is being done along that line. It should also be prepared to 

 make special reports on such matters as the feasibility, cost, and return 

 of erecting pole creosoting plants. lumber kyanizing plants, etc. 



.V bureau to give special attention to shingles, lath, and l>y-producta 

 was recommended. Such a bureau could also handle any other matter 

 not at present of standard practice which may be designed to give a 

 higher return on the timber; for example, under certain conditions It 

 would consider such subjects as the creosoting of poles ami fence posts, the 

 treatment of lumber to make It more serviceable for any purpose, and 

 similar matters, if this association provides for a trnHlc bureau, and 

 energetic advertising campaign It will be In shape to proceed with In- 

 creased momentum. To make the work fully effective it will be desirable 

 to secure the coBperation in one or another of eocb Important manufac- 

 turer, wholesaler and retailer In Wisconsin, Michigan and bordering 

 states. 



Plans fob the FCTrnn 



Following the organization of this work at the new headquarters In 

 Oshkosh, I shall liold meetings with the chairmen of each of the different 

 bureaus in order that there may be a complete understanding upon the 

 several lines of work and the procedure to be ol>served. Following this 

 1 hope. In the company of one or tlie other of our Inspectors, to visit 

 each of the mills. After having thus become familiar with local problems 

 the secretary's office, as established at Oshkosh, will be in a position to 

 be of greater ossistance to you than ever before. 



I shall not attempt to make a forecast of trade conditions during the 

 next few months, but shall simply point out a few factors which we can 

 view with some pleasure. The exports of the Iinitcd States during the 

 past eight months have exceeded those for entire twelve months of any 

 previous .vear. An Increasing export trade Is a business stimulus. These 

 exports reflect to no small extent, increasing prosperity for the agri- 

 cultural regions of this country which form your principal market. The 

 buying capacity of the farming communities is increasing rapidly. The 

 gross earnings of the railroads are showing Improvement and some of 

 the larger lines have placed orders for new equipment larger than In 

 several years past. 



Exports of southern yellow pine In the past year have fallen off 500,- 

 000.000 or 600,000,000 feet, resulting In forcing large quantities of pine 

 into northern markets. European markets arc becoming empty of Ameri- 

 can lumber, and with the close of the war the demand for our lumber 

 will be very large. 



