June 10, 1915. 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



13 



specially low rate on low-grade lumber, on the ground that it cannot 

 pay the regular rate and go to market. In other words, tlie traffic 

 in that class of lumber will not bear the regular rate; consequently 

 (so the argument goes) it should be given a rate at which it will be 

 able to move — that is, the 'rate should be regulated by the value of 

 the product in that instance; for nobody contends that box lumber 

 can be carried any more cheaply than first-grade stuff. 



This question of "all the trafiSc will bear" is coming to the front 

 in the lumber business and lumbermen might as well get their 

 arguments ready to meet it. It is taking form in the proposition of 

 the railroad classification committees to charge more freight on 

 dressed than on undressed lumber. It is not actually before the public 

 yet, but it is taking form in the railroad committee rooms, if reports 

 are not wholly erroneous. It is presumed the matter will have to 

 run the gauntlet of the Interstate Commerce Commission before 

 the proposed revised rates can go into effect; and if lumber shippers 

 are opposed to such revision of rates on the principle of ' ' all the 

 traffic will bear, ' ' they should get ready to back up their opposition 

 when the question assumes concrete form. 



The Dollar Likely to Displace the Pound as the 

 Exchange Basis 



WITH EVENTS SUREOUNDING the transaction of international 

 business in commercial ways out of kilter and conditions of in- 

 ternational exchange disrupted, this country is facing the possibility 

 of being called upon to provide a standard of exchange at least 

 between the United States and England. The pound sterling has 

 always been considered the standard, but as it now represents the 

 value of only $4.50 in American money it can hardly with fairness 

 be accepted by exporters within our borders. This war is bringing 

 great opportunities of various kinds to this nation, and one that 

 seems to be well up in the scale of importance is the question of 

 establishing the coin of the realm of this nation in its rightful place 

 in transactions of business abroad. Proper consideration of this 

 question and its possibilities by those interested in exports would 

 unquestionably have beneficial effects in this end and unquestionably 

 would be permanent in its results. 



Not Subject to Change 



T T "WAS SAID OF THE LAWS of the Modes and Persians that 

 ■^ they were not subject to change. That charge has been made, 

 justly or unjustly, against certain specifications for the United States 

 army supplies. It is claimed that old specifications are still adhered 

 to, though changed conditions long ago called for something else. 



The boxes in which army supplies are shipped have been cited as 

 an example of too great conservatism. The statement has been made 

 that the government is paying $300,000 a year more than is neces- 

 sary for the transportation of army stores, because the boxes in 

 which they are carried are heavier than they need be. The explana- 

 tion offered is that the same box specifications are in use that 

 were on file before the days of railroads, when supplies were hauled 

 hundreds of miles over rough roads in heavy wagons, besides being 

 handled many times on the way. 



The commissary departments in those days needed boxes prac- 

 tically indestructible. Strong lumber, sawed in thick boards, was 

 required. But since that time railroads have revolutionized freight 

 transportation, and a shipment will go as far in one day now as 

 it used to go in a month, and it receives correspondingly gentle 

 handling. Boxes extraordinarily strong are no longer needed ; but it 

 seems that they are stUl made according to the specifications in use 

 during the war of 1812. 



The criticism should not be too broad or too far-reaching. The 

 War Department, as well as other branches of the government, is 

 changing to conform to modern conditions. Handle specifications 

 have been changed, and a very important change has been made in 

 the inspection of southern yellow pine, which is now bought according 

 to the "ring rule," when timbers are wanted. Doubtless other 

 changes to keep abreast of the times in buying forest products for 

 the War Department, as well as other departments, wUl come before 

 long. At any rate, a general examination of the specifications com- 

 monly used might reveal many places where revision would improve 



the service by taking advantage of present conditions and late dis- 

 coveries. No wood which ever grew in the United States is now 

 wholly unobtainable, but some which once were abundant in the 

 highest grades are now hard to get, and it is not necessary to con- 

 tinue to specify them at high figures, while others as satisfactory 

 may be substituted at a lower cost. 



Technical Men From America 



THE CHINESE GOVEKNMENT has borrowed an expert Amer- 

 ican to help organize the new College of Forestry at Nanking, 

 and to give technical advice on the general subject of forestry as 

 applicable to China. The man who will fill this place is W. P. Sher- 

 fesee, head of the Philippine Bureau of Forestry. He will be spared 

 from his work in the islands long enough to oversee the starting of the 

 great work in China. 



This item of news has more significance than may appear on the 

 surface. The time was, and not very long ago, when the supply of 

 high class foresters was supposed to be found only in Germany. No 

 one thought of sending anywhere else for one. That time is past, 

 and the high efficiency of American foresters is now recognized 

 throughout the world. Mr. Sherfesee, who fills the new place as 

 adviser to China, graduated from the Yale Forest School, and for a 

 time was in charge of wood preservation in the Forest Service at 

 Washington. Later he was transferred to the Philippines, and 

 recently became head of the bureau there. Another American who 

 served in the Philippines was recently appointed chief forester of the 

 British possessions in Borneo, where he is now organizing the 

 department. 



The point in these appointments is that America has reached a 

 high place in its ability to supply men of fine technical training, 

 and that the world has found it- out. It is only a commencement 

 to what is coming. The war is breaking up many former arrange- 

 ments among nations. Trade wUl seek new channels, business will 

 adapt itself to new 'methods, old markets will give way to new, and 

 commerce will group itself around different centers. In all of these 

 changes America will profit, and one of the greatest causes for just 

 pride is that it is coming to be looked upon as an avaOable source 

 of the highest classes of technical men. 



Strike Settlement in Sight 



THE CARPENTERS' STRIKE which has interfered with and 

 threatened building operations in Chicago for the present sum- 

 mer seems in a fair way to be settled. At this time no settlement has 

 been reached, but the parties have arrived at an agreement to submit 

 the question of wages to arbitration, and if that point is settled it is 

 not believed that any insurmountable obstacle to industrial peace will 

 remain. 



Mayor Thompson, who is working to reach a settlement of the 

 strike, had hoped that all issues would be submitted to arbitration 

 so that a prompt agreement might be reached on all questions at one 

 time; but arrangements to that effect have not yet been perfected. 

 Consequently, it now appears that the beginning will be made in one 

 part of the controversy only. 



Among the matters which will probably be reserved for future con- 

 sideration is that concerning the use of materials, particularly 

 whether those shall be excluded which are not made by union labor. 

 The proposition to restrict the limit of the contract between the 

 employers and employes to May 31, 1918, will also remain outside the 

 scope of present plans for arbitration. Had these questions been 

 brought in at the present time, it is said that the chance of arbitrating 

 would have decreased. That is especially true regarding the question 

 of material. 



There is general belief that the chance of a long drawn out indus- 

 trial war in Chicago is growing less, and that prospects of peace are 

 in sight. 



The grind of poverty is hard at times, but, even so, it has made 

 more men than it has broke. 



Most of the secret of success in business is made up of energy 

 and application. 



