26 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



November 25, 1920 



HARDWOOD LUMBER 



THIRTEEN BAND MILLS 

 SIX PLANING MILLS 

 ELEVEN FLOORING UNITS 



Annual Capacity 

 130,000,000 Feet 



We have given in this space, from time to time, glimpses of the general picture of our industrial and 



economic layout. We have told you something of our business in general; the extent of our timber 



supply,'our mill facilities, the ideal location of our plants for production and distribution of hardwood 



"lumber, our organization, our policies and aims, based upon the sub-structure of Efficiency and Service. 



We desire to tell you now of one item only of our production, — 

 "RITTER" Oak Flooring 



This brand of flooring is made of oak, which for dura- 

 bility of the material and desirability of texture is unsur- 

 passed. 



The lumber is scientifically kiln-dried, preparatory to 

 going: into our flooring machines, which are the best pos- 

 sible to be obtained for this character of woodworking, 

 and on which our flooring Is made in uniform match, ac- 

 cording »o the specifications of the Oak Flooring Manufac- 

 turers' Association. 



It is put up in uniform bundles, firmly bound and easy 

 to handle,, and is then stored in heated warerooms. where 

 an even temperature is maintained from the lime it is 

 stored until it is shipped. Our customers are thus guaranteed 

 flooring in perfect condition when it leaves our mills. 



Our flooring has imprinted into the wood, on the back, 

 the I,jrand "RITTER," thus enabling the user to avoid any 

 possible mistake in securing this brand of flooring. 



The slip tongue or spline for our parquet flooring is 

 made on a moulder, guaranteeing a uniformity highly de- 

 sirable to the builder. 



We manufacture this flooring in both strip ana parquei, 

 plain and quartered. 



IT WILL LAST A LIFETIME. 



We also manufacture flooring 

 hardwoods. 



maple and other 



W. M. RiTTER Lumber Co. 



COLUMBUS, OHIO 



(Continued from page 20) 

 this might be onerous to the public, he said it might so become, but 

 that that would not make it wrong taxation. 



Substitutes were suggested when Senator Calder advised the 

 witnesses that the moneys now being raised by the government 

 through the excess profits tax must be forthcoming during the next 

 fiscal year, as the Secretary of the Treasury has estimated that the 

 government must have at least $4,000,000,000 of taxes for the cur- 

 rent expenses. 



Cost-Plus System Scored 



The cost-plus system also came in for a hearty denunciation. 

 Mr. Hines declared that the system had poisoned both the con- 

 tractor and labor, and helped to pyramid the enormous burden of 

 building costs. "Who invented the cost-plus system?" Senator 

 Calder wanted to know. 



"Those in power in Washington during the war," answered Mr. 

 Hines. 



"Of course, you exclude Congress from those in power at that 

 time," said Senator Kenyon amid the laughter of the audience. 



"It broke down the morale of both capital and labor," remarked 

 Senator Calder. 



"Well, the devil ought to be pleased with it, because it made 

 more scoundrels than any other scheme ever invented," Senator 

 Kenyon added. 



Mr. Hines was not in accord with the opinion of the representa- 

 tives of brick, cement and labor that building costs would stay up. 

 He declared that building values other than lumber have not 

 reached a low enough level to warrant extensive construction, and 

 expressed the opinion that six or eight months from now costs will 

 be materially reduced. He told the committee that he did not 

 believe it would do any good to try to stimulate building until 

 values of building commodities do reach the proper basis. "Accord- 

 ing to my best knowledge," he said, "lumber and labor are the 

 only building commodities that have been substantially reduced." 

 He then told of a settlement just made with the men at two of the 



northern mills of the Edward Hines Lumber Company, whereby the 

 men take a decrease of 10 per cent in their wages and the operation, 

 of one mill is suspended. This was a compromise with the men, they 

 having volunteered to take a 20 per cent cut, if both mills would 

 be continued in operation, when it was announced that they would 

 be shut down. 



Mr. Forgan said that there would be no considerable amount of 

 money forthcoming for building purposes until values are so deflated 

 and stabilized as to make building securities safe and profitable 

 investments for the banks. There will be plenty of money when 

 values have been established, he said. The banks would not loan 

 money at present price levels, because it would only serve to 

 stabilize the inflated prices. "There is no good reason why the 

 cost of construction should not go down," he said. 

 Complain of Monopolies 



E. W. Zander, chairman of the Chicago housing committee and 

 others complained of combinations among the lumber dealers and 

 mill work manufacturers and union labor, which restrain trade and 

 augment the cost of building. Henry K. Holsman.of the American 

 Institute of Architects described the difficulties confronting pros- 

 pective builders because of jurisdictional disputes, refusal of union 

 carpenters to install non-union millwork, and unfair practices of 

 contractors. Edward Freelich, attorney representing the Anderson- 

 Lind Manufacturing Company of Chicago, complained that a con- 

 tract existed between the local members of the United Brotherhood 

 of Carpenter and Joiners and the associated mill work manufac- 

 turers, which excluded the installation of non-union mill work in 

 Chicago, except under court protection, having the result of form- 

 ing a monopoly and enhancing prices. 



The committee in several instances attempted to establish by 

 testimony that there had been and are combinations of lumber 

 dealers, which fixed prices, but failed to do this. C. O. Bostrom, 

 building commissioner of Chicago, said he believed there had been 

 profiteering in lumber, but disclaimed any knowledge of combina- 

 (Conlinued on page 28) 



