16 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



January 20, 1921 



providing there can be assurance of a ]iermanently lower level of 

 costs. Neither the home owner, building for his own use, nor the 

 investor is willing to hazard a greatly depreciated valuation that 

 might readily follow an investment under present cost. It had 

 been hoped that the conference of building material men at Chicago 

 last week would result in a definite plan tending to lead the way 

 to building resumption. The final resolution recorded elsewhere 

 in this issue is apparently impotent. The absence of really con- 

 structive action is likely traceable to the informal character of the 

 conference, and the lack of official representation of various inter- 

 ested industries. It is very much to be doubted if any telling 

 results could be obtained without complete cooperation of building 

 labor, which representation was absent at the meeting. It is sig- 

 nificant that on the day prior to the opening of the conference the 

 building trades of Chicago in meeting here decided to hold out for 

 three years' continuance at the present $1.25 scale. If it is true, 

 and apparently it is, that on a four-dollar a day wage the brick- 

 layer used to consider 3500 as a standard day's work and now on 

 a ten-dollar a day wage considers 551 standard; if it is true that 

 for a three-dollar and fifty-cent daily wage formerly one could get 

 eight squ.ares of maple flooring laid, while at present a ten-dollar 

 day gets only five squares laid, there certainly is tremendous room 

 for increased efficiency. 



Comparison indicates a ratio of one to eighteen as reflecting 

 present and past efficiency under the same rating of work. From 

 these figures it is quite apparent that labor costs could be cut at 

 least in two without affecting the wage scale if the cooperation of 

 the laboring element could be enlisted to the extent of demonstrat- 

 ing the wisdom of their playing their part. It is quite reasonable 

 to suppose that the labor factor in building costs could readily bo 

 adjusted on some basis of increased efficiency without compelling 

 any retraction on the part of the labor leaders in their fight for 

 maintenance of present scale. Whether or not the natural competi 

 tion for jobs under the present slackness will in itself materially 

 increase efficiency is a question not yet answered. At least the 

 present answer is not positive and satisfactory. 



These considerations of building costs are not entirely extraneous 

 in a report of this character, as it is agreed that both the uncer- 

 tainty and the apparent inflation of costs are the retarding factor 

 today. All eyes are turned towards the meeting of the National 

 Chamber of Commerce Council to be held at Washington this 

 month, at which the housing question will be all-important. If all 

 interests, including labor and capital, are represented something 

 may come out of this conference, as the delegates are empowered 

 to act. 



Briefly, then, the immediate future of the hardwood business 

 seems to hinge primarily upon the developments in the furniture 

 sales and the opening of building activity. As to the former, it is 

 safe to anticipate the development of a gradual sprinkling of 

 orders, sufficient in most cases to maintain and probably expand 

 the present momentum of furniture manufacture. Many manufac- 



turers were doubtful at the end of the markets whether they would 

 close up shop or not. Haedwood Record believes that there will 

 be a sufficient measure of encouragement from results of their 

 traveling salesmen to keep most of them in operation, and that as 

 the year goes on this gradual movement in buying will show a 

 steady expansion sufficient to react similarly in the manufactur- 

 ing end. 



Manufacturers attended the furniture exhibits mostly to find 

 out whether or not they were going to shut down or continue pro- 

 ducing. Seemingly they have refrained from buying any lumber 

 not because they were uncertain of lumber values, but more because 

 they were not sure whether they were going to operate at all the 

 early part of this year. The next month or so will decide most 

 furniture manufacturers on their immediate operations. Those who 

 decide to continue, and Hardwood Record believes this will be 

 the large majority, will then decide on their lumber purchases. 

 Orders merely for fill in will result, and as the furniture manu- 

 facturers must undoubtedly have realized by now the threat of a 

 definite hardwood shortage if they come into the market simul- 

 taneously, this gradual buying movement should get under way 

 within the next six or eight weeks, possibly before. 



To the Rescue of the Laboratory 



THE INCONSISTENCIES OF CONGRESS are emphasized by 

 apparent effort to reduce the annual appropriation for the 

 forest products laboratory, at Madison at a time when the question 

 of national conservation is beiug agitated as never before. Offi- 

 cial Washington has been notably active in the demands that the 

 timber supply of the United States be duly conserved. In aiming, 

 though, at the producing end and not at the consuming end, Con- 

 gress demonstrates a lack of understanding of the whole subject. 



The very essence of forestry is forest finance. If a product is 

 not of sufficient market value to warrant its complete economic 

 utilizati6>n it will not be utilized, regardless of laws, public senti- 

 ment, or anything else. 



The passage of conservation laws is imj^erative, providing those 

 laws are of such character as will not jeopardize the lumber manu- 

 facturing industry. Correct utilization of lumber, though, is of 

 equal importance, and to the end that the consuming markets of 

 the United States might most efficiently utilize their forest products 

 the government laboratory- at Madison has performed notable 

 work. 



The future of the lumber industry will be linked more and more 

 closely with scientific knowledge in so far as that knowledge can 

 be applied to the industry, either in the producing or consuming 

 fields. The laboratory stands today as the accepted exponent of 

 efficiency and correct methods, and is year by year demonstrating 

 its ability to get closer to the ground from the practical man's 

 standpoint. 



Table of Contents 



REVIEW AND OUTLOOK: 



General Market Conditions 15-16 



To the Rescue of the Laboratory 16 



SPECIAL ARTICLES: 



Eln^ineering in Furniture Factories 20-24-25 



Lumbermen Ask for Tariff Protection 21 & 25 



Building Cost Investigation Urged 22 & 30 



Impossibility of Lumber Price Control Shown 26 & 28 



Review of January Furniture Markets 36 & 40 



POWER LOGGING AND LUMBER HANDLING: 



Miscellaneous 28 



NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL CAPITAL: 



Miscellaneous 23 



CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS: 



Miscellaneous ', 48-SO 



Fight Opens o- Prohibitive Rates 17-19 



Oak Interests Discuss Trade Extension 19 



Indiana Hardwood Men Hold Annual 23 



Chicago Holds Fifty-Second Annual 26 



HARDWOOD NEWS 51-5S 



HARDWOOD MARKET 58-63 



CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS 6(4-66 



HARDWOODS FOR SALE 66-68 



ADVERTISERS' DIRECTORY 69 



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Entered as second-class matter May 26. 1902. at the poatofflce at Chicago. 

 III., und.-r act of March 3, 1879. 



