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HARDWOOD RECORD 



January 25, 1921 



The Successful Mahogany Manufacturer 

 Must Have an Adequate Log Supply 



ShowinK our fresh water pond within the Mississippi River at New Orleans, where our 

 steamers discharge their logs after completing a long journey from the tropics. This pond 

 is approximately one-half mile lone; has a storage capacity of three to four million 

 feet of Mahogany logs, so that we are always assured of adequate supply; there our choice 

 Mahogany logs are stored in a most advantageous manner, safe against the river currents 

 and storms, floating freely without chains, ready to go thru our mill. 



This Mahogany pond is the only one of its kind; all other features of our operations have 

 been worked out with equal care. 



Building Cost Investigation Urged 



(Continued from page 22) 



Mr. Kirby then made a reference to the nation-wide misconcep- 

 tion of the public that the lumber industry has been and is profiteer- 

 ing. This misconception has been so influential as to cause a gov- 

 ernment bureau to pander to it with a report full of muckraking 

 data, scourging the lumber industry. He had reference to the 

 report of the Federal Trade Commission, filed Jan. 10, with the 

 Senate. 



An extremely pessimistic view of the building situation was 

 expressed by Ch^s. S. Keith of Kansas City, Mo., president of the 

 Southern Pine Association. He said that in his judgment we would 

 see no revival in building and very little improvement in the gen- 

 eral business situation until next fall. Improvement wall not begin, 

 he believed, until after March 4, when the Eepublican administra- 

 tion takes charge in Washington and begins to do away with 

 "unwarranted governmental interference with business" and 

 "rotten taxation" methods. It will take several months to 

 work out these improvements, he said, and it will be in the autumn 

 before the result of these reforms begin to be evidenced in improved 

 business eonditions. 



Others of the conference, notably Wm. P. Varney of Chicago, 

 representing the pressed brick manufacturers, took a more opti- 

 mistic view, believing that building values are already on such 

 basis as to permit safe and sound building, and that if somebody 

 starts the ball to rolling, building operations will revive with a 

 rush. 



The resolution quoted above is only one of several adopted by 

 the meeting, together with a number of whereases. 



The hearty sympathy and concurrence of President-elect Hard- 

 ing in the purposes and plans of the conference of representatives 

 of building material industries was expressed in the following let- 

 ter addressed to Mr. Kirby by Mr. Harding on Jan. 11: 



Warren G. Haiding 

 Marion, Ohio 



January 11, 1921. 

 John H. Kirby, President, 



National Lumber Manufacturers' Association, 

 McCormick Building, Chicago, 111. 

 M.V dear Mr. Kirby : 



On Saturday last I had the pleasure of a call from John W. Blodgett. 

 Wilson Compton and others, who explained to me the purposes of 

 your organization in connection with the meeting of building material 

 industries that is to be held in Chicago January 21 and 22. I was much 

 interested in the plan to bring the Industries that produce building mate- 

 rials into an arrangement under which there can be an early readjust- 

 ment of the price basis throughout these industries, with a view to enabling 

 early resumption of building operations in the country. 



I am Impressed that your plan Is a practical and businesslike one, prom- 

 ising substantial results in the direction of solving the problems of hous- 

 ing and of unemployment. Of course, such an effort, in order to achieve 

 the fullest success, must include a considerable group of industries, whose 

 products enter into building operations. Different building materials 

 compete with one another and therefore in fairness to all of them it would 

 be necessary to effect approximately a uniform measure of price readjust- 

 ment. I am convinced that if the lumbermen And such a program feasible 

 other Industries which produce building materials would serve both them- 

 selves and the country by giving support to It. 



It is particularly gratifying to find the representatives of so Important 

 a line of industries undertaliing on their own Initiative, and without appeal 

 for government help, to deal with such a problem. It seems to me that 

 in calling the conference for January 21 and 22 you are going about this 

 matter in the businesslike fashion that the country is entitled to expect 

 from its men of large affairs. Your proposal will undoubtedly encourage 

 an early resumption of building activities. 



An effort of this Uind, while immediately involving only one set of 

 related indnstrles, would, of course, have a reflex influence upon every 

 other line of business. I very much hope that your convention will be 

 able to develop a workable plan. If you gentlemen shall prove that this 

 is possible. It can not be unreasonable to hope that other industrial 

 groups may undertake similar efforts. I am therefore moved to write yon 

 of mv earnest hope that success may attend your efforts. 

 Most sincerely yours, 



[Signed] Wareen G. Haijping. 



