February 10, 1916 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



21 



stock remains in lirst hands, and it -woiild seem as if there would cer- 

 tainly be a decided scarcity. Scantling sizes are certainly not to be 

 found ill tlie market at present. Shippers are reminded tliat a long 

 average lengtli, and a good percentage of 11 inch and broader is 

 always a good incentive to buyers, and good prices can usually be had 

 for such a specLfication. 



The import of birch phuiks has been moderate, and at times a 

 scarcity has been felt. Values liavc advanced very materially, and 

 shipments now command high figures. Consignment parcels will cer- 

 tainly do well. 



With an inadequate supply of planks, buyers turned their attention 

 to logs, and even though it was thouglit that the import of logs was 

 excessive at the middle of the year, the demand sprung up hiter on, 

 and the large shipments were cleared out. 



A fair quantity of pine deals has been coming in througliout the 

 season although first quality was conspicuous by its absence. The 

 largest business was confined to second and third qualities, the latter 

 predominating. As tlio season advanced so did the prices, and at 

 present tliiids only can lie had at a little less than was previously 

 paid for the firsts. 



Several cargoes of Quebec timber arrived throughout the season, 

 although not to the same extent as in former years. With shipbuild- 

 ing demands practically nil little enquiry has been made for waney 

 boardwood. Kim has sold well, and record prices have been paid. 

 The present Quebec trade is now only a meie shadow of what it once 

 was. 



A unique feature wliich lias characterized the whole of the British 

 market lias been tlie import of pitch pine railway sleepers or ties, as 

 they are commonly known. They are taking the place of Norwegian 

 and Swedish sleepers, and there has also been an import of California 

 redwood ties although it is understood that the jiitch pine has found 

 most favor. The suitable size for the British railways is 9 feet by 10 

 inches by 5 inches. 



Exchange 



A troublesome feature during the pa.st few mouths has been the 

 course of exchange for bills between this country and the states. An 

 occasional drop had occurred in jiast months, but recently it became 

 a serious factor to be reckoned with. When it fell to $4.55, and re- 

 mained so for a few days, things looked serious, and it was then 

 looked for as to how best money could be remitted. At present there 

 has been a substantial improvement and standing at $4.70 it is to be 

 hoped the improvement may continue. 



Freight Situation 



The altogether dominating factor during 1915 has been tlie question 

 of freight rates. They have now reached a level such as has never been 

 previously lieard of, and it is difficult to say whether they have yet 

 reached their top water mark. It would almost seem as if they had 

 an aviator's license, and could soar to any height. In some cases the 

 rate charged to forward the goods is more than the f. o. b. value of 

 them. Shipowners are not at all inclined to charter for timber as 

 long as they have such a vaiied choice. Of course, with the large 

 withdrawals from the mercantile service made by the government for 

 the transportation of goods, troops and the multifarious other duties 

 in connection with the war, not to mention auxiliary cruisers fitted 

 up for patrol work, it was only to be expected that a rise in freights 

 was inevitable. However, the general feeling is that thej' have risen 

 far and beyond what they ought to have done. In addition to the 

 numerous withdrawals, it must be borne in mind that no new additions 

 are taking place even to supplant the numerous vessels which have 

 been sunk, hence the clause of the great scarcity of tonnage. All ves- 

 sels on stocks at the outbreak of war were taken over by the govern- 

 ment, and in many cases alterations were made to equip them for 

 naval service. A feature of the present shipping trade is the number 

 of sailing vessels now trading on the seas as compared witli say a year 

 ago. The freights for these small vessels are as high as the ordinary 

 and quite a large number have arrived in this port principally from 

 Canada with deals. 



General Outlook 



As regards the general outlook it is hazardous to express an opinion, 

 so many events having occurred which could not possibly have been 



antieijiated that it is not unreasonable to suppose equally remarkable 

 conditions may happen in litlG. If anyone had at this time last year 

 ventured the opinion that spruce deals would have attained the pres- 

 ent level of prices, he would have elicited derision. Of course, it must 

 be borne in mind that the i)resent values can hardly be maintained be- 

 yond the duration of the war, as in many cases the demand is only 

 temporary, owing to the numerous government orders on hand. 

 Freights would not probably immediately colla)isc, but the present 

 abnormal consumption certainly would, and naturally buyers will jiur- 

 chase as little as possible. Certtiinly contracting for delivery during 

 the coming season promises to be much more than ordinarily specu- 

 lative from a freight standpoint as many of the present rates repre- 

 sent much more than the free on board cost of the timber. 



Reclassification Would Be Serious for Wisconsin 



At a special meeting of members of the Northern Hemlock and 

 Hardwood Manufacturers' Association, held at Hotel Pfister, Mil- 

 waukee, Thursday, January 27, to consider the rate question in more 

 detail than it had been discussed at the annual meeting on the previ- 

 ous day, the members present went on record as opposing any read- 

 justment of existing rates on logs, lumber or any line of forest prod- 

 ucts. 



A resolution was passed declaring that the association is not in 

 favor of supporting the movement headed by J. N. Tittemore, which 

 aims to bring about a readjustment of rates, if the result would be a 

 change in the present commodity rates and an increase in the rates on 

 logs, lumljer or any line of forest products. In fact, most of the time 

 was taken up with a discussion of the stand which the Northern Hem- 

 lock and Hardwood Manufacturers' Association would take in legard 

 to the much-talked-of case brought by Tittemore to bring about a 

 readjustment of class rates on a mileage basis. 



The lumbermen present expressed themselves in no uncertain terms 

 against any proposed change in the present situation, preferring to 

 leave undisturbed the existing status quo. W. A. Holt, Oconto, Wis., 

 declared that any readjustment which would bring about an advance 

 in lumber rates would result in the annihilation of the lumber interests 

 of Wisconsin. This sentiment was expressed by every member present. 

 The members of the Northern Hemlock and Hardwood Manufacturers' 

 Association do not want to become involved in any class rate case 

 that may eventually result in a change in the commodity rates and a 

 probable ailvance, causing no end of complications. 



Following the passage of a resolution to this effect. Chairman A. L. 

 Osborn appointed the following six members who will aid the trans- 

 portation bureau of the association, paying particular attention to the 

 Tittemore case, or any ease that may tend to disturb existing rates: 

 M. P. McCullough, Schofield; W. R. McCall, Tomah; H. W. Moore, 

 Fond du Lac; R. B. Goodman, Goodman; F. D. Lake, Menasha, and 

 Mr. Caswell, representing the tanning interests. 



The newly appointed members will work with the transportation 

 committee, made up of the following: H. H. Heineman, MerrUI; 

 W. A. Holt, Oconto; J. S. Weideman, Trout Creek, Mich.; Louis 

 Anderson, Caklerwood, Mich., and C. C. Collins, Madison, Wis. 



Payment of Wages to Workmen 



Under the South Cai'olina statute which prescribes a penalty for 

 failure to pay the wages of laborers at the end of the month or week 

 in which the labor was performed, according to whether payments are 

 regularly made monthly or weekly, the penalty is recoverable for fail- 

 ure to pay at the end of every two weeks, where an employer makes 

 fortnightly payment. (South Carolina supreme court, TrammeU vs. 

 Victor Manufacturing Company, 86 Southeastern Reporter, 1057.) 

 The law enacted in Louisiana in 1914, requiring manufacturers who 

 employ ten or more persons to jiay them in full at least every two 

 weeks, and making it a misdemeanor to fail to do so, is not unconsti- 

 tutional as being unjustly discriminatory against manufacturers of ten 

 or more men. (Louisiana supreme court, State vs. Cullom, 70 South- 

 ern Reporter. ."i.SS.) 



