HARDWOOD RECORD 



41 



Now, notwithstanding tlle^^o are orders bringing a Qne margin of profit, 

 Mr. Troth is non-plussed over the dimension of those shingle orders 

 which on the face would appear as most eccentric if not truly freals 

 orders, as the standard shingle used in Canada. In Maine and in northern 

 New Yorli state, is the 16" cedar shingle, although they deviate sometimes 

 on white pine shingles ; and. why the rift grain fir flooring that is pro- 

 duced very largely in the state of Washington and Oregon, could not be 

 used in place of yellow pine rift flooring is a poser to Mr. Troth the 

 shipper. He is inclined to think, as a conjecture of course, that all this 

 material ha» been bought to comply with the arbitrary specifications by 

 some inconsiderate architect, who is determined to liave what he especially 

 wants, no matter what the extra cost to the owners of the buildings. As 

 to the flooring order, it seems to be a real case of "sending coal to New 

 Castle." 



Pertinent Information 



New Orleans Exporters More Hopeful 



A new phase of the export situation has recently developed as a 

 result of the exigencies of war. It is reported in New Orleans on good 

 authority that the French government is in the market for 10.000.000 oak 

 ties of extra large dimension, to be delivered at the rate of 1,000,000 an- 

 nually for a period of ten years. Whether this report materializes, and 

 contracts are awarded, it is known that a number of exporters in New 

 York and New Orleans, as well as interior mills, are figuring on this 

 order. 



It seems that the Germans tore up all of the French tracks as they 

 retired from their advance into the interior of France, and it is pre- 

 sumed that the ties are required by the French government for the 

 purpose of relaying these tracks. The requisition of oak indicates that 

 the French government desires to make a permanent and enduring 

 construction. 



Heretofore oak has been cut out of Russia for this purpose, and the 

 demand for American wood from this ^source is unusual. Communica- 

 tion between Russia and the remainder of the continent of Europe has 

 been cut off, and the buyers are willing to pay almost any price for 

 what they want, it is said. Freight rates do not figure in the negotia- 

 tions for the reason that the French as well as the British lines are 

 subject to impressment for transportation of foodstuffs or anything else 

 required for war. 



When it is remembered that the standing armies of France and Eng- 

 land have been increased to millions of men, and that these men must 

 not only be supplied with foodstuffs, with wheat for their bread and 

 corn and oats for their horses, but with equipment for such war equip- 

 ment as auto trucks, boxes for munitions and even gun-stocks, it will be 

 seen that this creates an enoiraous demand for oak, ash and other 

 hardwoods. 



That this demand has already reached the tanners is indicated by 

 the fact that the manufacturers have been called upon to supply 30,000 

 sets of harness and 60.000 horse collars within the past month. Milwau- 

 kee tanners have orders for leather for 4,000,000 pairs of shoes. The 

 hardwood market has been slower to feel the effect of this demand for 

 the reason that the stocks abroad were large at the outbreak of war, 

 and weeks were required for their depletion. However, European gov- 

 ernment buyers have been in the American markets for trucks and other 

 manufactured products tor the past month. 



Aside from this demand for military purposes there has been a small 

 movement to Liverpool and London for building purposes. No ship will 

 accept a consignment to the east coast of England, even though amply 

 protected by insurance, because of the mines that make it a hazardous 

 venture in the North Sea. 



Scores of vessels have cleared from New Orleans during the past week, 

 and while the New Orleans exporters have profited very little from the 

 large movement of grain because the European buyers have gone direct 

 to the interior markets, this movement has had a salutary effect on the 

 lumber market as a whole. Hardwoods as well as yellow pine and 

 cypress are firmer than they have been for a month. There is likely to 

 be a sliglit advance in pine prices, sufficient to offset the slump of fifty 

 or seventy-five cents a thousand wTToiesale three weeks ago. This 

 strengthening may also be attributed to the widespread curtailment of 

 the mills throughout this section. It is estimated that the production 

 has been reduced from forty to fifty per cent, and even yellow pine 

 stocks are reported to be low throughout the country, so that there is 

 no justifiable foundation for a further slump in pine. Cypress, which 

 was in a better condition to withstand the assault of adversity than pine. 

 Is inclined to be sympathetic, particularly certain grades, and any 

 imprcivement in the pine market is likely to be reflected by cypress. 



An Unusual Contingency 



A question whether a chartered railroad can suspend operations at will 

 will probably be brought before the Michigan Railway Commission soon 

 by J. O. Moen of the Wisconsin Veneer Company, Rhinclander. Wis., 

 operator of a voneor mill. Mr. Moen is cutting timber in Keweenaw 

 county. Michigan, The only railroad in that county, the Keweenaw Cen- 



tral is to suspend operations on November 1 because of lack of business 

 in the winter months. Mr. Moen needs a road to get his timber out and 

 says that if the railroad company insists on shutting down, he will take 

 the matter before the state railroad commission. 



Final Decision on Lumber Rates from Arkansas and Other States 

 North of St. Louis 



The announcement of the decision by the Interstate Commerce Com- 

 mission on October 22 regarding the establishment for division of rates 

 on lumber and other forest products from points in Arkansas and other 

 states to Iowa, Minnesota and states north of St. Louis, closes the case 

 which has been in progress since 1904, Lumber companies directly 

 interested are : W. T. Ferguson Lumber Company, Chickasaw Cooperage 

 Company, Henry Wrape, Mt. Olive Stave Company, R. M. Fletcher Stave 

 Company, Hampton Stave Company, Wilson & Wrape Stave Company, 

 Ozark Cooperage and Lumber Company. 



Interesting Traffic Disputes 



A protest of more than usual interest, filed by the Lamb-Fish Lumber 

 Company of Cliarleston, Miss., is being considered by the Interstate 

 Commerce Commission. Many interesting points in regard to the hard- 

 wood industry in Memphis territory are brought out. 



Charleston, where the plant and yards of the company are situated, 

 is on a branch of the Vazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroad, 100 miles 

 south of Memphis. Despite the fact that Charleston is nearer gulf ports 

 than is Memphis, it is necessary to pay a higher rate. The Lamb-Fish 

 company makes a strong case, asking that it be allowed the right to 

 have the advantage of its geographical position in competition with 

 Memphis dealers, who, under present conditions, have the advantage of 

 six cents a liundred on freight rates. 



Attention is called in the complaint to a single shipment of thirty 

 cars of gum lumber made to Alexandria, Egypt, via Pensacola. Owing 

 to the inability to dispose of this wood at home the company went to 

 great expense in working up foreign demand for it. Gum especially 

 was little known abroad at the time. ASter all this effort and expense 

 in extending American markets, the benefits of which go to all dealers, 

 the Lamb-Fish company objects to being hampered by the transportation 

 companies, whose interests have been aided so decidedly by the com- 

 pany's activities. 



In spealcing of the business of the company, it is stated in the com- 

 plaint that the company handles 40,000,000 feet of hardwood lumber per 

 annum. Its yard stock totals 19,000,000 feet and practically any sized 

 order known to the hardwood trade can be filled, it is said. Memphis 

 is the largest hardwood center in the country, yet the shipments from 

 Charleston lotaled more than twelve per cent of the shipments from all 

 Memphis dealers combined and over twenty per cent of the business han- 

 dled by the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley from Memphis lumber manufac- 

 turers and dealers. 



One of the features of the Lamb-Fish complaint is the charge that 

 ocean freight rates from New Orleans apparently are dominated and 

 under the control of some central power. "Seldom indeed is there any 

 variation in the quotations made by diSerent steamship lines or steam- 

 ship agents. In rare cases a slight concession may be made on account 

 of distress room," the complaint reads. 



Without considering the time since the outbreak of the war in Europe 

 the business of the Lamb-Fish company is shown to have increased 

 steadily and continuously. To meet strong competition in the Mississippi 

 valley it is shown to be very necessary that the complainants have all 

 the gulf ports open to them on the same basis as to their competitors. 

 Memphis dealers are not called upon to pay terminal charges at New 

 Orleans, it is shown in this connection. The Lamb-Fish company also 

 wants to take advantage of the pine charters which sail from Pensacola, 

 Mobile and Gulfport that frequently can take care of large parcels of 

 hardwood, at rates which are in many cases one-halt of those of the 

 established lines at New Orleans. 



Due to the rates which are alleged to be unjust, competitors of the 

 Lamb-Fish company are given an advantage of .?2 a thousand on gum 

 and If.". 50 on oak. The charges that are being collected from Charleston 

 are thought to violate the act to regulate commerce. The company also 

 asks for a refund on all overcharges. In addition to the Yazoo & 

 Mississippi Valley the Gulf & Ship Island and the Louisville & Nashville 

 railroads are made parties to the suit. 



Pending further investigation the Interstate Commerce Commission 

 has authorized the Gulf & Ship Island Railroad to establish a rate of 

 twelve cents on imported niahogany logs from Gulfport to Memphis. 

 This applies only on carloads. The minimum weight is fixed at 35,000 

 pounds. 



Arguments in the case arising from the proposed increase in the rates 

 on hardwood lumber and articles manufactured therefrom from points In 

 Louisiana and .\rkansas and other points to Memphis and other destina- 

 tions were heard October 21 by the Interstate Commerce Commission. 



Complaints arising from alleged unjust and unreasonable rates have 

 been filed with the Interstate Commerce Commission recently by the 

 .Atlantic Lumber Company, of Boston : Kastern Oregon Lumber Pro- 

 ducers' -Vs.sociation and National Wholesale Lumber Dealers' Association. 



