HARDWOOD RECORD 



17 



All thought of the sentimental side has left hira. He forgets that 

 the tree which produced a couple of hundred feet out of that car of 

 lumber which he sold for a paltry few hundred dollars, and on which 

 he actually lost money in order to get the ready cash, took two cen- 

 turies to grow; that it began its life even before the beginning of 

 our country as a nation. 



Wliy can't there be more sentiment in business? If the purely 

 commercial side does not appeal, should we not remember that our 

 forests have been given to us to be used but once? They are not ours 

 for ourselves. We are merely fortunate enough to hold them in 

 trust. Have we then any right to cut trees which everyone, whether 

 lie realizes it or not, loves, without at least the excuse of economic 

 necessity? Can we offer the excuse of economic necessity when we 

 actually lose money by cutting them? 



Just remember the day when your trees spoke to you as your 

 friends; give them a chance. Eeprieve the sentence of death at least 

 until such time as the one jury to which you can appeal, the demand 

 of commercial necessity, turns in its verdict that they must be cut. 



Until then, you have no justification for putting the axe to a 

 single tree. 



A Lesson from Baseball 



THE MOST FAMOUS OF ALL BASEBALL CONTESTS, the 

 winter leagues series, is about to open. In fact the box manufac- 

 turers are already beginning to feel a marked increase in demand for 

 substantial soap boxes and containers of other products, which would 

 serve as reliable resting places for the persons of those rural fans 

 who in the long, dull winter months exhilarate themselves recounting 

 batting averages, and notable accomplishments of their favorite stars. 



During these months when the spiked-shoe and the supple ash are 

 reclining for their well-earned winter's rest, we lose sight of the 

 activities of those who are responsible for the successes and failures 

 of our big league ball teams, but were we to investigate their ac- 

 tivities, we would find that they are, (to use the homely, old saying) 

 ' ' making hay while the sun shines. ' ' They are building. They are 

 organizing during the period of inactivity. They are looking ahead 

 and providing for the future by acquiring as their employes those 

 men whom they consider will be of the greatest assistance to them 

 in earning for their respective clubs as high a percentage in the 

 league championship races as possible. 



Figuratively speaking, the bus^iness league season is over. That is, 

 the country is in a period of depression and many a trusted emploj'e 

 is now seeking a means of a livelihood elsewhere. 



Admittedly the man with the best organization, the most loyal and 

 most competent employe, is the man who in the end wins. Our most 

 notable captains of industry and finance have demonstrated that the 

 prime essential to commercial success is the ability to pick competent 

 lieutenants. The greatest difficulty, however, is that ordinarily such 

 lieutenants are extremely scarce and hard to entice into the fold. 



At present there are thousands of men who are seeking employment 

 because their former employers are simply not financially able to 

 retain them. On the other hand, there are thousands of organizations 

 which are in a position that would enable them to hold on to compe- 

 tent men for a period of unproductiveness of considerable duration. 

 The concern which is in a position to hold those employes whose 

 services it esteems, is also in a position right now to secure the services 

 of many a good man who, when the season of activity again returns, 

 will realize for his employers many times over the cost of carrying 

 him through the present season of depression. That business man 

 who takes advantage of this situation as far as he is financially able 

 to do so, is exercising wise forethought which in the end wiU produce 

 not merely satisfaction, but actual cold, hard cash. 



Working Both Ways 



THE UNITED STATES CONSUL at Valencia, Spain, has reported 

 to this government that the business men of that district have 

 sent a commission to New York, Boston, and other American cities to 

 investigate the chances of finding markets here to offset losses of 

 trade in Europe due to the war. The principal product which the 

 Spaniards are anxious to sell is oranges. 



Reports very similar in nature come from the different countries of 

 South America. Exports of certain commodities, which had been 

 going to Europe, have ceased or greatly declined, because of the 

 closing of markets there; ana the South Americans are making anxious 

 inquiries concerning the possibilities of increasing their trade with 

 the United States. 



The Greeks have harvested their currant crop which is extra good 

 this year, but some of the best former markets are not buying currants 

 now, and particular interest is shown in the chances of increasing sales 

 in the United States to recoup losses in the war countries. Greek 

 currants compete in this country with California raisins. 



Other similar facts are coming into notice almost every day. 

 People in many parts of the world are anxious to increase their busi- 

 ness with America in order to find markets which heretofore went 

 to countries now at war. 



The time is opportune. We want new markets for our products, 

 and foreign people want to trade with us. It is a case where we can 

 help them and they can help us. They are as wUling to trade with 

 us as we are to do business with them. Old lines of commerce are 

 broken, and in the establishment of uew lines we ought to obtain many 

 advantages. If we can trade with the Spanish orange growers, they 

 can buy from us; because foreign trade is nothing more or less than 

 an exchange of commodities. The Greek currant growers c^n take 

 merchandise from us if we can use what they have to offer. It is the 

 same with the South Americans. They are looking to us for markets, 

 and we are looking to them. When it is to the mutual interest of both 

 sides to exchange commodities, it is very likely to be done. Perma- 

 nent good to the United States will result if we can attract this 

 foreign business, which is anxious to come, and can get it so firmly 

 established that it will remain with us after conditions in Europe be- 

 come normal. 



An Unwarranted Statement 



IN A RECENT ISSUE of a music trades publication was recorded 

 what was stated to be an interview granted a representative of 

 that publication by a prominent piano manufacturer in the East. 

 The ictervie« dwelt mainly on the possibility of American walnut 

 taking the place of Circassian walnut in the manufacture of pianos, 

 due to an admitted probability of a shortage in the latter line. It 

 seemed to him an indisputable fact that the general tieing-up of 

 trade movements from European and Asiatic points, which must 

 move across the Atlantic, will cause practically a cessatiou of ship- 

 ments of Circassian walnut logs. The only possible result will be 

 the extreme scarcity of Circassian walnut veneers, and hence the de- 

 duction, as stated in the interview that there will be room for the 

 substitution of other woods, is entirely justified. 



The article, howevei', contains an imputation as to the physical 

 properties of American walnut, which is not only distinctly unfa- 

 vorable but is absolutely unbased and inexcusable. It is suggested 

 that this v>ood has been iu ill repute for years because of its ex- 

 treme liability to check during the manufacturing process, causing 

 a loss which the makers can not meet without placing a higher priae-; 

 on the fiuisiied product. .. 



American walnut is universally recognized as being a wood which 

 stays where it is put. It is extremely easy to work, is of fine texture, 

 softness and evenness of grain which would absolutely obviate the 

 possibility of the occurrence mentioned in this interview. It seems 

 strange that a man engaged in the actual manufacture of goods made 

 at least in part from American walnut should let himself be put on 

 lecord as making such ,an entirely unfounded statement. It is equally 

 unfortunate that the publication in question would let such a mis- 

 statement of fact get by its editorial staff. 



American walnut deserves all the good things that can be said 

 about it , and it holds an unique and rather individual position 

 among aU domestic woods. It is a wood, the economic possibilities 

 of which "nere not fully recognized until within the last year or two, 

 and to have a statement of this sort published in a publication that 

 presumably has some influence among possible purchasers, particularly 

 at this time when American manufacturers are making a conscien- 

 tious effort to secure for walnut the market which it justly deserves, 

 is really an unfortunate occurrence. 



