30 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



was said regarding tlio general justification for advice, and too 

 little as to the injustice of ndvancing lumber rates, which even 

 then were too high. 



The testimony of the lumber committee aiming at the niain- 

 tenroico of old rates on lumber was nulli6ed by the testimony of 

 other lumbermen who seemed to feel that the general advance was 

 justified without considering lumber as an individual product. 



According to Mr. Ehodes. cement manufactorers were represented 

 by one man who spoke only on that topic,'and as a consequence the 

 cement manufacturers won their plea for the maintenance of the 

 old rates. This was also true with the brick manufacturers. 



He referred to activity in the compilation of evidence affecting 

 the box controversy, and then referred to the recently inaugurated 

 study of the lumber industry as it is being carried on by the Forest 

 Service in conjunction with the Department of Commerce. He said 

 that this as distinguished from other investigations in lumber will 

 tend to help the lumbermen. In fact, it is aimed at the gathering 

 of true and fair information so that the public in general can be 

 informed as to actual conditions. 



According to Mr. Rhodes one of the greatest difliculties In the 

 gathering of accurate information is the absence of standard cost 

 s.vstems. He said that investigators will make recommendations 

 along this line. 



Mr. Rhodes assured his listeners that Forester Graves desires to 

 review the findings of the lumber investigations before making 

 them public. Mr. Rhodes referred to a conference with Mr. Graves 

 and Mr. Greeley, his assistant, and said that the lumber trade will 

 have a proper committee ready to confer with the officers when 

 the report is completed. 



He referred to recent so-called fire tests of frame and brick 

 buildings carried on in Chicago, and spoke more fully of the anti- 

 wood campaign, saying that the Xational association because of 

 lack of funds has been able to do little against it. He said that 

 the work has not been for the purpose of demanding the use of 

 wooden shingles regardless of fire risks, but has rather been to 

 make them fire rctardant, and to get the co-operation of the au- 

 thorities with a view of at least fair-dealing in the setting of fire 

 limits. 



He then referred to a recent meeting of the board of governors 

 of his association. 



President Goodman introduced H. F. Weiss, director of the Forest 

 Products Laboratory, Madison, Wis., who delivered an interesting an 

 instrvictive address. 



Mr. Weiss referred to an original dry-kiln system which has been 

 developed at the laboratory, whereby in experiments they are able 

 to get very accurate results through the absolute control of the 

 humidity and temperature. As an example, Mr. Weiss presented 

 experiments of western larch which were dried under ordinary 

 circumstances and those which were dried at the experimental kiln. 

 The results were conclusive, as instead of the honey-combing and 

 checking which usually result from ordinary methods of procedure, 

 the specimens turned out in perfect condition. 



He offered this as an evidence that through the experimental work 

 a certain species of timber could be opened for exploitation which 

 would ordinarily not be considered. 



The collapse of western red cedar during the drying process 

 presented another problem. This according to Mr. Weiss usually 

 results from the application of too great heat during the early 

 stages of the drying. As a result conflicting stresses are started 

 which disrupt the wood fiber. He recommends a pressure of about 

 140 degrees Fahrenheit at the beginning with relative humidity 

 until such time as the fiber has been completely saturated, from 

 which period it can be raised to 1(50 degrees, after which conditions 

 the specimens have shown it will be dried perfecth'. 



The main point of the talk was devoted to a discussion of a 

 campaign for the elimination of shingles in largo cities and experi- 

 ments for plans looking toward the perfecting of a commercially 

 feasible treatment of fire proofing wooden shingles. 



The laboratory is carrying on extensive experiments along this 

 line, and samples Mr. Weiss showed demonstrated that they have 

 been more or less successful, although they have not worked out as 

 yet to his complete satisfaction. 



He touched on the new investigations of the lumber industry as 

 carried on by the Department of Commerce in conjunction with 

 the Department of Agriculture, stating that problems incident to 

 the utilization of poorer grades of lumber have been put up to the 

 Madison Laboratory for solution. 



He concluded his address with the following: 



The mnnufncture and mrrchandising of lumber .ire undergoing a radical 

 change. Old methods bnrc had tbcir day and are being brushed aside, 

 while lumber also is being shoved off the mnrliet. Much of this elimina- 



