C. L. HARRISON, PRESIDENT. 



J. W. McCLt-'KE, FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT. 



H. B. WEISS, SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT. 



\Vigoga5aiwitMTOro!TO4WiTOia^i^^ 



Gum Manufacturers' Annual 



The Gum Lumber Manufacturers' Association held its first annual 

 meeting at the Hotel Gayoso, Memphis, on Saturday, January IG. 

 The present condition of business and the desire on the part of every- 

 body to find out how things are going with their neighbors undoubt- 

 edly had something to do with producing the exceptionally large at- 

 tendance wliich marked the meeting. 



The features of the sessions were comprehensive addresses by F. R. 

 Gadd, vice-president of the Wisconsin Lumber Company, Chicago, 

 and H. D. Tiemann of the Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, 

 "Wis., the subjects being respectively "Sawmill Cost Acounting" and 

 "Kiln Drying of Lumber." 



President C. L. Harrison had no formal or written report, but 

 greeted tlie session with a short talk in which ho laid stress on the 

 potential progress which has been made by the association, explain- 

 ing this phrase as meaning the accomplishment of initial efforts 

 toward giving to gum a more savory reputation among architects, 

 builders and house ovrners. He laid particular stress on the cumula- 

 tive value of the advertising which the association has been 

 carrying on. 



In the absence of Treasurer S. M. Nickey, Secretary Pritcliard 

 read a sunmiary of receipts and disbursements which showed a satis- 

 factory balance on hand. 



Secretary Pritchard tlien read liis own anual report, which follows ; 

 Report of Secretary 



To he exact, the Gum Lumber Manufacturers' Association Is one year 

 and two months old. This first year of its history has been full of 

 storm. There was first a period of marked business depression, then a 

 near-financial panic, and lastly the most horrilile and destructive war in 

 the liistory of the world.. Any one of these happenings would be trouble 

 enough to encounter in the first year of the history of a new organiza- 

 tion, but I am pleased to report that we have withstood all of them and 

 on January 1, 1915, financially, we were even with the world, and the 

 things accomplished (or gum under such trying conditions were truly 

 remarkable. 



Through Crosby-Chicago, our advertising agents, we have maintained a 

 publicity campaign, which has educated the layman — ^tbe ultimate con- 

 sumer — to an appreciation of the beauty and adaptability of gum as a 

 fine cabinet wood until now it is one of the most popular woods on the 

 list. We have also kept before the architects, contractors and builders, 

 furniture manufacturers, and door and interior trim manufacturers, in- 

 structive and attractive advertising copy, and we have letters from these 

 various sources stating that red gum is now recognized as a leading 

 cabinet wood. It is universally liked on account of Its beauty, attractive- 

 ness, and splendid workable qualities, and in all cases where proper care 

 is given, sn li^fii.),,i-v .-..■.iiit^ :irn always obtained. Further proof that 



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public interest has been aroused is evidenced by the following summarized 

 list of inquiries for information : 



.\rchltects. 167; banks, 2; brokers, l.T ; cabinet makers, 0; churches, 5: 

 contractors and engineers, and construction companies, 4S ; colleges and 

 manual training scliools, 56: fixture and showcase companies, (J: finishing, 

 7 : fiu-niture manufacturers, 48 : klln-<lrying, S : millwork manuf:ictnrers 

 and retail dealers, 50: music cabinets, 2; miscellaneous, 40; prospective 

 builders, 5S8 : total, 1,048. 



This, of course, by no means represents all whom wo have interested In 

 taking up the use of red gum. It Is difiicult to put on p:iper all the 

 tangible results to be accredited to our work of exploitation. .MI advertis- 

 ers know that results are cumulative. Each new building finished with 

 gum trim and furniture becomes an advertisement for gum, and as a 

 result others will be so finished and we may never hear of them direct. 



We curtailed our advertising somewhat during the latter part of the 

 year, but this was on account of a conservative policy not to overdraw 

 our advertising account, and not because of any lack of faith or enthusiasm 

 in the work we are doing. The wisdom of this action is recognized by all, 

 and it is a very comfortable feeling, under existing business conditions,, 

 to know that our assets January l.st exceeded our liabilities somewhat. 

 We have, however, kept before the public, and during the time in which 

 our advertising scbcdule was cut down, we had printed 25,0110 copies of 

 our booklet entitled, "Red Gum Facts," and these booklets are being 

 given a wide and discriminative distribution. They can also be used to 

 good advantage in promoting new uses for gum, which work will be 

 vigorously kept up. 



While much of the work of our association cannot be tabulated, yet 

 there is direct benefit derived by the members. Our monthly bulletin 

 contains information of value, which is compiled with great care. During 

 the year many inquiries for lumber have been received, and in turn we 

 have passed them without discrimination to the meml)ership. These in- 

 quiries have included all grades of gum, both in lumber and veneer. 

 Twelve foreign countries have been represented, which indicates how well 

 known our association has become. Many of these inquiries are from con- 

 cerns which Vfe have interested in taking up the use of gum, and our 

 members have thus had the first opportunity to develop the business. We 

 find there have been 258 of these inquiries ; 127 of them stated the 

 amount of lumber wanted, which totals ]9,9(j4.S00 feet. It is safe to esti- 

 mate that had amounts been specified in all of them, the total would 

 reach between .'{5,000,000 and 40,000.000 feet. These inquiries also lead 

 to the conclusion that the trade now recognizes the fact that the members 

 of this association afford the best and most reliable source of supply, for 

 the reason that they have made a careful study of the best methods of 

 caring for gum lumber. 



The lumber is sent to the market in good condition and gives satisfac- 

 tion. Too much stress cannot be put on this subject, for it has been a 

 great factor in breaking down the unwarranted prejudice which existed 

 against gum on account of the careless manner in wlilcli it was formerly 

 marketed. 



We have compiled a statement of gum stocks on hand December 1st, 

 1914, which is attached hereto. Thirty-five members responded to our re- 

 quest for stock-sliects of gum. and our records show that the firms report- 



