L. W. CKOW, President. F. J. TIKE, Vlce-rresiJeut. E. 



IIOOl'En, Secretary. 



T^ 



^' Annual of Chicago Association 



Annual Chicago Association 



About three liundred members auj guests of the Lumbermen 's 

 Association of Chicago sat down at the fourty-sixth annual banquet 

 at the Hamilton Club, on Monday evening, January 25. There was no 

 evidence of the worries of hard tunes on the countenances of the lum- 

 bermen present nor did the business depression which marked the 

 past year in any way mar the thorough enjoyment. 



President L. W. Crow called the business meeting to order at 

 eight-fifteen with a few well chosen words covering his aspirations 

 and accomplishments during the year past. He said: 



Wten I was elected president of your association a year ago, I had large 

 ideas as to what I could and would do for its iKtterment and enlargement. 

 Now that the year is at its close. I check back on myself and see what has 

 been done in the fulfillment of these ideas and I must confess that I have 

 not accomplished as much as I would like to do for the association. This 

 association — yours and mine — is and should be a power for good for every 

 one of its members and I had hoped to bring you all in closer touch with each 

 other. The best laid plans, however, oft go astray. 



The brick strike in the spring, lasting nearly three months, paralyzed 

 business during its continuance and no sooner was the strike settled than 

 the European war was thrust upon us. The result was that the individuals 

 making up the membership of our divisions were so tiixl up in their opera- 

 tions that association work in some of our divisions has been at a standstill. 

 I sincerely hope that during the coming year they will be able to accomplisii 

 a good deal more than they did in the year gone by. 



Our committees have taithtully performed whatever work has been 

 assigned to them. In this connection I desire to thank Geo. J. Pope and 

 his committee for the work they have done, making possible the new Lumber 

 Exchange building, our new quarters which we will move into the first of 

 April. It is with a feeling of pride that I speak of it as the finest meeting 

 place of any association in the country. We will, as you know, take ovci- 

 the cafe and club features of the Lumbermen's Club, in addition to our regu- 

 lar working (luarters and I hope that those of our momhers whom we see only 

 occasionally at meetings like this, will not only feel it their duty but their 

 privilege as well to drop in often and get acquainted. 



I feel that I would neglect my duty if I did not mention our old friend — 

 John Clancy, who has been a very faithful member, devoting this .vcar a 

 large percentage of his time day and night, on the fire limits extension com- 

 mittee. Those who have not been associated with him cannot begin to know 

 the amount "f work he has accomplished. 



I should like to impress upon all of you who have not been identified with 

 the association work, that others have been working baril for your interests 

 as well as their own. I shall not go into detail as to what we have accom- 

 plished In the past year, as the reports of the secretary and chairmen of tlu' 

 different (ommittecs and divisions will follow. 



* I have enjoyed more than I can tell you in words the work I have been 

 called upon to do and have taken great pleasure in meeting so many of you 

 in the different committee work. I do not believe that in any organization, 

 you can meet a more faithful lot of men than those engaged in the lumbcM' 

 business in Chicago. 



I wish to thank the directors who have been particularly prompt and 

 regiilar in attending all meetings when called and I also wish to thank our 

 genial secretary, E. E. Hooper, for his hearty support and earnest work 

 during the past year. 



To my successor whom the new directors will elect in a few days. I 

 bespeak your hearty cooperation and support. 



Secretary's Report 



Secretary E. E. Hooper reported on tlie year's results to the lum- 

 ber trade during 1914 as follows: 



I have the honor to submit herewith my annual report for the past 

 year, it being the forty-sixth anniversary of this association. 



Tbe total receipts of lumber, etc., at Chicago during the year 1014 ag- 

 gregated, according to the best data obtainable, 2,2in,6!)S,000 feet of 

 lumber, 498,159,000 shingles by rail and lake and by lake 416.000 lath 

 and 1.56,157 railroad ties. Of the figures given 155,187,000 feet of lumber 

 and timber were reported from the Vnited States custom house as lake 

 receipts, leaving 2,064,511,000 feet of lumber and 498,159 shingles to 

 represent receipts by rail. The total volume of receipts shows a decrease 

 in lumber of 584,578 feet for the year 1914 and in shingles 10,637. 



Following is an analysis of the disposition of lumber and shingles at 

 Chicago for 1914 and 1913 for comparison : 



LUMB£B 



1914 1913 



Inventory at beginning of year 282,734,053 283,811.160 



Ueceipts during year 2,219,698,000 2,804,276,000 



Total stocks 2,502,432,053 3,088,037,160 



Inventory at close of year 287,021,723 282,734,056 



Total consumption 2,215,410,330 2,805,303,107 



Shipments 1,020,576,000 954,821,000 



City consumption 1,194,834,330 1,850,482,107 



Total consumption 2,215,410,330 2,805,303,107 



'tecrease in consumption 580.892.777 



Shipments show an increase of 65,755,000 



City consumption shows decrease of 655,647,877 



Shingi.es 



Inventorv at l>eginning of year 55,045,250 60.684.500 



Receipts' during year 497,059,000 507,796.000 



Sales and shipments 495,571,250 513.435.250 



Stocks on hand at close of year 56,032,750 55,045,250 



About seventy per cent of this large volume of receipts is estimated to 

 represent yellow pine, hardwood and Pacific coast lumber. 



This year has been one of considerable discouragement, as tbe city sales 

 show a decrease of about thirty-six per cent under last year's con- 

 tributable to the following reasons : First, the brick strike largely cur- 

 tailed our sales for about five months at the beginning of the year : second, 

 tbe European war changed financial conditions as to building loans, in- 

 creased interest rates, etc. ; third, the agitation of the extension of the 

 fire limits has retarded building by the poorer classes, who will be unable 

 to comply with sucb unjust legislation, enforcing construction with higher 

 priced l>uilding material. 



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