GEO. D. BURGESS, MKMI'IIIS, PRESIDENT. 



W. J. ECKMAN, CINCIXXATI, FIRST VICE- U. S. HUDDLESTON. NEW ORLEANS, SEC- 



PRESIDEXT OND VICE-PRESIDENT 



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National Exporters'" Annual 



The annual meeting of the National Lumber Exporters ' Association 

 was called to order at the Hotel Garoso at 10 a. m., January 21, by 

 President Fred Arn of Chattanooga. About fifty members were 

 present, including all of the officers and directors. The association 

 held a brief session in the morning. Following adjournment the mem 

 bers went in a body to the Memphis Country Club where they were 

 entertained at luncheon. Early in the afternoon they were driven 

 through the two big parks in Memphis and to other points of interest. 

 A brief session was held at the Tennessee Club later in the after- 

 noon and in the evening delegates were being entertained at dinner 

 at the handsome home of this club. 



President Arn, in his address, was quite optimistic regarding the 

 outlook. He asserted that everything for which the lumbermen and 

 the business and financial interests of the country now are working 

 appears to be coming to a consummation. He thought that there 

 would be a marked increase in the price of all grades of lumber in 

 the near future because of the enforced curtailment of output on 

 the part of mills, both North and South. He said that this had al- 

 ready made itself felt in the domestic trade and he regarded an 

 advance as inevitable as a direct result of the laws of supply and 

 demand. He declared that, while there had been some decrease in 

 the demand itself, this had been less than the decrease in output, 

 ■with the result that stocks had decreased. He predicted that there 

 would be a gradual resumption of domestic consumption of lumber 

 during spring for the reason that far seeing men would take ad- 

 vantage of present conditions to make purchases for everything needed 

 in construction lines. 



He did not beUeve that conditions could long remain depressed. He 

 asserted that a reaction was due one way or the other and that, in 

 his opinion, it would be for the better. In fact, he went so far as 

 to say that "the low ebb of financial depression had been passed" 

 and predicted that "some time this year would see the beginning of 

 the high tide of prosperity. ' ' 



Concerning the export situation, in its various phases. President 

 Am had the following to say: 



As for the European markets, where mlllioDS of dollars in lumber business 

 has dwindled to an almost imperceptible figure by reason of destruction of 

 organized ocean traffic, the best only can be hoped for. It is an assured fact 

 that not until the outbreak of war did Americans understand what possessing 

 a merchant marine means to a nation. Now that it is so forcibly thrust to 

 their attention, it is hardly to he doubted that the ship purchase bill will 

 soon become a factor in international commerce. 



For the passage of this bill, the National Lumber Exporters' Association 

 is willing and ready to exert every effort possible. Its passage will mean 

 millions to the exporters of the United States and will also moan th.- 



—32— 



ultimate consideration of the United States as a merchant power in the 

 great international trade which prior to the war was claimed largely by 

 Germany. 



The interning of hundreds of large German, French and English marine 

 carriers meant the destruction of organized ocean traffic and, as a result, 

 lumbermen were among the heaviest losers. Even at the present time there 

 is a good market in Europe for lumber by reason of the fact that all importa- 

 tion from ICussia and Austria has been precluded and this market naturally 

 turns to America for its supply. 



But the prohibitive ocean rates have cut deep inroads into the possibilities 

 of supplying this demand. It is now necessary for the United States to 

 supply the carriers for this vast amount of commerce that is waiting ships 

 and when this is made possible, millions will be brought to the coffers of 

 the American business indnstries and the subsequent era of prosperity that 

 will ensue will be the greatest the country has ever experienced. 



The most important action taken by the National Lumber Ex- 

 porters' Association came during the last day, when resolutions 

 were adopted, copies of which are to be sent to President Wilson 

 and to both senators and representatives in Congress, seeking the 

 establishment of an adequate merchant marine by ship subsidy or 

 any other form of national legislation that would accomplish this 

 purpose. This was recognized by all members of the association as 

 the most pressing question at this time and there was an unusual 

 amount of dicussion thereof. The association also charged that 

 there had been discrimination shown against lumber shipments by 

 certain steamship lines and it entered a protest against this condi- 

 tion. It was declared that the present situation amounted to a 

 practical embargo on American products and the association, 

 through its resolutions, prayed for as early relief as could be 

 afforded. The resolutions follow: 



'"WnEEEiS, The present situation is such that an almost total embargo 

 exists on the exportation of American products and of lumber in particular, 

 by reason of lack of available ocean tonnage ; and, 



"Whereas, This emergency is so great and conditions most critical : 

 therefore, be it 



"Resolved, That we favor any legislation that will make available all 

 possible ocean tonnage at the earliest possible moment, even though such 

 legislation be of a temporary character, and be it further 



"Resolved, That to provide permanent relief to the American foreign 

 trade we favor such legislation — whether by providing ship subsidies or 

 otherwise — as will result in an adequate and permanent American merchant 

 marine and such amendments to our present shipping laws as will remove 

 such restrictions as prevent successful operation of American-owned 

 vessels." 



Besides adopting these resolutions, the association discussed at 

 some length the attitude of Secretary Redfield, of the Department 

 of Commerce, toward foreign steamship interests as outlined in his 

 address at St. Louis last week, and heartily approved what he had 

 to sav. 



