HARDWOOD RECORD 



33 



The election of officers resulted as follows: Geo. D. Burgess, 

 Russe & Burgess, Memphis, president; TV. J. Eckman, Cincinnati, 

 first vice-president; R. S. Huddleston, New Orleans, second vice- 

 president; J. McD. Price, secretary; John L. Alcock, Baltimore, 

 treasurer. Directors: Fred Am, Chattanooga; G. A. Farber, 

 London, Eng.; Chester F. Korn, Cincinnati, and Frank F. Fee, 

 Oermott, Ark. 



July 15 ■was set apart as lumber exporters' day at the Panama 

 Pacific exposition, San Francisco. There is always a mid-summer 

 meeting of the board of directors and, while it was not definitely 

 ■decided, it is probable that this will be held at San Francisco on 

 the day indicated. In addition to other subjects to be discussed 

 at that time will be the selection of the place for the next regular 

 annual of the association. 



The report of the treasurer showed the association to be in good 

 financial condition whOe that of Secretary Price showed a tendency 

 toward increase in membership. 



An executive session was held at the Hotel Gayoso late yester- 

 ■day, after which the association adjourned. 



The Banquet 



The banquet at the Tennessee Club tendered by the local lumber- 

 men was entirely informal but thoroughly enjoyable. TV. H. Eusse 

 acted as toastmaster and was quite happy in the introduction of 

 the various gentlemen called on for brief talks. C. P. J. Mooney, 

 managing editor of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, was the prin- 

 cipal speaker. He referred to the invasion of the lumbermen from 

 the North about 1890 and said that their coming marked an epoch 

 in the life of this city because they had proven good citizens and 

 had stood for everything tending to advance honor, intelligence, 

 good business and prosperity. Dealing with the situation growing 

 out of the war in Europe, Mr. Mooney declared that the United 

 States, without a merchant marine and with eighty -five per cent of its 

 vast exports carried in foreign bottoms, was the most helpless 

 country on the globe. He asserted that the United States must 

 have a merchant marine and that, if it could not be obtained 

 through subsidies or other means under present laws, then the laws 

 ought to be changed so that the establishment of this great need 

 would be an accomplished fact. He thought this the biggest ques- 

 tion before Congress and that the people throughout the country 

 ought to be awakenend to the need for this merchant marine. He 

 urged every exporter and every lumberman present to take this 

 subject up with their representatives and senators in Congress and 

 said that it would be a good idea for them to get very close to 

 those in the ordinary walks of life in order that an overwhelming 

 sentiment might be created in favor of a government-owned or 

 government-controlled or government-sanctioned merchant marine. 

 He was loudly applauded because of his vigorous remarks on this 

 subject, the most important to be handled at this meeting of the 

 National Lumber Exporters' Association. 



J. L. Alcock of Baltimore said that the National Liunber Ex- 

 porters' Association was launched in his towTi just fifteen years 

 •ago and that ever since the members had worked in perfect 

 harmony, had protected their interests in every way possible and 

 had succeeded in establishing a high standard of fair dealing in 

 both this country and Europe. He was not certain as to the best 

 method of procedure in the creation of a merchant marine but he 

 ■declared that the realization of one would be a long step in the 

 direction of progress and prosperity for the people of the United 

 States. 



Presiilent .\rn said that the association had a wonderful record of 

 accomplishments back of it and that, while the situation at present 

 had some discouraging features, this body of men was looking to 

 the future which, he felt sure, had some good things in store for 

 them. He also declared that this organization, although small in 

 numbers, had always done what it had undertaken and that its 

 members were not quitters but were steadfast in their purpose 

 once they had tackled any problem. He exjiressed the thanks of 

 the association for the entertainment accorded them here, sa\nng 

 that Memphis never did anything by halves. 



8. B. Anderson, president of the Anderson-TuUy Company, said 



that facilities for the shipment of our commodities were a most 

 important factor and that the lumbermen and other exporters had 

 found out that there was something needed besides making goods 

 and efficiency in salesmanship. He thought that nothing should be 

 left undone which would tend toward the establishment of a mer- 

 chant marine and declared emphatically that lumber interests and 

 others should hammer away on the proposition and not allow them- 

 selves to forget it for a moment. He also said that the subject 

 should be taken up with our senators and representatives and that 

 only such men should be sent to Congress as were broad enough to 

 look at a proposition on its merits instead of from a political view- 

 point. He did not believe it possible to establish a merchant marine 

 in time now to accomplish much before the end of the European 

 war but he urged that everything possible should be done to prevent 

 the possibility of a repetition of the present paralysis in the event 

 another war should come. 



R. J. Darnell, Max Sondheimer, H. B. Anderson, T. R. TVinfield, 

 president of the Business Men's Club, all of Memphis, and Frank 

 F. Fee, Dermott, Ark., Chester F. Korn, Cincinnati, and Geo. M. 

 Spiegle, Philadelphia, were all called upon and responded in 

 humorous vein. 



Just before disbanding, Mr. Russe urged that the members of the 

 National Lumber Exporters ' Association seriously consider the ques- 

 tion of making Memphis the permanent place for the annual meet- 

 ings of this body. He argued that this would mean larger attend- 

 ance and would be in the interest of the organization. 



Decision in Southern Rate Case 



In the matter of the investigation and suspension of advances in 

 rates by carriers for the transportation of hardwood and other kinds 

 of lumber and articles manufactured therefrom, from points in Ar- 

 kansas, Louisiana, and other points to Memphis, St. Louis, Mo., and 

 other points of destination, the Interstate Commerce Commission 

 handed down its decision as follows: 



The proposed increased rates north bound on hardwood and articles 

 taking the same rates from the Southwest to various points of destination 

 are found to be just and reasonable, with the following exceptions. (1) 

 Rates which exceed the present rates on yellow pine lumber for the same 

 hauls; (2) Rates from Group A which includes Cairo, 111., and points 

 from which the same rates apply, to Missouri River points and points 

 taking the same rates or rates basing thereon, in so far as they exceed the 

 present rates by more than two cents: and (.3) Rates from certain points 

 in southeastern Arkansas which would be affected by a proposed change 

 in the present groups of origin to St. Louis, Mo., East St. Louis. Cairo, 

 and Thebes, Ills., and Memphis, Tenn., and points taking the same rates 

 or basing thereon, on so far as they exceed the present rates by more than 

 two cents. 



United States Woods in Glasgow 



Glasgow, Scotland, has long been an important market for American 

 woods. In addition to what is used there locally, it is a distributing 

 point for a wide trade. The manufacture of American wood into 

 tea boxes for the Chinese trade has been a feature of the Glasgow 

 business for many years. A report of American timber exports to 

 that city, during the year 1914, was recently published by Edmiston 

 & Mitchells, timber merchants, of the Scotch metropolis. It was not 

 a good export year for American woods. The summary at the close 

 of December shows little demand for oak logs, but a fairly steady 

 sale throughout the year for one-inch oak boards, though the demand 

 for quartered oak has been disappointing. Wagon stock sold better 

 toward the close of the year than earlier. YeUow poplar logs were a 

 drug on the market, while there was sale for poplar lumber, but more 

 for lower grades than for choice stock from eighteen to twenty-four 

 inches' wide. The business in sap gum (which in Scotland is called 

 hazel pine) was fair, while the red heartwood (called satin walnut) 

 was sold in small parcels only. Black walnut logs of medium quality 

 sold for eighty cents to one dollar a cubic foot; and toward the close 

 of the year the call became brisk for thick planks suitable for gun- 

 stocks. TVide Cottonwood boards, of prime quality were in demand 

 until late in the year when the decline in the furniture manufacturing 

 business lessened the demand. Contracts have been entered into for 

 delivery of ash logs next spring at prices ranging from siity-two to 

 sixty -eight cents a cubic foot. 



