II. WELLER. CINCINNATI, 

 SECHETARY 



OHIO 



LEON ISAACSEN. COAL CKOVE, OHIO, 

 TREASURER 



VANSAXT, A.SHL-VND. 

 DIRECTOR 



We have not made so much of an effort the past year to increase our 

 membership as we have to serve those we already had and bring about 

 a closer relationship between our members in the different parts of the 

 country. 



Our members have gotten away from the old Idea that In looking 

 tor a place to curtail expenses their association must be the first sacri- 

 fice. There is only one conclusion to dra\y from this and that is, that 

 It is to the interest of their business for them to support their associa- 

 tion, and treat it as If it were a part of their own business. Business 

 men are not swayed by sentiment — association work with them is purely 

 a business proposition and Is in accord with the modern business idea, 

 which is cooperation. 



The number of inspections for the year has been reduced about forty 

 per cent over 11)1 ;i. This can be attributed in part to the smaller volume 

 of lumber shlppea, and also to the fact that our members are shipping 

 more uniform grades than formerly. In this we see some of the results 

 of our education work among the mills. An analysis of reports made 

 by our inspectors brings out a point to which I want to call your at- 

 tention, viz. : a great many complaints that can be easily eliminated, 

 are due to careless manufacturing, and in urging you to watch your 

 grades closely we also suggest that you do not overlook this very im- 

 portant point, which gives your customer Just cause tor complaint and 

 re-acts not only upon you and your fellow lumbermen, but upon your 

 association. 



Throughout the year we have supplemented the mill Instruction work, 

 which was carried on so vigorously last year with Inspection schools, 

 which have been ield at convenient points by Chief Inspector White. 

 These schools have been well attended and those who have been fortu- 

 nate enough to attend them have become enthusiastic supporters of this 

 work, and want It repeated at frequent Intervals. The method of work 

 is substantially this — the chief inspector selects several hundred line 

 boards of the different species of wood and numbers them consecutively. 

 Each Inspector goes over the entire lot and his grades are recorded. The 

 chief Inspector then follows and passes on each board, and all points of 

 difference are discussed and threshed out. It is here that we get results. 

 Every man who has a wrong idea of the interpretation of any point in 

 our rules Is given special attention and set right, .\fter the work Is 

 completed, a statement is furnished each employer which shows the 

 record of the Inspector, not only of his own, but all who participated 

 in the work. He can then determine Just where his men are weak or 

 strong, as the case may bo, and whether he is giving away his lunihiT. 

 which means his money, or causing him endless trouble and making for 

 him a reputation of uareliabillty by making grades that do not represent 

 what he has sold. 



We believe these Inspection schools furnish the very Ijcst means yet 

 devised for our members to keep a check on their grades. Unquestionably, 

 we are getting closer to the much talked of and desired uniform grades, 

 but there is still room for improvement, and your association is always 

 ready to help you. 



Our commercial report has come Into such demand that it is now 

 distributed weekly. Nearly every member of the association uses it as 

 a guide to help him In his credits. As stated In previous reports, It Is 

 not intended to take the place of commercial agencies, I»ut to supplement 

 them by furnishing reliable Interchange of legder experience among our 

 members. Non-members who are Interested in this report may see how 

 It operates by calling at our headquarters here In the hotel. 



The financial condition of the association Is excellent. The statement 

 which has Just been read shows a most gratlf.vlng condition of the 



treasury, and it will please you to hear that we start the year with 

 all bills paid up to time of closing the books. 



We have continued the fight against substitutes begun last year, and 

 have given our support in every possible way to all movements which 

 have had for their object the development of a larger market tor lumber. 



The Forest Products Exposition at Chicago and New York last May 

 furnished a fair example of what lumbermen can do toward educating 

 the public. While this association did not make an exhibit, It gave the 

 exposition Its financial and moral support and helped to make it possible. 



The executive board held four meetings In the past year — the dates 

 being .\prll 4, July 11, October 10, 1914, and January 27, 1915. 



If you have had occasion at any time In the past year and a half 

 to examine the schedules of the government for hardwood lumber, you 

 have noticed that the rules of the Hardwood Manufacturers' -Association 

 were given equal prominence with otiicr rules. On inquiries for con- 

 struction oak. our rules only are specified and great quantities of oak 

 timbers and other hardwood lumber have been bouglit by the government 

 on our rules. If any of our members are interested in government In- 

 quiries and are not receiving them and will notify the secretary's oHice, 

 he will see that they receive them. 



I wish to thank all of you for the hearty support you have given 

 me the past year and assure you that it is my earnest desire to serve 

 you in every possible way. 



THURSDAY AFTERNOON'S SESSION 



In the absence of F. G. Giffonl, secretary of tlie National Asso- 

 ciation of Box Manufacturers, his address was read by E. H. Defe- 

 baugh. Mr. Gifford expressed the firm belief that the box business 

 is gradually assuming a much more favorable condition. He went 

 pretty thoroughly into the question of wood versus wood substitutes, 

 referring specifically to the highly organized associations of substi- 

 tute manufacturers, who have adopted the most modern merchandising 

 methods in marketing their products through publicity and proper 

 educational work among possible consumers as to jiroper uses of 

 those materials. 



Referring to the I'ridham case, he said that paper packages now 

 in use compared to the total number of containers, all classes, are 

 the same as the quantity used two years ago, and further stated 

 that the lack of initiative among lumbermen ami the tendency to 

 let the other fellow do the work have resulted in unsuccessful at- 

 tempts to combat the growing markets for wood substitutes. 



Mr. Gifford 's paper, however, was very hopeful as to the future 

 of this fight, stating that there is unquestionably a closer co-ordina- 

 tion of the lumber interests which will surely result in ultimately 

 perfecting an organization that can actually accomplish something 

 in this tremendous conflict. 



Mr. Gifford 's paper estimated that 5,500,000,000 feet of low grade 

 lumber is handled annually by the box manufacturers, who as a con- 

 sequence consider that the fight for wood is their own fight. 



E. H. Downman of New Orleans talked on the work done by the 

 National Lumber Manufacturers' Association in behalf of the trade 



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