HARDWOOD RECORD 



39 



The fundamental aim ef the new federation is to promote the rightful 

 use of wood and to bring about concerted action to this end. The lumber- 

 men represent such a large and diversified imlustry that they must 

 systematize and co-ordinate their efforts or else see wuieh good work 

 wasted. To this end the meeting of the federation Is called in order 

 that the pressing problems of the industry may be presented and dis- 

 cussed, and ways and means found to increase the use of wood for all 

 purposes to which It is best adapted. Reduced consumption and dwindling 

 marltets help no one; while education, publicity and intelligent market 

 promotion on the most modern lines will benefit all concerned. Under 

 modern conditions the lumbermen must get on the firing line and adopt 

 effective promotion methods, if wood is to maintain its rightful place 

 and find proper use in the homes and fields and factories of the land. 



At the coming meeting on February 24-2.j, there will be presented by 

 committee reports and addresses full and reliable information upon the 

 influences and conditions which tend to reduce the consumption of wood 

 or encourage the use of other materials. Lumbermen do not advocate 

 the use of wood for purposes to which by modern criterions it is not 

 suited, nor are they less interested in safety or proper service than any 

 other class of citizens or business men. We do justly maintain, however, 

 that forest products shall not be crowded out where their use is legiti- 

 mate and economical, and that the field is big enough to afford a satis- 

 factory market for the normal annual lumber output. There has never 

 been an opportunity equal to the present, nor a meeting ever before 

 called where the problems and conditions of all branches of the lumber 

 industry would be outlined by the highest authorities, and so definite 

 a basis given for concerted action. 



The executive committee has arranged for five standing committee 

 reports on as many current subjects. These include building codes, fire 

 losses, comparative prices of building materials, shingles, and promotion. 

 These reiiorts will lie the most authoritative and specific ever presentetl 

 to the trade. In addition, allied interests will [iresent by individual ad- 

 dresses their opinions on related problems. At least tentatively, it may 

 be stated that the tire prevention organizations will give their views on the 

 use of wood in modern structures ; wliile the timber owners, carpenters, 

 engineers and architects, and the press, will be heard either individually 

 or through their representative organizations. 



The first essential is a large, representative massmeeting of timber 

 owners, manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers of lumber, since they 

 are the most vitally concerned. The federation is at present a temporary 

 organization created to meet a vital and most urgent need, and ready 

 to be moulded into a great power for the promotion of the rightful use 

 of forest products. It is performing an indispensable function by com- 

 piling information as to conditions of the trade, and on the attitude 

 and policy of wood consuming industries. It is serving further as a 

 rallying point, where full opportunity will be given to perfect an organi- 

 zation for the more effective n'terchandising of lumber. 



The support and cooperation of the whole lumber trade is solicited 

 for its mutual good. This is not the time for half-hearted support, but is 

 rather an opportunity for every lumber association and every individual 

 interested in the industry to establish, for once and all, a permanent 

 organization for the systematic promotion and intelligent use of forest 

 products, and to bring back prosperity to the ranking manufacturing 

 Industry of our country. 



Sessions of the National Chamber of Commerce 



The third annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce of the United 

 State of America was held at the New Willard hotel, Washington, T>. C, 

 February 3, 4 and 0. 



On Tuesday, February 2, the program included a meeting of the Na- 

 tional council, submission of program for approval, ".\ National Budget," 

 by Harvey S. Chase of Boston, Mass., and the election of the nominating 

 committee. 



The first session of the regular meeting, February 3. opened with the 

 appointment of convention committees, report of the National council and 

 nominating committee, report of the treasurer and an address h,v Presi- 

 dent Fahey. 



The second session was opened on the afternoon of Wednesday, Febru- 

 ary ."i, by an address on "American Investments Abroad," by the Hon. 

 William .lennings Bryan, Secretary of State. Samuel McRoberts, vice- 

 president of the National City bank of New York City. presidcKl over the 

 discussion on "The Federal Reserve .^ct in Relation to Trade Expansion." 

 Following was a report of the committee on credentials. .\. W. Douglas, 

 chairman of the standing committee on statistics and standards, reported 

 on "The 1914 Census of Manufacturers and the Present Status of Gov- 

 ernment Export and Import Statistics." The report of the special 

 committee on uniform food and drug regulations was read by WlUoughby 

 M. McCormick, chairman. 



The evening session of February ."! was marked by the introduction of 

 resolutions and an address by President Wilson. 



On Thursday. February 4. discussion was instituted on the "Devel- 

 opment of the Merchant Marine of the United States." There were 

 also discussions by Secretary McAdoo and the Hon. Theodore E. Burton. 

 United States senator from Ohio. A report of the special committee 

 on merchant marine was submitted I>y William H. Douglas, chairman. 



The afternoon session, Thursday, February 4, was opened by an address 

 by the Hon. Joseph E. Davies, Commissioner of Corporations, on "The 

 Federal Trade Commission." After an address on "How Slay We Secure 

 Materials Needed in American Manufacture for Which We .Vre Now 



Dependent oi Foreign Countries," I'aul T. .Sherlngton, chairman of the 

 -pedal committei' <m maintenance of resale prices, delivered his preliminary 

 report. Harry A. Wheeler of Chicago delivered the principal address on 

 "Successful Methwls of Commercial Organizations." 



The annual banquet took place on Thursday evening, February 4, witl) 

 William C. iiedtield. Secretary of Commerce, and Charles S. Hamlin. 

 governor of the Federal Reserve Board, the principal speakers. 



During the morning session of February ."., the principal speakers were 

 the ll<m. .Myron K. Merrick, form.r .\merlcan ambassador to France, who 

 chose as his topic "Rural Credits," Dr. B. E. Pratt, chief of the Bureau 

 of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, Department of Commerce, who 

 spoke on "Recent Work of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Com- 

 merce," E. A. Fllene, vice-president of the International Congress of 

 Chambers of Commerce, who spoke on "Trade Expansion and the European 

 War." and report by R. C. Rhett, chairman of the special committee on 

 trust legislation, who chose as his subject "Should Business Be Free 

 to Enter Into Combination for the Development of Foreign Commerce." 



Th<' convention closed with the afternoon session on February 5 when 

 the directors were elected and report of the committee on re.solutions 

 submitted. 



Committees Appointed by Baltimore Exchange 

 President ICiifus K. <;cioil<ii.iw of the Haliiniurc' I.uijibcr Kxcbange, at 

 the recent meeting of the managing committee, announced the appoint- 

 ment of the following standing committees for the ensuing year : 



Aiiiina.vrioN AND <;i:ikv.\m k r.<\vis Dill, chairman : Edward P. (!111, 

 .lobn I., .\lcock. Thewiore Mottu. R. B. Homer. 



l.r;c;isi ATiciN and TK.\.\sroaT.vTioN — Ridgawav Merrvman, chairman: 

 William .M. Hursan, Parker D Dlx, George H. Poehlmann, Samuel H. 

 Melfridi. 



IxsrEcTK.x W..M.Iiurgan, chairman : George E, Waters, Theodore Mottu. 

 llAHDwdoD Inspection — John I-. .\lcock, chairman; John J. Kldd and 

 D.iniel MacLea. 



-MKMBBRsHtP — Edward P. Gill, chairman; John 1.. Alcock and Samuel H. 

 Helfrich. 



Hot SK — Oeorge E. Waters, chairman; Henry Suechting and George H. 

 Poehlmann. 



Southern Pine Association Getting Settled 



Sccretar.v-Manager Rhodes of the new Southern Pine Association Is 

 making rapid progress in building up the organization, and by the first 

 of the month will have the work of the association well lyider way. A 

 lease has just been closed for the sixth floor of the Interstate Bank 

 building, corner of Camp and Canal streets, and this Is now being 

 remodeled for the needs of the association. The owners have promised 

 to deliver the new office by February 15. 



In the meantime the association is working under difficulties in 

 temporary offices at ."iOii ITibernia Bank building. Despite the handicap 

 of a lack of proper equipment the office is doing a big work in spreading 

 the propaganda and gathering in subscriptions, as well as having already 

 established the inspection and grading department. 



.Vs till- association has purchased the office equipment of the old Yel- 

 low Pine Manufacturers" Association at St. Louis, which is now en route 

 to New Orleans, it is not expected that the office can be put on a basis 

 of high power efficiency until after February I.t, when the new quarters 

 will be ready, and complete office organization established. One of the 

 gratifying features to the management is the patience that subscribers are 

 manifesting toward the association because of the unavoidable delay In 

 completing the office organization. 



Edwin K. Myers, who has been appointed assistant secretary, has ar- 

 rived and assumed his new dutji's on the first of the month, and now 

 has the department work under his immediate supervision well in hand. 

 Mr. Myers brings with him a valuable experience In his line of work, 

 having been assistant secretary of the Hardwood Manufacturers* Asso- 

 ciation of the United States. 



The Inspection department has been inauguralt-d with nine Inspectors, 

 six of whom will do route work or mill Instruction and three will take 

 care of inspections. This inspection force will be materially Increased 

 as rapidly as necesstiry. as this is one of the most valuable direct bene- 

 fits that subscribers of the association will receive. 



A Joint meeting of the advertising and trade extension committees 

 has been called to be held In the Mercantile Club, St. Louis, Thursday, 

 February 11. This meeting will take up the detail of the plan for vigor- 

 ous exploitation of yellow pine, with special reference at this time to 

 paving tilocks. 



Pennsylvania Association in Annual Meeting 



The Pennsylviuila Lumberineirs .Xssnciatbtn held lt< tw.-nty-ttilrd annual 

 meeting January 27 and 2.S at the II*>tel Walton. Philadelphia. 



.At the open met'ting the subject "Unfair I'ompetltlon" was disposed of 

 intelligently by M. P. (^ooper. Christiana. Pa. lie shot off the epigram 

 that "unrestrained competition is wasteful, white cooperation Is helpfnl." 

 He struck also at the western mall order houses which were flooding 

 Lancaster county with spurious corrugated roofing and by so doing reflect- 

 ing on the lumber trade. "What Inspection should tH> placed on sap- 

 pine and North Carolina plank and dimension sizes!" was answered by 

 S. .\shton Souder of Edmund .\. Souder & Company. Philadelphia. Owen 

 M. Bruner. president of the Owen M. Bruner Company. Philadelphia, who 

 has always something Interesting and important to divulge, held the 

 closest attention at the close of the flrst day's session with an Instructive 

 talk on the transportation of Pacific coast lumber through the Panama 

 canal lo eastern ports and re-<l|strlbuflon i<i Interior points. 



