May 10, 1918 



Wisconsin Discusses Conditions 



Members of the Northeru Hemlock and Hardwood Manufactur- 

 ers' Association held a profitable spring meeting at the Pfister 

 hotel, Milwaukee, Wis., on Friday, April 26. President George N. 

 Harder was in the chair and handled his first meeting in excellent 

 fashion. 



The major part of the session was executive, being devoted to a 

 discussion of features interesting mainly to the Wisconsin and 

 upper Michigan manufacturers. 



Liquor as it affects lumber operations was the opening subject 

 for discussion at the sessions which were informal throughout. 

 J. T. Phillips heads a committee working in the interest of pro- 

 hibition in Wisconsin and reported for that committee. He stated 

 that he had received contributions totaling $1,100 in response to a 

 call for a subscription of $200 from each of fifty members of the 

 association, this money to be used in behalf of the Anti-Saloon 

 League work in Wisconsin. Mr. Phillips made the prediction that 

 the country is going dry regardless of opposition. 



There was a valuable discussion on this subject which brought 

 out many points of interest. One member made the statement that 

 while only seventy-five men composed the full crew of a certain 

 woods operation, the December record showed a total of 376 men 

 who were hired. 



A. L. Osborn, who cited this instance, spoke very fervently in 

 favor of support in the anti-saloon work. He condemned the 

 saloons as being the center of all things evil, and also said that 

 disloyalty emanates more from those points than from any other 

 one source. 



Considerable sentiment in favor of National prohibition de- 

 veloped, it seemingly being conceded that local option could not 



take care of the matter. It was brought out that the funds raised 

 are to be used in educating the electorate so that representatives 

 favoring National prohibition may be sent to Washington, thus 

 making it possible to bring about the necessary amendment to the 

 National constitution. The matter was brought to a head by a 

 resolution calling for an assessment of one cent per thousand on 

 shipments of lumber or logs made during 1917, this money to be 

 devoted to the work of the Anti-saloon League. 



Financial reports showed the association and' its various depart- 

 ments to be in excellent condition, the conclusion being reached 

 that ample funds are on hand so that an increase in assessment 

 was unnecessary. 



The main part of the afternoon session was executive and was 

 given over to a discussion of various matters, important among 

 them being nationally uniform terms of sale. It was voted that 

 the association be represented in this matter officially at the com- 

 ing meeting of the National Lumber Manufacturers' Association. 



After a discussion of matters pertaining to the bureau of grades, 

 it was voted that the group membership in the National Hardwood 

 Lumber Association be continued on the same basis as at present. 



The question of the place for holding the mid-summer meeting 

 was easily settled by an invitation from Edward Hines, which was 

 accepted, and which will bring the meeting to Chicago to be held 

 in the South Shore Country Club, Mr. Hines acting as host. 



A discussion on bulkheading cars for shipment brought out that 

 the average cost is in the neighborhood of ten dollars per car. 



The discussion on market conditions revolved mainly around the 

 hemlock situation. 



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Michigan Hardwood Men Meet m 



The Michigan Hardwood Manufacturers ' Association held its 

 semi-annual meeting at Hotel Statlcr, Detroit, April 25, and a num- 

 ber of business matters came up for consideration by those ii 

 attendance. The situation was presented in a report by Chairman 

 C. B. Abbott of Cadillac, who reviewed the changed circumstances 

 under which lumbermen must transact business on account of the 

 war. The hardwood interests have been called upon by the gov- 

 ernment for assistance in a number of ways and the response has 

 been prompt and adequate, whether in supplies for airplanes, vehi- 

 cles, ships, cantonments or in other capacities. 



Secretary J. C. Knox dwelt ihdv in di'tail upon the outline pre- 

 sented by the chairman, and lullcl :ittiution to the several topics 

 which would come up for discussion and consideration. He named 

 the members who will attend the annual meeting of the National 

 Lumber Manufacturers' Association which will meet Maj' 20 and 

 21 in Chicago: W. C. Hull, Traverse City, Mich.; F. L. Richardson, 

 Alpena, Mich.; W. K. Jackson, Buffalo, N. T.; J. A. Defaut, Chi- 

 cago; C. A. Bigelow, Bay City, Mich., and T. W. Hanson, Grayling, 

 Mich. 



Among the resolutions passed was one pledging support to the 

 Michigan Manufacturers' Association in its fight against the Na- 

 tional Nonpartisan League, an organization whose principles are 

 said to be very similar to those of the Bolsheviki of Eussia. The 

 organization had its origin in North Dakota and the patriotism of 

 the leaders is very doubtful. 



An extract from the report made by Chairman Abbott on the 

 condition of the market summarized it as here given: 



"Careful consideration was given to the April 1 (1918) stock 

 list. The report of total stocks of hardwoods on hand April 1, 



1918, compared with one year ago, indicates that there is 14,000,- 

 000 feet less on hand, 61,000,000 feet Ie:fs than two years ago, and 

 71,000,000 feet less than three years ago. Number 2 common and 

 better hardwoods show more stock on hand than a year ago, which 

 is to be expected owing to the rapid and continued advance in 

 prices during the last few months. The rapid advance in prices 

 has had a tendency to hold up purchases and shipments on the part 

 of consumers, in that they have not taken stock to any extent in 

 excess of their immediate requirements. The amount of available 

 stock is not equal, if adequate, to requirements, and in view of 

 restricted production which is already confronting us, due to labor 

 conditions, it places our commodity in a very healthful condition. 

 Stocks of No. 3 common hardwoods on hand are 33,000,000 feet 

 less than a year ago, and 45,000,000 feet less than two years ago. 

 The stock condition of this part of our product is far below nor- 

 mal, stock on hand being only slightly over 1,000,000 feet more 

 today than on January 1, 1918, after going through a three months' 

 period of the year considered our largest producing period. Fully 

 7.5 per cent of stock on hand is not in shipping condition. The 

 unsold No. 3 common is 19,000,000 feet, which is 3,000,000 feet less 

 than was unsold January 1, 1918, and from the amount of stock 

 produced during the last sixty days, the amount of No. 3 common 

 unsold represents approximately No. 3 production during that 

 period. When we consider that the sale of No. 3 common hard- 

 woods, which in the aggregate is for immediate shipment when in 

 shipping condition, has taken up all our stock to a period within 

 sixty days from the saw, there is no question that No. 3 common 

 is in the most healthy condition possible. 



' ' The hemlock situation is very strong. Eestricted car regula- 

 tions and continued advance in southern pine prices, together with 



