HARDWOOD RECORD 



Important Announcements from Washington 



By H. C. Hallem 



Last Minute News 



('oordiiialii.ii of l.inli piir.lui.si.s l.y the Ordnance Department 

 and the Aircraft Production Bureau is being worked out, it is 

 understood, as a result of recent conferences between Mr. Wickliff, 

 hardwooil expert of the aircraft bureau, and representatives of the 

 ordnance production and procurement divisions. Meanwliile it is 

 reported tbat buying of birdi for gunstocks lias practically stopped 

 temporarily, altliougb there arc a number of big orders still uncom- 

 pleted. The aircraft program will call for vast quantities of birch 

 veneer for fusilage and other parts of airidancs. 



Government authorities believe that the birch supply can meet 

 the demand for both aircraft and gunstock if production is stimu- 

 lated to the maximum. Birch producers are confident of their 

 ability in this regard. Experts say it may be necessary for mills 

 to cut, as far as physically possible, in sections where there is a 

 heavy run of birch trees, but.it would be necessary to cut other 

 varieties of timber also. Hemlock could be used to advantage, also 

 some other hardwoods, as, for instance, maple for truck wheels, 

 flooring, etc., although there is said to be iftore oak than maple used 

 for floors in government bousing projects. It is reported that the 

 aircraft bureau is willing to consider furnishing labor for the 

 logging and sawing of birch if that expedient be necessary. 



Geo. X. Harder of Rice Lake, Wis., president of the Xorthern 

 Hemlock & Hardwood Manufacturers' Association, is in Washing-, 

 ton on business connected with the Northern Hardwood Bureau. 



Kdward Hines of Chicago is laid up in his room at Willard hotel 

 because of having sprained his ankle at the Capitol last Saturday. 



Lumbermen are petitioning and protesting against the freight 

 embargo on lumber. Government departments oven are protesting 

 against it, because it will interfere with lumber shipments to 

 manufacturers engaged on contract work indirectly for the govern- 

 ment. For instance, the embargo would cause great delay to walnut 

 manufacturers. Director General of Railroads McAdoo has issued 

 a statement explaining the embargo and the reasons for it. 



Two committees representing the National Lumber Retailers' 

 Association and state and regional lumber retail associations had 

 a hearing September 23, which continues later this week before 

 Judge Parker of the priorities committee. War Industries Board, 

 seeking modification of the government order for curtailing build- 

 ing. Messrs. Morehead of Kansas City and Cummerford of New 

 York head the committees. The War Industries Board has answered 

 Senator Calder's resolution of inquiry regarding the curtailment 

 of the building industry. The board says it got its authority from 

 the President and from the priority shipment law. 



The fir people recently accepted a reduction of two dollars in 

 the price of inch boards, two-inch dimension, ceiling, drop siding 

 and certain flooring lumber. 



The price fixing committee of the War Industries Board on Sep- 

 tember 23 decided against increase in the base price on southern 

 lumber, it is understood. The Southern Pine Emergency Bureau 

 committee asked for one dollar increase and the Georgia Florida 

 Bureau for two dollars increase. At the southern pine price hear- 

 ing, George T. Mickel of Chicago, representing the National Bureau 

 of Wholesale Lumber Distributors, made a proposition that the 

 price fixing committee incorporate into its order covering yellow 

 pine prices a statement that the prices adopted include the cost of 

 selling and distributing lumber and that if manufacturers choose 

 to sell to wholesalers at less than the maximum prices fixed by the 

 governmoiit that fact shall not be used as evidence that the maxi- 

 mum ninrket ]>riecs should be reduced. 



Will Eliminate All Steel Where Wood Can Serve Instead 



Publication of the following general order is authorized by the 

 War Department: 



Owlnp to the present acute shortage of steel all bureaus, corps, and 

 departments of the War Department will at once take steps to ecoaomize 



In the purihiiise and use of Btcel. The purchase of, or contracting for. 

 steel furniture, lieUs, tables, cbalrs, coutalners, flllng culiluels, and safes Is 

 furl)lcltleu unless It can be clearly shown that It Is necessary that these 

 articles be steel and tbot no other material or article will answer the 

 purpose. 



Radical Regulation of Furniture Manufacture 



.\ general conservation program for the furniture industry, cov- 

 ering material, labor, transportation and capital, was announced 

 on September 16 by the conservation division of the War Industries 

 Board after conferences with representatives of the manufacturers. 

 The schedules issued deal nnth household chairs, upholstered furni- 

 ture, parlor frame furniture, case goods, dining room furniture, 

 bedroom furniture, dining tables, and library, parlor and bedroom 

 tables. 



The reductions in the number of styles made will save material 

 and release capital now tied up in large and varied stocks, and 

 there will be a lessened demand on transportation spac^ through 

 new packing regulations. The conservation division makes a 

 special appeal to retailers for cooperation in making the schedules 

 acceptable. The effective date of the new schedules is January 1, 

 but manufacturers are requested to adopt the reforms suggested as 

 quickly as possible. 



Each manufacturer should discontinue the use of metal of auy 

 sort for any purpose where its use is not absolutely essential. The 

 elimination of all unnecessary burlap, which is urgently required 

 for war purposes, is desirable. In addition, it is essential that care 

 be exercised in the packing of all merchandise for shipment, not 

 only to reduce the amount of space in freight packages, but ade- 

 quately to protect the goods from danger of injury in transit. The 

 program can be modified only by suggestions made immediately 

 showing where the needs for conservation may be better served. 



Following are some of the new regulations: 



Patterns for household chairs are to be reduced to one-half the number 

 of July 1, last, but there may be thirty patterns to $100,000 of output ; 

 no new patterns to be made during the period of the war except where 

 necessitated by substitution for those now in use ; all metal wheel casters 

 to be eliminated ; springs to be eliminated from slip seat diners and, as 

 far as possible, from other types of cbalrs and rockers, and wood dowels 

 to be substituted for metal screws where possible. 



Colors of leathers are to be limited to black and one shade of brown, 

 or tan. Tbe manufacture of dressing-table and arm dining-room chairs 

 is to be discontinued. 



Woods to be used arc to be of six classes: (1) Oak, ash, chestnut, elm. 

 (2) Beech, birch, maple, rock elm. (3) Mahogany. (4) Walnut. (5) 

 Gum. (G) White maple. 



No manufacturer Is to use more than four of these classes. 



From dining-room furniture mirrors are to be eliminated. Sideboards 

 and buffets are restricted to the following lengths : 40, 44, 48, 54, 66 and 

 72" ; China closets to these widths : 30, 34, 38, 42, 46, 48 and 50" ; serv 

 Ing tables to these lengths : 34, 38, 42 and 46" ; dining table tops (not 

 including extended lengths) : 42, 48, 54 and 60". 



Mirror plate on bedroom furniture is to be reduced 25 per cent, and 

 the use of beveled mirrors to be discontinued. Dressers and bureaus are 

 to be limited to these sizes, 36, 40. 44, 48 and 52" ; chiffoniers and chlf- 

 ferettes, 30, 34, 38 and 42" ; chlfforobes and dresser-robes, 40, 44 and 48" ; 

 toUct tables and writing tables, 32, 36, 40 and 44" ; wardrobes, 28, 32, 36, 

 40, 44 and 48". 



The schedule for dining tables provides that round or square pillar 

 tat)les are to be made only In the following size pillars : 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10". 



The manufacture of all octagon and shaped pillar tables is to be dis- 

 continued, and not more than 15 regular patterns of pillars or platform 

 tables are to be made by any manufacturer. 



Sizes of dining table tops are limited to 42, 48, 54 and 60" ; all plank 

 or double tops to be eliminated in all plain oak patterns. Oak tables, 42" 

 arc to be made only in plain oak ; 4S-inch oak tables in plain or quartered 

 oak ; 54 and CO" oak tables to be In quartered oak only. 



Library and davenport tables are to he made only In these sizes : 36, 42, 

 45, 48, 54, 60. 66 and 72" ; parlor and bedroom tables, 16, 20. 24 and 30". 



Dust proof bottoms except on bottom frame are to be eliminated, as 

 are, also, all metal corner blocks or irons, metal drawers, drawer slides, 

 drawer locks, feet and metal wheel casters. 



Following is the furniture conservation progi-am in detail: 



