HARDWOOD RECORD 



In the finish of the room at the Coliseum a pleasintr <'ombino- 

 tion was effected. Some of the large panels were extremely rich; 

 other parts attracted by their harmonious colors, sonic by their 



It is well known that almost every imitator of woods picks 

 red gum as his material. That is because it can be finished in 

 so many ways. It passes' for mahogany, cherry, walnut, birch, 

 and even for oak. After an examination of the exhibit, the 

 visitors could not but be impressed with the fact that it is a 

 waste of time to use gum to imitate other woods when its own 

 beauty is sufficient for every occasion. 



A Beautifll Dook 



This was well illustrated by a beautiful door wliicli jileascd 

 everybody who saw it. Many persons supposed it was Circas- 

 sian walnut, and it would pass for such anywhere, so far as color 

 and figure were concerned. Some ])ersons were, unprepared to 

 believe that a piece of work so artistic coiibl be niailc of gum; 

 yet there was not a 

 scrap of wood, other 

 than gum, shown at 

 the exhibit. 



There were doois 

 of other patterns; 

 there were panels, 

 lieam.s, and other fin 

 ish. The mantel was 

 a thing of beaut v. 

 and the floor meas 

 ure.l up witli the rest 

 of the display. 



Twenty one styles 

 and patterns cif 

 molding weir 

 shown, forming :i 

 collection varic i 

 enough to suppl,\ 

 any need. 



Gum is coming 

 into use in the man- 

 ufacture of man y 

 a r t i c les commonly 

 classed as wooden- 

 ware. Some of the 

 articles of that kind 

 on display were the 

 following, w h i c li 

 simply illustrate the 

 growing uses of the 

 wood: 



Washboards in profusion, and declared to be everlasting, were 

 given prominence. Though washing machines, operated by steam, 

 electrieit}', gasoline, and other powers develojied from inorganic 

 substances, have been invented and put in operation, the old 

 family washboard holds its ground with the same force as always, 

 and the makers are now using much red gum. 



The mousetrap is a small but extremely necessary equipment 

 for the barn, granary, and home, and the wood entering its con- 

 struction must be of the proper kind. A complete outfit of gum 

 mousetraps decorated the wall of the back porch. 



The flatiron handle was another essential in which red gum 

 served. Wood used for that purpose must be fine grained and 

 of suitable color. 



A collection of blocks for brush backs was another example of 

 modern uses for this wood. 



Wooden pulley rims, on which leather or rubber belts run, de- 

 mand material of particular qualities, and the samples of gum 

 for that use show it to be suitable. 



One visitor went away from the gum exhibit disappointed. 

 She carefully examined one of the rich chocolate-colored panels and 

 scratched it with her dainty finger nails, and turned away with the 



ve chew. ' ' 



n the United States 

 last eighty years at 



laces it at 

 the present 



remark, "This is not the gum 

 The estimate of red gum 

 46,44.'^,000,000 feet, enough t 

 rate of use. 



AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION 

 This association was one of the exhibitors with nothing to sell, 

 unless it might be the magazine, ''American Forestry," which it 

 l)ublishes monthly. Its work is educational, and is carried on 

 from patriotic motives. Its financial support comes largely from 

 wealthy men of public spirit who aim solely at the public good, 

 without expectation of pecuniary or political reward. For that 

 reason the exhibit at the Coliseum was unique, though it was 

 iiot elaborate. It was in direct charge of Pereival Sheldon Bids- 

 dale, editor of "American Forestry." 



This magazine compares favorably' in size, contents and appear- 

 ance ,y\'ith the best popular magazines. It deals with the country's 

 forest resources, not in a technical ami statistical way, but in 



articles written for 

 the general reader, 

 and on subjects of 

 piipular interest. 

 I'he magazine is 

 jpublished at Wash- 

 ington, D. C, -lonth- 

 ly. That city is like- 

 wise headquarters of 

 I h American For- 

 estry Association. 



The association 's 

 president is Dr. 

 Henry S t u r g i s 

 Drinker, president of 

 Lehigh University. 

 T h e vice-presidents 

 inchiile members of 

 Congress, ambassa- 

 dors to foreign coun- 

 tries, cabinet mem- 

 bers, educators, busi- 

 ness men and mil- 

 lionaires. 



This association is 

 distinct from t h e 

 United States Forest 

 Service, though 

 m a n y members of 

 t li e Forest Service 

 are also members of 

 the association. The 

 work of both organizations is along similar lines, but is suppletnental 

 rather t'lan conflicting. 



The exhibit was educational. It might make slight impression 

 on the spectator who merely walked past it in his rounds; but 

 upon closer inspection it was rich with information. A poster is 

 not usually regarded with much consideration, but some of those 

 on the walls of the booth contained plenty of human interest. 

 They were copies of "warnings," such as are now posted along 

 highways and forest paths, cautioning the public against the 

 danger of fire, and containing instructions how to lessen the 

 danger. 



These "warnings" are usually not posted up as threats of pun- 

 ishment to persons who may cause a forest fire, but as advice on 

 the best means of preventing fire, or checking it if it gets a 

 start. There is little of that domineering "thou shalt not," but 

 in its place are reasons why all persons should be careful. Ex- 

 perience has shown that men submit to reason much more readily 

 than to threats. The American Forestry Association proceeds on 

 that principal with its educational work, and results have justified 

 the course. 



The exhibit contained many charts and pictures, showing tools 



