HARDWOOD RECORD 



43 



very creditable display of the use of Miibigan aud Wisconsin woods will 

 be shown in said bungalow. 



When you realize that this bungalow was built from the ground up 

 and finished within practically three and one-half days, I thinlt you will 

 realize to some extent what genuine hustling on the part of aii interested 

 In same could accomplish and we trust that after an examination of the 

 work done, that It will meet with your approval. It certainly Is a 

 demonstration of what can be. done so far as practical use of our woods 

 and it is the only complete building throughout the entire exposition, 

 that has been built from the ground up. 



Please inspect the bungalow carefully and h't us have your opinion in 

 the matter. 



The number of assessable members who are not shipping lumber 

 at the present time, but who do not think of quitting the business 

 entirely, was discussed. A motion that the basis for an assessment 

 he referred to the executive committee to be taken from the various 

 angles, and report at the next meeting, was made and carried: 



The question of providing funds for the Fire Protective Associa- 

 tion was next taken up by the chair. He stated the number of acres 

 patroled this year was 284,000 as against 280,000 in 1913, and that 



it would he necessary to make arrangements for the work now. 

 He stated that all the wardens are rendering better service. He 

 was of the opinion that the assessment should be three and one-half 

 cents, payable in two payments, one to be two cents immediately 

 and the other one and one-half cents to be paid at the call of the 

 secretary. He further stated that the association had a number of 

 assets, which, though not available at present, would be later on, so 

 that it would not be necessary to levy the full three and one-half cents 

 at the one time. 



A motion made to the effect that the assessment as mentioned 

 by the president be accepted was carried. 



A very interesting discussion on the employers' liability act of 

 Michigan ensued. Several important incidents were brought up, 

 showing that while the law has been favorable to the owners, many 

 of the owners have deemed it advisable to carry insurance on the 

 .iobljers' men. 



Adjournment followed. 



.s ygTOai?r^-x<aw;x:>iTOTO^to>3;;jsijgi;«TOw^ 



iill Lumber Manufacturers' Annual lii 



TtJESDAY MORNING SESSION 



The National Lumber iranufactunTs' Association convened in 

 its twelfth annual meeting at Chicago on May 5 and (i. The first 

 session was held in the annex of the Coliseum adjoining the 

 Forest Products Exposition, but it was decided after the first 

 morning's session to secure more congenial quarters, and as a 

 result the second and succeeding sessions were held in the ball- 

 room of the Blackstone hotel. 



From the viewpoint of accomplishments and important sugges- 

 tions this meeting will stand out as a i)ronounced success. The 

 discussions and paper.? were of an absorbingly interesting char- 

 acter, and the result of the meeting is unquestionably going to 

 be of tremendous help to the lumber trade throughout the country. 



President E. H. Downman called upon C. B. Towson of New 

 York, secretary of the International Committee of the Young 

 Men's Christian Association, who delivered u most forceful and 

 effective invocation. 



The address of welcome on behalf of the city of Chicago was 

 delivered by Lee Mathias, assistant corporation counsel of the 

 city. He extended a most cordial appreciation of the convention 

 on the part of the city, and succeeded in making the visiting dele- 

 gates feel that they were really welcome. 



Capt. J. B. White of Kansas City responded suitably to Mr. 

 Mathias' address, talking in his usual humorous vein. 



President Downman then delivered his annual address as follows: 



Address of President 



There has never been any question In my mind of the wisdom of the 

 lumber manufacturers of this country maintaining a national organization 

 to take up those matters which affect the industry as a whole. A year's 

 experience as executive of the national association has convinced me of 

 not only the wisdom of this course but of its absolute necessity. 



During my connection with the lumber business I have never known 

 it to be faced with so many serious problems as confront it today. The 

 past year has been a trying one upon us all, and conditions are developing 

 which must be met and solved before we can be masters of our own 

 business. 



Xot only is the lumber business affected by the change in political 

 coudltions but an evolution is going on which makes the manufacturing 

 and marketing of lumber a much more complicated and difficult work 

 than it has ever been. We have no other means of defending ourselves 

 than by standing together in an affiliated body, and I misjudge the 

 wisdom and the bravery of the men engaged in the lumber business if 

 they should prove unwilling to do so. 



Questions affecting transportation, the inroads of substitutes, misrepre- 

 sention of our products, misinterpretation and misrepresentation of our 

 methods, and questions involving our honesty of purpose must be met. 

 There is no way by which this can be done so efficiently as through 

 the National organization representing common interests and common 

 cause. 



The public looks upon ours as one of the great businesses of the 



nation, as indeed it is. We have a iierl'ectly legal and moral right to 

 stand up for it, and to seek through legitimate methods to solve those 

 problems now pressing us for the benefit not only of ourselves, but of 

 the thousands of people dependent upon our activities for a livelihood. 



More or less of the details of the work of the association for the year 

 will be covered In the reports of the secretary and chairmen of the 

 several committees. It has all been worth while, and I am entirely 

 satisfied that had it not been for much of this work conditions now 

 causing us anxiety would have been even worse. When I review the 

 results that have been accomplished for a limited amount of money, 

 considering the great interests at stake, I am certain that much more 

 could have been done had the financial support of the association been 

 doubled, as was proposed at the annual meeting a year ago. 



As the tendency Is more and more toward governmental supervision 

 and regulation of matters concerning transportation, finance, control of 

 natural resources, and many other phases of our business of converting 

 the forests Into lumber for the benefit and use of mankind, it will be 

 increasingly necessary for us to act concertedly. We can accomplish 

 nothing alone. 



I wish that I might Impress every lumber manufacturer of this country 

 with the necessity of maintaining a strong, vigorous federation properly 

 organized and sufficiently financed, to defend our great industry from the 

 many unjust attacks being made upon it in a manner commensurate with 

 its size and importance. 



I consider the Forest Products Exposition, successful as it certainly 

 is, as only a small illustration of what can be done toward promoting 

 our products, their variety, usefulness, availability, and relative merits. 

 The time has gone by when lumber will sell itself. Years ago we had 

 but to saw up logs and put the lumber in our yards, and buyers came 

 and selected such as the.v could use for their particular needs. Now we 

 must go to the buyer, study his requirements, improve our methods of 

 manufacture and merchandising, and assist as far as possible those who 

 are engaged in the distribution of our products. This is one of the 

 changes that are going on in our business. 



You will appreciate the appropriateness upon this occasion, aud at 

 this place, of devoting some consideration to the very important and 

 much overlooked subject of the merchandising of lumber. 



I desire to thank the officials of the several affiliated associations for 

 the valuable assistance they have rendered to the National association 

 during the year, particularly In behalf of the Forest Products Exposition, 

 which is our principal achievement at this time. 



It seems to me that one of the matters which the National organization 

 should take up actively in the near future is the suggestion made at the 

 last annual meeting that an inter-insurance department be inaugurated 

 to be conducted by and solely in behalf of the affiliated membership. 

 1 am sure that this suggestion can be worked out along lines that will 

 be practical, satisfactory and mutually profitable in the end. If that 

 can be done the National association will need no further defense for its 

 existence. 



Treasurer J. A. Freeman of Pasadena, Cal., read his annual 

 report, which showed the total receipts during the year as 

 $24,059.99: disbursements, $20,916.71, there being now in the 

 treasury $3,143.28. , 



The financial report of the secretary was referred to the audit- 

 ing committee. 



Secretary Ehodes told of the work done in compiling monthly 



