rj;i;sii(i:N 



■ ports of cut and shipiiionts, stating that this lias iirovou of real 



iluc to the nicmber.K. The report is as follows: 

 Secretary's Report 



.V detailed report of the work of tlic si'iretnry's olBce during the pust 

 > iir would be more voluminous than would l>e proper to present at this 

 time In view of the length of our program. A complete report, however, 

 has iK-en prepared, and will be made a part of the records of this 

 convention. Suffice It to say now that the National association has 

 Justified Its existence during a year when association work of all kinds 

 has been unusually difficult. 



It Is at times like the present when the question Is sometimes asked 

 If the National association Is worth to the Industry what it costs. The 

 expenses of the organization for the year ending March 31 were about 

 $20,000. It would be Impossible to reckon In dollars and cents the value 

 of the work done by the association. It would seem that the lumber 

 business, — .\merlca"s second manufacturing Industry.— should be willing 

 to maintain an organization dealing with questions which affect the entlru 

 business. The lumber Industry has before It some very serious problems 

 which cannot be handled satisfactorily without complete cooperation on 

 the part of all Interests concerned. The bu.slness Is being put more 

 and more upon the defensive. The competition between the different 

 lumber producing sections of the country Is constantly Increasing, and 

 many questions which were formerly local In character, now Interest 

 manufacturers of many species of wood. 



Much of the attention of the National association the past year has 

 been devoted to transportation matters, especially to questions before 

 the Interstate Commerce Commission. The jurisdiction of the commission 

 over transportation In all its phases is being constantly Increased, and 

 shippers of all kinds are finding that they can make moie satisfactory 

 showings of their contentions when they act concertedly on all matters 

 of common Interest coming before this government tribunal. 



The more Important subjects dealing with transportation. In which 

 we have interested ourselves, will be referred to In the report of the 

 railroad committee, submitted by Chairman Pierce. 



The work done under the direction of the railroad committee has been 

 valuable. The subjects considered include the five percent rate advance. 

 In connection with which voluminous statements were filed with the 

 Interstate Commerce Commission, showing the comparison of lumber 

 rates with rates on other commodities ; the proposed charge for spotting 

 cars, the proposed supervision of track scales and track scale weights, 

 the steel car agitation, upon all of which briefs were filed, and the 

 proposed reclassification of rates on dressed lumber. 



Perhaps the most Important activity of the association has been In 

 connection with the fibre box case, which has just been decided by the 

 Interstate Commerce Commission. In this we have co-operated with the 

 National .Vssoclatlon of Box Manufacturers. It Is needless to emphasize 

 the necessity of doing everything possible to preserve the markets for 

 low-grade lumber, which Is a constantly Increasing proportion of the 

 lumber output. Indeed the utilization of the raw material depends 

 upon our ability to market this grade of product. The story of the 

 fibre box case Is a long one. It having been conceived several years ago. 

 During the past year only has It been prosecuted, however, before the 

 Interstate Commerce Commission. The work of the committee will he 

 covered briefly In the address of W. B. Morgan, chalrmon of the classifi- 

 cation committee. 



The commission decided that while It cannot go Into the relative 

 merits of the two classes of freight containers, nor specify those par- 

 ticular commodities which should and should not be carried In paper 

 boxes, it states that the conditions of the classifications relative to 



packing, sealing, and testing the latter should be rigidly enforced and 

 shippers held responsible for violation. It was proven In the evidence 

 submitted that the practical application of these restrictions is Impossible. 

 The commission also states it is convinced of the necessity for the 

 I'llmination of some commodities now permitted to l>c shipped In fibre 

 boxes. It suggests that this should be worked out by the shippers and 

 the carriers themselves, as well as the standardization of the wooden 

 box. The latter hos already been taken u|) by several large organizations 

 of shippers, and will come prominently before the manufacturers of 

 lumber and boxes during the year. 



One of the most effective results of the fibre box case has been the 

 education of the railroad presidents and managers to the serious losses 

 being sustained by the carriers from the incriasing use of the substitute 

 and inferior package. This was accomplished by submitting to them 

 many photographs taken of damaged paper packages In many of the 

 principal freight wareliouses of the country which were submitted as 

 evidence In the case. .\s a result there Is now before the classification 

 committees of the railroads the question of the readjustment of rates on 

 freight shipped in fibre and corrugated imper. 



The association has closely followed the attacks made upon wood as a 

 building material. Ordinances were passed In several cities and towns 

 during the year prohibiting the use of shingles, and ordinances are non- 

 being considered at various places to exclude wood for all exterior use. 

 Including siding and casing, as well as roof covering. There Is a sincere 

 dr-slrc on the part of many persons to do everything possible to reduce 

 the Immense fire loss of the country, but It develops that certain manu- 

 fac^turers of so-called fire-proof building materials have espoused this cause 

 for the purpose of advancing their own products, and in some instances 

 serious and unjust attacks have been made upon lumber. Just what the 

 fire-prevention propaganda covers will be explained to us tomorrow by 

 Frank D. Chase, president of the Chicago Chapter of the National Fire 

 I'rotection Association, the annual convention of which Is now being held 

 In this city. 



Because of the several technical questions, arising In connection with 

 fire-proofing, preservation, and proper treatment of wood, the Board of 

 Governors employed Dr. Hermann Von Schrenk as consulting engineer 

 of this association. Dr. Von Scbreuk Is well and favorably known to the 

 lumbermen. In bis address tomorrow he will explain to you the nature 

 of his work. 



We have offlclally identified ourselves with the forestry movement upon 

 every reasonable occasion during the year. Each year sees a fuller 

 conception on the part of those persons who were formerly Inclined to 

 feel that the lumbermen were needlessly wasting much valuable forest 

 material of the practical difficulties which make It Impossible for timber 

 owners to adopt scientific forestry methods under present economic con- 

 ditions. The exact relation of forestry to the lumber business was set 

 forth In the splendid reports presented to the forestry section of the 

 National Conservation Congress held In November. The work of the 

 conservation committee of the National association will be explained 

 by J. E. White, whose sincere interest In forestry and conservation Is well 

 known the country over. 



The National Lumber Manufacturers' Credit Corporation has made 

 .•iatlsfactory progress during the year, the details of which will be reported 

 by Superintendent Blederman. The circulation of the "Blue Book" Is 

 Increasing, and It is paying Its own way. 



During the year a canvass was made to ascertain the views of the 

 members relative to the discontinuance of the monthly statistics of cut 

 and shipments. The sentiment was practically unanimous In favor of 

 continuing them, and the method of compiling the figures gathered by 



