i6 



H A K I) W OO 1) R KC O K D 



ill Its IiiiliM- r:iiij:<'. l.ilt wlii'ii tr!iiis|>liiiiti-i| tci iiinplliir .liimiti' tl.r 

 woo.l i» inffrior, th«ii(;li tlio trcf mnv ({row n.t vinoroimly na in 

 its native I'lininttf. In fact, it nmy Im> inforior Ikvoiibo of too riipiil 

 growth. An t>xnni|ili< of tliis i» foiiml in the mioulyptns, wliicli yii-lds 

 j:o<«l finiU-r in Aiistrsilin. wliorc ijrowtli is slow, Init poor stuff in 

 (.'alilornin, wlioro iiiori-asp in size is mpiil. Porhnps tlio most nott-il 

 ■■x:itiipl<> of n woo.l wliicli liiis Mifforoil in (|Unlity tlirou|;)i trniis- 

 plaiilint; to another cliniato is Circassian walnut. In its home coniitry 

 thi- woml is finely roloro<l ami figurcil. It grows in southern nii'l 

 we»t«'rn Euro|ic, where it was traiisplnntoil two thousand years, ago 

 and is known as English and Frrnvh walnut, but littlo wooil that 

 will compare with the genuine Circassian walnut has been cut in 

 Europe. 



The hickory has In-on planted a long time in Europe, but the wood 

 docs not measure with the native stock from America. Black locust 

 has iHvn ]ilaiittMl in all ilirections outside of its original habitat. It 

 grows raj'idly enough, but insect enemies single it out for ntta<'k 

 with such persistency that in many i[cgions there is no profit in 

 growing it. 



It is, therefore, apparent that several problems are involved in the 

 iiniU-rtaking of growing eastern hardwoods in the far West. To 

 make them grow is one thing; to predict what they will be worth 

 .■ifter they be<'onie of merchantable size is impossible. 



Xevertheless, the effort is highly conunendable. It has a chance 

 iif success, probably more than an even chance. If a few first-class 

 hardwoods can be successrully grown on the Pacific slope it will add 

 much to the resources of that region. The only way to ascertain 

 nhat can be done is to make the attempt. Years will be required 

 •'• conclude the experiments and reach dependable results; ami the 

 -.■oner a comprehensive bej^'inniiig is made the earlier will the end 



Regarding the Furniture Federation 



ON ANOTHER PAGE of this issue of Hardwood Record will 

 be found a story of a tentative organization of furniture 

 m.-inufacturers from among a number of furniture associations 

 ■ \isting as separate units heretofore. Presumably the purpose of 

 it;anization was to present a more united front in working out 

 lie various problems confronting the furniture manufacturers. 

 Among these problems are labor questions, manufacturing methods 

 :,u'\ ideas, markets, and as suggested by most of the members in 

 attendance as the most important — hardwood inspection condi- 

 •lons. 



Announcements which have gone out calling attention to this 

 M) called mass-meeting have frankly suggested that the real pur- 

 pose of the meeting was to force the hand of the National Hard- 

 wood Lumber Association in its grading rules controversy with 

 the consumers of hardwood lumber, mainly the furniture men. 

 These people have been perfectly frank in stating that they con- 

 sider this the propitious time for instituting such a fight in view 

 of the fact that generally speaking a buyers' market prevails. 

 They are intent upon absolutely nullifying the rules issued for 

 1913 by the substitution of 1912 rules. 



Without attempting to pass upon the merits of the claims made 

 by both parties to the controversy, Hardwood Record believes 

 that the consumers have not shown the proper spirit in working 

 out this question. This is undoubtedly an age of arbitration and 

 compromise. Every tendency is toward getting together for the 

 threshing out of mutual problems rather than a simple butting 

 of heads together without accomplishments satisfactory to either 

 side. It cannot be argued that the adjustment of any ques- 

 tion through a spirit of mutual co-operation, and an equitable 

 settlement is not more satisfactory than an arbitrary stand by 

 one party to .the question having or believing it has a temporary 

 advantage over the other. Thus in this case the settlement of 

 the question by a mutual conference and a fair effort on the part 

 of each factor to give due consideration in the broadest possible 

 light to the claims of the other faction would unquestionably result 

 in placing this whole matter on a much more satisfactory basis 

 than would the attempts now being made by the consumers.* 



Hard\v<mii> IJkohii) has stated that it liocn not believe that tbo 

 consumer is showing the proper spirit. This contention is borno 

 out by the statement of the consuinors on the floor at the moss- 

 meeting that they wore barred from consultalitm in making up 

 the IIM.T rules. This statement is absolutely at variance with 

 the truth of tho situation, as the consumers were issued formal 

 invitations to bo in attendance and to present their suggestions 

 and ideas in duo form. As a matter of fact they failed to take 

 advantage of this invitation until after the question had been 

 settled, and it was simply an impossible parliamentary procedure 

 to reojien the discussion when they demanded it. 



Furthermore, as nn indication of lack of desire to get together 

 with the lumbermen, tho men behind this mass-meeting not only 

 did not issue an invitation to any of the officers of the National 

 llordwood Lumber Association to attend the meeting and speak 

 from their side of the case, but debarred the secretary of that 

 organization from the privilege of the floor when he especially 

 requested that he be given this opportunity to defend his organi- 

 zation against what he considered unfair charges. 



It seems from this that there is more or less pique and vin- 

 dictiveness behind the move to force an issue under present con- 

 ilitions. 



As stated before, Hardwood Record will not attempt to set 

 forth the justice or injustice of the consumers' demands, as there 

 are unquestionably two sides to this question as to every other, 

 but the spirit under which the consuming trade is going about 

 securing the desired end, seemingly without regard to the merits 

 of the other side of the case, really demands some exposition. 



It is to be hoped that the more broadminded and reasonable 

 members of the consuming trade will realize that back of this 

 movement there is probably more or less personal desire for gain, 

 and will take only such action as will at least be just to both par- 

 ties concerned. 



Constructive Effort Apparent at Gum Meeting 



T[1E FIRST SEMIANNUAL MEETIN(; of the most recently 

 organized hardwood association, the Gum Lumber Manufac- 

 turers' Association, which was held at Memphis last week, clearly 

 demonstrates the fact that gum lumber manufacturers have not 

 only outlined a program of real constructive work, but are doing 

 everything within the bounds of possibility to work these plans 

 out to a satisfactory end. The meeting as far as accomplishments 

 are concerned was one of the most jirofitable ever attended by 

 hardwood lumbermen. It was a gathering of representative gum 

 manufacturers comprising probably one-third of the gum-produc- 

 ing mills of the country, and representing about the same percent- 

 age of gum stocks. Among the membership are members of the 

 more progressive concerns in the Delta country, and it is probably 

 the result of the personnel of the officers and directors that so 

 much real good has been accomplished. 



If nothing else had resulted from the meeting, the stock lists 

 showing gum stocks on hand unsold at this time was suflScient 

 justification for the association work. The extremely favorable 

 condition of gum stocks (announcement of which seemingly came 

 as a distinct surprise to most of tho members), is going to have 

 a great deal to do towards maintaining for gfum a more staple 

 market. 



The most unusual and excellent report of the technical research 

 committee, which was probably the feature of the entire meeting, 

 and the discussions which followed the various suggestions made 

 by its chairman, give promise of still better things to come. The 

 purpose of this work is to make uniform the quality of gum lum- 

 ber in order to eliminate shipment of inferior stock of gum, which 

 naturally constitutes the most unfavorable kind of advertising for 

 gum that could be conceived. Recognizing the varied conditions 

 under which different operators work, the committee made general 

 recommendations, which, if carried out, will unquestionably result 

 to the distinct advantage of everyone who attended. 



The spirit and close attention shown at the various sessions of 

 the convention augur well for its future, and the tone and expres- 



