HARDWOOD RECORD 



The Cover Picture 



TllK ILLUSTRATION on tlic front covor rcprow>nt« » MisoiKxippi 

 bo|;uc. That i» sc-iirroly un Kn^liHli wonl. Sonio of tlio die- 

 tu<nario« do not give it in tJio iivuito uaed by tho ]>copla of tlio Suiitb; 

 vt't it ia a good vroni in localitiei) along tlio lower Miiaisaippi where 

 :k roniiidornblo French olcniout remains or onco existed, Tho word 

 logue is a corruption of the French word "bouche," and close akin 

 ••> the S|uinish "boon." The original mennhig wns "mouth," as 

 ijiplied to a river. Tlrat meaning is in part retained where the 

 icrin is applied to a body of water in tho lower Mississippi valley; 

 I'Ut it does not always mean tlio mouth of a stream, but tho stream 

 it.self. It is not necessarily stagnant or non-flowing water, but some 

 think of a bogue in that sense. 



In the flat country along tho lower Mississippi river and in tho 

 immediate proximity of tlie Riilf of Mexico, many streams have little 

 more currents than are seen in ponds and swales; but all arc not of 

 that kind. 



The cover picture shows a bogue with enough current to contradict 

 all idea of stagnation, but not enough to excite expectation that 

 waterfalls and cateracts need be looked for in the vicinity. The 

 >tream is shallow, ns the stramlcd log with its lono turtle hunter 

 in midstream prove.*, ^he drift, pointing down stream, shows the 

 trend of tho current, but the sodded bank on one side, down to the 

 very water's edge, and the forest growth, running down the 

 bank to the water on the opposite shore, furnish sufficient evidence 

 that the current is not strong, even in time of flood. 



It wns doubtless such a scene as this which inspired a well-known 

 Louisiana song writer's ballad "Twilight on the Bogue." opening 

 with the verses: 



■How wall I remember the rourmurlcss rivers, 

 The ceholess shores of the bayous and bogues, 

 Where the cotton-mouth moccasins gave me the shlvi-rs. 

 And the razor-hack pine-hogs were thundering rogues. 



"Tbc buzz of tbe gauzc-velned, neuropteroiis pinions 

 Of mosquitoes (anopheles whetting their bills) 



Came up from the sultry mlasmnl dominions 

 To spread the contagion of fevers and chills." 



The Death of F. A. Diggins 



THE PASSING OF FRKD ARDEX DIGGIXS of Cadillac, Mich., 

 as more fully noted in .inothor ]>ngc of this is^ue of Haed- 

 '.'.ooD Record, means more merely than the death of a lumberman, 

 • f one who has endeared himself to all of his many associates 

 ill hardwood and other affairs. In the death of this man the 

 h.ardwood business and the other interests with which he was so 

 actively connected have lost a man exemplifying the modern 

 'liought in business administration. Mr. Diggins, aside from being 

 a sterling character in every way, was a natural exponent of the 

 I'olicy of absolute fairness, because he was not .so constituted as 

 to use any other methods in his business dealings. The idea which 

 has clearly manifested itself in everything he did, that both sides 

 -hall profit by a transaction, is the spirit which actuates all busi- 

 ness men of the modern order. That he embraced this policy 

 from the beginning is but a proof of his broad-mindedness and 

 his keen perception as well as of his natural spirit of fairness. 



The memory of Fred Diggins will not only be a memory of a man 

 among men, an appreciation of a character lovable in every one 

 of its attributes, but a realization that the example he has set 

 typifies the course which all business men must follow in order 

 that the fulle.st social and economic development of our country 

 may be realized. Had he been less fortunately endowed vpith 

 qualities that inspire genuine affection, his unwavering integrity 

 and his consistent espousal of the principles of fair dealing would 

 alone have made of him a man whose existence as an important 

 business factor was one of the richest assets of his business asso- 

 ciates. As it was his lovable qualities but accentuated the esteem 

 and regard with which his methods and his counsel were always 

 considered. Hence the lumber trade can rightly consider itself 

 fortunate that this man was blessed writh this unusual combination 

 of qualifications which made his influence for good doubly 

 effective. 



Through tlic denlh of Mr. Diggina the lumber tr«4o ha* lo»t 

 a real man whom all who have been so fortunate nn to know have 

 learned to love, but in his memory it will gain sn examplo, the 

 value of which is hard to CKtimute. 



The Vacation Season 



IT SEEMS BUT A FEW MAYS AGf) wh.ii tho convention of the 

 National Hardwood Lumber Association wiui a matter to be 

 looked forward to; now it is history and almost ancient history 

 at that, and we have whirled along into the suminer season almost 

 without realizing that it is hero. 



With the realization comes tho question as to what this season 

 means, and what developments it will bring. Tho first thought 

 is that as a psychological factor (that seemingly being tho popular 

 basis on which to reckon causes and effects these days), it is dis- 

 tinctly favorable, tho reason being that business men have a 

 reason to satisfy themselves as to tho present laxity in business. 

 The old-time ''summer dullness" is going a long way these days 

 toward preventing a great many optimists from flopping to the 

 opposite viewpoint. They are unwilling to admit even to them- 

 selves that the unwelcome condition which now prevails is based 

 on anything which can bo considered as alarming, and console 

 themselves and maintain their optimistic attitude with the 

 expression that the summer inertia is in the main responsible. 



Whether or not it is, remains to be seen, but in the meantime 

 this old standby is unquestionably preserving a spirit of steadfast 

 optimism and hope for the future which would not be so apparent 

 if this business depression occurred in what would logically be a 

 favorable season. 



Another idea which suggests itself is that the natural tendency 

 is to treat things lightly during the summer months; that season 

 is necessarily a vacation period and even if the business man is 

 not actually giving himself up to the pursuit of pleasure, ho is 

 generally more or less inclined to view things in a vacation spirit. 



The result is that no important developments can be anticipated 

 during the summer, which is a gratifying reflection, inasmuch as 

 if business men generally will lay low during this period, it is 

 entirely likely that when they are again in the mood to go after 

 things actively, they will meet with an entirely different situation. 

 On the other hand, if they were passing through a period during 

 which they could logically expect active business, they would be 

 much more inclined to push their sales with the resulting sacriflce 

 and demoralization of the whole business structure. As it is, the 

 summertime and the vacation period come in opportunely, tending 

 to conservative action and a general tendency to await develop- 

 ment rather than to force the issue. 



The vacation season this year then can be welcomed as an 

 indirect ally of business. It is to be hoped that when the home 

 stretch, which will conclude the year 's work, is finally reache<l 

 conditions will have so altered as to make the breaking of track 

 records a common occurrence. 



The Car Situation 



HARDWOOD RECORD is in receipt of the following communi- 

 cation from a big hardwood manufacturer in the South: 



I predict the greatest car shortage In ten years. 



These are the words of one of the biggest business men of tbe South- 

 west. 



We have other advices that tbe railroads are facing the most serloii* 

 car shortage In tbe history of transportation. Tbe Santa Fc Railroad 

 Is lining Its stock cars to handle grain. With tho extraordinary wheat 

 crop to be moved In a short while and other great crops of the countr.v, 

 wc anticipate the most serious car shortage that we have ever had to 

 contend with. By anticipating your hardwood requirements as much In 

 .idvance as possible, we are flrmly of the opinion that you will be saved 

 considerable annoyance and a great deal of money. We believe that by 

 tbe end of .Tuly or the early part of August the situation will become 

 ."icute and prices of hardwood apt to rise considerably, due to the In- 

 ability of tbe shippers to secure their ordinary fnlgbt car requirements. 



The above quotation is a statement contained in all of the 

 lumber letters being sent out by this company, and it unquestion- 

 ably reflects the actual condition that is to be faced by shippers, 

 particularly in the Southwest. Rumors of impending shortage 



