HARDWOOD RECORD 



27 



has shown marked improvement, a condition that may reasonably 

 be expected to continue. 



A more or less adverse feature is in the condition of car supply. 

 The combination of the large proportion of bad .'order cars and 

 inadequate supply of available rolling stock in good order with 

 the necessarily urgent moving iff the grain crops signifies a busi- 

 ness obstruction to som'e extent. In instances and in volume to 

 •compensate in some measure for its ill effects the annual car 

 shortage has been and will be discounted. A perhaps not un- 

 reasonable outcome of the strong efforts of the railroads to "de- 

 liver the goods" is that the shortage will be comparatively tempo- 

 rary. Orders delayed by inability to move forest products will 

 be forwarded with the cessation of the dearth of ears or the 

 early partial improvement of that condition. 



In most sections lumber enterprises have been marking time, 

 but by some of the well informed the quietude is regarded as a 

 period of business recuperation. Barring isolated instances to the 

 contrary, the apparent dullness has been preparatory to later 

 vigorous activity. This is shown in the late dependable advices 

 from the Pacific coast, the North, the East, and the Southwest. 



Financial conditions in their larger aspAts are encouraging. 



The recent records of bank clearings are favorable. A healthful 

 condition lies in the growth, moxe evident in late months than ever 

 before, of careful scrutiny of credits and caution in loans and 

 investments, with elimination or effective supervision- of financial 

 institutions regarded as of doubtful stability. 



At tha moment we have no information of special' le^slation 

 inimicable to the lumber trade. Through association inftuence 

 and enlightenment of legislators the industry is better fortified to 

 meet any such emergency than ever in the past. The prospect 

 may be fairly considered to show a relief from adverse legisla- 

 tive attitude. 



The business prospects justify no prophesy of a boom in the 

 lumber trade. They do indicate a real improvement over' condi- 

 tions lately obtaining — an improvement that may reasonably be 

 expected to continue and to increase. 



The foregoing is necessarily a general and not a specific review 

 of conditions present and prospective. It reflects, however, the 

 purport of advices at hand and available in this office. I have 

 endeavored to make it temperate and as faithfully representative 

 of facts as the limits of my resources at the present time and of this 

 letter will allow. 



'WroamaitiTOiTOTOMiiimi/iOT^ 



In discussing the rules adopted for veueer flitches at the recent 

 convention of the National Hardwood Lumber Association, a 

 prominent veneer and lumber manufacturer of the South stated 

 that such rules were nothing new as his and other concerns have 

 been operating on a basis which has been established for some 

 little time. 



F. J. Kuny of the Williamson-Kuny Mill & Lumber Company, 

 Mound City, 111., who is the man responsible for this suggestion, 

 in writing Haedwood Eecord says that after taking up quarter- 

 sawed white oak veneer flitches for a number of years, his concern 

 found that its experience had matured far enough to classify the 

 customs then prevailing regarding the inspection of these flitches 

 into a rule which might be used with any new mills starting to 

 saw flitches. Up to that time no one used printed rules, but the 

 custom laid down by the flitch buyers iu general was broad. From 

 these customs they tabulated the essential features into a rule, to 

 which up to this time no one has objected. This is not a hard 

 the fast rule on the basis of which buyers would be inclined to 

 be technical, but is more of a guide to sawyer's and inspector's 

 judgment. In fact these rules are really a minimum as manufac- 

 turers of the best stock of veneer flitches make the grades really 

 better than these rules provide for. 



The rules follow: 

 INSPECTION, ME.\SUKEMENT AND MINIMUM GR.\DE OF QUAR- 

 TER-SAWED WHITE OAK VENEER FLITCHES 



Lengths: 8', 9', 10', 11', 12', 13', 14', 15', 16'— at least 2" full. 10% 

 can be 8' and 9' : 10% can be 10' : 15% can be odd lengths. 



Gkade : To be firsts and seconds, with at least 10% to be practically 

 clear of defects, or firsts. Seconds will allow in 10' and longer : In 8" 

 to 11" widths, 1 standard defect; in 12" and wider, 2 standard defects — 

 not less tlian 2%' long, clear cuttings between defects. In S' and 9' 

 lengths, 1 standard defect less. 7" must be practically clear of detects 

 in all lengths. 



One knot, not exceeding 1%" diameter, or one bird peck, or worm spot, 

 or its equivalent In other defecte, is 1 standard defect. 10% bright sap 

 is no defect in not exceeding 33%% of the stock. No sap stained on 

 surface allowed. 



iNSPECTio.N ; To be on 4 sides of flitches, with option of docking con- 

 tents of flitches for defects in excess of those allowed, according to judg- 

 ment of inspector, in order to raise the grade. The inspection to be at 

 point of shipment and to be mutually satisfactory. 



Measurement ; In center of flitch, dividing fractions on the half inch. 

 Thickness is measured in thinnest place. Bevel flitches approximately in 

 center of bevel. 



Figure : Flitches to be sawed full quarter, and show at least 90% good 

 figure in the aggregate, the poorer face showing at least 1/12" bar start- 

 ing figure, the important feature in veneer being figure. Pencil figure 

 is unsalable, and not allowed. 



ManijFactlbb; The fiittlits to be clean, fresh cut stock, well manufac- 

 tured, edged and trimmed free from damaging splits, checks, shakes, heart 

 knots, heart cracks, stained sap, large knots, and dozy, water stained 

 ends. 



Thickness: 3%" to 5" thick, according to size of logs from which 

 flitches are made, and figure. 60% or more to be square edged flitches. 

 On bevel edged flitches, bevel not to exceed 6". Not exceeding 15% taper- 

 ing flitches allowed. 



Kind of Timber: To be straight, close and soft grained, genuine 

 Forked Leaf Hill white oak, fall or winter cut timber. We cannot use any 

 burr or overcup, and no cow oak of stringy loose grain, nor so called 

 pin or chink-a-pin. 



We Cannot Use : Flitches made from timber of a wormy, streaky, doty, 

 shaky, or pecky (bird pecks) character, or showing flag spots. 



WiLLIAMSN-KUNY MILL & LUMBER COMPANY. 



Hardwood for a Hobby 



That hardwood study is interesting, anc that the collecting of 

 hardwood and working it into artistic designs is a hobby worth while, 

 is clearly shown in the little workshop of Thaddeus CofBn at New 

 Castle, Ind. 



For forty years Mr. Coffin has been collecting woods from all over 

 the world. These in his leisure hours he has fashioned into parts 

 for a desk, four feet, six inches high and three feet, four inches wide, 

 with thirty panels and twenty-one drawer fronts. Each panel and 

 drawer front is in itself a work of rare art, showing great color 

 beauty. The parts are now ready to be assembled, and represent 250 

 different kinds of wood and 50,000 pieces. An interesting feature 

 of the work is the white holly drawer-front inlaid with ebony. The 

 historic data here inscribed in Morse characters (Mr. Coffin learned to 

 use the telegraph key in his boyhood) is transcribed as follows: 

 TABLET 



Thaddeus Coffin, son of Frederick, son of Albert, son of William, son 

 of Benjamin, son of Nathaniel, son of James, son of Tristram, son of 

 Peter, son of Nicholas. 



For more than thirty years I collected blocks from many lands, hoping 

 that some time I could form them into a piece of furniture to be kept as 

 an heirloom. I did not realize the pleasure it would give me until I was 

 well along wilh the work. My crippled hand was quite a handicap to me 

 in handling the small pieces. I am a charter member of the 23d O. V. V. 

 Inft. Born March 2, 1841, in Troy, N. Y. I have the Ohio Veteran 

 Medal for long service. 



The interest attending his hobby of wood collecting has increased 

 with his advancing years, and since he has retired from active life, it 

 affords him pleasant pastime. Many of the bits of wood in this 

 50,000-piece desk are souvenirs from historic trees, battle ships and 

 buildings. Every piece has been labeled and an accurate record 

 kept. 



