HARDWOOD RECORD 



23 



with it were a very few manufacturers who were either exporters, 

 having little interest in domestic trade, or so closely allied in their 

 business with the jobbing element as to make them ahnost a part 

 of that interest. 



It would seem in analyzing this situation that the jobbing element 

 was not so afraid of the changes proposed by the inspection rules 

 committee at this time as it was that the amendments would prove 

 an opening wedge to insure further and more radical changes at 

 future meetings. As a matter of fact, as recounted in an editorial 

 in last issue of Hardwood Eecokd, the jobbing element of the hard- 

 wood industry, through the paucity of profits that has obtained in 

 the merchandizing of hardwoods during the last few years, has 

 become afraid of its elimination from the trade. The jobbers fear 

 the manufacturers are attempting to go past them and market their 

 product direct to the wholesale consiuning trade. Today the hard- 

 ATood merchant is fighting for his wages; he is fighting for a living. 

 Undeniably there is no little manifestation of selfishness in the 

 attitude of this portion of the trade, because it has thus far failed 

 to consider that during the last few years the manufacturers of lum- 

 ber have also suffered such a diminution in profits of their business 

 as to make the manufacture of hardwoods in many instances a profit- 

 less undertaking. 



The jobber feels that any eliange in grades means a lowering of 

 grade, and hence his inability to be able to re-assort and find any 

 "picks" in any grade for which he can get anything higher than 

 a standard price. He feels that a change of grade eliminates the 

 possibility of manipulation, and hence his surpassing interest in this 

 convention was such as to call forth the attendance of the majority 

 of the members directly interested in the jobbing trade, which sub- 

 stantially outvoted the manufacturing element. 



Which element of the trade is right, and which is wrong in this 

 important controversy over what are to be considered just grades 

 and measurement of hardwood lumber, Hardwood Eecord does not 

 care to assert, but to paraphrase the recent observation of a leading 

 director of industrial research: "If anybody were to ask me, I 

 should confess that I have for ' things as they are ' in the hardwood 

 industry, but little liking and less respect." 



This observation in no wise refers to the particular hardwood asso- 

 ciation under discussion, but to the totality of the entire disorgan- 

 ized, uneducated and inefficient system that prevails in hardwood 

 logging, lumbering, inspection, sale and distribution. 

 A Word in Conclusion 



The editor of Hardwood Record does not want any reference made 

 to the foregoing editorial in any wise to be construed as a criticism 

 of any lumber association or any man connected therewith. He does 

 not want to pose as a critic. His ambition in life is to so conduct 

 this publication that it shall assist in the betterment of every con- 

 dition surrounding the industry. He wishes to repeat the aphorism 

 "nothing is settled until it is settled right," and to insist there is 

 a reward in doing business right that is fully worth the effort. 

 Practically every friend he has in this world is allied in this great 

 industry, and if by any chance he makes any suggestions concerning 

 it, it is intended for its betterment, and out of the unselfish regard 

 and affection he bears every man in the trade whose ambition it is to 

 do business "on the level." 



The Editor on Vacation 



Following his usual custom, the editor of Habdwood Record leaves 

 in a few days for a health-seeking, camping, tramping and picture- 

 making expedition within the government's new Appalachian Park 

 in eastern Tennessee, a few miles from where he and his friends 

 were encamped last year. 



"I meant to do my work today. — 



But a brown Ijiirt sang in the apple-tree. 

 And a buttei-flv flitted across the field. 

 And all tlie leaves were calling me." 

 You have all heard -about "spring fever" and its effect on many 

 people. Some attacks of spring fever take the form of an insane 

 desire to play golf, others to go fishing, others to hike to Europe — 

 few to stick to their jobs. The particular form of spring fever 

 which assails the editor of Hardwood Record at this time of the 

 year is an irresistible desire to go down into the "unknown land" 



of the Great Smok^' mountains, wliich region he loves whole-heartedly, 

 where he can regain strength and energy, and attempt to attain the 

 sanity of thought that is essential to all good newspaper men. So 

 in the words of Richard Le Gallienne "the leaves are calling me," 

 and besides the leaves there are the brooks, pure air, great trees, the 

 trout, the birds and the flowers — to say nothing about a bunch of 

 good chums, who also love the forest as God Almighty made it, and 

 everything it contains. 



Priends of the editor are advised they can reach him with mail 

 addressed to Camp Gibson, Elkmont, Sevier County, Tenn., and with 

 telegrams (which will be forwarded by telephone and messenger) in 

 care of the Little Eiver Lumber Company, Townsend, Tenn. 



Lumber Sales Managers' Association 



The work of the Lumber Sales Managers' Association is going 

 diligently on, and a vast amount of work is being accomplished 

 through the office of 'Secretary E. H. Klann. The directors of the 

 association met at tne Lumbermen's Club of Chicago on the after- 

 noon of June 7 for the purpose of discussing ways and means of 

 increasing the membership of the organization. The association is 

 so evidently a factor for the betterment of the industry and trade 

 ethics, that the work of building up its membership should be prac- 

 tically automatic. It is an organization which is in a field absolutely 

 by itself, conflicting in no way with any other association work, and 

 yet its idea would certainly indicate that it can accomplish a vast 

 amount of good if properly supported. 



The association maintains a bureau on surplus stocks, market 

 values, and credit information, which ought to be worth, to anyone 

 interested in the marketing of liunber, a great many times the cost 

 of membership. Membership carries with it the privilege of sharing 

 the experience of a great nimiber of the most noted manufacturers 

 and wholesalers of forest products in the country. Prom this point 

 of view alone, it should appeal to everybody looking toward increased 

 sales and better market conditions. 



Its idea, looking toward the general education of the salesman, 

 should appeal to every lumber sales manager, and there isn't a man 

 connected with the lumber business who is not aware of the fact 

 that large numbers of so-called salesmen representing lumber firms 

 are traveling the country and doing a vast amount of harm to the 

 general trade because of their absolute lack of any knowledge of the 

 goods they are selling. The Lumber Sales Managers' Association 

 aims to give them this knowledge. It wiU further, through the 

 unification of selling methods, visibly reduce selling costs. There is 

 no room for argimient in this particular, inasmuch as any fair-minded 

 man will grant that with- sales conducted on a uniform basis, the 

 a\'erage cost will be reduced. Another feature which a good many 

 people have overlooked is the fact that it is an organization for the 

 benefit of both manufacturers and wholesalers. 



The principal benefits to be derived from this organization ai-e so 

 evident, and so numerous that a good many pages could be written 

 about it, but for the benefit of those interested, they will be able 

 to get this information in a concise form by writing to Secretary 

 E. H. Klann at the executive offices, 819 Fisher building, Chicago, for 

 his leaflet entitled "What is It." This shows you just wherein the 

 Lumber Sales Managers' Association can help you as a sales man- 

 ager, and it is surely a worthy cause and should be well supported. 



Lumber Fire Losses 



The Lumbermen 's Underwriting Alliance in its monthly bulletin 

 states that the lumber property losses in the United States and 

 Canada during March, 1912, were .$673,.500, and in April $760,000. 

 The Alliance makes numerous suggestions towards additional safe- 

 oTiards to prevent fires, and especially cautions operators in the 

 flooded district that the receding water will leave much debris which 

 will dry out quickly as the heat increases and rains cease. It says 

 every effort should be made to get rid of this rubbish as soon as the 

 ground becomes dry enough to permit its removal. Strong winds 

 frequently preiail until the middle of June, and gi-ave danger will 

 exist of sparks being carried into this combustible trash, and in turn 

 from fires thus started, into mills or lumber yards. 



