W. A. (ilLL'IIKlST. THREE STATES LTJMBEU 



COMPANY. MEMPHIS. TENX., MEMBER 



BOARD OF GOVERXORS. 



A. T. GERRANS, ST. LOUIS CYPRESS COM 



PAXY. LTD.. HOUMA. LA., MEMBER 



BOARD OF GOVERXORS. 



i;i)\VAI!D HIXES. EDWARD HIXES LIMBER 



CO.MPAXY, CHICAGO. MEMBER BOARD 



OF GOVERNORS. 



accomplished the grandest work yet undertaken b.v the Xational. People 

 want to know the facts, are hungr.v for information, and we have, now 

 provided the best means of reaching them. Xo committee will care to 

 undertake a work of this magnitude without the unanimous assurance of 

 this membership that their obligations will be cared for and the further 

 assurance that the whole force of this magnificent organization is behind 

 it. I congratulate the committee on their excellent start and have every 

 confidence in the success of their eflForts. 



Our railroad work has been handicapped by lack of committee organiza- 

 tion, but I am pleased to state we have secured a number of willing 

 workers who will push this work. We have so much to accomplish in 

 legislation governing equipment, freight allowances, actual freight paying 

 weights, master car builder sizes and grades, that co-operation on these 

 lines is essential. 



Our standardization work is a tedious operation, but essentially so. 

 There is no more necessity for a half dozen different thicknesses of 

 ceiling, drop siding, flooring and dimension, when used for the same 

 purpose, than for the railroads returning to the old link and pin couplers 

 or narrow gauge rails. We should have national standards and any other 

 patterns should be charged for. 



Our West Coast and Gulf states are vitally concerned in the Panama 

 Canal tolls, as is every consumer of lumber. So many questions are in- 

 volved th.'it I believe the Xational association can not take issue, but 

 there is a safe, sane solution of these commercial questions so vital to 

 our country's prosperity that I bespeak for this question your careful con- 

 sideration. A readjustment of transportation rates and charges must 

 result on the opening of this great waterway and no false premises should 

 be assumed. We as lumber producers will be drawn more closely together, 

 and the country will be benefited at large, and justly so. We must realize 

 that the country is a unit on its national policies and can not legislate 

 against any one district. 



I am greatly impressed with the dignity of the Xational Chamber of 

 Commerce of the United States and its ultimate results, which was 

 recently formed as the result of conference in Washington. I believe it 

 will mark an epoch in business development as viewed from a federal 

 standpoint. Our lumber interests are given full consideration and will be 

 looked after. 



I wish on this occasion to thank the board and committees of this 

 association for their active, energetic co-operation during the past year. 

 The difficulty of getting together must be apparent to all as we come from 

 the four corners of the United States. The prompt attention to the de- 

 tails of our work and the quick responses to our written requests have 

 made it a pleasure to be associated with such a fine body of men. 



Manager Leonard Bronson of the association presented a very 

 exhaustive report covering the details of the association's work 

 during the last year. Important excerpts from his address follow: 

 Report ot Manager Leonard Bronson 

 Tun Railroad Committek 



It has been a disappointment to President Griggs and everyone con- 

 cerned that the railroad committee was not organized and at work long 

 ago. 



Under the guidance of this committee should be handled such matters 

 as freight classification, including working out, if possible, the vexed 

 problems of lower rates on low grade lumber ; methods and conditions of 

 weighing, and negotiations with the railroad for adoption of weight 

 standards ; car construotion and equipment laws and regulations : inter- 

 state regulations for the handling of logs, etc. This committee, I believe. 



can settle the car stake question to the satisfaction of lumber and 

 other shippers. A number of questions have been submitted by affiliated 

 associations to this committee for consideration. 



Employers' Liaeilitt and Workmen's Compexsatiox 



The law relating to employers' liability and workmen's compensation 

 is in the process of making. Most, if not all. ot the acts on the statute 

 books of the different states are admittedly experimental ; only ten 

 states have adopted such acts in any shape, and in only four of them 

 have the acts been successfully tested in the courts. A special report 

 from our committee on this subject makes it unnecessary for me to 

 dwell upon it at length. 



Statistical Departmext 



Under the administration of President Griggs, the collection of reports 

 regarding stocks on hand, cut and shipments, has been undertaken. At 

 first the number of reports was small, but it has been increased until 

 now the hgures received represent about one-third of the entire lumber 

 product of the United States, or in the neighborhood of fifteen billion to 

 sixteen billion feet. We believe that this statistical work can be enlarged 

 with great profit to the industry. We wish to determine during the 

 coming year the fundamental facts of the business.. 

 Advertising and Pcblicity 



The subject which took the most rime and attracted the most attention 

 at the annual meeting last year, was advertising of wood as against its 

 substitutes. 



The outcome of this discussion was the appointment of a committee 

 on advertising and publicity, consisting of A. T. Gerrans. Houma, La., J. 

 E. Rhodes, St. Paul, Minn., and G. E. W. Lueirmann of St. Louis. Mo. 



Immediately work was begun to secure the support of the associations 

 in this campaign ; contributions being asked on the basis of one cent for 

 each 1,000 feet of lumber produced, it l)eing estimated that if all the 

 affiliated associations joined the levy would produce $125,000 to .$1.50,000 

 a year. But in view of the fact that some associations might not be 

 able or willing to join on this assessment basis it was decided that the 

 campaign should be undertaken when $100,000 had been thus subscribed 

 and at least twenty-five per cent had been paid into the treasury. 



At a meeting of the Board of Governors on Jan. S. 1912, the work of 

 the advertising committee was approved, and authority was given to the 

 committee to proceed with the actual work as soon as the sum of 

 $100,000 was fully pledged. 



Ptblicity 



The working up of the advertising campaign will mean far more than 

 merely buying of space in the publications and filling that space with 

 well prepared copy, and it will mean more than a follow-up campaign, no 

 matter how thorough or ingenious. 



Let all these associations and all these individuals join their In- 

 fluence in demanding of the press fair treatment of the lumber business — 

 not treatment prejudiced in their favor, but let us demand that they 

 shall merely treat us as fairly as they do other lines of business ; that 

 their columns shall be opened to the same kind of news of the lumber 

 business that they are in regard to others : that where the character of 

 It permits they shall handle matters favorable to the lumber business 

 as readily as matter favorable to other lines. In short, to abandon their 

 prejudice against us in favor of at least an impartial attitude. 



We refuse to bribe anyone, we refuse to buy that which should not be 

 sold, but absolutely legitimate publicity may cost something in its 

 handling, and. therefore. I would recommend the establishment of a 

 publicity fund of moderate proportions, but which will be instantly avail- 

 able when needed. 



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