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Hemlock and Hardwood Men Meet 



The midsummer meeting of the Northern Hemlock and Hard- 

 wood Manufacturers' Association was eminently successful in 

 every feature. For the first time in the history of the association 

 the meeting was held m the northern peninsula in the pretty 

 town of Houghton, Mich., in the heart of the copper country. 

 fhe location of the meeting place gave those in attendance an 

 opportunity to observe some interesting operations in the copper 

 field. The diflfieulty met by some of the members in getting *o 



Houghton naturally 

 militated to a certair. 

 e.xtent against a large 

 attendance, although 

 there were in excess of 

 forty members present. 

 Every detail looking 

 toward the proper en- 

 tertainment of the vis- 

 iting members, their 

 friends and families 

 was provided for by 

 the local contingent of 

 lumbermen — those of 

 the C. H. Worcester 

 Lumber Company, the 

 Nestor Lumber Com- 

 pany and the Houghton 

 Lumber Company. 

 Cards were issued for 

 the privileges of the 

 attractive Houghton 

 club, and automobile 

 rides, lunches and din- 



ritES. 



E. H. HAMAR, CHASSELL. MICH 

 ners were furnished b}' the hosts. 



The president 's address was the first important business before 

 the convention, which met at '2:30 on July 24. In speaking of 

 business President Haniar said that while conditions are not 

 perfect, there are a great many redeeming features. As one, he 

 mentioned the building record for May, showing figures for one 

 hundred and twenty-three cities, in which all records were broken, 

 a total of one hundred million' dollars being contracted for. Build- 

 ing in general has been far .above the average for the last four 

 months. As a consequence lumber has been moving freel.y, 

 although prices have not been altogether satisfactory, but have 

 been above the normal level prevailing for several years. He 

 enumerated the various favoiable conditions among various in- 

 dustries, such as ijountiful crops, strong steel and copper markets, 

 etc. 



In speaking of the matter of grading, the president stated that 

 the grading committee was instructed at the last meeting to 

 convene jointly with the grading committee of the Michigan Hard- 

 wood Manufacturers' Association to draw up a new set of grading 

 rules for hardwood. This committee met at Detroit for two days 

 and compiled a set of rules, which were presented at the meeting 

 of the National Hardwood Lumber Association at Chicago in 

 June. They were not accepted by that body. 



The speaker maintained that he believed the failure to adopt 

 these rules by the National associafion was due mainly to a mis- 

 conception of their purport and importance. He said that northern 

 hardwood interests should work together with a view to improving 

 grading conditions in hardwoods. 



The question of hemlock grading was also touched upon, Mr. 

 Hamar suggesting that the grading committee meet with the 

 Michigan association and endeavor to formulate a uniform set of 

 hemlock grading rules, which will be satisfactory to both asso 

 ciations and will suit the trade better also. He said there is a 

 great variation in the hemlock grades as now put up. 



—26— 



The speaker touched upon the subjects of advertising and forest 

 protection, stating that these questions would be more fully cov- 

 ered in later reports. 



Mr. Hamar 's opinion of the Michigan emploj'ers ' liabilitj' act, 

 whicli goes into effect September 1, is that taken on the whole 

 it is fair to both employer and employe. He said one weak feature, 

 from the employer's viewpoint, is the heavy compensation for 

 minor accidents. 



On the subject of re-shipments the speaker had to say that at 

 the quarterly meeting of the association held in April, the chair- 

 man of the railway committee was instructed to meet with the 

 box makers before the Interstate Commerce Commission in Chi- 

 cago. The chairman of that committee attended that meeting, 

 which was adjourned to Louisville and held on Jul}- 17. The sub- 

 ject before the commission, according to the speaker, is the present 

 log and lumber rates giving milling-in-transit privilege, con- 

 centration or re-shipping rates, or reconsigning on through ratr" 

 arrangements. E. L. Ewing was employed to represent the asso- 

 ciation. He maintained that the ultimate findings of the commis- 

 sion would determine whether the members will continue to enjoy 

 the privileges of these rates. 



The report of the treasurer showed a balance on hand, Apri! 

 l.j, of $35.14. There was receiA'ed from the secretary, $4,410,80, 

 making a total of .'{4,445,94. Vouchers were paid aggregating- 

 $4,351.49, leaving a balance on hand on June l.'i of $94.45. 



Secretary Kellogg then read his ri'|iort, which follows in part: 



It is a gratifying in- 

 dication ot association 

 usefulness when we can 

 report that, despite the 

 steadily decreasing 

 number of active saw- 

 mills in Wisconsin, the 

 association never has 

 had a larger member- 

 ship than at present. 

 Since the annual meet- 

 ing last January, ten 

 conctrns have joined 

 the association, sis of 

 them being located in 

 upper Michigan. Our 

 membership roll now 

 carries eighty-eight 

 concerns, of which 

 sixty-seven operate in 

 Wisconsin and twenty- 

 one in Michigan. Duo 

 to the relatively larger 

 amount of uncut timber 

 remaining in northern 

 Michigan our oppor- 

 tunities for growth are 

 greater in Michigan 

 than in Wisconsin. 



The small amount of cash on hnnd. indicated by the treasurer's report, 

 does not mean that we are financially cmbarrased. The bills for the 

 third quarter's dues have not been sent out. Association expenses are 

 conducted as economically as possible, and considering the volume of 

 work done, we believe that no association in the country gets a greater 

 return for the amount expended. . The assessment for 1011'. at the rate 

 determined by the board of directors lust Januar.v — two cents a thousand 

 feet upon hemlock and three cents a thousand feet upon hardwoods — 

 will meet all normal expenses this year. The plan to levy an additional 

 one-half cent to be paid during the last two quarters of the year for the 

 purpose of advertising our products has met the practically unanimous 

 approval of the membership. Even at this rate our dues will be much 

 less than those of some other associations. The southern hardwood manu- 

 facturers, for instance, pay five cents a thousand to support their regular 

 association work, while the cypress manufacturers are paying tive cents 

 a thousand for regular work and eleven cents a thousand for advertising, 

 and none of them questions the wisdom of the investment. 



The statistics of stock on hand ,7uly 1. cut and shipments in June, 

 .nud also the comparison of cut and shipments from January 1 to June 3n 

 this year and last, reprinted on the slips which you have, are too Ions 



KELLOGG, WAUSAU, WIS., SECKETARY. 



