28 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



adjusted faii-ly to both tbe shippers and cairii'rs. We must not be un- 

 iiie;asonable in our demands in this matter for while we all know that 

 usually the railroads are pretty well able to take care of themselves, 

 we must not forget that railroads have two things to sell, freight and 

 passenger transportation : that they are as anxious to sell it as we are to 

 sell lumber and that they know they must do business fairly if they are 

 to obtain best results. 



In regard to milHng-in-transit rates, we wish to report that in accord- 

 ance with instructions from your railroad committee at the April meeting 

 we went to Chicago and after conferring with the box shook manufacturers 

 decided that it was as vitally important to the sawmill industry as it 

 was to the shook manufacturers that we have an opportunity to present 

 our case to the Interstate Commerce Commission. We succeeded in 

 having the case re-opened and a hearing was granted us in Louisville, 

 Ky., on July 17. 



Tour railroad committee took the matter up with the board of directors 

 of our association and it was thought best to secure the services of 

 E. L. Ewing of Grand Rapids to represent us at the hearing. , We then 

 tried to interest the members of the association in getting the matter 

 properly before the commission but with very poor results as many of the 

 members did not take interest enough in the matter to even answer the 

 list of questions sent them by Mr. Ewing and would not attend the 

 meeting. Your secretar.v, A. Holt of Oconto: Mr. McCalm of Tomah and 

 I were the only members of our associiition present at the hearing- 

 Mr. Ewing. however, got the principal facts before the commission, will 

 file a brief, and after the opinion is handed down we hope that your 

 railroad committee with Mr. Ewing can arrange a conference with the 

 Carriers TraUlc Committee for our territory and arrive at a basis that 

 will be within the law and still not raise our rates on logs, cull lumber 

 and trimmings. If, however, we do not get what belongs to us we will 

 have to blame no one but ourselves as the matter has not been given 

 proper attention by the individual members of the association. 



The report opened up a general discussion of the merits of tho 

 case in question, W. A. Holt beina one of the most versatile talkers 

 along this line. His remarks on the findings of the commission and 

 its intentions regarding lumber manufacture brought forth a con- 

 siderable volume of applause. He was listened to with the closest 

 attention. 



One of the strongest features brought out in the discussion was 

 the fact that lumber interests arc now suti'ering fiom the neglect 

 of the serious question of transportation as it is brought before 

 the Interstate Commerce Commii^sion. It is pretty generally eon- 

 ceded that the railroads have been alive every minute to the possi- 

 bilities of securing favorable action before the commission by 

 reason of constant and adequate representation, but that the 

 lumber interests have been sadly neglected through the fault of 

 nobody but themselves. 



An interesting question -nas raised by George H. Chapman as to 

 whether or not the shortage of ears would have any influence 

 on the time limit during which the transit privilege could be en- 

 joyed. It is a question which is undoubtedly capable of raising 

 considerable disturbance. 



At the close of the discussion, .\. L. Osborn moved that all mem- 

 bers interested in transit rates, concentration log rates and kindred 

 topics furnish any information they have to the secretary to be 

 compiled by him for use by Attorney Ewing in behalf of the mem- 

 bers who would be benefitted by action in this direction before 

 the Interstate Commerce Commission. The motion was cai^ied 

 after which W. A. Holt moved that the secretary compile figures 

 ■on the relative proportion of log shipments into mill points com- 

 pared with lumber shipments out, these figures to be compiled from 

 actual operations. 



The secretary stated that he would include that information iii 

 the general information submitted to Mr. Ewing. 



Secretary Kellogg read the report of Director M. P. McGullough 

 of the advertising committee, in which it was stated that a 

 plan had been worked out which has met with general approval 

 among the membership. All but four members agreed to pay the 

 assessment of one-half cent a thousand feet of cut necessary to 

 earrj' on the work, and these four are very shortly to cease opera- 

 tions. The plan is to begin advertising hemlock in southern Wis- 

 consin, northern Illinois and Indiana, it being believed that the 

 majority of hemlock is moved into that territory. While it is 

 conceded a considerable market exists elsewhere, this territor}' 

 was selected as having possibilities of the greatest benefit to the 

 largest number of members. Mediums for advertising have al- 



ready been selected and it is planned to start on as extensive a 

 basis as the funds available will permit. 



It was moved and seconded that the report be adopted and 

 subsequent discussion finally resulted in the committee being au- 

 thorized to start the campaign. 



At the meeting of the board of directors following the general 

 session, this body authorized the assessment of one-half cent a 

 thousand feet to carry on the advertising campaign. 



In speaking of insurance W. C. Landon, chairman of the insur- 

 ance committee, expressed considerable doubt as to there being 

 a sufficient field for the formation of an inter-insurance association. 

 He averred one hundred risks would be necessary to start the 

 movement and that it would be difficult to secure this many. He 

 suggested that present mutual companies could very likely take 

 care of the field as they have done good work in securing reduc- 

 tions in rates all along the line. 



Following Mr. Landon 's remarks it was moved ami seconded 

 that the report be accepted and filed, and the committee be dis- 

 charged with thanks. 



W. A. Holt, chairman of the legislative committee, talked prin- 

 cipally on forest protection. He said there is considerable activity 

 on the part of lumber manufacturers and timber holders in the 

 direction of the protection of their propert.y. Two dangers are 

 from fires in the woods on one hand, and improper legislation on 

 the other. The speaker told of a recent meeting at Wausau 

 at which this subject of forest protection was discussed, and of a 

 later meeting at Oshkosh for the same purpose. A decided lack of 

 interest marked both gatherings and it was agreed at the Wausau 

 meeting to send out cards asking for pledges from those willing to 

 join a forest protection association. Seventeen replies were re- 

 ceived from these cards representing a total of 379,931 acres. 

 Adding 128,000 acres represented at the Oshkosh meeting, the total 

 acreage coming under such an association would be 507,931. 



Mr. Holt spoke of the indifference which characterized a number 

 of the answers and said that a great deal of this indifference and 

 inactivity is probably due to lack of understanding. The chief 

 difficulty to be encountered would probably be the fact that the 

 lands listed are very much scattered. Mr. Holt said the Northern 

 Forest Fire Protective Association would undertake protection of 

 the Wisconsin and upper Michigan lands if they were better 

 grouped, but that it w-ould be impossible to efficiently patrol them 

 under present conditions. 



In speaking of the proposed forest fire legislation Mr. Holt 

 stated the state legislature is contemplating an oversight of the 

 lumbermen's real estate with a view of levying a little more in 

 the waj' of taxes and supporting a considerable number of em- 

 ployes at the expense of the lumbermen. The purpose of such 

 legislation would be to protect tlije lumberman's property from fire 

 whether he desired such protection or not. If a fire patrol as pro- 

 posed is put into effect, the taxes will be levied not only on 

 lands which have not been cut-over, but on all wild and unoccupied 

 areas. He said further any action before the legislature looking 

 toward the establishment of proper legislation must be backed 

 up with constructive ideas along new lines which would show that 

 the lumberman is working in the interest of the public at large. 

 He said that such action on the part of some associations or 

 individuals would be necessary to prevent legislation which will 

 ultimately prove a grave burden to the lumberman. He pleaded 

 for increased interest in the matter and increased support in the 

 nature of financial contributions, and the donation of time of the 

 individuals. It was ordered that the report be accepted and 

 filed. 



R, B. Goodman in talking of the labor situation in the North 

 said it has assumed serious proportions. He contended that a 

 possible solution of the difficulty lies in lumbermen adopting the 

 policy of securing the settlement on cut-over land of men with 

 families with the idea of establishing them there in ]>ermanent 

 homes, believing that by this method they will secure a perma- 

 nent type of labor rather than the transient and inefficient type 

 usually imported from the largo cities. 



