HARDWOOD RECORD 



31 



voluminous nature of the report on proposed changes really made 

 the proposition look so imposing that the National people were 

 afraid to commit themselves by accepting it. 



Bruce Odell, chairman of the market conditions comiAittee, then 

 read his report as follows: 



Report of Market Conditions Committee 



Your committee finds its task both an easy and a pleasant one at this 

 time as figures spealj plainer than words and we have thought best to 

 let the figures in your secretary's stock report do most of the talking. 



The information contained in tour pages of this report (the loth. 16th. 

 17th and ISthi is sufficient to convince both manufacturers and consumers 

 that without exception conditions as regards northern hardwoods arc 

 exceptionally good. They are good from the standpoint of both consumer 

 and manufacturer. There is sufficient stock of each variety of northern 

 hardwood to be had at reasonable prices, to meet the requirements of 

 the consumer, and the manufacturer is not confronted with large surplus 

 stocks that he will have to sacrifice. 



The fifteenth page gives the total stocks of all hardwoods, showing 

 whether located for rail or water shipment. It also shows the amount 

 sold and the amount unsold. The sixteenth page gives a comparison of 

 the stocks for the years 1009 to 1012, inclusive, showing the total 

 stock on hand, the amount sold, and the amount unsold. This page, in 

 the judgment of your committee, tells about the whole story and tells it 

 well. While the total stock of all hardwoods is slightly larger than that 

 of any of the three years previous, the amounts sold are much larger 

 and the amounts unsold much smaller than in any of the three previous 

 years, which indicates that more hardwoods are being consumed now and 

 that there is a good healthy demand for all of them. Beech and birch 

 are in lightest supply .and strongest demand and if there is a shortage 

 anywhere it is in these two woods. 



The seventeenth page goes more into detail, having separated the 

 No. 2 common and better from the No. 3 common. From this sheet you 

 will note a steady increase in the amount of stock on hand in No. 2 

 common and better maple, but it can not be shown that there is a surplus 

 as there is very little old stock on hand and the amount unsold is less 

 than it has been on July 1 of any year since 1907. While there is more 

 stock on hand, more is being consumed as is shown by the comparatively 

 small amount remaining unsold. The maple flooring business, the largest 

 consumer of maple lumber, from the standpoint of prices is in a very 

 unsatisfactory condition, but from the standpoint of volume of consump- 

 tion and the amount of business booked for future shipment the outlook 

 is brighter than for several years, and many maple flooring manufac- 

 turers are holding for higher prices with many indications that they will 

 secure at least a part of the advance necessary to make their business 

 a profitable one. 



Page eighteen is devoted exclusively to Xo. 3 common hardwoods, 

 being a comparison for six years. If any of you doubt the value of 

 these statistics just a little time and study of this page should convince 

 you. It speaks eloquently of the tragedies of overstock in the years 

 190S, 1910 and 1911. and it tells just as plainly what our duty is today. 

 With a lighter stock than any July 1 since 1007, with one exception, .and 

 with less than halt the average stock unsold, no one should hesitate to 

 ask the price for No. 3 common that it should bring with every assurance 

 that he will get the price it he holds for it. 



Your committee has not thought best to recommend or submit for your 

 consideration a new list of prices, but the reports of members show that 

 many are obtaining higher prices for several items, notably thick high- 

 grade maple, beech in nearly all grades, and the higher grades of birch. 

 This is especially true when the higher grades are sold separately from 

 the other grades, as many manufacturers believe, and we think correctly, 

 that if the customer wants firsts and seconds only or high-grade common 

 and better, and is unwilling to take the lower grades, he should pay at 

 least SlOO per M more than if he took the stock log run on grade prices. 



Owing to the general strength shown in market conditions manufac- 

 turers should be slow to take on large contracts for future shipment 

 except at good prices, for the reason that higher prices may be 

 reasonably expected later on unless some unforeseen condition should 

 develop that would seriously change general business conditions. 



D. H. Day, chairman of the grading rules committee, was pre- 

 ceded in delivering his report by further remarks by E. S. Kellogg 

 who again asked for co operation on the part of Michigan manufac- 

 turers, stating that all Wisconsin concerns feel the need of some 

 kind of changes in grading rules on hardwood but that they are 

 not certain which changes would be the wisest. 



Following his report, ilr. Day made a motion that was seconded 

 and carried that the inspection committees of the two northern 

 associations hold a joint meeting at as early a date as possible to 

 go thoroughly into every phase of the proposed changes in rules 

 with instructions to report at the October meetings of both the 

 associations. Prior to the adoption of this resolution, various 

 members talked on the question bringing out the fact that 

 legislation of value to lumber is not possible in all cases. One 



member ileplored the tendency to work logs into small stuff and 

 suggested that a premium should be placed on long, wide boards 

 by the adoption of such rules as would lead the sawmill men in 

 this direction. 



E. S. Kellogg then told of the publicity campaign as recently 

 adopted by the Northern Hemlock and Hardwood Manufacturers' 

 Association, the plan of which is outlined elsewhere in this issue 

 of Haedwood Eecord in the report of the meeting of that associa- 

 tion. Mr. Kellogg suggested the advantage cf combining the 

 two associations for the purpose and his suggestion was heartily 

 received. President Bigelow suggested that the matter be referred 

 to the market conditions committee with instructions to report 

 at the fall meeting. 



President Bigelow then appointed a nominating committee as 

 follows: N. M. Langdon, O. S. Hawes, J. C. Eoss, F. A. Diggins, 

 W. C. Hull. 



Upon the retirement of the nominating committee, H. C. Hickok 

 reported on the work done by the Forest Fire Protective Depart- 

 ment of the association. 



In answering questions of the association members, Mr. Hickok 

 stated that he found it extremely difficult to adequately cover the 

 large area embraced in the department membership. He suggested 

 that the use of an automobile would be a great asset to him in 

 his work. Mr. Hickok 's efforts were warmly approved by various 

 members who have had the opportunity to observe just what he is 

 doing in the woods. An assessment of two cents per acre was 

 voted to continue the Forest Protective Department during the 

 coming year. 



The nominating committee then suggested the following officers 

 for the ensuing year, all of whom were unanimously elected. 



President — F. L. Richardson, Alpena. 



FiKST ViCE-rEESiDEXT — C. A. Bigelow, Bay City. 



Second Vice-Peesidext — D. H. Da.v, Glen Haven. 



The present board of directors will continue in office. 



T. W. Hanson, following the line of thought as opened by Fire 

 Warden Hickok 's report, suggested that a motion would be in 

 order instructing the railroad committee to take up the matter of 

 getting the railroads in the state of Michigan to install proper 

 screens in their locomotives, to comply with the state laws. The 

 motion was supported and carried. Various types of screens were 

 then exhibited and explained by Mr. Hickok. 



A rising vote of thanks to Betiring President C. A. Bigelow for 

 his work during the past three years was the final business before 

 adjournment. 



During the meeting it was learned that Bruce Odell had received 

 word of the death of his mother and the esteem and affection with 

 which he is regarded by the membership were manifest by the 

 man}- expressions of regret which were evident. 



Gulf Port Lumber Shipments 



Official statistics of the exports of lumber from southern porta 

 show that New Orleans, Mobile, Pensacola and Gulfport, despite the 

 numerous difficulties which have retarded shipments from the Gulf 

 coast during the greater part of the 3'ear closing June 30, handled 

 almost half the total. New Orleans jumped from fourth to third 

 place in the exportation of lumber, Gulfport retained first place, 

 while Pensacola advanced from third to second. Mobile dropped 

 from second to fourth place. 



Taking the total figures, the comparison is a favorable one for the 

 export trade. The grand total for the year was valued at $96,782,186, 

 as compared with $92,225,951 for the preceding year. The four 

 principal Gulf ports around which centers the greatest interest — 

 New Orleans, Mobile, Gulfport and Pensacola — taken collectively, 

 show a reverse. Gulfport and Mobile show a considerable decrease, 

 while New Orleans and Pensacola show increases. 



New Orleans, individually, while showing a falling off in staves 

 and log shipments, still holds first place in these specific exports. 

 The port handled substantially more than half the entire stave 

 exports for the year. 



