22 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



Rather Confusing 



Simultaneously with the appearance of an article in this issue of 

 Hardwood Record, showing the inadequacy of concrete for post 

 construction, there comes to Hardwood Eecord ofBce a printed 

 circular from the Indiana State Board of Forestry which appar- 

 ently takes the opposite view of the case and the tone of which 

 raises quite a little doubt as to whether or not the real principles 

 of conservation are generally speaking understood at all. 



The sentiment of the article in Hardwood Record can be easily 

 ascertained by reference to the story and by a mere glance at the 

 posts therein illustrated. It was written with the specific intention 

 of showing wherein exponents of the various wood substitutes 

 allow their enthusiasm to get the best of their better judgment and 

 thereby bring upon themselves a great deal of misbelief and 

 establish in the public mind a question of whether or not their 

 articles are as good as they claim. 



It is somewhat disconcerting to a lumber trade paper to receive 

 from an association directly connected with the lumber business a 

 statement saying that if concrete posts can be installed in the place 

 of wood posts, they will effect a 

 great saving of our forests and 

 will be more economical to th^ 

 consumer. The notice referreil to 

 is issued by the Indiana State 

 Forestry Board to its members 

 with the request that they sub- 

 mit a report of their experience 

 and knowledge of the use and 

 installation of concrete posts. 



We have no doubt that the In- 

 diana Forestry State Board is in- 

 stigated by a purely unselfish, pub- 

 lic-spirited motive, but we must 

 take issue with it on one or t<vo 

 of the points raised in its circular. 

 The fundamental reason, accord- 

 ing to the statement, for the de- 

 sire to introduce concrete posts, 

 is that it will result in preserving 

 the forest growth, and therein i? 

 where our opinions differ. There 

 is evidently no consideration given 

 to the fact that posts commonly 

 used are made from trees which 

 are of such a period of develop- 

 ment that they can be obtained 



by frequent thinnings of growing stands of timber, made in accord- 

 ance with the fundamental principles of forestry. In attempting to 

 apply conservative forestry to any wooded area a selection of species 

 and intelligent thinnings are required. This would mean that a large 

 number of trees suitable for fence posts could thus be utilized, whereas, 

 were the market filled with concrete posts these trees would go to 

 waste. The statement also maintains that the introduction of con- 

 crete posts would mean the abandonment of the planting of catalpa 

 and locust for post purposes. This is a question of course which has 

 no particular bearing on the question of conservative forestry. 



It is rather staggering to see in an article emanating from a 

 source of this character the confident statement that concrete fence 

 jiosts will soon be in general use. 



The big questions of conservation, it seems, are lost upon the 

 average forestry enthusiast. He evidently cannot conceive of the 

 fact that increased utilization will result in more satisfactory 

 prices for forest products, which in turn will immediately effect a 

 keener interest on the part of lumbermen in the perpetuation of 

 the timber supply. He overlooks the fact that the forests are 

 merely a crop provided by nature to be harvested and that only 

 through their being harvested can they be of any economic benefit 

 to the country. He seemingly has no conception of the fact that 

 the real interests of conservation could best be served by the 



SAND 



Large numbers of people have brilliant 

 qualities; they know a great deal, are well 

 educated, but they lack sand — staying power. 

 They can't stand by a proposition and see it 

 through thick and thin to the end. They lack 

 that bulldog grit which hangs on until they 

 triumph or die. They lack the clinging ability 

 that never lets go, no matter what comes. 

 They work well when things go smoothly; 

 they are fair weather sailors, but are terrified 

 in a storm, paralyzed in an emergency. 

 Staying power is the final test of ability. 



—The Macey Monthly. 



creation and maintenance of a broader field of utilization for forest 

 products. When this is realized the lumberman will be able to 

 market not only the cream of his crop but also that which is poor in 

 quality and which he now either wastes entirely or markets at a 

 loss, depending upon his conception of values. Generally active 

 interest on the part of the lumbermen can be effected only when 

 their market has reached this point of development. 



To Investigate the Labor Problem 



A commission has been created by a recent act of the Senate 

 in passing the Borah bill for the investigation of the relations 

 between capital and labor by the federal government. This com- 

 mission is the direct result of the outrages in Los Angeles in which 

 the McNamara brothers were concerned. It is created to investi- 

 gate general conditions of labor, existing relations between em- 

 ployers and employes; the effect of industrial conditions on public 

 welfare; conditions of sanitation and safety; methods tried in any 

 state or foreign country for maintaining mutually satisfactory 

 relations between employers and employes; methods of avoiding or 

 adjusting labor disputes; the outlying causes of dissatisfaction in 



the industrial situation, and other 

 features which command the im- 

 mediate and serious attention of 

 every citizen interested in the 

 public welfare. 



The commission consists of nine 

 persons to be appointed by the 

 President, three of which will be 

 representatives of capital, three 

 of labor, while there will be one 

 settlement worker, one member 

 of the Senate and one Representa- 

 tive. It will be given extensive 

 powers under which it can hold 

 public hearings, secure the pres- 

 ence of persons or papers, admin- 

 ister oaths, summon and compel 

 the attendance of witnesses and it 

 is further authorized to employ 

 suitable assistance in its efforts. 

 An adequate appropriation is 

 created for the expenses of trav- 

 eling and outside investigation. 



The ultimate success or failure 

 of this effort rests entirely upon 

 the personnel of the committee. 

 If the persons appointed are high- 

 class, eflacient and conscientious, the good results should be prolific. 

 If not, the endeavor to solve these complex social questions wiU 

 probably meet with a flat failure. 



New Orleans a Possible Furniture Center 



The city of New Orleans is unusually well located for the direct 

 importation of mahogany from its various sources of supply. Ttis 

 city manufactures annually a vast amount of mahogany lumber, 

 and a considerable quantity of mahogany veneers. Hence it would 

 appear that furniture and interior finish factories employing 

 mahogany as the raw material could successfully operate in New 

 Orleans, but strange to say few are found there. While the 

 largest manufacturer of mahogany lumber in the world is located 

 at the gulf metropolis, this concern ships practically its entire 

 product to points located in various parts of the world. The 

 amount consumed locally is practically nil, as compared to ship- 

 ments to outside points. Therefore, residents in New Orleans 

 desiring high-grade furniture of mahogany must of necessity see 

 this lumber manufactured at their very door steps, shipped thou- 

 sands of miles to Chicago, Grand Rapids or other furniture man- 

 ufacturing points, and there made into the desired article and 

 reshipped to them. This means, of course, that the ultimate price 



