HARDWOOD RECORD 



21 



Skiddoo. 



By Van B. Perbixe. 



1£ you were clown to Atlautie City about May twenty-three. 



The date "skiddoo" applied to rules — the old ones you will see. 



If you went down there intending to do what you could do 



To help fix up inspection rules and see that they went through, 



You were mighty glad to notice that most of them down there 



Were very earnest and tried their hest to make 'em fair and square. 



This, of course, was the National meet, the .lobbing men and all, 

 Including the fellow who cut the logs, with profits mighty small, 

 AVho had to buy his timber while 'twas standing on the stumi). 

 The cash right down for every piece, no matter how big the lump. 

 Who put his money in the same, whei'e for several months it stays. 

 And then he sells to the other chap on terms of "sixty days" — 



This is an old trade custom, established years ago. 



But like a lot of other things must sooner or later go — 



The millman once could stand it, when the timber didn't cost. 



But now sometimes his profits go — in this discount — if it's lost- 



lieeause it doesn't matter how much he happens to own. 



He always has to borrow the cash and pay interest on the loan. 



Does any millman figure? Does he keep it so he knows? 

 Just how much this interest costs, how mighty big it grows? 

 Does he keep the discount item ? And add it to the same ? 

 When he figures up at invoice time, his profits in the game — 

 Because it's quite important, and should be added to the price ; 

 All the buyers want one per cent, when multiplied just twice. 



But getting back to the inspection, it seems there's now a show 



To figure out a set of rules that everywhere will go, 



That will suit the manufacturer and please the jobber too. 



Suit the wholesale dealer and the yardman through and through, 

 And suit the fellow who cuts it up, in furniture or in trim. 

 The differences now, as all can see, are getting mighty slim. 



It doesn't make much difference about the inspection rules, 

 Or whether the man who buys the stock about the discount fools; 

 The fellow who cuts it out, you know, should figure on his cost 

 And make a price to cover things, so discount won't be lost. 

 Se the sooner we get together and make all miles the same. 

 The hotter it'll be for everyone who's playing at the game. 



If you belong to either faction, or association we will say. 



Both the Manufacturer and the National man should pray 



That they will come together and fix their troubles quick. 



A lot of different inspection rules is making the buyer sick. 



He's got to have our lumber, and we've got to have his trade. 



So let's fix up the same set of rules, and call them any old grade. 



While the man who buys the lumber wants it then and there. 



He won't cai-e much about the rules, if only they're fair and square. 



So he knows what he's a-doing when he sends his orders out. 



And can figure on what grade he'll get, or figure thereabout. 



So, then, let's get together. Manufacturer and National man : 



If we let old pride skiddoo outside, no doubt but that we can. 



.Just think the matter over and see what can be done 



To figure out a good way, so things will smoothly run, 



So one don't cuss the other if he isn't on his side. 



And don't give up without hard work till everything's been tried. 



Because just now I figure (if what 1 hear is true) 



The only way to fix things up is to say to pride — "Skiddoo !" 



NeWs Miscellany. 



Announcement. 

 Dr, Herman von Schrenck of the Missouri Bo- 

 tanical Gardens, St. Louis, announces under 

 date of July 1 that for the purpose of estab- 

 lishing a technical laboratory and consulting 

 office devoted to the prosecution of investigations 

 into the uses of timber, he has resigned his 

 position as pathologist in charge of investiga- 

 tions of timber diseases and methods for prevent- 

 ing them in the United States Department of 

 Agriculture. Believing that such investigations 

 can be more effectively carried on by direct 

 aUiliation with the actual users of timber in its 

 various forms, he has opened an ofltce and labo- 

 ratory at Tower Grove and Flad avenues. St. 

 Louis, and become associated with E. B. Fulks 

 and A. L. Kammerer, who for several years have 

 been conducting timber preserving experiments 

 for various railway companies. The office and 

 laboratory is prepared to carr.v on investigations 

 and make reports on all problems dealing with 

 the best methods for handling and utilizing tim- 

 bers : 'the closer adaptation of the qualities of 

 any and all kinds of wood to special uses will 

 be looked into : determination as to the character 

 and value of various preservative processes for 

 increasing the length of life of timbers will be 

 made. The office will be .prepared to make re- 

 ports on problems dealing with logging methods, 

 the manufacture of lumber in its various phases, 

 dry kiln operations, wood waste utilization, pa- 

 per pulp industry, the manufacture of special 

 articles, the seasoning and preservation of timber 

 in its various forms, such as ties, telephone 

 poles, mine props, posts, etc., the adaptation of 

 various timbers for building purposes, and prob- 

 lems relating to railway track and bridge con- 

 struction. In addition to these general prob- 

 lems of wood utilization, arrangements have been 

 made with a prominent firm of consulting forest 

 engineers to handle all problems dealing with 

 the planting and management of timber lands. 

 It is the aim of the office to stand ready to 

 advise users of wood concerning all phases of 

 forest operation and timber utilization, to the 

 end that the longest and most efficient service 

 may be obtained therefrom. 



Witli the increasing scarcity of timber and its 

 increasing cost it is becoming necessary to use 

 improved methods of handling in order to ob- 

 tain the greatest benefit therefrom, and it is 

 believed that a technical office of this kind will 

 appeal to all users of timber. Because of Dr. 

 von Schrenck's past experience in charge of such 

 a work for the United States Department of Ag- 

 riculture, covering a period of ten years, and be- 

 cause of numerous connections with those inter- 

 ested in timber preserving and timber utilization 

 problems, both in this country and abroad, he 

 believes that he can call attention to the work 

 to be carried on with considerable assurance. 



Ottawa 'Valley Lvunber. 



This year's lumber cut in the Ottawa valley 

 is going to be one of the largest on record. 

 The lakes, rivers and brooks are full of water, 

 and logs are coming down the Ottawa river in 

 fine shape. Most of the mills are putting on 

 extra gangs of laborers and some of them are 

 running night and day. The demand for lum- 

 ber from this region has been much in advance 

 of the supply of late, and mills are being 

 crowded to turn out every foot of marketable 

 product that their machinery can take care of. 



Stocks of high-grade lumber at mining 

 points have 'been practically exhausted for 

 some time in meeting foreign demand, and 

 dealers are compelled to take up almost any- 

 thing they can secure for local consumption, 

 the high-class stock being retained tor the 

 export trade. Thousands of logs were held 

 up in the upper reaches of the Ottawa and 

 tributary streams all last year, on account of 

 low water, but they are now coming down 

 along with last winter's cut. The river during 

 WOG was much below its average depth, while 

 it is now far above the usual stage. 



Kelley & Co., Chicago, in a like capacity, have, 

 with W. M. Deffenbaugh, purchased the sawmill 

 and timber holdings of the firm of Deffenbaugh 

 & Berry, located near Ezra. Miss. As Mr. Def- 

 fenbaugh is from Springfield, 111., and the Le- 

 Crone brothers from Springfield, 0., they have 

 called their concern the Springfield Lumber Com- 

 pany, and on account of the number of fine holly 

 trees surrounding their plant, they have chris- 

 tened the place "Holly Park." 



The company is exporting holly logs and since 

 purchasing the plant have added a dimension 

 mill which will be used in cutting cull stock into 

 dimension stuff. Last week they closed a deal 

 for an additional 5,000.000 feet of timber con- 

 sisting of choice red and white oak, red gum. 

 cypress and ash. They also have options on 

 several more tracts which they expect to close 

 up in the near future. This puts them in excel- 

 lent shape to take care of their trade for some 

 time, and in addition they control the output of 

 several other hardwood mills. Mr. Deffenbaugh 

 has charge of the mill and logging operations, 

 F. B. LeCrone of the office and commissary, 

 while C. E. LeCrone looks after the financial 

 end of the business and the output of their other 

 mills. 



Ne'w Mississippi Enterprise. 



C. E. LeCrone. who for a number of years was 

 connected with the Advance Lumber Company of 

 Cleveland as southern representative, and his 

 brother, F. B. LeCrone, formerly with W. E. 



Death of 'WilUam H. Perry. 



William H. Perry of Cincinnati died July 1 

 of Bright's disease, after an illness of over a 

 year. While his health has been failing stead- 

 ily for many months. Mr. Perry continued in 

 active business until Friday, when he took to 

 his bed. He was president and director of the 

 W. H. Perry Lumber Company and assistant 

 general superintendent of the Baldwin Com- 

 pany. 



Mr. Perry was a native of southern Ohio. 

 He leaves a widow and two sons. Dr. Frank 

 Perry and Dr. Ed. Perry of Indiana. During the 

 exposition at St. Louis Mr. Perry was appointed 

 a member of the commission of awards in the 

 lumber exhibits, and after the completion of the 

 work of that body it was said that he was the 

 best informed man on the commission. 



Mr. Perry will be sincerely mourned by a large 

 circle of friends, who appreciated his many 

 sterling qualities, and particularly by his associ- 

 ates in the lumber trade. 



