HARDWOOD RECORD 



29 



also the time and various degrees of heat nec- 

 essary to be applied for dry-kilning. 



It may be noted that the John Schrooder 

 Lumber Company of Milwaukee, Wis., has 

 employed the Kraetzer method of handling 

 its green maple, preliminary to the manufac- 

 ture of flooring, for about five years. Green 

 maple under this system, as practised by the 

 .Milwaukee company, goes to the flooring nia- 

 rhines within three days after the lumber 

 is placed in the steaming c}'linder, and this 

 result is attained In a slow drying kiln. 



Originally, Mr. Kraetzer made these experi- 

 ments simply for his own work in producing 

 interior finish and cabinet work, but tlicre has 

 been so much interest manifested by sundry 

 leading manufacturers in improving their 

 methods of lumber curing and seasoning that 

 he is now organizing a company which will 

 take over his patents and process and market 

 them to the lumber maniifacturing and reman- 

 ufacturing trade. The steaming cylinders 

 will be manufactured at the Chicago plant of 

 the Allis-Chalmers Company of Milwaukee. 

 Illustrated matter and complete engineering 

 plans will be ready for distribution within a 

 few weeks. 



Incidentally, it may be mentioned that this 

 process of curing lumber is an extremely 

 economical one. The live steam required for 

 the steaming of wood is so very little that it 

 requires no extra boiler capacity than that 

 employed in the ordinary sawmill or factory. 

 As a matter of fact, Mr. Kraetzer uses only 

 a sixty horse-power boiler for his factory and 

 for his steam cylinder. Therefore, the extra 

 cost of steaming lumber is reduced simply to 

 the interest on the investment of practically 

 an indestructible" and very simple steam cylin- 

 der, closed by patented steam-tight door that 

 works as easily and quickly as a sliding barn 

 door. The expense attached to the dry-kiln, 

 if one chooses to kiln-dry rather than air- 

 dry stock, is a matter of individual judgment. 

 Kilns in present use are adaptable to kiln- 

 drying of steamed lumber with very slight 

 modifications. 



Undeniably, the superficial steaming of lum- 

 ber materially assists in the quickness with 

 which it can be seasoned, but saj' what you 

 please about steaming lumber without pr^- 

 sure, it still is superficial steaming, and while 

 it may break up the cellular structure of the 



wood on the outer surface, it certainly does 

 not go to the heart of the piece and break up 

 the cells uniformly throughout its entire ai- 

 mension. 



The Kraetzer cured lumber process looks 

 to the solving of all the seasoning troubles 

 that have perplexed the lumber trade in the 

 past. The system surely appeals to common- 

 sense. While, scientifically, one knows little 

 about it, it is certain that the result of steam- 

 ing lumber under pressure simply means the 

 breaking up of the cellular structure of the 

 wood, releasing the contents of the wood cells 

 and putting the lumber in the best possible 

 condition, either for air-drying or kiln-drying. 



Sundry specimens of wood seasoned by the 

 Kraetzer process are on exhibition in the oflnce 

 of Hakdwood Eecokd, and can be seen by 

 anyone interested. Perhaps what will appeal 

 most strongly to lumber manufacturers ..con- 

 templating employing this process will be that 

 the total cost involved in steaming and drying 

 under the Kraetzer-cured system, will lessen 

 rather than increase the present kiln-drying 

 or yardage expense as ordinarily practiced. 



Annual JMi^^iSfon HardWood Manufacturers' Assn. 



The fifth annual meeting of the Michigan 

 Hardwood Manufacturers' Association was 

 held at the Ponchartraiu Hotel, Detroit, Fri- 

 day, August 5. 



President Bigelow presided and Secretary 

 Knox recorded. 



At the opening of the meeting the presi- 

 dent made a brief address stating that lum- 

 ber conditions needed little bolstering and 

 that the association was in most excellent 

 shape. 



The roll call developed the presence of some 

 forty members. 



The minutes of the last meeting were read 

 and accepted. 



The secretary then presented his report as 

 follows : 



Secretary's Keport 



The Michigan Hardwood Manufacturers' Asso- 

 ciation was organized at Ottawa Beach, July 13- 

 14, 1906 ; therefore this is our lifth annual meet- 

 ing and we are pleased to welcome you here to- 

 day. 



The success of this association actually depends 

 upon your co-operation and we will have some- 

 thing to say upon that subject a little later. 

 You have received benefit of reports issued from 

 this office from time to time, but to get the real 

 good of your membership your presence is re- 

 quired at these meetiugs held every quarter, for 

 then you get in touch with other manufacturers 

 and oftentimes get information that is invaluable 

 to you in your business and which you could 

 ol>tain in no other way. 



The freight rates have not been advanced, but 

 you know full well the intention of the carriers 

 to obtain more revenue for their service and un- 

 less the shippers advance strong arguments to 

 the Interstate Commerce Commission the pro- 

 posed advances will be put into effect November 

 1 next. 



You are particularly interested in lumber and 

 its products and Ivnow in many cases an advance 

 in rates would incur hardsbip either on the ship- 

 V'Cr or consumer. Then again if the rates are 

 to be advanced the same differences as at present 



CHAS. A. BIGKLOW, PRESIDENT, B.\Y CITY. 

 MICH. 



between locations should be maintained. This is 

 a diiflcult thing to do and was not done in the 

 case of one prominent carrier who cut off the 

 old Michigan lumber rates, advancing the local 

 larills on lumber and class rates to Central 

 Freight Association points, effective August 1, 

 while the other Michigan carriers advanced their 

 class rates but maintained their present lumber 

 rates for the present ; stating, however, that they 

 intended later to advance their lumber rates, but 

 could not say as to the new basis. Finding the 

 carrier referred to was going to insist upon main- 

 liiining the higher rates on lumber after August 

 1, this association, in behalf of the members lo- 

 lated on and tributary to line of said railroad, 

 made complaint to the Michigan Railroad Commis- 

 sion, and was assured by the latter that the ad- 

 vanced lumlier rates, so far as state business 

 was concei-ned, would not be accepted and the 



.slate commission also had assurance from the 

 interstate Commerce Commission that the rates 

 10 Central Freight Association and Trunk Line 

 territories would also be thoroughly examined 

 liefore being accepted. The carrielfc later realiz- 

 ing that public sentiment was against them, 

 and after coniertnce with the Interstate Com- 

 merce Commission, withdrew the date effective 

 for the advanced rates until November 1. The 

 i|uestion, however, is up to the shippers and re- 

 civci's of freight to importune the Interstate 

 Commerce Commission for rates not higher than 

 those in ettect at the present time. 



One prominent carrier has also refused to ab- 

 sorb switching charges unless compelled to in 

 competition with other carriers, thus putting 

 hardship on shippers located at strictly local 

 points on this line. The attention of carriers 

 has been called to this subject by the State 

 Railroad Commission, hut up to date- the said 

 carrier has done nothing to equalize condi- 

 tions with other Michigan carriers. 



We have endeavored to locate stock of lumber 

 for members and non-members : how successful 

 that has been you must be the judge. 



Y'ou may wonder why it takes so long to dis- 

 pose of the Pacific coast case, but as you know 

 there are so many cases ahead of this Attorney 

 Percy will not have an opportunity to present 

 oral argument in Washington until some time 

 iu October. He is confident, however, of winning 

 the case, and others, even railroad men, say our 

 case looks good to them for our side. A promi- 

 rient lumberman in the South interested in the 

 original case writes as follows : 



"It hardly seems possible that the commis- 

 sion will reverse itself and we feel very confi- 

 dent that your suit will terminate satisfactorily." 



The above is respeetfnliy submitted, 



J. C. Kxox, Secretary. 



The secretary then read the report of the 

 treasurer, which showed that the association 

 had a balance on hand of $2,346.09. The 

 reports of the secretary and treasurer were 

 accepted. 



Chairman Day of the Grading Rules Com- 

 mittee stated that his committee had no re- 



