22 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



sented will now go before the Interstate Commerce Commission 

 for adjiulieation. A good deal of evidence was presented on the 

 I)art 'of sundry railroads, showing why they are entitled to higher 

 rates and commercial bodies have presented equal or more forcible 

 evidence that the lailroads arc getting as high freight rates as they 

 are ejititlfid to. 



Thfrc is one point in this claim of the railroads in advancing 

 freight rates that has apparently been overlooked in the general 

 discussion of the subject, and that is that during the entire 

 history of railroad building and operations throughout the United 

 States, freight rates have gradually been diminished, but in no 

 case have they generally been raised. While since 1897 prices. 

 wages and taxes have been gently rising, railroad rates have re- 

 mained almost stationary. The average freight rate per ton per 

 mile in i897 was 7.98 mills; in 1900 is was 7.29 mills, and in 1909 

 it was 7.03 mills. 



The Maple Situation 



Never since maple lumber became a general manufactured prod- 

 uct have stocks of this wood been so low as at the present time. 

 There is absolutely a dirth in first hands -of the very desirable 

 and much-called for thiclc stock and everything save No. 3 in 

 incli is almost equally short. Buyers are now seeking to make 

 advance contracts for thick maple for as prompt delivery as pos- 

 sible, and quite a number of the flooring manufacturers are caught 

 short of inch to take care of their manufacturing requirements. 



There is a manifest increase in maple flooring demand incident 

 to the building of a half dozen new and livrge flooring plants, 

 and this means an increased demand for inch maple for ne.xt year 

 of forty to fifty million feet. 



Doubtless there will be an increased production in maple lum- 

 lier during the coming winter, and even if such an increase is 

 considerable, a market for the stock is assured .in advance. Mapla 

 is surely coming into its own. 



The maple situation as evidenced by the facts would warrant 

 the belief that both maple lumber and maple flooring will wit- 

 ness a considerable advance in price before there is any consid- 

 erable quantity of additional stock to market. 



The Timber Fire Losses 



The daily press grows very emotional over timlier fires and 

 their reports of losses of this character are usually very much 

 overdrawn. However, unless the general report of forest fires 

 is more than usually unreliable, the summer of 1910 will leave 

 a conspicuous evil record of irreparable damage done. Even the 

 known losses are appalling. 



Early in the season great dryness started the mischief and 

 throughout some of the choicest timber regions of the northwest 

 the flames have been raging almost contiuuousl3' for more than a 

 month. Timber fire losses in Wisconsin and Michigan are very 

 considerable and it is reported on trustworthy authority that if 

 every fire in the country had been extingnished a month ago and 

 110 other should prevail during the rest of the season, the summer 

 •would go down in history as the costliest that lumbermen have 

 ever known. The Portland Oregonian at the end of July esti- 

 mated the total loss in timber and property up to that time in 

 British Cidunibia, Idaho. Washington and northern California at 

 ;{;100,000,000 or double the usual annual fire toll. Since that time 

 enormous losses have been sustained in Montana. 



Early in .\ugust, on telegraphic request from the Western Pine 

 Manufacturers' Association and the Western Forestry and Con- 

 servation Association, President Taft issued orders directing com- 

 manding officers of army posts, upon application by the Forest 

 Service, to lend every assistance possible in the suppression of 

 fires. By August 13, some two thousand men in the employ of 

 the Service were being assisted along the fire-fighting lines by 

 sixteen companies of soldiers where the worst fires were blazing. 



Recent rains have practically extinguished the great forest fires 



in the Northwest, and it is hoped that many years will elapse 

 before another such calamity overtakes the timber growth of this 

 region. 



The expense of fighting fires is large and it is estimated that 

 $15,000 a day was spent for some time in defending the national 

 forests against these, fires. 



American Forestry states that fire is not a mysterious enemy. 

 and that by proper means it can be met and conquered^ and 

 largely held back from the invasion of the forest. The best 

 methods of prevention are known and effectual. The weakness 

 in the situation is lack of men and money for adequate protec- 

 tion. This publication says that surely the national forests ought 

 not to be exposed to such losses bj' a penurious policy which leaves 

 a mere handful of men to patrol and protect the large areas 

 that are repeatedly placed in danger. Not to speak of economic 

 waste, duty to the public, respect for the good name of the na- 

 tion, require that Congress, without further delay or argument, 

 should appropriate funds enough to keep the national forests at 

 all times fuHv manned. 



Mixing Grades 



O. B. Bannister, secretary of the Wheel Club of Muncie, Ind., 

 forcefully epitorm/.es the mixed grade proposition in the following 

 words: 



"You can not legislate men honest. The negro never 

 was 'colored.' He was born that way, and mix him as 

 much as you can. he is still negro. 



"Having established standard grading rules, which are 

 capable of being thoroughly understood, the honest ship- 

 per grades his lumber by the rules. The dishonest man 

 understands the rules Just as well as the honest man. and 

 possibly better, but trading upon the credulity of his 

 buyer, he puts twenty-five per cent of No. 1 common into 

 his firsts and seconds, and calls them first and seconds. 

 Are they? Certainly not, and the man that sells them as 

 such is simply following his natural bent. He was born 

 that way: and like the man that colors his mustache he 

 deceives only himself. 



"What is the remedy? Is it not contained in President 

 Carrier's suggestion, 'to have the Shipping Inspector mark 

 the board for size and grade?' At least, this would help 

 it. It would, if you could use a mark that was non- 

 erasable and non -changeable. 



"The man that mixes the grades knowingly, and that 

 undertakes to pass them for what they are not, does so 

 for but one purpose, and that is to deceive. If it is 

 necessary to resort to deception to succeed, throw away 

 your rules. 



"I could extend upon this subject indefinitely, without 

 expressing my views any more forcibly." 



The above is an excerpt from a letter by Mr. Bannister to K. M. 

 Carrier, president of the Hardwood Manufacturers' Association of 

 the Fnited States, commending that organization's stand on this 

 subject. 



Mr. Bannister i.s not alone in his opinion, as it is seconded by 

 many other leading organizations who are large buyers of hardwood 

 lumber. These commendations come from the Central Bureau of Ex- 

 tension Table Manufacturers, the National Wagon Manufacturers' 

 Association, the National Association of Box Manufacturers, the 

 National Hickory Association and the Queen City Furniture Club. 



The Hoo-Hoo Annual 



Lasi; week tlie hosts of Hoo-Hoo gathered in annual conven- 

 tion at San Francisco. The attendance was made up very largely 

 from the Pacific coast as but few Hoo-Hoo of the Middle West 

 and East regarded the convention cf sufl3cie7it importance to 

 warrant the time :ind expense necessary to cover it. 



Scrivenoter Baird in his annual message reported that the re- 

 ceipts of the order during the last fiscal year, including a bal- 

 ance of $10,758.06 over from last year, amounted to $39,619.15. 

 The disbursements of the year amounted to approximately $29,000, 

 leaving a balance on hand of about $10,000. 



Mr. Baird reported that the Hoo-Hoo death emergency fund 

 recently planned had contributions amounting to .$2,700. He be- 

 lieves that it will be a success. 



He reported 185 reinstatements of members whose dues had 

 elaj)sed. 



The Scrivenoter reports S2 concatenations held during the fiscal 



