THE WAR AND THE LUMBER INDUSTRY ' 



Bv R. C. Brvaxt 

 Professor of Lninberiiig, Yale Forest School 



The entrance of the United States into the European war brought 

 the himber industry of this country into prominence because one of its 

 chief products — knnber — was found to be indispensable to the success- 

 ful carrying out of the war program, both of ourselves and our Allies. 



It may be of interest, therefore, to review briefly the general con- 

 ditions which prevailed in the lumber industry previous to our entrance 

 into the war, the manner in which the industry has responded to the 

 demands made upon it during the last eighteen months, and to point 

 out some of the weaknesses in organization which became evident as 

 the war progressed. 



The year 191 3 opened with great promise for the lumber trade, 

 because during the previous year business had been good and a large 

 number of orders were carried over into 191 3 by many of the mills. 

 The demand for all classes of building material had been strong during 

 the latter part of 191 2. and there appeared to be every indication that 

 the industry would have a prosperous year. By April, however, trade 

 began to slacken, due to reduced railroad buying and to curtailment in 

 building, which was caused by a tightening of the money market. There 

 were few encouraging features developed in the lumber demand during 

 the latter part of 191 3, because of general uncertainty in the business 

 w^orld. There w-as a gradual decline in the price of lumber, beginning 

 in the spring and continuing throughout the year, and buying was for 

 the purpose of filling immediate needs only. 



The chief factors causing the depressed condition in the lumber trade 

 appeared to be the uncertainties brought about by tariff, industrial and 

 financial legislation, the Balkan and Mexican troubles, and a partial 

 crop failure in some sections, due to a period of extreme drought. 



The year 1914 was looked forward to with optimism, but it proved 

 to be one of slow business and small profits for the industry, due to 

 the uncertainty which existed in the general business world and, later 

 in the year, to the outbreak of the European war. On the whole, the 



' Delivered before the Society of American Foresters at its annual meeting, 

 at Baltimore, Aid.. December 27, 1918. 



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