THE WAR AND THE LUMBER INDUSTRY 133 



which they termed "side-cut," that could not be marketed. They there- 

 fore asked the Government to extend aid to them in moving this ma- 

 terial in order that they might continue to produce the lumber required 

 by the United States and the Allies. 



On investigation of the current statistics furnished by many of the 

 mills concerned it was found that in many cases shipments had been in 

 excess of production, and that as a whole the mill records did not show 

 an accumulation, but rather in some cases the stocks on hand had de- 

 creased as compared to the year 19 17. Discrepancies also were detected 

 in dififerent sets of figures for the same mills, so that some doubt was 

 cast over all of the figures presented. 



The operators met the situation first by the statement that the figures 

 were incorrect, although furnished by them. No efiforts were made, 

 however, to furnish so-called accurate data to prove their case ; but, 

 on the contrary, the association refused to furnish other data which 

 might prove their contention. There are indications that the figures 

 did represent the general conditions, and the failure of the association 

 to continue to co-operate in the work after the signing of the armistice 

 has merely added strength to this opinion. The weak point in the 

 whole procedure, from the standpoint of the lumbermen, was that they 

 grasped at one idea only to present at Washington, without previously 

 investigating the situation to see if the facts supported the case. Had 

 a careful study of conditions been made previous to the presentation 

 of the subject, it is doubtful if the issue of large "accumulations" would 

 have been raised. 



The whole situation points to the need of more accurate statistics 

 being collected by lumber-trade associations, both for the use of them- 

 selves and the Government agencies which are interested in lumber as a 

 commodity. While it may be too much to expect that any far-reaching 

 changes may be effected in the near future which will put this work on 

 a sound basis, there is some evidence that lumbermen are taking a 

 greater interest in this phase of association work than they have in the 

 past. 



However, it is not only the lumbermen who are weak on forest eco- 

 nomics. The demands for information along this line from various 

 sources during the past year have been frequent, and unfortunately 

 foresters have been able to meet the requirements only to a minor de- 

 gree. It is one of the weak points in the profession that as yet we have 

 not developed forester-economists who can speak authoritatively on the 

 many vital problems affecting forests and forestry. The profession 

 should contain within its ranks men who are regarded by jurists, econ- 



