Inadequacies in Grading Rules. 



But these are known to be generally inadequate. The 

 grading systems, altho well developed, are by and large, di- 

 verse, dissimilar and sometimes confusing. Inspection ser- 

 vice is often not available in such manner and upon such 

 terms as to secure the universal maintenance of the pub- 

 lished official grades. A sound or lasting system of lumber 

 distribution can not be built upon a basis which permits ir- 

 regularity, manipulation or substitution either at the saw- 

 mill or in the course of distribution. 



It is apparently generally agreed among practical lum- 

 bermen that grading systems can be simplified and made 

 more intelligible to the ordinary buyer and consumer; that 

 grade names can be made more logical; that variations in 

 size and standards, as between species, can be considerably 

 reduced (altho a single set of uniform size standards for all 

 lumber is wholly impracticable) ; that grades can be marked 

 at small expense on pieces of lumber; and that inspection 

 service can be made available to buyers and sellers when- 

 ever needed to enforce the observance of standard official 

 grades. These things are agreed to be practicable. The 

 only question is whether they are necessary and worth what 

 they would cost. 



The problem of securing to the wood-using public an 

 adequate supply of lumber, with advoidance of unnecessary 

 waste, at reasonable cost, and with suitable guaranties of 

 both quality and quantity is one which the lumber trade it- 

 self should settle. We should not leave it to public or gov- 

 ernmental authority or run any chance of "police" tak- 

 ing any foothold whatever. But until the lumber in- 

 dustry does all that it can reasonably do in that di- 

 rection it can hardly expect the complete measure of 

 confidence of the lumber-consuming public, which it ought 

 to have. Nor will the lumber business be as stable as it 

 ought to be; nor as profitable. 



Efforts Made To Solve Problems. 



The plan of simplification of grades and sizes and en- 

 larged inspection service which the lumber industry has 

 undertaken during the last two years is the effort of the 

 lumber industry to demonstrate its ability to settle its own 



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