RESULTS OF OUR FOREST POLICY 335 



LUMBERMEN'S ASSOCIATIONS 



Associations among lumbermen existed at least as early as 1883, 

 and since that time, particularlj'^ since 1897, there has been a remark- 

 able development of association activity. At the present time there is 

 an association representing the producers of almost every kind of 

 wood — yellow pine, white pine, Douglas fir, hemlock, etc. 



These lumbermen's associations and organizations have performed 

 various functions. One function has often been that of trying to give 

 stability to the lumber market in various ways, particularly by issuing 

 price *lists, and by organizing curtailment campaigns. Among the 

 other activities have been the following: 



1. Advertising of lumber products, and demonstration of their 

 value for various purposes. 



2. Establishment and.maintenance of lumber grades ; trade-mark- 

 ing and grade-branding to maintain the quality of the product and fix 

 responsibility for each shipment; furnishing responsible inspection 

 service to buyers and aiding in the settlement of disputes ; elimination 

 of sharp practices, grade manipulation, and fraudulent or irresponsi- 

 ble methods of selling lumber. 



3. Maintenance of credit bureaus and sale of fire insurance at 

 cost to members. 



4. Investigation and handling of freight rates and other traffic 

 matters of common interest to the manufacturers in a region. 



5. Maintenance of employment bureaus and studying of labor 

 conditions and efficiency in the various operations of lumbering. 



6. Conduct of various lines of research, aimed to improve the mill 

 products of the region or to extend their use. 



7. Promotion of better and more uniform accounting among 

 manufacturers and distributors, and dissemination of data on the cost 

 of production and distribution. 



8. Furnishing of authentic, responsible information to the public 

 regarding conditions in the lumber industry. 



9. Conducting of studies in forest management. 



10. Agitation for better methods in taxation of forest lands. 



Besides the ordinary associations, a number of selling agencies have 



id by Professor Compton in the American Economic Review, June, 1917, 289; 

 knd Sept., 1917, 582. 



