A Decennial Rkcokd 



testifies that this best was no mean gift. Recognition of the abiHty 

 of the men who have been associated with the laboratory by indus- 

 tries, by technical societies, by great industrial associations and by the 

 governments of this and other countries is a part of the record of the 

 la])oratory that in itself would require much space to tell. 



It has been told elsewhere that the need for the laboratory was 

 recognized for many years before its creation actually became a physi- 

 cal fact. Of interest are the first steps in forest products research, 

 first only a man or two with ideas, then the establishment of small 

 scattered units working on big problems with but meager equipment 

 and limited means usually nearest the point where the problem ex- 

 isted. The realization grew upon some of these pioneers that problems 

 of nation-wide interest involving manv industries were being most 

 inadequately provided for, and little progress being made toward far- 

 off goals. The evolution of a new approach toward the desired ends 

 marked the important step that is of chief interest in the story of the 

 Decennial. ]Mr. Howard F. Weiss saw the germ of the present lab- 

 oratory conceived and described it in an address to members of tlie 

 laboratory several years ago. 



"It was in 1908 that I was brought face to face M'ith the fool- 

 ishness of the whole situation. I felt like a very poor repre- 

 sentative of the greatest government on earth in thus trying to 

 demonstrate the art of j^reserving timber Avith a lack of funds for 

 effective organization. 



"It was in Washington tliat I met ^IcGarvey C'line who was 

 liaving similar difficulties although engaged in a somewhat dif- 

 ferent line of work. ]Many an evening \ve spent discussing pos- 

 si])le ways of putting into execution the plan of equipping a 

 suitable laboratory, with the lack of funds always confronting 

 us. Our first ground gained was permission to spend $125 per 

 month for renting a l)uilding in which we might locate the labora- 

 tory. The job fell to me to find a ])uilding for this purpose. I 

 spent many weeks going from Chevy Chase to Great Falls and 

 all through Georgetown, looking uj) buildings Avith sufficient floor 

 space, and which could be rented at $12.5 per month. I was un- 

 able even to get an abandoned car l)arn for this amount. 



"Then Cline conceived a brilliant idea. It was to secure the 

 cooperation of some university. I did not tliink this Avas a very 



