SALE VALUES l8l 



quirements of the different departments so that the utmost 

 economy could be practiced in meeting their specifications. 

 There was no reason, for example, why the War Department 

 should have a different requirement for ammunition box material 

 from that enforced by the Navy. Furthermore, it was equally 

 apparent that these and other Departments should be kept from 

 bidding against each other. Great economies in money and time 

 were effected in this way. 



But it was soon clear that the Govenment needs were so great 

 that some control of prices was necessary. Thru a subcommittee 

 of the Raw Materials Division of the Council of National Defense 

 emergency bureaus were established in the principal lumber pro- 

 ducing centers. Besides acting as a distributing agency in plac- 

 ing govermnent orders these bureaus aided materially in furnish- 

 ing data upon which to fix reasonable prices. The aim was to set 

 values which would ensure rapid and continuous production with- 

 out disproportionate cost to the Government. To reach such a 

 decision naturally entailed much research into actual costs of pro- 

 duction and a thoro knowledge of marketing methods. 



The elimination of non-essential industries was accomplished 

 in various ways. Appeals to the patriotism of both producers 

 and consimiers did much. Actual division of raw material was 

 also an active force in curtailment. But by far the most effec- 

 tive agency in securing this end was the drafting of employees 

 from such industries while those in the so-called " essential indus- 

 tries " were exempt from the draft. Restrictions on imports 

 still further curtailed the supply of raw material for the manufac- 

 tures that did not contribute directly to the winning of the War 

 while demand for their products was restricted by refusing export 

 licenses. But in spite of the large measure of cooperation be- 

 tween the Government and the lumbermen who were patriotic 

 it was necessary to markedly increase prices to keep up production 

 to a satisfactory basis. Between 1914 and the signing of the 

 Armistice average lumber prices rose approximately 90 per cent. 

 The major portion of this rise took place during 191 7 and 1918 

 when the United States was a belligerent. Lest, however, it 

 should be assumed that this was a disproportionate rise it should 



