San Francisco "Hoo-Hoo" Club Hears Talk on Standard ization

At their regular bi-weekly luncheon on April LOth, L924, the Hoo-Hoo Club of San Francisco was addressed by Edward P. Ivory;of the California White & Sugar Pine Manufacturers Association, formerly with the Forest Products Laboratori at Madison,.Wisconsin. The subject was lumber standardization. Mr. Ivor;r's talk follows:

"L-umber standardization is a subject that has been very much before the lumbermen of the United States for the past few years. Scarcely a meeting of any size among manufacturers, wholesalers, or retailers. has oassed without some discussion of it. -standardization has many enthusiastic supporters. and, as with all forward-looking movements, a few opponents. Generally speaking, however, the leaders in the inilusiry havi been. behind the movement whole-heartedly. bccause they -recognize it to be the mo-st advanced.steli that has ever been attempted by the lumbermen of America,

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"This movemcnt ls the first in which all branches of the lumber industry. includinc producers, distributors, and cons-uiners. havi united and workcd togcther on a natiori-widc scale, to advance their industry. In addi- tion, it has brought into the inost cordial co-operation with the lumber industry two of the great governmcntal dcpartmenti: the Department of Commerce anh the Depart- mcnt of Agriculture. This co-operation has not been of a perfunctory nature, but one t_o_ which- Secretiry lloovcr and 'secretary Wallace havc given a great deal of theii pcrsonal attention.

"Standardization has several main obiec- tives. Thc first and most important. 6er- haps, is the maintaining of uiriform' jizes for dressed lumber,-uniform sizes not in onc region only, but ovei the United Statcs as a whole. The lack of uniformity todav in- this respect is startling. In somi itemi of yar{ Iumber scarcely any two of the gfeat lumber manufacturing associations maintain the same standards.- Often within thg- sqme producing association, different mills dress their lumber to different thickncsses and widths.

"Another main objective is the eoualiza- tion, as nearly as the various woois will pcrmit, of thc grades of lumber produced. As with sizes, cach large associition has its own grading rules. Sometimes the cradc nomenclature is alike in two associaEons. but more often differences exist. The srad- ing rulcs thcmselves follow no unfform method of prcsentation, and, to the lay reader, appear to describe entirely different oualities of lumber. Each of these sets of srad- ing rules state that they are intended t-o fit lumber for the purpose for which it is to be used. Furthermore. at least for manv of the grades of yard luinber, all these formi of lumber are intended to be used for the same ,general -purposes. Why, then, should not the grading rules be similar? Whv. then, should not grades of lumber intendid for the same purposes have the same name? Realizing the absur-dity of the present situa- tion, lumbermen ale now en-deavorins to eliminate the gross inequalities between the grades of the various associations.

- "Another^phase of the program is to bring about a uniform nomenclature for the difrerent species of wood-that is. to secure in understanding in the trade that each species. or fype of lumber, shall have one common trade name.

"Still another objective of the program is to bring about a uniform code of etEics for the carrying on of lumber transactions. .The Iumber industry.has been struggling alor-rg lor years, depending in many cases on ab- stract legal rulings, to settle controversies peculiar to the lumber business. This is seldom satisfactory. The formulation and establishment ofa code of ethics by the Iumbermen themselves is all that is reouired to settle these questions forever.

"The question of grade marking of lumber has come into the discussions. and the concensus of opinion seems to be that all lumber should be grade-marked. Steps are now being taken to devise ways and rneans of accomplishing this, and to secure the consent of lumbeimin to thc practice.'

Organization Behind The Movement

"Most of you arc familiar with the dcvelopment of the standardization movement from the original rcsolution passcd at thc first American Lumber Congress, in 1919, to its present status. You may not, however, know the exact brganization which is now behind it. You may not know that a Central Committec on Lumber Standards, made up of leaders aqo-ng all the groups or organizations interestcd in this movemcnt, having its own officcs and paid Sccretarv in Washington, has had charge of the movement during the past two years. This committee consists of one representativc each from the softwood lumbel manufacturers, the hardwood lumber' manufacturers, Ium- ber wholesalers, lumber retailcrs, the architects of the country, the American railroads, and the associated wood using industries, besides a chairman who is known to all of you: Mr: John W. Blodgetg president of the National Lumber Manufacturers Association. This Central Committee has working under it a consulting committee, made up of the same number of groups as are represented on tho Central Committee, but with several members from each of thc groups named. While the Central Committee acts as a steering organization, it is the consulting committee which actually works out the standards arrived at. In addition. there are actively engaged in the movemen[ the governmental departments heretofore referred to. The Department of Agriculture, through the Forest Products Laborltory and the Forest Service at Madison, Wisc6nsin. carries on the investigative work necesary in a project of this kind. The Department of Commerce lends its aid in an organiza- tional and promotive manner. Both tieoartments work closely tog€ther and with the CeItraI Commi-ttee, in an effort to promote and speed up the program.

, "Many meetings have been held during the past three years, each lasting from two to seven days. They have bEen serious rneetings, at which thorough-going business men have earnestly endeavored to solve the many knotty problems that have presented themselves. Scarcely a. month has gone by that has not seen one or more of theCe meetings.. No effort or expense has been spared to develop standards which would bq permanent and practical. It is a big price to pay for standardization, but the stake itself is large. How large, only time will show, but it has been estimated by one competent authority that a direct result will be thl sav- ing of $250,000,000 per year to buyers of Iumber.

Standards Thus Far Arrived At

!'To date, the first objective has been accomplished. Standards of sizes have becn set, to go into effect on July first of this year. These standards were arrived at only after months of discussion and consideration, and after the ironing out of divers opinions held by individuals and groups in every section of the country, and in evcry branch of the industry. Even after these months of consideration; on two of thc most important items in yard lumber, a dual standaid was found neccssdry. -tlowevor, a dual standaid represents a vast improvcment, when it is considered that upwards of six or Bcvcn standards cxisted for thesc itcrns heretofore.

"Onc of thesc items conccrned the thickncss of inch lumbcr, surfaced onc or two eides. Final agreemcnt could oqtry bc reached on a basis of the two standards of 25-32 and.26-32 inchcs; In thc casc of two inch dimension, a dual standard ol lVe and I 6-E incheg was set up. One standard only would admittedly have.been prcferablo, but it is bclieved that a single standard will ultirnately evolve itsclf frorn thc rrnoec[lGnti These standards are establishcd for a yearls trial, beginning July first. At the end of that time, a furttrcr meeting will determinc which is the morc worthy of attention.

"As regards wialths of lumbcr when dressed four sides or one sidc and one cdtc: a single standard of f{ inches scant 6ri wlqtls rlp,to 7:inches, and ft inch scant on widths from 8 inches up, was arrivcd a!not, howcver, without a.,gf€at .deal .of difrculty.

"standard sizes and patterns for fooring. ceiling, partition and Jiding were also eitablished.

"That the newly established standards will make a great deal of difference to produccrs and consumers of lumber may bc rcadily illustratcd in thc case of drob siding. oi rustic. It is possible to.purchas-, in thiChicago market and in rnany others throughout the east, lx6 drop siding, of, let uJ say. pattern No. 105, which is worked shiolab. in scvcral different spccies. In somc- tfd total face width is 4z/g inches;-in othcf species the total face width is 5/n inches. thus sho'wing a difrcrence of /a inZh in facd width, or about five per cent. in thc covering ability of 1000 feet of the lumber. Buildcri buying the narrow material find that it requires not only 5 per cent morc lumber. but also 5 per cent more labor and'nails than is rcquired for the widcr material. Thuc thore is a difrerence between thc two types of lumber of about l0 per cent in the cbst of covering a given space. A discovery of this fact always results in dissatisfaition with lumber. The standardization move. ment will tend to correct this situation, not only in this. case, but in many others siinilaf to it.

"As regards uniform grading rules, a basic system involving nine gradbs of lumber has been proposed, To some this may appear rather as an elaborition than a simplifica- tion. Ilowever, the distributor of lumber who carries scveral different specics and hnds each of them graded under difrerent ruIes. quickly realizcs that this is indeed a simpli-

(Continued from Page 33) ficrtion. The program docs not require that all woods havc this number of grades, in fact,. it is readily rccognizcd that many woods could not economically be segregated into this largc number of grades. It is intended, how-vcr, that the grades of lumber havinn thc same grade name but derived from -difiercnt speciis of lumber should have about the samc minimum quality and bc graded under grading rulcs which are gencrally alikc.

"Iir thc matter of trade cthics, one question of great importance has been settled bv the CEntral Committee. That covers the rfuch-disputcd qucstion of re-rnsoection, or thrr handling of ilaims. Rctailers and manu- difficulty in thc movement has come whcn attcmpting to apply the broad principles to the minor details. It is strange sometimes that men of broad vision scem blinded whcn they attempt to apply a principle to the--details of the business, yet, cven in its effect upon the details of the business, it is poesible to point out many instances in which standardization will benefit each individual ntii"llrr'a know how many of you retailers have been forced to mainiain separate piles of what should be the same material, because different shipments were of difrerent sizes. I don't know how many times you have sent out an item needed to complete a job, only to find that it did not match with foimer diliveries, and had to be returned.

Don't be afraid to be ori$inal. Use your ima$ination in Your It is Gods most $racious gift. business.

facturcrs havc agrccd that whcnever a claim on ttrc gradc o-f a carload cf lunrbcr dcvc!,ops. the purcharer nutt accept ttrat por' tion-oi tlrc lhipmcnt which is orl thc grade ordercd. and hold thc balance ior a pcriod rrf eixw days, or until inspcction hae been nedc. -Thir scttles two much disputed qucstions. Lcgally, the purchaser-had the right to teicct ir iitirc shipment if any portion of it ias not up to specifications. This right hag becn used nany -tirnes, on a falling markct to the Sreat disadvantage of the shipper. On the other hand, if a buycr acccpts any mrtion o[ a rhipnrent, thc shippcr has the iecal ;cht to insist that hc accept the wholc. Hirc, igaiq a hardship wae often ryorkg{ unon the buycr, bccause many Umcs nc (ud nbt Lnow rhcther or not the shipment was of thc sDccification ordcred until hc had unloaded -the car and, pcrhaps, uscd somc of the matcrial.

"Under thc ncw agreemcnt, the purchaser waives the right to reject-the whole- shipncnL and. at the samc timc, the shipper raivir thc richt to insist that the wholc shipmcnt bc aiccpted if any portion of it is rcccptcd.

What thc Standardization Movcment Means to San Francisco Lumbcrmcn

"Thc proof of the valuc of standardization ir in thi bencfit that it brings to each individual in thc lumber industry. Standardization dcdg with the dctails of the lumber buriness inits application. In results, it dcds with thc broa-der arpects of it. Practicallv evervonc acbrowledges thc b3oad advantager of standardization. Thc wholc

I don't know how many tirnes you have ordered a carload of lumbcr which you expected to be of a given grade, only to find' on dcliverv. that. bccause of some misurdcrstandinc. -the material was ofa difrcrcnt quality.- I do know, however, that ttris has liappcned to many other retailers throughoui-the United States, and that it has been ittJ causJot morc litigation and loss o{ g99d will than any other elemcnt in thc lumbcf busincss.

"I don't know how many timcs you wholcsalers have sold a carload of lumber which you and your customcr expected to bc of a hven size, and found, on delivery, that it was somcthing entirely different. I do know, however, that many wholesalers throughout the Uniicd States have found themselvcs in this situation. Usually they are thc oncs who hold the bag, and they are thc ones who take the loss that incvitably results.

"I don't know how many of You m:rnufacturers and manufacturers' representatives have bid on a piccc of business which you were particularly well qualified to handlc, and on which you sharpcned your pencils to the fine8t point to quote a rocF-bottom price. only to find that a competitor who iut his l-umber thinner at ttrc mill and beat your prices through a saving-in freight, has takcn the busincss away from you. I do know that this has happened many times; that, in fact, unfair competition ,of this sort is one of the big reasona why thc thickness of lumber has been constantly growinc lcss. I do know that this is onc 6f the r:easons why boards 11-16 inchcs thick are beinc sold as inch lumber in ccrtain castcrn iarketc. It is abuscs of this sort tbat have made standardization lto neccirfirry.

"Many other detailed instances in which lack of-standardization has worked to the detriment of the lumbcr industry might be cited. However. the benefits of standardization arc beyond'details of this sort. Lumbcrmen sh6uld not lose sight of thc fact that, as latc as 1909, in the ncighborhood of .15,000,000,000 feet of lumber was consumcd in-the United States in one year, whercas, in 1922. the total production of 31,(XD,fl)0'0(X) feet sci:med to fully satisfy market requiremcnts. We cannot dodgc the fact that there has been a drop of 1-3 in thc consumption of lumbcr in the United States, and this in the face of an incrcase in the population.

Whv is t}is truc? Thcrc are many causcs for lt. and one of the chicf of tlcrn is dis' satisfiction with thc lumber product. Durinc dl thic time, thc compctitors of tood heve becn making it casy for tle architect and consumer to kork with thcir products, while lumbcrmcn have bccn rnaking it morc diftcult to work with wood. Whilc thc cemcnt pcople have becn simplifying the usc of thc:ir -matcrial and standardizing their DroducL lumbcrmen have bcen adding to ihcir grading rules and changing thcir stan&rd sizcs. An architect who movcs frodr Boston to the Pacific coast may epccify ccment construction in the samc tcrm! that he uscd in Boeton, and obtain thc self-carnc results. Iloweygr, beforc he can work vith lurnbcr. hc must practicallv lcarn thc lumbcr busincis anew. IIc must familiarize himcclf sittr the rradcs of lumber available in thc Iocal mark-et. and the size standards that arc prcvalent, fs there any wonder that ccmcot has oracticallv replaced wood as the material used for the -exterior covcring of houses in some regions?

This is a situation which lumberrncn can and should remedy, and standardization il the sole means by which imptovemcnt can bc brought about. Thcrc ir still much to bc donc inlhis movemcnt, and many standards etill to be formulated. Lumbcrmen of San Francisco can and should participatc in thi: taovement. They should assict in thc formulation of the standards thcmsclvca, but, failing this, thcy should by all mcans scc to it thit the standards which have bcen arrived at arc put into efrcct and followcd ln their territory."