Northwestern Observations

By Jack Dionne

Portland, Oregon.-I used to come out here years ago and tell these lumber folks-"Some of these fine days you will be selling lumber in the Southwest, just as Red Cedar Shingles went in there years ago." It was all futures then.

Today everyone up here is talking about the Southwest and Middle Western business. And they are all wonderfully pleased with the contact with my "home folks" as far as they have gone.

I hear scores of interesting stories of the experiences they are having.

Two weeks ago there was a big bunch of retailers from Oklahoma and Kansas out here looking over the Fir mills. Today there is another bunch of retailers from Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas doing the same thing.

At the same time there' is a fair exchange being made. Most of the mills of this territory who sell the inland trade have men in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas right now, either looking the thing over, or actively selling stock.

One of the biggest concerns out here has had scouts in the Southwest for the past three months. The head of the concern told me this past week that they will operl an office in the next few weeks either in Oklahoma City or Fort lVorth, and travel several men out of it.

One mill man here told me a good one. He quoted an Oklahoma man on some big oil rig timbers. They agreed on a price, and the mill shipped the timbers. He wanted to be sure to give thorough satisfaction the first order, so he shipped selebt common instead of No. 1 common. Select Common is one grade higher and clearer than No. 1 Common. He billed it as select common, at the price agreed upon. The purchaser sent check for the shipment, deducting $3 per thousand. He said he npticed that the billing showed select common, and that he wanted No. 1 common and nothing less in grades, so he deducted what he thought would cover one degree degrade.

I saw an order here in the office of a former Louisiana mill man, who now operates out here. He sent a scout through Texas. The man went to Beaumont and wanted to sell some Fir. The prospect said he didn't know what Fir looked like, and couldn't buy until he had a bette'r idea. The salesman inquired and found that some Fir timbers had beeq placed in the Beaumont docks several years ago. He went down there, found a le'ft over end, got a saw and sawed a slice out, carried it uptown with him and showed it, and sent in an order for some like it.

I have been meeting and talking to former mill men from the Southwest and South, mill workers as well as executives, sawmill men, planing mill men, dry kiln men, etc^, now.working in these Northwestern mills. You should hear them talk Northwebtern lumber. And I have heard numerous men who, a few years ago, were dominant figures irl the Southern Pine conventions, and have heard them grow eloquent as Demosthenes in their discussions of their Western products. And most of these men still have large fortunes in the South.

THAT, to me, is the greatest change that has come over the face of the lumber industry. It is the men who, a few years ago were leading the fight for advertising and exploiting Southerq Pine, who are today leading the progressive forces who are trying to bring about cooperative and better merchandising of Fir. The very satne men.

And there is a great change in the mental situation up here. There are far more lumbermen. than ever before who subscribe to the thought that if lumber is to prosper, it must be because of the united efforts of the lumbermen to MAKE it prosper. They have beerl thinking out there for fifty years that gome time or other Providence would bring prosperity to the industry. Now they are making up their minds that trees are God-made, but that tree prosperity must be man-made. And this development of thought is changing the face of the industry up here.

The biggest arguments that are taking place out here right now, concern the questioq of kiln drying, air drying' or shipping Fir lumbe green. Up to recently practically all common Fir was shipped green. Of course, that does not mean that boards and dimension were shipped green from the saws. Timbers were, but it takes time to accumulate boards and dimension" and most of the lumber that has been shipped to the,interior had been piled for more or less time. Then it takes still more time before it gets to the consumer, and by that time it has some seasoning. The green lumber shippers-and they include some of the best thinking manufacturers out here, some of them former Southerrlers<laim that that is all the seasoning that Fir lumber needs. That Fir lumber contains no sap' that it will not warp, crook, or discolor, and that it does not need to be thoroughly dried.

These men point to the fact that the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, the Dakotas, etc., have built with only green lumber for fifty years, and have found it entirely satisfactory; that the city of Portland, "one of the best built cities in the country," has been built of lumber right from the local saws, and that it has been found a most satisfactory material; that California builds with green lumber and prefers green lumber; etc.' etc.

Then there are a bunch of mills up here who have always given their lumber for injerior shipment a certain amount of air drying on the yard, and who ship and sel! air dried lumber.

The new note is that of the later comers out here, most of them from the South. They propose to deliver dry lumber, and their original idea is that it is foolish to pay 75 cents per hundred pounds to ship water across the country. Much experimenting is being done in kiln drying, and it is safe to say that gteater advances have been made in kiln drying Fir in the last year, than in all the past history of the lumber industry out here. John D. Tennant, of Longview, who is Vice President in charge of production for all Long-Bell mills, says that today they are demonstrating at Longview that there is less degrade of stock in their kilns than there is on the yard where they are air dryi4g, and that he believes Fir can be kiln dried at least as successfully as Yellow Pine, and probably better.

(Continued on Page 10.)

'

Excerpt from the By-Laws of West Coast Lumbermen's Assn.

"No mill shall be eligible to membership in WEST COAST LUMBERMEN'S ASSOCIATION whose grades arc below thc test of grades cfficiency established by the Board of Trustees of said Association

Any member mill whose grades, over a reasonable pcriod, shall fall below the tcst of grading efficiency, estabIished by thc Association, shall forfcit its membership in thc Association

This membership qualification, together with the list of Associatio.n members ln good standing, shall, from timc to time, be nationally advertised.', pgpnlying with qhc above,-WEST COAST LUMBERMEN'S ASSOCIATION hcrcby certifies that thc smdcs and grattine oractlcc ol thc tollowing mills, aftcr carcful checking by comp€tcnt grading experts. have bccn found-to run from gs"/" tE ioo*-q EiiaJi"-iJ-guality

Prcscribcd by thc oficial grading rulcs oF Wcst C6ast Luinbcrm-cn'j Acsociation:

ANACORTES LUMBER & BOX CO., Anacortes, Wash.

ASTORIA BOX COMPANY, Astoria, Ore.

BEAVER LUMBER COMPANY, Portland, Ore.

E. K. BISHOP LUMBER CO., Aberdeerl Wash.

BOOTH-KELLEY LUMBER COMPANY, Eugene, Orc.

BRIDAL VEIL TIMBER CO., Bridal Veil, Ore.

BUFFELIN LBR. & MFG. CO., Tacoma, \ll/ash.

CANYON LUMBER COMPANY, Evcrett, Wash.

CARLISLE LUMBER CO., Onalaska, Waslr.

CARLSBORG MILL & TBR. CO., Seattlc, Wash.

CASCADE LBR. & SHG. CO., Snohomish, Wash.

CENTRAL COAL & COKE CO., Kansas City, Mo.

CLARK LUMBER COMPANY, Vancouvcr,'Wash.

CLARK-NICKERSON LBR. CO., Everctt, If,tash.

CLARK & WILSON LUMBER CO., Linnton, Orc.

CLEAR FIR LUMBER CO., Tacoma, Wash.

A. F. COATS LUMBER CO., Tillamook, Orc.

COBBS & MITCHELL CO., Portland, Ore.

CORVALLIS LBR. & MFG. CO., Portland, Orc.

CROSSETT WESTERN COMPANY, Wauna, Ore.

DEMPSEY LUMBER CO., Tacoma, \l[lash.

ERNEST DOLGE, INC., Tacoma, Wash.

DOTY LUMBER & SHG. CO., Porttand, Ore.

DU BOIS MILL CO., Vancouver, Wash.

EAGLE LUMBER COMPANY, Portland, Ore.

EAST SIDE MILL & LBR. CO., Portland, Orc.

EATONVILLE LBR. CO., Eatonville, Wash.

ECLIPSE MILL COMPANY, Evcrett, Wash.

EMERY & NELSON, INC., Napavine, Wash.

FIDALGO LBR. & BOX CO., Anacortes, \llfash.

F'ISCHER LUMBER COMPANY, Marcold, Orc.

G. H. P. LUMBER CO., Hillsboro, Orc.

GLENDALE LUMBER COMPANY, Glendalc, Ore.

GRAYS HARBOR MFG. CO., Aberdeen, Wash.

J. P. GUERRIER LBR. CO., Star Route, Chdhalis, Wash.

HEWITT-LEA-FUNCK CO., Sumncr, Wash.

WM. HULBERT MILL CO., Evcrett, Wash.

E. E: JOHNSON LUMBER CO., Coquille, Ore.

KENWOOD LUMBER CO., Portland, Ore.

KLEMENT & KENNEDY, Seattle, Wash.

LAKE CLE ELUM LBR. CO., Roslyn, Wash.

LINCOLN CREEK LUMBBR CO., Centralia, Wash.

LINDSTROM-HANDFORTH LBR. CO., Tacoma,Wash.

LONG-BELL LUMBER CO., Longvicw, Wash.

LUEDINGHAUS LBR. CO., Portland, Ore.

MACHIAS MILL CO., Woodinville, Wash.

MANLEY, MOORE LBR. CO., Tacoma, Wash.

McCORMICK LBR. CO., McCormich Wash.

CHAS. R. McCORMICK LBR. CO., St. Helens, Ore.

McKENNA LUMBER CO.. McKenna, Vlash.

L. B. MENEFEE LBR. CO., Portland, Ore.

MULTNOMAH LBR. & BOX CO., Portland, Ore.

MUMBY LBR. & SHG. CO., Seattle, Wash.

MUTUAL FIR COLUMN CO., Tacoma, Wash.

MUTUAL LUMBER COMPANY, Bucoda, Wash.

NETTLETON LUMBER CO., Scattle, Wash.

NICOLAI DOOR MFG. CO., Portland, Ore.

OREGON LUMBER CO., Baker, Ore.-

OSTRANDER RY. & LBR. CO., Ostrandcr,'Wash.

PSCIFIC NATIONAL LBR. CO., Tacoma, \trtash.

PACIFIC SPRUCE CORPORATION, Portlan4 Ore.

PACIFIC STATES LUMBER CO., Tacorna, Wash.

PALMER LBR. & MFG. CO., Chehalis, Wash.

PARKER LBR. & BOX CO., Everctt, \f,fash.

PENINSULA LUMBER CO., Portland, Orc.

POSEY MFG. CO., Portland, Orc.

PRESTON MILL COMPANY, Seattle, Wash.

PROUTY LBR. & BOX CO., Warrenton, Ore.

RAYMOND LUMBER CO., Raymond, Wash.

RIDGEFIELD LUMBER CO., Ridgcficld, Wasb"

ROBINSON MFG. CO., Evcrctt, Wash.

ROYSE HANKIN LUMBER CO., Sedro Woolley, Wash.

ST. PAUL & TACOMA LBR. CO., Tacoma, Wash.

SEATTLE MILL & LOGGING CO, Seattle,.'Wash.

SHAFER-McLAUGHLIN & HILLIER, INC., Portland, Ore.

SILER MILL COMPANY, Raymond, Wash.

SILVER FALLS TIMBER CO., Silverton, Orc.

SKAGIT MILL COMPANY, Lyman, Wash.

SNOQUALMIE FALLS LUMBER COMPANY, Snoqualmic Falls, Wash.

SPRINGER MILL COMPANY, Olympia, Wash.

STANWOOD LUMBER CO., Stanwood, Wash-

STIMSON TIMBER COMPANY, Scattlc, Wash.

STOUT LBR. CO. OF OREGON, North Bcnd, Orc.

TUMWATER LBR. MILLS CO., INC., Tumwatcr,Wasb.

WAGNER LUMBER COMPANY, Monroc, \tr/ash.

WALLACE LBR. & MFG. CO., Sultan, \Mash.

WALTON LUMBER COMPANY, Evcrctt, Vfash.

WALVILLE LUMBER CO., Walviltc, Wash.

WESTERN LBR. MFG. CO., Tacorua, Wash.

WEST OREGON LBR. CO., Linnton, Ore.

WESTPORT LUMBER CO., Westport, Ore.

WEST WATERWAY LBR. CO., Seattle, Wash.

WESTWOOD LUMBER CO., Whcclcr, Ore.

WEYERHAEUSER TIMBER CO., Everett, Vfash.

WHEELER, OSGOOD CO., Tacoma, Wash.

WHITE RMR LUMBER CO., Eirumclaw, Wash.

WHITE STAR LUMBER CO., Whites, Wash.

WHITNEY COMPANY, Garibaldi, Orc.

WILLAMETTE VALLEY LBR. CO., Portland, Orc.

WILLAPA LUMBER CO., Portland, Ore.

WINCHESTER BAY LUMBER CO., Portland, Ore.

WOOD & MRSON, INC., Hobart, Wash.

W. A. WOODARD LBR. CO., Cottage Grove, Ore.

WEST C0AST TUMBERMEN'S ASS0CIATI0N, Seattle, Warh.Portland, 0re.

Ofrcial Grade Mark of If,C. L. A, B&B

(Continued from Page 8.)

On the other hand there are lots of people out here who do NOT kiln dry their stock, who simply declare their belief, either that it is not necessary, or that it is not practical. llowever, those who are doing it, are enthusiastic about it, which is the proof cif ttre pudding. Chas. S. Keith, cutting 600,000 a day at Vernonia, Oregon, dries his dimension as well as his inch lumber. So does Long-Bell. Both declare it a complete success. There are several other mills here drying a lesser portion of their product.

However, it IS a fact, that I gather from the dry kiln men of this territory, that more dry kilns have'been built out here in the last year thaq ever before, and that more kilns are now under contract than ever before. So it seems that the kiln drying idea is spreading.

My personal opinion is that with every season that passes there will be a huge increase in the kiln drying of lumber in the Northwest.

It is a wonderful thing to go through the Finish lumber sheds out here, where the mills specidize-as many of them do,-in finish. I have gone through several Finish sheds of late with Southern retailers and wholesalers, and the sight of that Fiqish lumber is dways the most attractive thing at every plant to these visitors. They make such a tremendous amount of Finish, and you see such a volume of beautifully grained, beautifully colored, smooth as glass lumber of all widths, that it makes you gasp. Perfectly clear boards of lovely grain up to 32 inches in width are very attractive things to look at when you see them in large quantities. These Fiqish mills take gteat pride in this product, and every piece is made a work of art. Some of them will sell you straight cars of Finish, any width you $rant, any length desired, either vertical grain or flat grain, just as you choose. Or they will mix them, or assort them to suit yotr- Some of them tie their Finish in bundles for shipping. Others do not. All of them prepare the inside of the car that carries finish, so that the lumber will not be hurt in transportation. Some of the mills line their cars with strips, and paper the doors to make them dust-proof. Some mills paper the entire inside of the car in which they ship Finish.

It really is interesting to see the difrerence between the way some of these mills treat their clear and their common lumber. I was in a mill the other day that runs their dimension right out on the docks and loads it on boats, and tells it goodby. But their clear lumber is handled slowly, carefully, almost lovingly, until each piece comes out in the Finish shed a work of art.

All mills out here have re-saws. They are saving the lumber inside their slabs. Some mills have several re-saws. The average big mill out here of orthodox type is really just a "breaking down" mill as far as the sawmill is concerned. They have a huge "head-rig," which means the heavy-type saw and carriage, and the big logs are not sawed up. They are just sliced up in the manner for which they are best fitted. And the big fitches, and cants go on to the resaurs, or to the gangs, and are cut up. A head-rig cuts 25,000 to 30,000 feet an hour in mills of that sort.

Just a closing thought for this story. THERE IS IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER WATERSHED ABOUT FOUR HUNDRED BILLION FEET OF VIRGIN TIMBER THAT WILL ALL BE CUT BY THE MILLS ALONG THIS RIVER. CAN YOU GRASP THAT FIGURE? Seventy-five years ago when the first sawmill started in East Texas, there was about seventy-five billion feet of timber in the State. There is more than five times that much timber on the Columbia River, in Washington and Oregon, right now.

FORESTRY AND INDUSTRIAL AUTHORITIES TO HAVE PLACE ON HOO-HOO ANNUAL PROGRAM

The business program for the Thirty-fifth Hoo-Hoo Annual as tentatively prepared, indicates that the meeting, rvhich will be held in Kansas City, September 28, D and 3O, will be not only the most constructive in the history of Ifoo-Iloo, but one of the most beneficial meetings in the interests of lumber ever held.

Some, of the foremost authorities of the United States and Canada on conservation and reforestation, and on subjects of direct, vital concern to the entire Industry, will be on the program. Announcement of the tentative program rdill be made shortly.

Meantime, General Chairman M. M. Riner and his Kansas City Committees are busily arranging for the welcome and entertainment of what promises to be the largest registration of Hoo-Hoo and their ladies in.the history of HooHoo annuals. Details of the entertainment features also will be ann6unced shortly.

She: If wishes came trqp nhat would be your first?

He : I would wish-ah, if$dly I dared tell you.

* She: Go on, !o on. W{l\ do you think I brought up wishing for? ,l \

Incorporatcd Fc,b. 14, 1908

J. ricustt Russellts Outfit

Exclurivc Rril Rcprcrcntativcr in Cetiforaia rnd Arizona for Centnl C.oal & Coke C,o., (Oregon-American llmber Co., Vernonia, Orc.) So. Celif. Oficc Gcncrrt Oficc

TUctcr 57?9 , 16 California St.