History of the Hardwood Industry

(Continued from Page 12) try in the 1890's and it did not revive until the last two decades, when Japanese Oak and Philippine Mahogany gave it a new advantage over Grand Rapids and Chicago.

Spanish Cedar and Mahogany logs were imported in considerable quantities in the 80's and 90's and sawmills were operated in San Francisco by the West Coast Furniture Company, afterwards L. & E^. Emanuel, HoffmAn, Dieckman, and Niehaus. Spanish Cedar was used for stair work almost exclusively and there was a prosperous cigar box trade using this wood.

The use of hardwood trim in residences and stores gradually increased. The old time saloon was a lucrative customer for the finest cabinet woods. The growth of the Coast in population and the erection of great business buildings and fine residences increased the use of hardwoods. About the year 1900 Oak flooring commenced to become popular. Maple flooring for dance floors and skating rinks had been already used for many years before. The Oak and Maple flooring business, as we know, in the last twenty years has assumed a major place in the hardwood trade.

In the year 1905 the first shipments of Japanese Oak logs commenced to come to the Pacific Coast. There were four hardwood sawmills in San Francisco, one in Los Angeles, and several in the Northern Cities besides a number of veneer saws and flooring factories. Japanese Oak became gradually a very important factor in the hardwood industry. In the yeat l%)7 the Western Hardwood Company of Los Angeles, alone imported 1,800,00O feet of Japanese Oak Logs and put up their own band saw and veneer mill. Mission furniture was much in style in that period and Japanese Oak on account of its soft texture and cheap price proved to be an ideal wood for its manrrfacture. It may be said that the rebirth of furniture manufacture on the Pacific Coast was due to Japanese Oak more than to any other thing. In time the Japanese, themselves, learned to saw their logs into lumber and the importation of logs practically ceased while the bringing in of sawn lumber rose to great proportions. The Eastern manufacturers of domestic Oak, becoming alarmed at the inroads of Japanese Oak, succeeded in having a duty of l5/o ad valorem placed on the sawn lumber several years ago. This combined with the rising costs of labor in Japan elevated the price of Japanese Oak to the equal and frequently above that of American Oak. Mission furniture went out of style. These things militated against the use of the imported wood and its consumption decreased until now, in comparison with domestic Oak it is not of great importance.

In the year 1X)7 or thereabouts, American capital. began to develop the timber in the Philippine Islands, and a few scattered shipments were made at that time. In about five years Philippine Mahogany became really a factor in the industry on the Pacifrc Coast. It has grown to be the principal wood used for trim, doors, etc. A few years ago its inroads on the old time Mahogany business caused the dealers in the Central American, Mexican, and African woods to institute an action before the Federal Trade Commission, seeking to prohibit the use of the name "Mahogany" in connection with Philippine woods. The action was at first successful, but on appeal to the courts the commission was reversed in 1931.

Philippine Mahogany has been of major importance in the development of furniture factories on our Coast. When Japanese Oak went out Philippine Mahogany came inLos Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle are now real furniture producing centers utilizing many kinds of hardwoods.

The Pacific Coast seaport cities are centers for the importation of many foreign hardwoods, some of them practically unknown in the markets of the Eastern States. The use of Ironbark and Spotted Gum from Australia is almost exclusively confined to the Pacific Coast as is Japanese Oak.

,For a number of years there had been attempts, more or less successful, in all the hardwood distributing centers to form organizations for cooperation between dealers.

Previous to 1923 each section had a good association. During that year Bayard Byrne of Los Angeles was a luncheon guest of the San Francisco Hardwood Club. He suggested there the formation of a Coast wide organi zation. The idea was seized upon and letters were sent to all dealers proposing a meeting at Del Monte. The first convention was ]n 1924. The Pacific Coast Hardwood Dealers' Association was formed and a constitution and by-laws adopted. C. H. White of San Francisco was electld the first president, and J. E. HlCgins, Jr., was made secretary. That first convention at Del Monte was a wonderfuliy pleasant affair. From Vancouver to San Diego the dealeri came and in the first flush of enthusiasm, friendships and confidences were established, which have lasted to the present day.

The following are the dates and names of Presidents and Secretaries from the beginning:

Year Location President Vice-Pres. Secretary

1924 Del Monte C. H. White D. J. Cahill J. E. Higgins, Jr.

1925 Sta. BarbaraD. J. Cahill J. Fyfe Smith H. W. Swafford Vancouver

1926 San Diego J. Fyfe Smith J. E. Higgins, Jr.Roger Sands

1927 Del Monte J. E. Higgins, Jr. L. H. Stanton H. B. Maris

1928 Victoria Leroy H. Stanton Jerry Sullivan Al Frost

1929 Del Monte Jerry Sullivan Roger Sands C. R. Taenzer

1930 Del Monte Roger Sands C. H. White Norman Sawers

1931 Victoria H. W. Swafford C. H. White Chas. Cooper

At Santa Barbara in 1925 the convention was addressed by Frank Fish of Chicago, Secretary-Manager of the National Hardwood Lumber Association, who prevailed upon most of the Pacific Coast dealers to join the national organization. National inspectors were sent out from the East to reside in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Most of the succeeding conventions have been devoted to good fellorvship, play and exchange of business confidences.