The Washington herald., 1910-01-02

From the Southern LumbeYman.
The year now drawing to a close has
been an interesting one for lumbermen.
1t was marked by the presence month by
month of uncertainty In trade. Then the
year had. too. a number of big problems
up for consideration-an unusual number
OF them.
The country was drawing away from
panic. one that affected the lumber indus
try as much as any branch Of trade. The
recovery of business was slow but steady,
and while trade seemed. in the progress
Of the year, to be unusual, II can be seen
now that these conditions rested purely
and simply upon the volume Of output.
Where stock was scarce, prices advanced
quickly. The purchasing agents for con-
Stunning factories and the buyers for the
yard trade stayed out of the market as
long as they could, following a hand-to-
mouth policy in all transactions They re-
fused to stock up their yards for future
trade, and bought only for business
then in sight The consuming factories
buying for their immediate needs pur-
chased as rule the lumber which would
cut the stock they needed with as little
waste as possible, and this has been no
small factor in causing the present
scarcity In upper grades in nearly all
woods and a surplus of low-grade stocks.
Many Problems Solved.
The year has been an interesting one
in the problems 1t brought up. First of
all. was the long-drawn out controversy
ever the tariff. and while the lumbermen
lost their fight TO maintain the Dingley
schedule, they were able to bring about
a compromise on the rate. The year,
too, brought out the attitude Of the Taft
administration on conservation and deep
waterways. Both of these received severe
setbacks. and the present occupant of
the White House has shown he has views
of his own on these subjects, widely at
variance from the Roosevelt policies"
The only friction in the Presidents Off
cial family that has come to light was
over the question of conversation, and
the end Of the Ballinger-Pinchot contro-
versy is not yet IN sight. Current news
paper stories show that Congress is TO
take a hand in the matter.
The car shortage which in the early fall
threatened 20 be a menace passed of
without causing a loss to the lumbermen.
Il only proved an inconvenience, but did
not result in the loss OF trade. The
shortage of this year was not evenly dis
tributed. the Southwest experiencing a
greater hardship than any other section.
Then, too, the trade OF the year was ben
Gifted by the return of the railroads 10
the market after a strict abstinence Of
about two years. The question OF de-
murrage was up. and the rules adopted
by the National Association of Railway
Commissioners. which were approved by
the Interstate Commerce Commission, will
be of advantage to all shippers through
the establishment Of a uniform system.
The movement for reciprocal demurrage,
by the official action of the same associa-
ton, received the setback from which it
is not likely soon TO recover.
Commerce Commission Busy.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
had a busy year with questions affecting
lumbemen. Although all 2-cent yellow
pine claims have not been paid, during
the past twelve months at least 70 per
cent of the shippers got their money from
the roads, after a legal battle that lasted
six years. The commission went on rec
ord in opposition TO tap line divisions in
no unmistakable terms. and the govern
mept in the future look upon tap line
divisions as simply another form of re-
batting
Down in Texas there Is a rate fight Of
only local Importance. for II is con-
test between lumbermen operating in the
Statets Of Louisiana and Texas, but the
fight is such a vigorous one that the at
tention Of the entire trade has been call
ed to It.
While conservation and deeper water
ways made but little progress during
1909, the good roads movement, through
meetings of a number of good roads or
CARNATIONS. aroused mre general interest
than was ever before given to this i'm
portant subject The government in many
sections has made practical demOnstra-
lions OF the character of durable roads
that could be cheaply built In the various
States. and the substantial appropria-
tons of many county courts for road
building guarantees a permanent benefit
10 the country.
The lumber association meetings Of
the year were well attended, and
practically every organization of this
character among the lumbermen IS strong
er now than it was at the beginning of
the year. The benefits of unity of action
are more generally appreciated. This is
shown notably by the growth and activity
Of local clubs or associations. In nearly
all the large lumber centers there are
organizations OF the local lumbermen, and
the meetings of these clubs are no longer
purely social affairs. The members are
working out local problems to good adj
vantage, and by this unity of action are
getting better transportation facilities
and even better rates. The social fea-
lures OF these organizations were not
neglected. as was shown by the number
of club outings given during the year,
but this is for the lumbermen at play,
and they have serious work to do at
other times.