Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-19
Industry Hard Hit, He Says.
Prices Gone to Pieces.

Prices Gone to Pieces.
"All of these. coupled with uncontrolled
output, contribute to produce the demor-
alizing conditions that have existed for
a long period. Prices have gone to
pieces. wage scales have been universally
reduced and bankruptcy has overtaken
many individuals in the industry"
Mr.. bowman submitted data from
commercial agencies. economists. the
census reports and the forest review
service in support Of his representations.
Narfo Were expected from
Pine Association; ]. R: Toole, Missoula,
Mont, president of the Western Pine
Manufacturers Association; E. A. Self
ridge. jr.. Willitts. Cal, president of the
E. Watson. New Orleans. secretary Of
the Southern Cypress Manufacturers
Association; C. A. Bigelow, Bay City.
Mich. president of the Michigan Hard
wood Manufacturer Association; E. S.
Hazen, Portland. Ore. West Coast Lum-
her Manufacturers Association, and C.
H. Worcester, Chicago, Northern Hem
lock and Hardwood Association.
To Boost Foreign Trade.
The hearings are a part Of a nation
wide series arranged toward develop
ing Americas foreign commerce. We'd
nesday the commission will hold a SEES
sion in Detroit, Thursday in Cincinnati
and on Friday in Indianapolis, return
ing to Chicago Monday to resume its
inquiry. Later sessions will be held in
many Of the large cities west to the
Pacific coast.
In outlining the purposes of the hear
ing, Edward N. Hurley Of Chicago, vice
chairman of the commission. said:
"In the judgment of the best busi-
ness brains of this country there never
has been SO favorable an opportunity
for American commerce to seek and And
foreign markets fer its products as at
this juncture.
with the prospect in view of getting
possibilities the Commission has en-
tered upon this investigation The
market Is there and we must develop
Hemlock and Hardwood Status.
c. H. Worcester gave the federal trade
commission a statement of the conditions
in the hemlock and hardwood industry
He said that overproduction had re-
suited in decentralization.
"in the first five months Of 1915 the
overproduction equaled % per cent" he
said I'm addition there were losses to
the public. II the plants had been oper-
atsd to their fun capacity during 1914
there would have been an overproduc-
| ton of 1873 per cent.
Authorities in different parts Of Wis
consin and Michigan have been consulted
and their statements. averaged. show
that 1916 market conditions produced a
loss of 1000 feet to the acre OF timber
wasted fer lumber purposes through ina
bility to manufacture without loss at
"The remedy 10 easy, and 1t is spelled
Cooperation
Permission by the government to ap-
ply effective regulations limiting the
normal needs Of the country could be
initiated quickly and a great industry
restored to normal"
Yellow Pine Losses.
Charles 8. Keith, president of the
Southern Pine Association. gave the
commission a statement of conditions
in the yellow pine lumber business
Today" asserted Mr.. Keith's state
ment, "the lumber manufacturing busi-
ness Is virtually ruinous, and has been
ever since the beginning OF 1914. This
state of affairs was accentuated i'm
mediately after the declaration Of war.
IS per cent came in the volume Of sales
in August, as compared with July. In
September there was 80 per cent re-
duction, as compared with August.
yellow pine reaching s11.ss thou
sand feet at the mills in December.
The cost of production of yellow
pine lumber in 1914 was shown to be
not less than ;ls1S th f.' md, feet ,ss
high mark Of $1s.42 in February. 1919.
to S11.s3 In December, 1914.
The cost Of labor for the manufacture
Of yellow pine is about 81 thousand
ducsd 10 per can't the saving is ap-
proximately 10 cents a thousand. The
average. wage is 81 a day. and thus
each man employed in yellow pine mills
contributes $57 a year out of his right
full earnings to this condition OF over
production.
The yellow pine industry. according
to the census report Of 1910. produced
16.250.oo0,0 900 feet Of lumber. SO that
the men have lost more than $11 zoo, 900
in this competitive situation. In addi-
ton to the loss to labor and to capital
there 10 q waste of 80 per cent in every
tree, as It does not pay under present
conditions to cut up the less valuable
loss in this manner at 100000 q year.
'The only remedy We can suggest 10
to stop producing more lumber than the
market can assimilate. If this should
be done 1t ought to be under full super
vision Of your commission. 1t IL our
belief that this would not be in yio-
lation Of the law, in that it would not
be in restraint Of trade. or lessen COM
petition"
Advertising Boosted Demand.
How Q falling of in the cypress lum-
Der industry was ameliorated by an id :
| vsrtising campaign. vas related by
George e. Watson. secretary Of the
Southern Cypress Manufactursrs' Assoc
citation.