New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-02

81 lumber Immediately available and
that It can be purchased with PROM
10 the holders at not to exceed VI 70
sIs per thousand, and further that
concerted effort is being made 70 Doos'
prices SO to $40 per thousand. pc
iicve this can be avoided II we handle
tho lumber situation as ! am informed
tho navy handled the coal situation.
Lumber Cheaper. He Says
"Nr Shrine also wants to talk win
YOU about the Importance OF locai coh-
tractors handling the work. so Tar as
possible. as they will for obvious rea
sons avoid putting up local prices LOT
labor. and this is most important, az
the labor market is already disturbed
here incident to movement OF LABOR
North due to high wages. AS very
large amount of land is under cuitlVs-
ton, it is important TO cause as niue
disturbance az possible, as every al
vance in the price of lumber IS gong
to add to the embarrassment OF the
situation. There is plenty OF LUMBER
to be had at reasonable prices. and IL
should be used instead Of canvas, whicn
has short life. Moreover, at the end
of a year canvas will have cost more
than the lumber buildings, and we shall
have nothing to show for 1t. Ihese
cantonments will probably be needed
for years. making lumber far cheaper
in the end than canvas"
Mr.. Shrine presented this letter 70
Secretary Baker and made the follow
ing recommendation
"Taking into consideration the large
quantity Of lumber the government
will require within the next ninety
DAYS. estimated by X. II. bowman,
chairman of the lumber committee OF
the General Munitions Board. at oo,ooo
carloads, and that the committee is
prepared to submit to the quartermas-
ter generals office firm price on TINS
material, according to the schedule re.
Gently promulgated, in the nature OF
an option to the government, which, II
exercised. binds the lumber organlza
tions TO supply absolutely and at fixed
dates the sizes and grades specliled,
and further considering the increasing
cost of labor and sawmlll supplies, and
the statements of the gentlemen pres
emit at the inquiry, am of the opinion
that $50 a thousand feet is fair price
for the government TO pay
Munitions Board Confers
Secretary Baker called for an inquiry
into the matter by the General NUM-
tons Board. Several conferences were
held, the conferrees being F: A. Scott
chairman of the board; R. II. bowman,
chairman of the lumber committee,
Dr. Wilson Compton, lumber expert d
the Federal Trade Commissions; MAJOR
Palmer +. Pierce, of the General STAN
Mr.. Shrine and others. Nr. Downman'
after explaining the difficulties facing
the LUMBER trade, finally expressed the
opinion that it might be possible TO
procure from the lumbermen OF the
country voluntary reduction OF S3:oo
per thousand feet, making hrm price
of $50 per thousand feet lie was
asked by Chairman Scott TO telegraph
the interests concerned and see II the
price would be acceptable. On the FOL
lowing day the reduction was formally
announced 10 the War Department.
1t was estimated at the hearing that
approximately 100000 900 feet OF lum-
Der would be required BY the govern
ment for the army environments. AT
saving of $3.50 per thousand, the reduc-
ton Of the cantonment cost would be
$500 900, but the Chamber of Com
merce here points out that the figures
are only approximate. The organlza-
ton, however, takes pride in the fact
that the saving covers at least the en-
tire cost of the Greenville and Spartan
burg camps, which will stand the gov
eminent about S2,000,000 each.
Camp Sewer is practically complete
and Guardsmen from various sections
of North and South Carolina and Ten
nessee are arriving daily. Major Gen
eral j. F. Morrison, in command, esti-
mates that his full command will have
assembled here in ten days and Will be
ready for service in France within
three months. !