the whiskey bottle, the cigarette and the cigar, over which the Conservation Commission and the private land owners have no control. When I made that statement a prominent man came to me, it seemed that somebody had intimated that it was his club that was doing it, no, my statement is general. Gentlemen, if we want to protect our future manse we must get into the spirit of it. The first thing we need is co-operation and a hearty, warm feeling between the land owners.

PRESIDENT OSTRANDER: If there is no one else who wishes to be heard on this subject we will now have the report of the Industrial Committee.

MR. CUTTING: Your Industrial Committee reports as follows:

We have not had a formal meeting during the year, but more or less correspondence, and quite a number of typewritten letters have been sent out to the various firms, principally the lumber industries. The labor situation has been extremely acute during the past year, owing mainly to the large wages that are being paid in munition plants in the various parts of the country. This called away a good many of the best class, men that were quick to learn, keen and active. None of the poorer class of men were called away by these high wages, for on account of slow motions and unsteady habits there was no call for them, so that class of men we always have with us. When there is a surplus of help, we can discriminate against them, but when there is a scarcity of help, we are obliged to hire some of them against our will.

Your committee corresponded with the United States authorities at Montreal and Washington and attempted to prove that woods labor were skilled men and we ought to be permitted to bring them in under contract, but the authorities could not see it in that light, and no particular progress has been made. Your Mr. Ferris Meigs has given this subject considerable attention and we would suggest that you authorize him to go to Washington on this matter at the expense of the association. It is to be hoped that something can be done along these lines for Canadian help are a very desirable class; they are not in the habit of wandering from one camp to another, but they spend the winter at the camp where they locate and then go back home in

the spring.

This is a subject that needs to be considered by the association, carefully.

Years ago, when there were no railways in the Adirondacks, and camps were located a long distance from the towns, and quite a long distance from each other, when the men were sent to a camp in the fall, they staid until spring and did good work. Now a good many of them have acquired a restless habit of wandering from one camp to another. They will go to a camp, and if they don't like the surroundings they may go out the next day or they may stay a week or perhaps two, and then call for their time and go out and spend all the money that they have; then they go to some other camp in a poor physical condition, get work again, brace up and fill up, then demand their time again and off they go. There ought to be some way to discriminate against this class and not be bothered with them, and some who adopt this style that are fair men, ought to be reasoned with and good men made of them.

Wages in the Adirondacks have been demoralizing on account of the high wages munition plants pay, and the practice of some small jobbers of offering high wages and then attempting to drive the men to do a day and a quarter's work in a day has caused a discontent in other localities where men employed by strong companies were receiving less wages. A jobber that is intelligent and has something back of him is not anxious to pay very high wages; he wants to make a dollar on his job, but an irresponsible jobber will make big offers, but rarely carries them out; he, however, demoralizes wood labor. Lumbermen should not let contracts to this class.

Isn't it possible that we can do something in our lumber camps to make the work more congenial and pleasant and attractive for the men so that we can draw some of the sturdy farmers' boys to our camps the same as we used to; young men who will stay with us during the winter and give us an honest day's work for honest pay? There are localities where lumbering has ceased and young men might be drawn from these localities; there are other localities. where there are such young men who could be drawn, but they would have to be taught to use an axe and a saw.

I attended a lecture at the City Club last Monday, given by Richard A. Feiss, of the firm of Joseph & Feiss, of Cleve

land, Ohio, clothing manufacturers. He told us what they were doing in their plant in Cleveland; he said that a few years ago they had over 800 employees and things were unsatisfactory. Help was constantly leaving and going to other factories and they were compelled to advertise and use every effort to get help. They gradually systematized their business and worked on different lines; instead of having a very few heads to their departments and a small clerical force, they increased these departments very much, and by so doing increased their overhead expenses. Notwithstanding this, they are now employing 711 men and women and are putting out 70 per cent more goods than formerly, and are paying the men more money and making more money for themselves. This is because they have realized, and the men and women have realized, that they are all working together as one family and what is for the interest of one is for the interest of all. All the help is hired and discharged through the employment bureau. There is scarcely ever anyone discharged and then only after their case has been passed upon in all its phases. When the employment bureau hires anyone, they are subject to a thorough physical examination to be sure there is no contagious disease lurking anywhere. Then at once they are started with a card and additions are made to their card as long as they continue in the service, and they are told that they are hired for life if they desire to stay.

Every man or woman is asked to suggest a method or methods of improvements of machinery, etc., and they often get some very good suggestions from the men. They are also asked to make complaints of anything that is unsatisfactory. Under the present arrangement everybody is happy and everything is satisfactory. The employers don't care whether the employees are unionized or not and never ask them. The employees have no desire to belong to unions and be bled for money to pay salaries. During the last year, when others have been so very much inconvenienced and troubled by employees quitting and going elsewhere, they have had no trouble whatever; their help all stay with them. They never advertise for skilled laborers of any kind, they prefer to take healthy, clean people and put them under their efficiency department and have them educated for the kind of work they are to do. If they are unable to do that particular kind of work and keep up near to the standard, they

are transferred to something else that they are better fitted for.

The sawmill companies, where plants run night and day the year round, it seems to us, can adopt some of these ideas to good advantage. I know of one plant (not in the lumber business) that is constantly bringing men from New York and Boston by the carload. The people who bring them get a good commission on every man and some of them are worth not a second look. The men are going away from this plant as fast as they can bring them in. Now, if the manager of this particular plant were to go to Cleveland and learn some of their ways, they could certainly improve matters greatly.

It is not possible to do all the things in the lumber woods that can be done in a factory, but isn't it possible to give our men a little more attractive camps, a little better beds; a little more pleasure and recreation? Wouldn't we in that way get a better class of men and wouldn't we keep them with less trouble? Shouldn't we encourage some bright young fellow to bring his violin in or some other instrument that he can play? Why not get a $15.00 victrola and some records? Why not encourage some of the men to sing?

When these men are out in the woods they are deprived of all outside attractions and we ought to give them all we can to make them happier, and if we do make them happier, we will get a better day's work, so that really anything we do for the men brings us back something. One trouble in the lumber woods at the present time is that a good many of the foremen are unable to read and write. This is a handicap. The forestry schools have been turning out a good many graduates, but they appear to be of the impression that what lumbermen want is someone to estimate their timber. It seems to us what the lumberman needs is some smart, young men who are able to go into the woods as foremen and who have a sufficient amount of knowledge so that they can handle the proposition in an efficient way, both as regards lumbering and the commissary department.

We are not getting the results in the lumber woods that we ought to get. Your committee will be glad to receive suggestions at any time and do anything possible for the good of all.

PRESIDENT OSTRANDER: I take this opportunity to an

nounce that we have been given a very cordial invitation to inspect the new building of the College of Forestry and look about the University and the city. I think they are going to supply transportation for as many as would care to go. I think Dean Baker will make the announcement.

DEAN BAKER: It occurred to me that perhaps some of you would be interested in going thru the College of Forestry building which is not yet occupied. Professor Moon has provided automobiles for all who wish to go. You can see the building, see the stadium and we will drive around the city taking just as much or just as little time as you want to take. All those who wish to go will please raise their hand.

PRESIDENT OSTRANDER:

We will now hear from Mr.

Moore for the Committee on Resolutions.

MR. MOORE :

1. Whereas, The experience of practical lumbermen proves conclusively that the prevention of forest fires will do more to conserve our forest wealth, both present and prospective, than any other one thing, be it

Resolved, That we favor the strengthening, extending, and perfecting of the laws relating to the prevention of forest fires and the protection and patrol of our forests, and we heartily approve of and commend the Conservation Commission of the state in its efforts along these lines.

2. Whereas, Frequent or repeated changes in the field force of District Fire Rangers and others is detrimental to the greatest efficiency in preventing and fighting fires in the forests of the state; therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is the sentiment of this association that District Fire Rangers, Fire Wardens and other officers employed for the above purpose should be classified under the Civil Service Law of the state, and the passage of a law to bring this about is strongly urged.

3. Whereas, We believe the most beneficial results to be obtained from reforesting will not be accomplished by individuals, and

Whereas, The people of the state own large areas which should be reforested, be it

Resolved, That we urge the immediate appropriation of