Railroad and Transportation Bureau
The Railroad and Transportation Committee through its Bureau is in a position to be of the greatest service to our members, because of the intimate knowledge which our Traffic Manager has of all matters that have to do with our relations with the railroads.
Information and assistance covering a wide range of transportation subjects is being constantly rendered. There are also on file complete lumber tariffs which are kept up to date, and this enables our members to obtain correct information as to rates, routing, etc. Upon request, shipments are traced and prompt deliveries effected. The above services are furnished to our members entirely free of charge.
This Bureau also investigates and collects claims for loss or damage in transit, overcharges in rates, weight, mis-routing, etc. For these services a nominal charge is made based on the actual amount collected. The manager of this Bureau has had years of experience and possesses intimate knowledge of the methods pursued by the various claim departments of the railroads and he is therefore in a position promptly to collect any just claims and frequently has been able to collect claims which our members have been unable to collect themselves. In this connection it may be well to state that all shippers of lumber are entitled to free allowances in weight of five hundred pounds for car stakes used on flat and gondola cars, and this Bureau has secured many refunds on past shipments for members who have not been allowed this free weight. The Bureau is also in a position to compel the railroads not now making the allowances, to do so.
Arbitration
The By-Laws define the duties of the Arbitration Committee to be “to settle differences between our members.” The services of this committee are at the disposal of our members at the actual cost of the expenses of three selected men from among the members of this committee who thoroughly understand the customs of the lumber trade. Any member who avails himself of the services of this committee consequently obtains at an actual cost the services of a jury of experts, with the result that differences are settled fairly, equitably and promptly and without any annoyances and undue expenses.
Legislation Committee
“To reform abuses” and “to secure freedom from unjust or unlawful exactions” is jointly the work of several Committees. For freedom from unjust and burdensome laws and for laws granting us security and reasonable opportunity in the conduct of our business, we look to the Legislation Committee, whose duty it is to scrutinize acts affecting the trade, to oppose those which oppress, and to favor and forward those which assist.
Forestry and Conservation
“To foster such trade and commerce” by perpetuating the raw material which forms the basis of all lumber business, we have our Forestry Committee. The people of this country, with its tremendous sources of timber supply, must be educated to grasp the possibility of a future famine, and needful legislation must be enacted to reduce the problem of reforestation to a practical business proposition before the scarcity of timber shall enhance the values of stumpage to the point of placing trees as a crop in the same class with grain and cotton. The Advisory Forestry Committee links our Association with the country at large in this movement.