D$trWS R[trtrS

Geographically, housing starts vlere up sharply in the South, while off in most other areas of the U.S. . improved weather got much of the credit for the higher nos. . . single family starts were at an adjusted rate of 533,000, multis were produced at a seasonally adjusted annual Pace of 4Z),000.

A hefty jump in multi-family housing offset an ll9o decline in single family home construction to bring in the latest housing start figs. (Feb.) at 953,000 units on a seasonally adjusted annual basis . . . an anemic level, but still the highest level since July . .

For the 4th mo. in a row, building permits for future construction were up, just barely, 0.790 ahead of the previous mo. . . despitethe increase, it was the 7th mo, in o row below the I million mark, prompting one economist to remark, "I'm not going to get drunk tonight because of the latest numbers.'3

John V. Drum, former executive v.p., was elected pres. and c.o.o. of Wickes Co.s replacing David J. Primuth who resigned from the ailing co. following announcement that losses for the year ending Jan. 3l would total about $80million . . divestitures to meet creditor demands will mean closing some stores including Wicke.S Lumber &nters to cut losses .

Weyerhaeuser Co. has completed a $3.2 million expansion of its DeQueen, Ar., treating facility Temtex Products, Inc., Nashville, Tn., has named the Trade Names Division of LaSalleDeitch Co., Inc. as national distributor for Temco Fireplace Systems for the manufactured housingindustry...

Scotty's, Inc., Winter Haven, Fl., reports sales of $185.2 milligl, up 690 since last year Blaming losses in its solid-woodproducts operations, Potlatch Corp. anticipates lower earnings for the first quarter . . Masonite Corp., posting a deficit of $7.7 million for the fiscal2nd quarter, is planning cost-cutting mcasures including converting two N.C. plants into a single operation . .

Edwtd Hittgs Lumber Co. vtrll, discontinue manufacturing operations permanently at its sawmills at Hope and Nashville, Ar., Hazle hurst, I\ds., and related timber properties, citing poor margins in those operations and sizeable capital outlays for raw material procur€ment, netloss fortheoo. in '81 was $5.8 million. .

Trus foist Corp., a Boise, Id. maker of structural building materids, plans to onstruct a $6 million manufacturing plant in Valdosta, Ga., with initial production starting early in 1983 Homelite Division of Textron Inc. is opening a 100,000 sq. ft. base distribution center at 3791 Ifuight Rd., Memphis, Tn., . .

Kirkpatrick Lumber Co., Nashville, Tn., has becn sold by The Jordan Companies to a corporation formed by George Vaughn, C.S. Foster and John Young; the nane stays the same Wickes Lumber Co. has sold its property in Arkadelphia, Ar. ...

Huttig Sash and Door is the new narne for Lumbermen's Sup ply Co., Oklatroma City, Ok. Kentucky Lumber Co., Louisville, Ky., is moving to new quarters at 4053 Westport Rd., Louisville Bmco Lumber Co., Searcy, Ar., introduced Miss Arkansas at its recent grand open- ing...

Scotfl'shas opcocd new stores in Tallahassce and Port Orange, Fl., with oonstruction underway on a new unit in Orlando and a repliacemcot store in Kissimmee, both in Ft. . . Poyless Cashways has opened a sixth Furrow Building Materisls outlet in the Houston, Tx., area. .

,Yod Freman Lumber Co., Searcy, Ar., has received the Civitan Club's award for businesses which have continued belief in the grorvth and derrelop ment of the city . . Cox Ploing Mill & Lumbr @., htc., Little Rock, Ar., reoeivod a E yar award from The Vdspar Paint Corp.. .

Builder Mort ofAneriu, Inc. has opencd a Souhwcst Regional office in Dallas, Tt. . . . Home cmlten Centq hrc. is the new corporate namc for thc MooreHandley Homccrafters stores; Union Camp is still trying to scll thc 49 outlcts . . . Hurdy/hn South-West has becn consolidatod with the Mdwest division of Handy Dan by W.R. Grace & Co. into a ncw Ccntral region. .

The Nationol Houskg Clitit Council has bcco formed by E.L. McNeely, chairman of Wickes Co.s, as a oalition to ombat the housing slump thc U.S. Lqtc of fuvinssAssns. andthe Notiorrol Associotion of Muual fuvings funlcs are proposing a plan for "warehousing" low-yielding mortgagcs in Washington D.C. as awayout...

The Interior Dept. has announccd that it will cxtend the grace period for companies in danger of defauhing on federal timber contracts to June 30 . The Supreme Court let the asbestos liabilig ruling stand in favor of the workcr exposod bv refusing to hear apecals from the insurancecompanicsinvolved.

Hardd fumberprduaionin the South for Feb. Qatest figs. available) was Ath hie[Gr than for the previous monthwith ordcrsup 1390 and shipm€nts 1490, but 3l % lower than for the same period a year ago.

Texas Convention Agenda

John Martin, executive v.p. of the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Absociation, will address the 96th annual convention of the Lumbermen's Association of Texas in Fort Worth, April 16-18, with a discussion of the Washington scene.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred B. Crozier, Joe Howard Lumber Co., Fort Worth, are chairmen of the three day meeting which will be welcomed by Bob Bolen, mayor of Forth Worth. Other speakers will include Richard Carver, a member of the President's Commission on Housing; G. Hunter Bowers, Jr., deputy assistant secretary, Department of Housing and Urban Development; David Leland, executive v.p., building products, Southwest Forest Industries, Phoenix, Az.; and Dr. Warren Matthews, senior economist, Mortgage Bankers Association, Washington, D.C.

Business sessions under the direction of pres. O.W. Anderson, will include the election of the board of directors. Other events scheduled are the Texas Forestry Association reception, Johnnie High's country music review at the president's dinner, a ladies luncheon, golf and tennis tournaments. The tradition of the James Bute Paint Co. providing bus transportation from the hotel to the Tarrant County Convention Center, location of the meetings and exposition, will be continued.

Houston Builder Complex

June is the target operational date for the builder yard section of the new Boise Cascade Building Materials Distribution Division complex being built in Houston, Tx. Completion of the remainder of the 15 acre facility is set for July. Being built at a cost of $4.5 million, the project includes a 30,000 sq. ft. builder yard warehouse, 28,000 sq. ft. prehung door plant, 10,000 sq. ft. distribution warehouse, 5,000 sq. ft. maintenance shop and 35,000 sq. ft. lumber storage shed.

"The Houston builder service complex will provide us with a strong support system for our l0 local retail yards and provide more efficient service to our customers in the rapidly expanding Houston metropolitan area,t' Dan Hogan, Boise Cascade v.p. and general mgr. of the Building Materials Distribution Division, explained.

Joe Stanton is Houston area mgr. Don Hendrickson heads the South Central Region.

Charge lt, Please

Home centers, hardware and garden supply stores are being recruited by American Express for participation in their charge card system.

According to Mick McCormick, director ofretail coverage and expansion, their card holders want home improvement retailers added to those accepting the credit cards. Reportedly over two thousand home improvement retailers currently accept American Express cards with a volume of $42 million charges last year.

Among stores listed by McCormick as being part of the American Express system are the W.R. Grace home centers, including Angels, Channel, Handy City, Handy Dan and Orchard Supply, and Harry's Hardware, a five store chain in New Orleans, La.

We'r6 Wholesale distributors specializing in redwood sld- ing, B-grade redwood, benderboard and othsr redwaod items plus pine and fir. Ask us about epeciflod and random length items.Please contact our Southern States specialist Eliot Wilson or ono of our other sales representativss.