They're Out There . . Watching, Waiting

n UR favorite scene in the science fiction \-7 meyiss is the one following the Big Fight wherein the Bug-Eyed Monster is driven away by the hero to the delight and relief of all the Good Guys. Said hero then lets fly with the following, classic bit of advice, "yes, he (or she or it) are gone for now, but we must always be vigilant for their return don't forget, they're always out there . watching, waiting for their chance to return again."

We couldn't help recalling all this when we read of the recent announcement by the Aluminum Company of America that it was slashing production of its Alumiframe line of aluminum wall studs, joists, posts and beams due to the growing scarcity of aluminum. The short supplies have been attributed to federal price controls, a power shortage in the Pacific Northwest that slowed aluminum production and to high demand for other, more profitable aluminum products. Alcoa housing products such as residential siding and window frames are not affected by the cutback.

The news has been greeted with an under- standable sigh of relief by the wood products industry. But we would offer the counsel that they keep one eye cocked over their shoulder because the threat to wood from aluminum is not really gone, itos out there watching, waiting for its chance to return, just like the Bug-Eyed Monster in the sci-fi flicks.

The substitutes surface when their manufacturers feel they can be price competitive and/or perform more efficiently. That they are the better system for framing and the like is insupportable with us. Since the decline of lumber prices from their recent highs, Alumiframe's one-time price advantage claims are gone and so, with the inevitability of economics, the system has gone into hibernation. We think it should stay there, barring introduction of some marvelous new feature yet unrevealed that would give merit to its shaky claims.

But if you think Alcoa won't be backo along with its peers, at the first possible moment, think again. Just as money and the market killed their competitive system, so can the situation reverse again to return it.

Kimberly-Clark invites you to come down to the Banana Belt

The next time the storms are fierce in the mountains just above us, and your regular supplier is only slightly more accessible than the top of Mount Everest, be glad Kimberly-Clark chose to build its thoroughly modern, fully automated, completely computerized mill down where the birds still sinq and the roads are passable. lf at f irst you don't succeed, turn back to Kimberly-Clark. Chances are we can load you up even before your f rostbite recedes. f T may have been the 70th annual I convention for the Western Building Material Assn., but there certainly was no hardening of any arteries at their dynamic Western Roundup held recently in Seattle at the Olympic Hotel.

We don't mind being second choice once in a while. Many of our "drop-ins" decide to make Kimberly-Clark f irst choice everv time.

There was a full slate of events, fast paced, informative and spiced with enough fun to make it all a very palatable mixture.

A strong slate of officers for 1974 was elected. Jerry Williams, Valley Best-Way Building Supply, Spokane, Wa., was chosen new president; Robert E. Bush, Bayview Lumber Co., Cosmopolis, Wa., is 1st v.p. with E. P. "Woody" Railey, second v.p. W. Stewart Orr, Three C's Lumber Co., Grants Pass, Or. and Ross Kincaid, WBMA, were named national directors.

Ross Kincaid remains as exec. v.p. untilJuly,l9T4 at whichtime he moves over to become Director of