DESTINATION TRENDS/WESTERN LUMBER SHIPMENTS

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For Lumber, West ls Best

With little change from the distribution patterns established in the '80s, the west continued in 1990 to be the best geographical market for the western lumber industry.

Destination of shipments data from the Western Wood Products Economic Service Department showed 68% of western lumber delivered to the western states including Hawaiiand Alaska. The midwest was the second best customer wirh 14%.

Southern states showed the in- creasing strength of southern pine and Canadian lumber with shipments of 8o/0, down from 130/o in 1980 and 11% in '85 and '87. Reflecting hard economic times, the northeast dropped to 4010. Exports accounted for 7o/0, a slight increase from the '80s.

Home Depot Laboratory Set

Home Depot plans a summer opening of an experimental test store in San Diego, Ca., where it will try out different things which may later be implemented in other stores.

"lt's not a prototype store, it's a laboratory store," says spokesman Lonnie Fogel. "lt will enable us full run of a full size store to tinker with a whole lot of experiments."

Although the company is very secretive about the project, possible features reportedly include the name Home Depot Expo, display but no inventorying of lumber or plywood, an emphasis on big ticket items and a much different atmosphere from regular Home Depot units.

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Tale of Early Redwood Days

Of special interest to those in the redwood business, an article by Gage McKinney, a contributing editor to The Merchant Magazine, tells the story of Capt. John William Gage, one of the hundreds of men who pioneered the redwood coast in the days of the sailing vessel.

Printed in The Californians, a popular history magazine, McKinney's article about his great-great grandfather is said to be the most complete biography to date of any skipper who sailed into the treacherous doghole ports of Mendocino County.

Telling of the worst maritime tragedy on the Mendocino Coast as well as the redwood industry, the article appears in the Jan.-Feb. issue which will be available on selected newsstands in March or by order ($4.25 including postage) from The Colifornions, 5720 Ross Branch Rd., Sebastopol, Ca.95472.

Hunt Favored For WWPA Job

Bob Hunt, secretary/treasurer and general manager of the Western Wood Products Association, was the favored candidate to replace retiring president H. R. "Bob" Roberts as The Merchanl went to press.

Roberts'successor was due to be announced March l5 at the WWPA spring meeting in San Francisco, Ca. Following presentation of a candidate's name to the executive committee and the board. directors will vote to approve the appointment.

Several candidates including Gerard R. "Jerry" Griffin of Griffin & Co., Portland, Or., presented their qualifications to the search committee composed of WWPA officers and past chairmen. In addition to reviewing candidates, the committee headed by WWPA chairman Tom Richards, Idaho Forest Industries, interviewed several applicants, according to reliable sources.

Hunt was said to have "lots of support" for the position, an association spokesman said. He was considered to be Roberts'choice for the position.

The new president will take oflice in October.

Completely self-contained, it handles five gallon, gallon, quart and pint sizes, measures 23-1/2" wide x 32" deep x 38-l/2" high and takes 5'2" of floor space.