NEWS BRIEFS

In a rare joining together in common cause, the labor unions and the lumber comPanies are fighting the government's Proposed expansion of Redwood National Park' . . . fighting hard to overcome environmentalist propaganda, convince legislators.

The loggers caravan to San Francisco (see story p. 17 of this issue) and the planned drive to Washington, plus mailings, news releases, information Presentations and the like are all being mustered to fight the threat to the lumber industry and its workers.

Brochures carry the message: park enlargement does not make economic or environmental sense: (l) the cost would be enormous, (2) the local economY would be seriously damaged, and (3) the redwoods are saved and Protected.

But the environmentalists fight hard, supported bY California Congressman Phil Burton and Interior Secretary Cecil Andrus, both of whom have bills before the Congress to add substantial amounts of acreage around the park President Carter Pledged during his camPaign to work to "protect the redwoods"

William D. Walsh, on behalf of Arcata Redwood, LouisianaPacific and Simpson Timber notes, "there is no longer any doubt that the 'Protect the Park' claim is nothing more than a smoke screen to mask a Preserva' tionist-type land grab"

President Carter's energY Plans regarding insulation consist (l) of a tax credit for homeowners who install installation before 1984 and (2) a law requiring utilities to offer customers an insulation program where theY (or subs) would install it, then let customers repay graduallY on their monthly utility bill.

Housing starts in Mar. (latest available figures) hit 2,127,OO0, up l7% from the mo. earlier, and 49% ftom the year earlier; it was the lst mo. since Aug. '73 that starts passed the 2 million annual rate . bldg. Permits were at the 2nd highest level on record.

Single family starts were 1,525,000, strongest Pace since the feds began keePing such records in'59 . . . multi-familY housing was up 547o to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 602,000, but experts still don't see evidence of a long range uP' turn in multis.

Carlton Knight, Jr., Worcester, Ma., was elected pres. at North American l|holesale Lumber Assn.'s 85th annual, Greenbrier, W. Va., the strong possibilitY of wage & price controls within 2 years'was one of the forecasts put forward as NAWLA tried to psyche out how the future would affect business . we'll have a complete report next mo.

Robert S. Osgood, Inc. has moved to 500 Shatto Place, Los Angeles after outgrowing the bldg. it's owned for 25 Years; mailing address & tele. no. remain the same Max Hill Lumber moves its officesMaY 23, to ll44 Mines Ave., Montebello, Ca., site of their distribution yard, from Pasadena.

The Shasta County D.A. has filed a criminal complaint against Champion Building hoducts and two employees regarding the explosion and flre that killed 7, injured 5 at the then U. S. PIYwood Novoply plant, Redding, Ca., Mar. 23, 1976. . truckers are reportedly planning a 2Vr3% rate hike this summer to cover higher fuel costs. .

Pacific Commercial Co., Pottland, has purchased the former facilities of Donald M. Drake Co. to expand their operation McKenzie Industries, has sold its Springfield, Or. propertY to Pucific Plywood & Door Sales, Medford . Verlon McKinneY sold Gulf Lumber & Kiln Co., Houston, Tx. to L. C. Blake & Assoc., no price revealed.

Hemphill-O'N eil Lumb er, Chehalis, Wa., is finishing construction on new corp. Hq. (5000 sq. ft.) Stunz Lumber, Ontario, Or. has doubled its store size to 10,000 sq. ft. Dunn Lumber plans to build a $ I million retail store soon as city fathers ok it . . . 84 Lumber Co. has opened new stores in Colton, Ca. (8th in that state since June) and TemPe, Az.. -.

Furrow Building Materials is the new name for Lincoln Lumber Co., a Payless CashwaY retail outlet in Eugene, Or.; PC Plans new units in Sacramento and Fresno, Ca., later in '77 newly incorporated in Eugene are hlood Traders Inc,: Bohemia Builders Supply and Cash WaY Plywood,Inc.

CertainTeed plans to build a fiberglass insulation Plant in Madera County, Ca. . . . PaY 'n Save envisions new home centers in Reno, Nv., Alaska, Hawaii, Calif. & Washington . Kaiser Aluminum has sold its Mirawal Products to Glasweld International of S.F. . . Leadins PIY' wood, Eugene, has been sold to Brand S Corp.