LE1ITERS

Shocked Reader

It is probably not very surprising that the general public is woefully ignorant of the facts about the lumber and forestry industry.

In the April Merchant Magazine, we find an editorial about steel studs and an article about hemp fibea neither of which mnkes even a slight bow to Peter Dempsey's article, "What Your Customers Don't Know Could Hurt You."

Editorially, tte dlscusslon centerlr around price and supply comparisons and mentions that "steel stud producers also claim envirorunental advantages, but does not mention the facts in Mr. Dempsey's article: (1) The energy needed to produce a ton of steel is 17 times that needed to produce a ton of wood. (2) Toxic substances released in the manufacturing processes for fabricated metals is 5 times that of wood, and primary metals is 20 times wood. (3) Mr. Dempsey did not mention that for every pound of wood grown, a tree absorbs l-1l2 pounds of carbon dioxide and gives off 1 pound of oxygen, and that carbon dioxide is stored when the tree is cut.

Then owner William Conde of C & S Building Supply, Harrisburg, Or., says, "The truth of the matter is &at wcte nmning out of trees.' Mr. Dempsey pointed out that America's forests have grown more wood than was hanested for the last 50 years. In 1989, growth exceeded harvest by 37%, brt in the national forests, which the preservationists are trying to preserve, growth is 55% over harvest. And although 5O% of our softwood timber is federally owned, it provides only 14% of our hanest.

It shocked me to see articles with misinformation holding a 2 tD I advantage over the true facts in a lumber publication. The truth about America's forests is the most optimistic, economically and environmentally productive story in the nation today, but the media and the administation choose to ignore it. We need !o get the facts out to the general public, so they can make reasoned, accurate judgments about our industry.

Stuart H. Jones

P.O. Box 67

[,a Veme, Ca. 917 5O-0067

A carefuI reading of tlu editorial will show we don't favor steel studs. Neither do we agree with Willian Condc on U.S. forests. But our industry tceds to know wlnt's occuning and.wlut people thinlc, wlutherwe like it or not. - Editor o EHgp 6]ucd Famctb

TREATING IS PRO.ENVIRONMENT

I have dealt with public concem and government policy related to use of timber resources during most of my 25 years as a professional forester. As the environmental conscience of our country has awakened, there has been enormous change. Much of it positive.

Scientifically sound forest management principles recognizing the special values of the forests and incorporating state-of-theart resource knowledge have made new practices both socially supported and economically feasible. Unfortunately some changes, like the massive spotted owl land set-asides, have been supported not by good science, but by the ever swaying political pendulum. Tbe growtb, power and success of environmental lobbying have jeopardized balanced forest management and restricted our nation's ability to meet future wood product needs. At least in the short term.

In time the pendulum will reverse to achieve a more proper balance. As we seek to meet the needs of a growing national and global population, the environmental advantages of wood products - renewability, low energy requirements, versatility - and the bigh productivity of our forests will come to the forefront. The wood treating industry's ability to extend the useful life of wood products will become even more valuable.

Treated wood productusers share in the pain of the political timber supply gridlock spreading and affecting North America. Fortunately most pressr.ne treated materials ale products of second or third growth and private forests where the anti-harvest pressures are more manageable. Pressure treated products can substitute effectively for many of the fine grained old growth materials which are in short supply and increasingly costly. Expanding research continues to demonstrate treated wood products are effective and environmentally safe in aquatic and backyard applications. Treated wood remains a strong marriage between the wonders of nature and a creative society seeking to balance the need for long lasting, cost effective building materials and a clean. atbactive environment.

Dennls Hayward

Executive Director

Westem

Wood Preservers Institute

601 Main St., Suite 401

Vancouver, Wa.98660

EDI: More Floor-Ready Goods

Retailers predict in three years, nearly half of all merchandise will be prccessed using Electronic Data Interchange for order transactions/notifications and managed under Quick Response progfirms, a process of rapidly replenishing product to retailers in short interval cycles.

In addition, half of all merchandise will be prepared by vendors in a "floor ready" mode where all packaging and tagging is complete before the merchandise is shipped to the retailer, an International Mass Retail Association study reports.

Coupled with ED[, bar coding and scanning technologies, this "floor ready" mode will minimize handling for re0ailers, allowing merchandise to flow through the retail supply line to stores more rapidly. These changes are part of a Eend that is moving many of the processes traditionally done in retail stores and distribution centers back to the manufacturer's operation.

Forestry Screen Saver

Pictues combined with infonnation about forests and wood products comprise 19 images and 19 pages of educational text on a computer monitor screen saver available from the Temperate Forest Foundation.

For use on IBM or IBM compatibles MS/DOS) with Windows, the screen saver comes with two 3.5" disks. Copies sell for $28 each plus $3.95 shipping and handling. Order fonns available from (503) 579-6762 orFAX 503-579-0909

FOR DOMESTIC SAES CAL: Jerry Long, Michael Parrella, LYnn Bethurum. Janet Parrella, Pete Ulloa, Bruce Keith, Matt Petersen.

FOR INTERNATIONA SAES CAL: Nestor Pimentel. Abel Flores.

FONTANA WHOLESALE Lumber held an excellent open house Nril?2. at lheir 10 plus acre, three cylinder treating plant, Fontana, Ca. Ted Gilben, Producl Sabs Go., won a BBQ smoker in the drawing, Gordon Mann,

Manufacturers of Quality Glulam Beams since 1977