Huge new TW&J distribution yard being built

Officials of Tarter, Webster & Johnson, its parent company the American Forest Products Corp. and of the city of Cerritos, Calif., participated in ground breaking ceremonies at a major wholesale lumber and wood products distribution center which will be moved there from its present Los Angeles location.

When completed, the 2}-acre site will have nearly 71,000 sq. ft. of protected warehousing. Together with outside storage, this will permit a typical inventory of 7 million bf., enough material to complete- ly frame more than 7,000 typical single family dwellings.

Included is a 10,000 sq. ft. office and sales headquarters for the 65 person stafi.

The principal reason cited for the move is the need to be more conveniently situated to the major building and industrial activities in the Los Angeles basin. The new location is served by three major freeways and also directly by railroad.

In reality there will be two distribution centers within the complex. One devoted to imported and domestic hardwoods for such customers as the furniture trade. The largest portion, however, will stock western softwood species in just about all grades and dimensions regularly manufactured. Included will be products such as plywood and millwork.

Many of the products stocked are manufactured by the parent American Forest Products Corporation. AFPC, one of the nation's principal lumber manufacturers had $105.2 million sales in 1967, principally from the lumber division, Tarter, Webster & Johnson.