SEASON'S GREETINGS from Bill

Johnson

John Polach

Larry Hansen

Walt Hiort

Gary Simmen

Ruby Spoor

Ethel Vizzard

Lori Rucker

Cook

Senqte OKs Redwood, Other Pqrks

The United States Senate passed the bill to establish a 61,654' acre redwood national park in the Mill Creek and Redwood Creek areas of northern California, November l.

After extensive, and at times, emotional floor debate, the Senate approved the provision for the exchange of the Forest Service-managed federal Northern Purchase Unit for private land. The amendment to eliminate the land exch,ange provision was defeated by a vote o{ 51 to 30. Southern senators lead the fight against land exchange.

The bill was approved by a vote of 77 to 6 and sets an authorization ceiling of $I00 million for the park. The lumber industry has estimated that the park will cost at least d,ouble that figure. The House Interior Committee is not expected to consider the measure until field hearings are completed next year.

Moving hastily, the Senate also passed a bill creating a federal recreation area of some 1.25 million acres in the State of Washington. The measure would establish a 503,000-acre North Cascades National Park, a 62,000-acre Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, a 105,000-acre Ross Lake National Recreation Area, a 520,000-acre Pasayten Wilderness Area, and increase Glacier Peak National Wilderness bv 10.000 acres. House action is unlikely until next year.

Higher Interest Rotes?

Interest rates are likely to edge higher in the next three to six months, predicts the Mortgage Bankers Association of America. Mortgage men feel that Congress' probable rejection of a surcharge will mean government borrowing to finance a record deficit, pushing up interest rates and restricting loans that might go into housing. Then, the Federal Reserve Board might tighten credit as it did last year.

The light construction industry generally favors a tax rise now, fearing a tight money economy might touch off similar devastating consequences as occurred last year when the construction industry was clobbered.

Northwest Distributors Convene

Distribution and management were the prime topics at the eleventh annual Northwest Building Materials Distributors Association convention held recently.

Jack Parshall, editor oI Build,ing Supply lVeaus, Robert D. Peterson, president of Palmer G. Lewis Co. and Jack Epstein spoke to the group.

Clay Blackstock, Blackstock Lumber Co. in Seattle m.c.'d and Phillip Harris o{ Palmer G. Lewis was program chairman.

Distribulors Optimistic for '68

Addressing the first general business session during the l6th annual meeting of tfre National Building Material Distributors Association, Joseph F. Dillon, president, stated, o'seoeral manulacturers haue ind,icated, a three to lour week backlog is d,eael,oping and I am hopelul tlwt we haue now turned, the corner and, lace a resurgence in our markets."

On this note of optimism, NBMDA's largest convention began.

The first day featured a session on data processing. A panel, consisting of six distributor members, reviewed their firm's equipment and systems thoroughly; samples of forms and printouts were distributed to the audience so they could easily follow each presentation. In addition, each panelist showed colored slides of their operation and equipment rooms. The panel was moderated by William J. Salmon, Associated Building Centers, who has extensive background in EDP. Panelists were: P. W. Marks, Tulane Hardwood Lumber Co.; P. G. Lewis. Palmer G. Lewis Co.: E. D. Grojean, Cape Supply Co.; A. M. Ewing, Wm. Cameron & Co., Wholesale; and J. F. Jentis, Newark Steel Products Co.

That afternoon was devoted to concurrent sessions of the five NBMDA Product Councils, viz general commodities, specialties, lumber, plywood, and millwork. Each reviewed problems and discussed ways and means to improve the sales of the product group.

The delegates spent the second day attending a general busi. ness session featuring three top industry speakers during the morning, and visiting over 100 D/M Comcen (Distributor/Manufacturer Communication Center) suppliers' booths during the afternoon.

An informal 'oTown Hall for Distributors" on the last morning of the Convention completed the busy schedule. During this session, 25 tables were designated with 12 warehouse operational problem areas. Those attending were free to sit at the table of their choice for a round-table discussion of their particular area of interest. The session was then summarized by each table's discussion leader.

Total attendance was over 850. This exceeds the last year's record breaking convention by about 100 persons.

Membership of NBMDA consists of 500 wholesale building product distributors operating approximately 800 warehouse locations.

Plywood Upfurn Forecqst

Plywood production in the United States is expected to reach 14.7 billion sq. ft. in 1968, an increase of about eight percent over 1967 levels, the executive vice president of the American Plywood Association, James R. Turnbull, forecast.

He based his prediction on the assumption that there will be a tax increase early next year and a curtailment of government spending for domestic programs and foreign aid.

Turnbull said his projections are also based on the probability of 1,500,000 new housing starts in 1968, an increase of about 400,000 over 1966 and 1967.

"Back in the I950's, we considered 1,500,000 new starts a normal housing year," he said. "But on the performance of the past three years, it can be considered a modest boom year.oo toHowever," he added, "sins of omission can be just as deadly as sins of commission, and unless our national fiscal poliry is wisely developed and prudently administered, the tight money problem will remain with us."

Discussing the shortage of mortgage money that has been responsible for dropoffs in housing starts, Turnbull said he believes that neither Congress nor the administration will permit a repetition of recent monetary policies in an election year.

Turnbull lauded the plywood industry for "refusing to sit down and fret about the woes that beset the housine market in recent months.tn