National-American plans more meets in the West

Jack Mulrooney, exeo. vp., t\ationalAmerican Wholesale Lumber Association, and Pete Niebling, western mullag(rr? trav' elled the lengtl and breadth of the Pacific Coast in late October, holding rvell attended regional meetings.

Meetings were held in Vancouver, Seattleo Portland, Eugene, Medford, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Local chairmen were: Paul Plarrt, ltalplt S. Plant Limited, Vancouver; Barnes Mauko Mauk Seattle Lumber Co., Seattle; Weldon Smith, Patrick Lumber Co., Portland, Rttss Fryburg, Timberline Lumber Co.n Eugene; Robert Schott, Forestglen Lumber ()o., Medford, Ore.; John Polach, Hobbs Wall Lumber Co., San Francisco and Sterling Wolfe, Marquart-Wolfe Lumber Co., Newport Beach.

Members and guests in attendariee were briefed by the WWPA on the new grades and discussed matters of Iocal arrrl natiorral concem with Messrs. Mulrooney tntl Nieb Iing.

These annual meetings have served a very uselul purpose for members of the association. In coming years it is planned to have more frequent get-togethers on a regular basis. We are glad to see this move to better intra-industry communications.

Sterlins

loser Beoms Scqn Plywood

First industrial application of laser research at the Oregon Graduate Center has been incorporated into a new process "ottttol system for the pll"wood industry developed by Morvue Electronics of Tigard, Oregon.

The laser is part of an electronic scanner which monitors the ribbon of veneer as it comes off the lathe. The system detects defects in the veneer and feeds the information to a computer, which controls a clipper, providing highly accurate control over trimming defects from the veneer, with resultant increased output of defect-{ree product.

Towords New DoorStqndords

Members of the National Woodwork Manufacturers Association's Committee on Hardwood Door Standards have met with the Forest Service and the National Bureau of Standards to revise the product standard for hardwood veneered flush doors.

The recommended revisions agreed upon will now be submitted to the Department of Commerce {or processing as industry standards.

Lqlest HousingStort Figures

Private housing starts in October dipped three percent from the 4l/z-year peak rate registered in September but were above the rate for October a year ago.

On a seasonally adjusted annual rate basis, October starts were I.543 million units, compared with 1.592 million units in September and 1.496 million units last October.

The Census Bureau reported that in the six-month period ending October 1968, the average of seasonally adjusted monthly rates was almost unchanged from the average for the preceding six months.

Economisf Sees Continued Growth

Dr. George Gline Smith, economic consultant to the National Forest Products Association, has forecast both short- and longterm outlooks for business activity.

Housing starts in 1968 were forecast at around 1.5 million units, which could increase to 1.65 million units in 1969. In a long-range forecast to 1975, Dr. Smith projected housing activity increasing to possibly two million units in the early 1970's; nonresidential c,onstruction rising l7 perceni by 1972; industrial production increasing by 24 percentl Gross National Product up 23 percent, and lumber consumption increasing 27 percent by 1972.

He said softwood lumber consumption could increase to 40 billion board feet by 1972 and that production of hardwood could hit 10 million board feet bv the same vear.

Editorinl Response

Our thanks to the Cromar Lumber Co. of Salt Lake City, Utah, for thinking enough of. The Merchant's Oct. editorial, "Do We Face a Permanent Lumber and Plywood, Shortage?" to include extensive quotes from it with their latest mailings.

Cromar, like so many thoughful members of our industry, shares our concern of a permanent shortage.-Editor

AFPC Mnrketihg Moves

Tarter, Webster & Johnson has been named marketing agent for Modular Structures, Inc. of Sonoma, Calif., manufacturers of Styro-Kore modular floor, roof and wall panels.

A completely new concept in building techniques, Styro-Kore is made up of a polystyrene insulating loam core sandwiched between two panels of building materials.

Calaveras Development Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of American Forest Products Corp., has voted to change their name to American Forest Properties, Inc., according to J. A. DeMaria, secretary.

Poflqtch Buys Two in Colombiq

Plans to purchase two Colombia, South America wood products companies have been announced by Potlatch Forests. For an undisclosed cash amount, Potlatch will purchase from the Portco Corp.o Portland, Oregon, two of its subsidiary companies--Chapas de Narino, S.A., a hardwood plywood manufacturero and Maderas de Narino, Ltda., a producer of hardwood lumber.

The mills together employ 450 people. Combined they hold permits and concessions for 350,000 acres of timberland.