THE SOUT

WAYNE GARDN ER executive vice president

QourHeRN California is fortu- lV nate to have few problems with fraudulent grade stamps because of stringent observance of codes requiring the use of grade stamped lumber.

The industry as a whole is fortunate to have the American Lumber Standards Committee to oversee all grade marking. Their involvement makes the grade stamp a truly significant assurance of quality to the consumer. All retailers should ask for lumber which is grade stamped by an ALSC certified agency.

I have been a member of the ALSC representing retailers since 1965, but the importance of its work was reinforced in my mind during the Nov. 7 meeting in New Orleans, La. Reports were made of fraudulent grade stamps turning up in both the east and the south. Fortunately, no such problems have been reported in the west.

The Southern Pine Inspection Bureau has had a number ofsuch cases with substantial impact. One grading agency reported over l0 million board feet graded with a fraudulent stamp.

In the discussion of methods of control, it was pointed out that building codes are not always a reliable control since some areas in the south don't have codes. Also, because the fraudulent stamps are deceptively similar to the genuine stamps, it is difficult to recognize lumber which has been fraudulently grade stamped.

An education program to be taken by the agencies to the builders, building officials, retailers and lending institutions was discussed. Southern California initiated a program of this type 30 years ago with success.

In other action, the LASC voted for an increase in fees from 1.50 per thousand bf to 1.750 per thousand bf. This

Colifornh Pre-$oin

698O Cheny Avenue. Long Beoch. (olifornio 90805 l2r?l 602-2405

Ftre Retardants

H Must For. Hotels, Hospitols, Schools, Government Institutions. Areos of Public Flssembly, Restouronts, Theoters, Night (lubs, Stores. Hozordous Industriol Flraos in Mines. Foctories & tUorehouses.

Fia-fach tljT-l 09 - R Closs A Product

Intumescent Loter Point (CBO #3656, Stote Fire Morsholl #C-100, LF (itp Fpprovol #24303)

Fie-Tach LlrT-l 0l - R Closs B Product

Intumes<ent Oil Bose Point (ICBO #3656,stoto Fire Morsholl #C-100-1, LA (itg Approvol #94303)

Usc on F amlng Lumber, Plywood and Tlmberr. Class I Intcrlot Flre Retardant Also Av.llable. Flve Day Turn Around, cost will be paid by the grading agency to cover the services of the ALSC certification and inspectors in the field.

Don Lee Davidson was elected president of ALSC. Other new officers are Jack Rajala, vice president; W. F. Hammond, treasurer, and T. D. Searles, executive vice president.

The LASC annual meeting which was taking place in Palm Springs at presstime will be covered in depth in the Januarv issue.

Thol's How lt Goes!

"Just keep your eyes shut! "

The Merchant Magazlne

E.J. JOHNSON executive \ vice president

ASED UPON a random survey of members, I can provide the following comments on "business in Arizona1986 style."

In general, the Arizona market continues to be strong, based mainly upon

Currentlv utilized to: r Precision End Trim I Double End Trim o Pencil Trim

Convert Discounted Lengths into Prime Movers r Crosscut - Efficiently, lnexpensively and Precisely o Manufacture: Pallet Stock, Fencing, Trusses, Ties.

Bedframes, Shelving and Stickers

Equipment operating, or scheduled for operation, in: population growth. Current data places the state's population at 3.3 million people, an increase of almost one million since the mid seventies. Arizona is definitely in "sun-belt country" and Phoenix and Tucson are most certainly "sun-belt cities." Maricopa (Phoenix) County continues to reap the greatest percentage of growth with roughly 570/o of the state's population followed by g5o/o v{i,

United States: Minnesota, Michigan, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida. Alabama. California.

Pima (Tucson) County, a distant second, at 200/0. Much more modest growth is also occurring in areas around Flagstaff, Verde Valley, Prescott and Yuma.

The net result to the state's lumber business has been two-fold. First, a lot more lumber is being consumed and, second, a lot more competition has arrived on the scene. The latter factor more than any other has had the most profound influence on the business climate this past year. Most wholesalers who responded to my survey reported that the volume of lumber sales was either up over the previous year or not significantly different. Most agreed, however, competition is so tight that profit margins are continually squeezed to the point that they unjokingly accuse the competition of "giving it away."