Shevlin Pine Sales Gompany

F.H.A. Housing Shows Incrcase

Washington, Jan. 13.-Federal Housing Administration activities increased about one-third last year over 1938 in new home construction, modernization and total insurance, Administrator Stewart McDonald reported today.

The report showed that 153,496 dwelling units were built under the F. H. A. program, compared with 118,691 the previous year.

Modernization programs were begun for 512,849 old homes at a cost of $233,10O,00O, an increase of 35 per cent over the 52,325 homes and $172,750,000 involved in 1938.

Total home-financing insurance lvritten by the F. H. A. in 1939 amounted to $954,000,000, an increase of 35.5 per cent over the $693,50O,00O written in the previous year.

Mr. McDonald said that about 95 per cent of the new dwelling construction represented single-family units with an average F. H. A. valuation of $5000 or less. Loans on large-scale rental projects amounted to $51,436,625, compared rvith $47,493,15O in 1938.

New Intercoastal Lumber Rates Feb. 15

Rate increases on eastbound intercoastal shipments of lumber, shingles and wood pulp become effective February 15, according to an announcement by Harry S. Brown, chairman bf the Intercoastal Steamship Freight Association. New rates are: Lumber, $15 per 1,00O board feet, a flat $1 increase; shingles, 75 cents per 100 pounds, an increase of 3 cents; woodpulp, 37f cents per 100 pounds, an increase of.2l cents.

Western Retailerc Annual Feb, 22-24

The annual convention of the Western Retail Lumbermen's Association and Utah Lumber Dealer's Association will be held at the Hotel Utah, Salt Lake City, February 22,23, and 24. The annual Old Guard Dinner will be held Wednesday evening, February 21, and. the business sessions will start Thursday morning, with an address by E. E. LeValley, president of the Western Retail Lumbermen's .Association.

Among the other convention speakers will be Managing Director W. C. Bell; Tom Collins, humorist from Kansas City; Roger Finkbine, Des Moines, Iowa, president, National Retail Lumber Dealers Association; and Ralph W. Carney, Wichita, Kansas, vice-president and sales manager, Coleman Lamp & Stove Co. A splendid entertainment program is being arranged for the ladies attending the convention. The annual dinner dance ivill be held Saturday evening, February 24.

Car Owngrs Far Exceed Home Owners

That there is abundant opportunity for the building industry to expand its activities far beyond present limitations is borne out by the following statistical facts:

Ninety per cent of the families in this country with incomes over $2,00O per year own one or more automobiles, but only 51 per cent of these families own their own homes.

In the income group below the $2,000 a year standard, 60 per cent own automobiles, but orrly 38 per cent own their own homes.