Buildins Profits For 1954

The nation's home builders for the fifth straight year started more than 1,000,000 homes in 1953.

The year's total of about 1,100,000 dwelling units was only a shade below 1952's total of 1,130,000 despite a shortage of mortgage money and fears of a recession. And the 1952 total was the biggest since the record year of 1950 when 1,400,000 homes were started.

The 1953 achievement blasted some pessimistic forecasts that the nation had caught up with postwar shortages and that needs for new housing would run henceforth to only around 750,000 units a year.

For 1954, government estimates are for a l0/o drop in residential building to about 990,000 starts. Some private economists look for a 900,000 or 950,000 total.

Dick Hoover, A. L. Hoover Company of San Marino, California, wholesale lumber distributing firm, left the middle of Januarv to spend one week at the mills at Fortuna and one week at Scotia, California. Bob lfoover will be at the mills during the month of February and Stuart Jones will leave for the timber country in March. This is in line with the company policy to keep staff members abreast with production and distribution problems and follow through on customer orders.

But the drop below the 1,000,000 mark could be averted by a number of factors;

Lower down payment in credit requirements for which real estate interests are clamoring; further relief for the mortgage money scarcity which has already eased, and Federal action arising from Washington's new housing policy now being formulated.

The government estimated that 1953 construction outlays in all fields were 934,720,000,000. The forecast for 1954 shades this down to a flat $34,000,000,000.

Cash outlay for residential construction in 1954 is expected to drop to 9II,225,O00,000 from this year's g11,715,000,000. But the repair and modernization item included in these totals is expected to rise from last year's $1,104,000,000 to $1,300,000.000 in 1954.

Jerry Huntley, Fairhurst Lumber Co., Oakland, recently hopped into one of the two Cessna's that Fairhurst owns, and flew to Arizona for a business conference. On the way back, he by-passed Oakland and flew up to Fairhurst's main office in Eureka, and returned to Oakland lanuarv 10.

Paul Gaboury, Golden Gate Lumber Co., Walnut Creek. spent the first week of the new year calling on mill connections in Oregon.

Plywood qnd Door Weslern Gorporotion Opens Son Frcrncisco Brcrnch

The Plywood and, Door Western Corp., with headquarters at Nerv York and sales warehouses at New Orleans, Chicago and Long Beach, recently opened a fourth branch u,'arehouse at 19O Napoleon St., San Francisco. The official opening date of the sales warehouse in San Francisco was January l, 7954, and, as in the other branch locations, the San Francisco warehouse will stock a complete line of Birch plywood in various sizes and grades and will also furnish Birch plywood cut to order.

Elected o Long-Bell V. P.

Don R. Bodwell, manager of eastern sales for the LongBell Lumber Company, Kansas City, Mo., was elected a vice president of that company at a meeting of the board of directors on December 11.

S. (Ji-)

The branch manager of the San Francisco warehouse is a well known Bay Area lumberman--[ames

Chipman-formerly with San Francisco Plywood Companv and the Bay Plywood Company of Oakland, Californi:,r. For those who would like to give Jim a buzz at his new location, the telephone number is VAlencia 4-2547.

The "Duke" Visits South

M. L. "Duke" Euphrat, head man of the Wendling-Nathan Company, San Francisco wholesale lumber concern, spent a week in January in Southern California. He spent most of his time in company with Gus Hoover, and the situation was thoroughly investigated by the two. Mr. lloover represents the "Duke" in Southern California in a variety of ways. Not only is the "Duke" nationally famous as a lumber wholesaler of skill and sagacity, but he is likewise a handicapper of no mean ability. A good time was had by all. They were accompanied in their travels by their old friend "Lucky" Eastin, of Fresno, who lends much dignity to the group.

Mr. Bodwell's election to an office in the company, is not only a recognition of his ability as a lumber sales executive but also a reward for more than 48 years of service with the company. Don started with the company as an assistant manager of the company's yard at Independence, Kans., in 1905. Starting in 1909, he worked at the company's manufacturing operations in Louisiana until l9l2 when he was brought to the Kansas City office. He then was sent east as Long-Bell sales representative with headquarters in Philadelphia, but returned to the headquarters office in 1914. He was manaqcr of lumber sales until 1943, when he was appointed manager of eastern sales.

Appointed Director of Sqles

Harbor Plywood Corporation announces the promotion of H. W. Van Natta to the position of director of sales for the company effective January I, 1954. Mr. Van Natta succeeds E. W. Daniels who will devote his time to special undertakings utilizing his long eperience with the plywood industry.

Mr. Van Natta, who has been associated with Harbol Plywood Corporation for 24 years in the capacities of sales warehouse manager and Supervisor of Sales Warehouses, has moved his family from Atlanta, Georgia to Aberdeen and w'ill make his headquarters at the Aberdeen ofifrce of the company. He will have overall charge of all sales activities of Harbor Plywood Corporation and its subsidiaries.