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Almost 1.330.000 nonfarm homes were started in 1955, the U. S. Department of Labor's Bureau oi Labor Statistics announced. Housing starts in 1955 were second only to the record 1,396,000 units in 1950 and were 9/o higher than in 1954. The seasonally adjusted rate has declined each month since September 1955, but averaged over 1.2 million units in the last three months of 1955. This 'rvas the highest fourthquarter rate in any year except 1954, when builders were taking advzintage of the substantially increased supply of mortgage funds available on favorable terms. Of the units started in 1955, almost 1,311,000 r.vere privately owned and 19,000 rvere in public housing projects. More privately owned l-family houses were started in 1955 than in any previous year-not excepting 1950..

Offer Deqler Aids for OHI

To encourage lumber dealers' all-out participation in Operation Home Improvement, Masonitems, the house organ circulated to 20,000 dealers by Masonite Corporation, devotes its current issue to what it aptly calls "the biggest sales promotion program in the history of construction." An editorial offers five suggestions on ways for dealers to participate in a program which, it says, may more than double the present $8 to $10 billion annual home improvement business.

The attractive eight-page issue contains a"jiffy order card" on which a dealer may order OHI sales aids including a home remodeling poster, advertising mats, free plans for making an OHI information and service center out of Masonite "Peg-Board" panels, and the Saturday Evening PostNRLDA merchandising calendar and kit.

Merlo NoGql Deputy Sncrrk for Hoo-Hoo

Bob Gallagher of New Mexico Timber Company, Albuquerque, and this year's Supreme Gurdon of Hoo-Hoo, has appointed Harry Merlo as Deputy Snark for Northern California. Merlo, of Rounds Lumber Company and a past president of Redwood Empire Hoo-Hoo Club 65, is currently also an officer of San Francisco Hoo-Hoo Club 9. He assumed his deputy duties in December.

It had been printed in the December 1 issue of The CALIFORNIA LUMBER MERCHANT that Bill McCubbin of Raymer & McCubbin, San Francisco, had been appointed to this post. However, McCubbin is currently devoting his extra time to Hoo-Hoo in working with Herb Schaur, Jr., general chairman of San Francisco's 1956 HooHoo national convention.

Mendocino County Growing

Ukiah, Calif.-Population in Mendocino county has gained 28/o since the 1950 census, with the new county total 53,000, and indicating that a fair proportion of the 27.2% state population increase is finding its rvay to Northern California. Building permits for 1955 in Ukiah, the county seat, more than doubled the 1954 figure-$3,787,827 compared to $1,799,840 the previous year.