Goost Worehouse Stocks Ample to Repqir 75,OOO Flooded Homes

Ample warehouse stocks of building materials on the west coast are helping to speed recovery from the recent severe flood damage, according to the National Building Material Distributors Association.

S. M. Van Kirk, genera,l manager of the association, reported sufficient board-type materials were on hand i,n distributors' warehouses in the flood areas to make substantial repairs to 75',000 homes. He estimated that supplies of roofing and other materials on the west coast are sufficient for immediate repair of between 7,500 and 10,000 homes.

"The ready availability of supplies in distributors' warehouses is of primary irnportance in such disasters as this," Van Kirk said. "Weeks or even months might be lost if rebuilding had to wait on the ordering and shipping of materials from manufacturers' plants, most of which ate far from the stricken areas. Retailers' stocks are inadequate to fiIl such a sudden, emergency demand as this'"

Estimated distributors' supplies on the Coast are:

Insulation. Board, .16,000,000 square feet

AsphoJt Roofing 280,000 squares

Hardboard, ...5,000,000squarefeet

Fi,r Plyzaood

Asbestos Board

Nails

Dimension Lumber

Doors

Stucco Netting

5,000,000 square feet

250,000 square feet

110,000 kegs

725 carloads

16,000

14,000 rolls

"This is the second time in recent months that distributors have played a key role in reconstruction after disasters. Warehouse stocks of building materials were rushed to Nerv England Coast cities last fall after hurricanes Carol and Edna damaged i00,00O homes and forced the evacuation of 60,000 persons," Van Kirk said.

Northwest Poy Boosts Widen

Portland, Ore.-Pacific Northn'est timber industry wage increases in recent r,l'eeks have spread to nearly one-third of the employes in Oregon and Washington, reported the I-umbermen's Industrial Relations Committee. Wage hikes have been made lor 42,N0 out of 134,000 employes in lumber, logging and plywood, ranging from 5 cents to 15 cents, an increase of 4r/a/o.

Walter Durham, Jr., manager of the committee, estimated the increases represent a boost of more than $7 million a year under agreements 'ivith both the Lumber & Sawmill Workers Union and the International \Yoodworkers of America, AF L-CIO.

Von Nuys Yord Joins SCR.IA

These BRUCE FTOORS creqfe new soles

ond give You extro Profits

The hish style and beautY of these Bruce F"loors appeal to both builders and do-it-yourself customers.

Bruce Block, Ranch Plank and Fireside Plank, like Bruce Prefinished Strip. give homes extra charm at no ext# iost because the exPense of on-the-job sanding and finishing is eliminated. The outstanding Bruce "scratch-Test" finish is baked-in at the factory for beauty and long life. With a profit on the finish as well as on the flooring, you make more on every sale of these widely advertised floorings. Ask your Bruce representative for literature and Prices.

E.

For information on Bruce products, contact: E.

Hal A. Brou'n, chairman of the Membership committee of the Southern California Retail Lumber Association, has enrolled the NfcKay Lumber Co., Van Nuys, as an active member. S. Morhar owns the yard at 14201 Aetna St.

New Lien Lqw Book

The Building Material Dealers' Credit Association, Los Angeles, has published a new S0-page book, "Mechanics' LienLaw and Other Statistics Affecting the Building Industry in California." Price is $1 per copy.

Glendqle Building Record

Building permits of $15,85i,701 for Glendale, Calif., in 1955 set an all-time record, eclipsing by $944,679 the previous $15,907,022 established in 1954.

The annual wood growth on 15 acres of West Coast forest is enough to build an average-size American home'

Inspection Burequ Nqme €honged

The West Coast Lumber Inspection Bureau is the new name of the half-century old organization responsible for inspecting and grading of lumber produced in western Oregon, Washington and northern California. The new name became effective January 1, according to H. V. Simpson, manag'er, and replaces the more cumbersome West Coast Bureau of Lumber Grades and Inspection. Headquarters is at Portland, with branch offices at Seattle, Eugene, Medford, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and New York. Resident supervisors are maintained the year around at Eureka, San Francisco, Chicago and Dallas. Active direction of the Bureau is in the hands of General Superintendent Howard Brown.

December Housing Stqrts-75roOo

The preliminary estimate of 75,000 new nonfarm dwelling units started in December is 15,600 units less than December last year. An upward revision in the September figures of 1,900 units brought the total preliminary estimated starts for 1955 to 1,3D9@. This is 109,500 ahead of 1954, and only 66,100 lower than the record-breaking year of 1950.

CRA Dofcr on Finishes

The California Redr,r'ood Association's revised data sheet, "Maintenance of Exterior Finishes" (485-1), may be obtained by writing to the association, 576 Sacramento Street, San Francisco 11, California.

Tucker New President of F. C.RussellCo.i Fred fhomson to Boqrd of Directors

Frank C. Russell, founder of The F. C. Russell Company, announces the election of William Tucker as president by the board of directors. In this capacity, Tucker rvill act as chief executive officer of the company. NIr. Russeli stated that he will continue on in the capacity of chairman of the board, relinquishing his duties as president to devote more time to the overall policies and expansion of the rapidly growing company, which rvas originally formed tn 1937 and has grown to one of the foremost manufacturers of metal windows and doors in the residential field.

Tucker was brought into the company by Russell as vicepresident and director of manufacturing a little over a year ago, in anticipation of today's move. He was later advanced to executive vice-president and assistant to Mr. Russell.

Fred Thomson, prominent Southern California lumberman and building executive, was elected to the board of directors of F. C. Russell Company at the same meeting. Thomson is president of the Rusco Prime Windou' Company, Tustin, California, distributors of Russell products in the west. He is also president of the Inland Lurnber Company, wholesale distributors with concentration yards in several Southern California cities.

"Since the opening of the F. C. Russell Company branch manufacturing plant in Anaheim, California, last November, Rusco Prime Window sales have shown a steady increase throughout the southland," said Jim Connolly, vice-president and general manager of the distributing firm.

Connolly and Thomson returned from the east and middle-