THE CALIFORNIA

Jack Dionne, Publisher

bcorporctcd uldor thr lorr ol Cqlilonric Publirhed the lgt cad lSth oI ecch month ct Roomr 508-9.10, 108 West Sixth Streel Los Angeles 14, Cctil., Telephone VAndike 4565 Eatrrrd cr Socoad-clau Eatl.r S.pt.Ebot 23, l$?il, at tha Port O6cr ct Lor Altctor, Ccliloraic, uqder Lct ol Mcrch 3, 1879

How Tumber Looks

While the industry average in Crow's Lumber Price Index dropped in the period ending January 24, the green Douglas fir segment remained unchanged. Scattered price gains in green dimension, mostly in Utility, were offset by weakness in timbers. A number of new price lists issued by kiln-drying mills brought Standard & Btr dimension down officially to where the market has actually been. Volume of sales in Economy dry boards and dimension has been slightly better. Dry hemlock dimension has been firm, with upper grades soft. Although prices have not changed, it has 'been more difficult to buy ponderosa pine common boards for mill shipment; select and shop showed signs of weakness.

Shipments of 493 mills reporting to the National Lumber Manufacturers Assn. in the week ending January 18 were 3.0% below production; orders werc 8.5/o above. For the young year to date,

Western Yords in Finols of Brqnd-Nome Retoiler-of-Yeor

FLASH ! As we go to press, word is just received January ?3 that several leading western yards have been named among the 8 building material dealers in the 586 merchan-ts selected to coirpete for the 1957 Brand-Name Retailer-of-the-Year titles. These include the Motroni-Heard Lumber Co., Woodland, Calif.; the O'Malley Lumber Co., Tucson, Arizona; Miles D. Bradfield Lumber Co., Boulder, ,Colo.; Monarch Lum!_e-r Co., Butte, Mont.; Morgan Builders Supply Co., Walla Walla, Wash.; AAA Lumber Co., Waco, and Plumb-Mitchell Lum'ber Co.. Houston. Texas.

shipments were 3.3/o and orders 9.8% above production Orders of 104,057,679 feet were 0.3/o above production at 156 mills reporting (127 operating) to the West Coast Lumbermen's Assn. in the week ending Jan. 18. Shipments were 12.2/o under production Orders of 88,013,000 feet were 22.1/o above production at 129 mills reporting to the Westcrn Pine Association in the week ending Jan. 18. Shipments were 8.9y'o above Orders of 33.620.000 feei riceived by California Redwood Association member mills during December were greater than shipments of. 25,764,000 feet and production of 32,574,W0 feet. Orders on hand December 31 totaled 49,015,000 feet.

(Continued on Page 72)

Hondling ..29

Pole-type Shed Construction Prqised by Declers. .30

New System Puts Every Deqler in Cqbinet Business. . .48

Free Wqll Surfocing Disploy Provided to Dealers. . . .60

Short History of the PCWHDA-PcrI V. .62

l.c.c. AciloN To sroP li.TRAnSr CARS OF TUMBER

The ICC is taking steps to stop lumber mills from shipping delayed movement or "transit cars" of lumber. The following release outlines the basis for the ICC complaints seeking injunc-

' tions against the Union Pacific and Northern Pacific Railroads for intentionally delaying the movement of carload shipments of lumber-what we know in the trade as "transit cars." The actions are based on that part of the ICC Act which prohibits railroads from furnishing services not provided for in the

' tarifis. In this case the tariffs do not provide for any uncom- pensated service of delay. Where their investigation warrants, similar complaints may later be filed against other railroads engaged in accepting carloads of lumber for delayed routing.

The ICC Act provides that the railroads and the consignors or shippers can be held equally liable where a violation of this kind

Some L. A. Building Figures:

Permits issued for single-family dwellings in Los Angeles in the first nine months of 1957 totaled 9,222, amounting to $137,232,009; apartment buildings, 1,322 permits, W,259,270; duplexes, 183 permits, $2,325,896. The total of dwellings started in the period, plus dwelling units resulting from additions, alterations and relocation units, meant housing lor 23,568 families or 82,488 persons.

Also launched in the 9-months period were 220 office buildings totaling $24,584,298; perhits for 3,093 private garages totaling $4,443,t76; 71 permits for public garages at $2,297,199.

f is oroven. said the National Retail Lumber Dealers Association.

is proven, said the Nationai

The release follows:

The Interstate Commerce Commision announced the December23 filing of complaints against the delayed lumber practices of the Union Pacific and Northern Pacific Railroads.

The complaints, filed by the United States Attorneys at Des Moines, Iowa, and St. Paul, Minnesota, seek injunctions under section 3 of the Elkins Act to prevent the Union Pacific and 'Northern Pacific Railroads from intentionally delaying the movement of carload shipments of lumber on their lines while the lumber shipper or broker seeks a market for the shipment and then directs its diversion to the market location.

ICC Chairman Owen Clarke stated, "This is the comrnencement of a Commission campaign to stop this harmful delayecl lumber practice engaged in by a number of the nation's foremost railroads. Many of these delays exceed 20 days. Such delay results in the carriers assuming the storage costs of the lumber dealer, creates costly operating problems, avoids the proper payment of demurrage and contributes to the creation of car shortages during peak shipping periods. The tariffs do not provide for this uncompensated service of delay, and the granting of such service violates section 6(7) of the Interstate Com\ merce Act and section 1 of the Elkins Act."

Mr. Clarke indicated that investigation was continuing to ascertain the degree to which other railroads are engaged in intentionally delaying lumber shipments and that when the evidence warrants, similar injunctive actions will be filed against additional rail carriers. In instances where the rail carriers continue the intentional delayed movement of lurnber shipments, and the evidence warrants, the Commission will recomrnend that criminal action be instituted and indictments sought against carriers and their responsible officials and against the shippers who solicit such delayed service.

Snork of Universe Ernie Woles Meets Wirh Hotel Men in los Vegos

Snark of the lJniverse Ernie Wales, along with Secretary Ben Springer, members of the Las Vegas Hoo-Hoo Convention committee, and Southern California Black Cats Dee Essley, Roy Stanton, Jercy Essley, Jim Forgie and Don Bufkin, met with the Las Vegas Hotel Association rnembers January 17 to outline conveniion activities and hotel reservations for the International Concatenated Order of Hoo-Hoo convention to be held there in September. Bob Gallagher from New Mexico was also present to help work out the details.

Four Las Vegas hotels have been named as convention headquarters and will house the several hundred lumbermen, their wives and families during their stay in the beautiful sun country. The Thunderbird, Sahala, El Rancho and Riviera will play hosts to the Black.Cats and each hostelry is famous for its nite life and entertainment, along with the various games' All HooHoo members will be notified well in advance regarding rates at each location.

- "We hope all members will plan to take their vacationg du1lng convention time so that this yCar we will have a record-breaking attendance at the Las Vegas meetings," Snark Wales declared.

Other evidence of the city's growth, according to The Los Angeles Times: 17 permits at $7,853,398 were issued for public works and utilities buildings, 11 permits at $792,475 for public administration buildings, and 24 permits at $19,859,073 for school structures (not to mention 48 school buildings started in county areas).

SCRTA Retoil ond Wholesole lllembers to Confer ot Ambqssqdor, Feb. 12

The Ambassador hotel in Los Angeles was selected by a majority of the members in a mail vote conducted last month by Executive Vice-President Orrie W. Hamilton as the site for the 1958 Membership Conference of Active and Associate members of the Southern California Retail Lumber Association. The date will be February 12, a Wednesday, and the scene will be the new Ambassador ballroom located in the old theatre section on the ground floor off Wilshire boulevard.

Starting with a noon luncheon, the Conference will be an allafternoon, open-forum meeting, winding up with cocktails. Only the members in good standing will be admitted to the Conference-the SCRLA's one big meeting of the year when both these branches of the industry get together, let down their hair, "take each other apart," and wind up solving industry matters that need common discussion.

CATENDAR of C OTIIN G EVE NTS

Februory

INTERMOUNTAIN LUMBER DEALERS ASSN. ANnual Convention, Hotel Utah, Salt Lake City, Feb. 68.

LOS ANGELES HOO-HOO-ETTE CLUB No. 1 annual "Bosses' Night," Rodger Young auditorium, Los Angeles, 6:29 p.m., Feb. 10.

MOUNTAIN STATES LUMBER DEALERS ASSN. ANnual Convention, Shirley-Savoy hotel, Denver, Feb. 12-14.

SIERRA-CASCADE LOGGING CONFERENCE, FAiT. grounds, Redding, Calif., Feb. 13-15.

DUBS, LTD., Tournament-Leo Cheim, Jr., host; San Jose Country Club, Feb. 14.

SACRAMENTO HOO-HOO CLUB 109 Annual DinnerDance, Newman Club Hall, Sacramento, Feb. 15.

I-UMBER MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION of Northern California-l958 Estimating-Merchandising School, Havenly motel, San Jose, Feb. 17-19.

NATIONAL WOODEN BOX ASSN. Annual Meeting, San Francisco, Feb. 19-20.

OAKLAND HOO-HOO CLUB 39 Annual Birthday Party and Dinner-Dance-Jim Hendrick, Program chairman; Claremont hotel, Feb. 21.

SANTA CLARA VALLEY HOO-HOO Dinner Meeting, Chez Yvonne, Mountain View, Feb. 21.

WESTERN RETAIL LUMBERMEN'S ASSN. Annual Convention, Olympic hotel, Seattle, F.eh. 25-27.

SAN FRANCISCO HOO-HOO CLUB 9 Meeting, Leopard Cafe, San Francisco, Feb.25.