New Buildings lor ReedleyLumber Co.

The Reedley Lumber Co.,, Reedley, California, was host to hundreds of friends and friendly customers January 25 at an open house in the new yard and office buildings. Visitors u'ere taken through the new office and store building, 35 feet by 85 feet, which provides half again as much space as did the old one rvhich measured 40 feet by 40 feet.

"We have much better display facilities here than rve had before," says manager E. P. Ruth. "We also have built everything as firep:oof as possible."

E. P. and R. H. Ruth are fire-conscious in their new business home be.cause it r,vas a disastrous fire last June 15 which made the new buildings necessary. The main yarcl and office were completely destroyed in that spectacular blaze.

Now the store and office structure is built of concrete blocks rvith concrete floor and asbestos roof, and is separated from the lumber sheds by at least 30 feet open space on all sides. The sheds also are roofed rvith asbestos as a sa{eguard against fire.

Another protective measure is the installation of lft-inch water lines throughout the yard rvith fire hose outlets at strategic places.

In rebuilding the yard, the company erected more sheds than it had before and the result is nou' that all first quality lumber is stored under roofs. The only uncovered lumber piles are across the street in an auxiliary yard where the cheaper grades are stored.

Mr. Ruth u.ent into the lumber business on his own in l92l and l.ras served the Reedley community r,vith building materials ever since