EDITORJAL

Choos or Compromise?

rftHE LUMBER INDUSTRY was advised in mid' I February by the Department of Commerce that SPR 16-53, the'bible by which its standards are set, would be suspended by September- 15, 1966' uiess revisions Jcceptable to the public interest *"r" "gt""a to by an overwhelming majority of the indistry. In efiect, such action by the Depart' ment will leave the industry in chaos if a solution is not found.

We have just completed a study of the back' sround leading to this decision' Simplified Praci"" n""o**eidation (SPR) 16-53, was promul' eated bv the Commerce Department in 1953 upon i."o-rnlndution of the American Lumber Standards Committee (ALSC). This standard, because of .ttutp disagreement within the industry at that iirrr", aia not relate size to moisture content' The resuitant confusion in manufacture and use led the ALSC in 1962 to adopt the principle that size should be related to moisiure content' By 1964 a "*om*undud revision of SPR 16-53, approved by the ALSC, was transmitted to Commercg which submitted it to an acceptor list. While a majority .pp."u"a, Commerce determined a consensus had not been obtained.

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Subsequently, in April 1965, a -reconstituted ALSC of ZS members was appointed' In December' it presented to Commerc" u ptopot"d revision of SPil 16-53 embodying the size/moisture content Drecept. which had the endorsement of 19 of the i3 -L.b".. of the Committee. The result was the suspension, by Commerce as of September 15, 1966, of SPR 16-53, coupled with the -assurance that the ALSC's proposed revision would shortly be nromulgated to the acceptor list' If a consensus is ieached] as seems likely, SPR 16-53 (revised)' or with a new number, will become the new testament,

Objections to the revised proposal have- come mai.rly from two sources. One of them is right in our backyard in southern California, where there is some doubt that 6 45/64" green board (which develops from resawing the new proposed green standard of. I'35/64") could comPete -with 3/{' piy**a roof sheathin,g ot r/'/' plywood- subfloor' 'ing. R"""rr, tests by NeHS,-Nfpe and WWPA de"monstrate that strength characteristics and de' fl""tion performance oI-|/e" dry boards are equiva' il;; ir better than 3/{' plywood roof sheathing ';;--W' subflooring. l' 4slou' green board dries tt {ft' pi"*p. Wi b"li"rn" there can be no real "UiJ"li"ti from those who derive a good profit from this item. A start now in gaining code revision ;lli ;;t dividends tomorrow. Surelv, the .South' l*a'J t.u"y lumbermen will be able to effect a workable compromis" with their local code author' ities. Acceptance of the new standards will improve ;;- r;1" olf lu-b"t, because more lumber will be sold as a result thereof' hh" ALSC, representing manufacturers of all species, inspection agencies, wholesalers, retailers, aichitects, engineers, contractors' millwork manufacturers, horie builders' consumers, and (ex officio) many branches of the government, is, with the exceptions noted, solidly behind the new standards'

The only other objection of conseguence has b"* ."ri"* of rear guard actions by an Oregon transit wholesaler who, mistakenly we believe' ap' "".*if" envisions the loss of a currently favorable i"-p"iiti"" position for himself and his controlled oroa'u"ti"". ile hat presented the ALSC, at various ii-*, *irft no less than three difierent prop-osals' """"'tt which embody the principle of relation of size to moisture content-for which he voted "t th" first meeting of the ALS subcommittee "all"d to consider ihe problem' These machina' tions (and they continue) would almost -be amusins to watch if they were not so harmful to the e;eat industry of which this gentleman is an in' tegral and significant Part.

Thus Commerce, in efiect, has told us they are unsatisfied with present standards, but are satisfied with the proposed revision. If the industry and its customers fail to vote affirmatively we will be thrown into chaos by suspension of SPR 16-53' The industry has arrived at a good workable compromise which will benefit all sectors from tree owner to consumer and taxpayer. We suggest unanimous support from the acceptor list.

Chaos or compromise! Take your choice.