Aid to the R.etcril Deqlers

There will be much more grade-stamping of lumber from the West Coast under new Grading Rule 15 than ever before. This much was developed at a panel discussion of the new rules rvhen stockholders of the West Coast Lumbermen's Association met in Portland March 2l-22 lor their 45th annual session.

A six-man panel of lumber exPerts at the N{arch 21 luncl.reon anslvered questions from the floor which had come up in the first few days of operation under the neu' rules, but there were very ferv.

"From all indications," said H. V. Simpson, executive vice-president, "the great majority of the mills like the new rules. Support from the retail and wholesale level has been excellent."

In private conversations, millmen indicated they woulcl do much more grade-stamping than hereto{ore. Especially significant rvas the announcement by several mills of intention to grade stamp the nerv Economy grade, as well as Construction, Standard and Utility.

Railroads, talked on freight-car supply prolrlems, zrnd promised lumbermen there rvould be no freight-car shortage this summer, if every available car was ttsed economically and efficiently, with delayed routing eliminated, and turnaround time cut down to the barest minimnm.

Governor Elmo Smith of Oregon, addressing the annual association banquet, paid high tribute to the rvest coast lumber industry for its leadership in good forestry practiccs and for its strong backing of research to improve lumber products.

Lawrence D. Kellogg of Alexandria, La., president of the National Lumber Manufacturers Association, told millmen they could no longer sit back on their padded office chairs and abandon their markets to substitutes, but must pool their resources through concerted action. He said lumber must be sold like it has never been sold before.

A highlight of the annual meeting \\ras the presentation by the public relations committee of details of its nationwide newspaper and television projects. Three syndicated ne\\rspaper features reach more than 3100 daily and u'eekly newspapers of the nation, and do a good job in stimulating business for the retail lumber industry. Also cliscussed was a newly started weekly television feature t-hich is syndicated to 169 television stations, and rvhich is a real businessgetter. It was urged that distributors, especially retail lumber dealers, might check to see if the features rvere being published in their towns.

Son Diego Lumbermen's Assn. Ncrmes

V. M. Gopesius Secrelqry-Monoger

WCLA's youthful President N. B. Giustina, of Eugene, lvas re-elected along with Vice Presidents Nils Hult, Jack Fairhurst and Robert Ingram. Elected for the first time rvas Eliot Jenkins as treasurer, and reappointed were the trvo top executives of the association, H. V. Simpson, executive vice-president, and Harris E. Smith, secretary.

In his annual report, Mr. Giustina outlined the active plans of WCLA for the biggest promotion year in its history, with special emphasis on projects which feature the retail lumber dealer.

Among business-getting promotion ideas announced by Giustina rn'ere continuing national advertising in the nation's shelter and farm magazines, new literature, new technical books including new species booklets, and a series of television movies which should stimulate much lumber brrsiness.

The new Douglas fir species booklet, soon to be out, rvill have 48 pages of information and will be the most complete ever issued on a single species.

Ralph E. Clark, an official of the Association of American

V. M. Capesius, former director of the city building inspection department, has been named secretary-manager of the San Diego Lumbermen's Association, announced John D. Sullivan, president. Capesius took office N{arch 20 and succeeds E,ugene E. Zeiss, rvho retired after 4.1 years' activity in the building industry but will continue his San Diego residence after a trip. Zeiss held the of6ce six years and for 20 years before that was o\\.ner and manager of the San Diego Building Supply Co.

The San Diego Lumbermen's Associatior.r represents 43 dealers in the metropolitan area. Its new Secretary Capesius has been in the construction industry more than 15 years. A 1940 college graduate, he was a constmttion engineer until he joined the city building inspection department in December 1953.

In this issue, we welcome these nelv advertisers into the family of California Lumber "Merchant-isers":