THE CALIFORNIA LUMBER MERCHANT

Jack Dionne, Publisher

How Lumber Looks

Crow's Lumber Price Index took another upward jump April 4, with the industry average up 67 cents and the green nr makrng the biggest increase since last September; no change in dry fir. With the market moving along on a plateau, studs (2x4, 8') showed the most strength in green fir, with plank and timbers also strong. In Ponderosa pine, the No. 3 common 7Z-inch boards still led in mar-ket strength. Dry white fir dimension (framing lumber) went ahead pricewise to account for much of the rise in the pine portion.

NLMA. Output was 4/o below January and 1l 1956; February shipments were 5/o and orders 1956; sh :y and, ll/o below February d orders i7o below lanuary. 56; i% below January.

7.77o and, shipments A.7/o over lumber production in the r 181,039,000 b.f.;

Shipments of 487 mills reporting to the National Lurnber Manufacturers Assn. in the week ending March 30 were 4.1/o above production; new orders were 15.7/o above, and for the year-to-date, orders were now 0.9/o above production. National production of lumber in February totaled 2,613,000,000 board feet, estimated the was l6l,uJy,uuu b.t.; orders averaged, l/9,4+u,wu and shlpments

7/o over production. The weekly average of he Douglas fir sawmill region during March 179,240,ffi0

166,497,nO b.f., reported WCLA Secretary Harris E,. Smith.

Orders of 122,9O5,369 feet were 8.1/o over production of 113,726,488 feet at 165 mills reporting to West Coast Lumbermen's Assn. in the week ending April 6. Shipments oI 105,269,077 feet were 7.4/o below production. In the previous week ended March 30, orders h,ad been was 181,039,00( b.f.,

Orders of 99,397,000 feet were 31.6/o above production of 75,501,000 Orders feet and 16.9/o tibove shipments of 81,680,000 feet at 113 mills reporting to the Western Pine Assn. in the week ending M,arch 30. Orders feet 16.9 were 3.8/o above the previous week ended March 23. . Orders of 20,653,000 feet were 4.38/o above production of 19,787,000 feet but 8.59/o 'below shipments of. 22,594,000 feet at 105 mills reporting to the Southern Pine .Assn. in the week ending March 30.

Wetcome

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

Rounds Lumber Co. (Crofoot Lumber Co.) . 5

And we are also h"ppy to rvelcome back the return of these former Merchant-isers:

T. M. Cobb Company... ...Back Cover

JUST A RETIIINDER to our {qithful deoler subscriberr of the impending 40rh Anniversory Convenlion of the Southern Colifornio Rotoil Lumber Asrociotion ql the Ambqssodor holel, lor Angelet, April 23-25, ir rhir phoro of 9ecrctcry Kcy Poe delivering rome lort-rninuie docum.nl3 to her l/lullin lumber Co. bors, r.l Woyne F. Ilullin, who concludcr o notoble two-y€or term 03 presidenr of the SCRTA rhi3 monrh (rhb 3ceno wd. rncpped at. the recent SCRLA Februory Conference ql lhe Ambosrodor). The complefe Conventlon'progrom oppesrs on Poge l0 In

This lssue

Coming Events Colendor. 2 Fun-Focts-Filosophy ..42 VogobondEditoriols...'6Personqls..'.'.52,66, My Fovorite Story . B Want Ads ..70-71

25YeqrsAgo . ....32 Obitusries .....7l-72

Arizonq Deolers Plon 1957 Annuol in Phoenix .. 2 Dovis Ycrd Sets Retoil Blueprint for Future ....... 4

Notional Deqlers Protest Freioht Rote Hikes .12

Plywood Importers Protest Import Quoto Moves .16 " 'i

Speciol Hoo-Hoo Events .18,26,28, 51, 53, 56 ,,.

Sontq Borborq Ycnd Adds Kitchen Deportment .20' ',,,:i,i "Courtesy Letters Poy Dividends"-An Editoriql ;.28 't

T. M. Cobb Compony Honors'Pop' Honson .60

The ADVERTISERS' INDEX Will Be Found on Po'ge 72

Ride 'em, Deolers! -- All Abocrrd For | 957 Arizoncl Annuol

Gus lt. Nfichaels, secretary-manager of the Arizona Retail Lumber and Builders Supply Assn., 4740 N. Central Ar.e., Phoenix, has completed his convention program for this year's outstanding meeting, May 2-3-4, at The WigwAm, a spectacular desert resort and shopping-residential center in Litchfield Park, i5 miles from l'hoenix. The speakers include \\'. E. Difford of the Douglas Fir I'lywoocl Assn. an<l J. C. O'Nfalley, Phoenix retail lurnberman ernd current first vice-president of the National Retail Lnmber l)ealers Assn. For an idea of the rest of the large lineup Manager \'Iichaels has put together, scan the schedule herervith :

Thursday, May 2-8:00-9:30, Breakfast; Morning, Gol{ ancl recrezrtior-r (tu'o rounds must be played to qualify for prizes); 12:30-l:,15 p.n.r. Buffet lunch on pool patio;2:O0 p.m.. Arizona ltoom-\\r. E. "l)i{f" Difford, rnanaging director, Douglas Fir I'lyu'ood Assn., Tacoma, Wash., rvill say l'hat he thinks and let his hair don'n; Panel Discussion; 5 :C0 p.m., Cocktail hciur; 6:30-7 :45 p.m., Dinner; 9:00 p.m., Hoo-Hoo meeting, Arizona l{oom.

Friday, May 3-8:00-9:30, Breakfast; Nlorning, Golf ar-rcl recreation;123A-l:45 p.m., Buffet lunch for the NIen in the group; 1 :00 p.m., Ladies luncheon in the Tnrcluoisc lloom, Style shorv during lunch by Chick Davis; 2:00 p.m., Arizorra ltoom-J. C. O'Nlalley, president, O'N[alley I-umber Co., I'hoenix, and First Vice-President, NI{LI)A, spe:rks on vital inclustry matters ; Panel discussions; 5 :45 p.m., Hay rack, Stagecoach and limousines leave for Sunset l.)oir-it ancl a l)esert steak fry (lobster for the Irish), complete bar service at Sunset Point, dinner to be served at sunset hour, cou,boy singer dtring cocktail hour and dinner ; 8:00-B:30. return to The \\'igu'am ; Evening, Scluare dancing on the pool patio.

Saturday, May 4-8:00-9:30, Breakfast; Morning, Golf and recreation; 12:30-1 :45 p.m., Buf f et lunch on patio ; 2:00 p.m., \Ieeting in Arizor-ra l{oom-Ralph Bruneau, r'icepresident, Valley National llank, speaks on the latest in iinance; Panel discnssions; 6:00-7:30 p.m., Cocktaii Party on Pool Patio, courtesy of Union Gypsum Company; 8:00 p.m. Banquet in main dining rootn, prime rib ; 9:00 p.m.1 :00 a.m. Dancing on the patio.

Sunday, May S-Added attraction : "Ltturberuren's day" at the Turf Paradise Racetrack, l'hoenix, courtesy of Walter Cluer.

In addition to the special events for the enlighter-rment <>f all retail lumbermen listed above, the Arizona association u,ill be seated in upholstered chairs for this year's meeting. Clomfort AND education, plus Fun ! The ladies 'vvill find their time fully occupied by sl'imming, shuffleboard and cards plus the scheduled iuncheon and desert steak fry and banquet at The Wigu'am. one of the finest o{ Phoenix's many n'inter tourist accommodations in this sun country.

N{ike Nledigovich, Clottonrvoocl (Arizona) Lumber Conrpany. president of the AIiI-&llSA r'vill preside at the business sessions. Other officers are Nlarvin Smith, O'MalleySmith Lumber Co., Yttr.na, first vice-president; Horvard Beals, \/alley Lumber Ciompany, Phclenix, second vicepresident, and Frank Haney, O'Malley Lumber Co.,

Phoer-iix, treasurer. \\rilliam C. Beal, Builders Supply & Lumber Co., Tucson, is N]{LI)A dealer director for Arizona, and Knox Corbett of the J. Knox Corbett Lumber Co., Tucson, is the immediate past president and present holder of the "Woodpecker" golf trophy ancl rvill be on hand to defend his title.

AI1 AI]OARD !

FNMA Borrowing Authoriry Hiked

Federal National Nlortgage Association preferred stoclr u'ill be increased l>-'" $50 million under provisicins of a larv signed March 27 by President Eisenhou'er. The nerv lau', an amendment to the National Housing Act, also authorized a $50 n-rillion increase in the Association's authoritv to purchase and to issue commitments to purchase trlIAinsured horrsing mortgages.

CATENDAR of COMING EVENTS

April

DUBS, LTD., TOURNAMENT-Orinda Country Club; host: Jack Scammell, April 19.

SAN DIEGO HOO-HOO CLUB 3 Open NIeeting, San I)iego Ciubrooms, 6:D p.m., April 19; featuring Roy ljlood, USFS, "Taies of the North Woods."

SOUTHERI{ CALIFORNIA RETAIL LUMBER ASSOCIATION (111 W. 7th St., Los Angeles) convention, Ambassador hotel, Los Angeles-April 23-25. Exhibits.

I. A. CLUB 2 HOO-HOO DAY, in attendance rvith Los Angeles Hoo-Hoo-E,tte Club No. 1, at SCRI-A Convention, Ambassadc-rr hotel, Noon, April 25.

Mqy

ARiZONA RE,TAIL LUMBER & BUILDERS SUPPLY ASSOCIATION (4740 N. Central Ave., Phoenix) Convention, The Wigwam, Litchfield Park (Phoenix suburb), May 2-3-4. Exhibits.

SAN FRANCISCO HOO-HOO CLUB 9 Ladies Nite and Dinner-Dance, California Country Club, South San Francisco, May 3.

OAKLAND HOO-HOO CLUB 39 ANNUAI- RE\TIlILLtr, Castleu,ood Countrl. Club (old Hearst ranch), Irleasanton, Calif., May 17.

LOS ANGELES HOO-HOO CLUB 2, Fox Hills Country Clnb (Los Angeles), Golf and dinner meeting, I&,[ay 17.

June

NATIONAL-AMERICAN WHOLESALE I-UMBER ASSN. (r5th annual meeting, Bretton Woods, Nerv Hampshire, June 10-11.

NATIONAL PLYWOOD DISTRIBUTORS ASSN.. annual convention, Edgewater Beach hotel, Chicago, June 1 3-1 5.

LOS ANGIILES HOO-HOO CLUB 2, Lakewood Countrl' Club (Long Beach), Golf and Dinner meeting and E,lection of 1957-58 Officers, June 21.