THE CALIF'ORI\IA LIJMBER MERCHAI\T

Jack Dionne, Publisher

"fhe Golden Arrow:" On Time

Although word had not been received from the East at press time, it is expected that the "Golden Arrow" lumber freight train arrived at its well-publicized eastern destination on time early this month (Pages 38-39 in this issue). History's largest rail shipment devoted exclusively to lumber started from the West Coast and made its way across the U.S. with the accompaniment of newspaper fublicity and photographers' flash bulbs to Long Island, N. Y.

The "Golden Arrow" consisted of at least 100 cars loaded with various species of lumber destined for retail yards in Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island. The idea was conceived by W. Barry Everett, imaginative young president of Everett-Hoban, Inc., Brooklyn wholesalers, and the special train was sponsored by his firm and The New York Lumber Trade Journal.

Railroads promised complete cooperation and one line performed the difficult task of marshaling the cars from the various West Coast mills to a rendezvous point. Steelstrapping manufacturers pooled their resources and donated both personnel and equipment so that unitized shipments were promptly prepared for the transcontinental trip. The manufacturers of waterproof wrapping pooled their resources and provided the necessary covering for the opencar shioments.

An effort was made to secure a maximum number of unitized cars, either boxcars or open flat cars, to help spread favorable news of unitized shipping and mechanized handling and, in the case of paper-wrapped and steel-strapped open flat cars, make the public conscious of lumber and the railroads' part in shipping it.

In mid-January, the mills started assembling the orders. The railroads started assembling the cars. Loading started the middle of February. Union Lumber Company of Fort Bragg, California, one of the prime movers in this magnificent publicity feat for lumber, shipped several cars of its Noyo brand Redwood in the train.

The name "Golden Arrow" was chosen because "golden" indicates quality, and "arrow" means wood-also suggests swiftness. As the "Golden Arrow,' crossed the nation, it !".".-9 an even greater advertisement for the entire lum_ ber. tndustry, as well as for the railroads it moved on. The train promoted Lumber-exactly what we all want.

In a later issue, a story will b6 published about the entire accomplishment, with photos of -its impact on the home_ builders in the towns through which it passed.