SAMPSON SCREENS

\THOLESALE

745 So. Raymond Ave. Pasadena 2, Calif.. COMPANY S CR EE,NIS A R E

S A M"PS O/V

Building Contracts Top Last Year

Contracts awarded for construction in the thirty-seven states east of the Rocky Mountains during the first two months of this year topped the dollar total of awards for the corresponding months of last year by 28 per ,cent, according to F. W. Dodge Corporation, a fact-finding organization for the building industry.

February's awards by dollar volume were 11 per cent greater than January's and 54 per cent greater than those of February of last year.

The dollar valuation of contracts awarded in the first two months of this year east of the Rockies was $1,297,I73pU distributed by the following classifications: nonresidential building $512,939,000; residential $470,348,000 and heavy engineering works $313,886,000.

Percentagewise, the gains during the first two months of this year compared with last were greatest in heavy engineering awards, which were up 54 per cent. Nonresidential awards showed a 49 per cent gain and residential awards were up 1 per cent.

More than a third of all contracts awarded during the first trvo months were for projects classified,as publicly owned.

Hcrdwood Flooring Production

Output of hardwood flooring in the major producing areas during the first quarter of 1948 reached a total of 186,890,000 board feet, it was reported recently by Henry H. Willins, secretary of the National Oak Flooring Manufacturers' Association.

Federal Housing Appointments

Temporary appointments made by the President at the time the Housing and Home Finance Agency was established last July, have been confirmed by the Senate. Among the top appointments confirmed are: Raymond M. Foley, Administrator, Ifousing and Home Finance Agency; William K. Divers, Chairman, Home Loan Bank Board, and J. Alston Adams and O. K. LaRoque, Members of the Board; Franklin D. Richards, Commissioner, Federal Housing Administration and John T. Egan, Commissioner, Public Housing Administration.

The Housing and Home Finance Agency includes most of .the principal housing functions of the Federal Government and succeeds the wartime set-up kno.ivn as the National Housing Agen,cy. The Home Loan Bank Board directs the Federal Horne Loan Bank System and the Federal Savings and Loan fnsurance Corporation. The Federal Housing Administration administers Federal mortgage insurance of home loans under the National Housing Act.

Plcnrs For c New Pulp Mill

Plans for a new pulp mill at Duncan Bay, Vancouver Island, third designed specifically to use rvaste wood, are being "finalized" by Canadian Western Lumber Co., it was reported at the annual meeting by H. J. Mackin, president.

"Such operation would for many years use wood which until recently has ,been left behind after logging,'.' he explained. "Greater economic utilization of our forests is thus attained and this is important, not only to the company, but to the public as well."