Bert Bryan Writes on Hardwoods

An interesting article entitled "Commercial Hardwoods," giving a brief story of the various hardwoods and their uses in every day life, was written recently by B. E. Bryan, general manager of Strable Hardwood Company, Oakland, for the "Port of Oakland Compass," official organ of the Port. The article, in part, is as follows:

"There are some fifty or sixty kinds of hardwoods used commercially which are grown in the United States. In addition, possibly fifteen or twenty kinds are brought in from foreign countries and island possessions. The footage of hardwoods imported is infinitesimal compared with those which are indigenous, with the exception of Philippine hardwoods which are coming into the United States proper is an ever increasing volume, particularly on this coast.

"The domestic hardwood lumber reaches Oakland almost exclusively via water, through the Panama Canal; the foreign hardwood lumber arrives by water freight direct from the point of origin-Philippine Islands, Central America, South America, Australia and India; the small amount of European and Mediterranean hardwood used on the Pacific Coast is usually trans-shipped via water from New York.

"The manufactured products of hardwoods, such as panels and hardwood'flooring, are usually shipped by rail, although there has been some consideration given, during the last year, to moving flooring through the Canal. This 'may develop as terminal facilities are perfected for handling this easily damaged commodity.

"It is almost impossible to outline the channels through which hardwood lumber flows into consumption. There are certain well-defined outlets through which there is a continuous movement such as planing mills-for interior finish for homes, stores, restaurants, apartments, buildings and office buildings; and to truck body builders, where hardwood is necessary to withstand the constant and hard wear. A surprising volume goes into boat building business, as well as into small boats which are built at home by individuals. Almost all new construction uses some hardwood. If a shoemaker opens a new Shop, he will need a heavy piece of hardwood on which to install his machines. This particular shop may not repeat this purchase for another twenty-five years. The type of such sales indicates the difficulty in establishing definite outlets through which hardwood is merchandised.

"Some conception of the very large investment in stocks carried in order to properly. serve Oakland and the back country from Bakersfield to Medford, Oregon, and to the eastern boundary of Nevada .can be had when consideration is given to the fact that, in addition to the sixty or eighty kinds of hardwoods used commercially, each kind develops several grades, some as many as five different grades-oak, the most commonly used and best known hardwood, is an example. Coupled with the above, there are innumerable manufactured products of hardwood which are in constant demand.

"The use of hardwoods will continue down through the coming centuries in America, for two very definite reasons: First, from a utilitarian standpoint, there are many places where hardwood is used where nothing has been invented which can be satisfactorily substituted. Second, from the standpoint of beauty and harmony in the home, hardwood is a part of our national living and being. When our ancestors came to America they built their homes of hardwood throughout, because the oak, ash, maple, beech and birch were near at hand and plentiful. These homes were sturdy, substantial and so well built that many of them are still standing and are in good condition. Who can say that such a home did not tend to add to the sturdiness of the character of those pioneers who were born and reared amid such substantial surroundings !

"There is a plentiful supply of hardwoods in the United States to care for the ordinary home consumption for decades to come. As our native forests diminish, wp will turn to Central and South America, where the supply is almost unlimited. It is evident, therefore, that hardwood lumber and its products will be coming through the Port of Oakland probably down through the centuries."

George A. Houston Leaves Long-Bell

George A. Houston, general sales manager of the LongBell Lumber Company, has resigned to devote his time to recently acquired interests in a California mining property, and will make his headquarters in San Francisco after June 1. He spent D years in the service of the Long-Bell Lumber Company, the last ten as general sales manager, with headquarters at Kansas City, which has been his home since 1920.

After three years in the Louisiana Southern pine mills of the W. R. Pickering Lumber Co., Mr. Houston joined Long-Bell April 30, lX)7, as quotation clerk in the Kansas City office. In July, 1908, he was advanced to the position of salesman at St. Louis. In September, L911, he became thC company's representative in Cleveland. He returned to Kansas City April l,l9n, to become manager of lumber sales. He was elected a director of the company in 1922, and in 1926 became general sales manager.

Long-Bell in its various mills and factories produces Southern yellow pine, Southern hardwoods, oak flooring, California pine, Douglas fir and sash and doors, and for many years Mr. Houston supervised their sales for the company, which was the first to trade-mark and nationally advertise lumber products. In addition to his sales executive work, he had general supervision over all advertising and sales promotion efforts for his company.

Mr. Houston represented Long-Bell at meetings of many regional and national lumber associations, and spent considerable time with the trade practices committee of the lumber code authority. In the last two years he has devoted much attention to a study of trade conditions in the Eastern territory. He is one of the best known lumbermen in the country.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association to Expand Activities

Important expansion of the work of the Douglas Fir Plywood Association has been announced by Frost Snyder, president of the Association, following a meeting in Tacoma on April 15. Concurrently with this announcement, President Snyder announced the appointment of Axel H. Oxholm as managing director of the organization.

The Douglas Fir plywood industry has made rapid strides during the last few years, and is today employing qbout 6000'men in the Northwest, and the product has a world wide distribution. Mr. Oxholm, who is managing director of the Pacific Forest fndustries, an export organization composed of all the Douglas Fir plywood mills in the Northwest, will continue his work along with his new duties.

LARGE CROWDS ATTEND HOME SHO\V

Large crowds are attending the National Home Show in the Architects Building, Fifth and Figueroa Streets, I-os Angeles. There are more than 170 separate exhibits of all classes of home equipment at the show. The show will continue daily, including Sundays, until May 17. Admission is free.