O'filolley Reports Deolers Are

Now High on 1958 Prospects

Washington-The nation's retail lumber dealers. who provide building materials for new homes, home improvemeqts, and commercial and farm construction, are decldedly optimistic about their business prospects for the rest of this year, James C. O'Malley, president of the National Retail Lumber Dealers Association, told members of the organiza- tion's board of directors at their semi-annual meetin-g here May 6.

Referring to a nationwide survey of business conditions and prospects just completed by the association, Mr. O'Malley sajd _the .optimism was general but less pronounced in the Northeastern and,Middle Atlantic states.

'tThe hopeful outlook applies to all major types of construction serviced by dealers," Mr. O'Maliey said. "Of the

{e1tgrs surveyed, 92/o believe prospects for new home building are. either good or fair. For farm building, the figure is 64/o; for commercial and industrial construltion, 8l/o; for repair and modernization, 98Vo.

"Moreover, the average age of accounts receivable is only 55 days, as compared with 57 days when a similar survey was conducted last October. Three out of every five dealers state that their collections from customers are satisfactory.

"Two-thirds of the dealers are carrying as much or more inventory than they had last fall. Thlre*is some decline in profits and sales, but 42/o said sales were either higher or about as good as last fall, and 45/o said profits are eilher up or about the same.

"Only eight percent of the dealers reported that the feeling in their area with regard to business prospects gener- ally. was poor. Forty-two percent said tfie general* local feeling was excellent or good and 50/o said it"was fair.,,

Bob Osgood Retires From Post Of "Most Terrible" Mqy 2A

Bob Osgood, prominent Southern California wholesale lumberman, retires May 2O from the.high post of .,Most Terrible" of the Terrible Twenty Touriamints. The annual meeting and election of offiters will be held on that date at the Los Angeles Country Club.

Ed Bauer, another veteran lumber distiibutor, is sponsor 3ld.l9:t for this. important event. It was 31 yeais ,go, May 19, 1927, that this well-known golfing group was oiganized and. they have not missed a sctredtitJ duiing that"period oI trme.

The 383rd Terrible Twenty Tournament was held at Lakeside Golf Club, April 22. Virgil Oliver was our host and gave us a very cordial receptioi. The weather was per- fect and the course d^eligfi_tful. -Dewey Reeder, having just come back from a Caribbean trip, wore a wild ca"lypso costume that must have given him a free swing, as he-won 1st prize. lfowever, his-wife has objected to h-im bringing home any more dust-collecting trophies, so he defaultJd t6 Carston Woll. In the second -flighf Frank Berger won one of his.own prizes, yet to be selected. (I'll waich that pre- sentation rvith interest.)

In the match play, ilekers beat Whittaker in the top fl_igh-t and Gartz beat Alling in the lower flight, winning oh the last putt. Gartz won both 2nd flight, 6-inonths tou"rnaments.

The board of directors met before lunch and appointed a Nomination committee for new directors, prepararory to gur anntlll meeting_this month, consisting of Vern Huck, Carston Woll and Virgil Oliver. The June"6 tournament ai Ojai is progressing.

Mark it down-Annual tournament-LAcc-May 20 (Tuesday).-H. M. Alling.