Griffee Soys Associofed Woods Are "Zooming"

Recently W. E. Griffee, of Portland, Oregon, Assistant Secretary-Manager of the Western Pine Association, made a speech to the annual convention of the National-American Wholesale Lumber Association, at Chicago, in which he made some very interesting statements concerning lumber produ'ction in the Western Pine areas. He gave them some terse practical facts concerning the woods covered by his association that were no doubt useful to his listeners.

For instance, he said: "Just before World War Two the annual production of Ponderosa Pine was about 3% to 4 billion feet. Idaho White Pine, Sugar Pine, and LarchDouglas Fir accounted for 300 to 500 million each, and neither White Fir nor Spruce produ,ction often got about 100 million feet. During and after the war the production of Pine held fairly steady and should continue to do so, but that of other species, which we call the 'Associated Woods,' has zoomed. The output of Larch-Douglas Fir and Engelmann Spruce has more than tripled. White Fir output is about ten times the prewar figure. Last year our mills shipped nearly 100,000 .carloads of Larch-Douglas Fir and White Fir."

Mr. Griffee explains some of the reasons for the great development in White Fir in the following way:

"For example, it was obvious that the shipment of green White Fir during the war had badly damaged the reputa- tion of that wood with many users. Something had to be done. A recommendation that the mills ship only dry White Fir was merely a first step. The Grading Bureau inspectors who visit the mills each month began urging that White Fir be dried, machined and graded just as carefully as are the 'Western Pines. Our laboratory's three seasoning experts gave special help with White Fir. When those of us in the main office visited the mills we gave the campaign a boost. Dealer and consumer advertising began to plug for dry White Fir. Some of you helped too by insisting that your White Fir all be dried before shipment.

"This concerted campaign got results. Nearly all mills are now doing a good job with their White Fir. The improved product, plus effective advertising and promotion by the Association and its members, have made it possible to find markets for the greatly increased output at prices which are comparable with most competing species."

In a general round-up of the physical facts concerning Western area forests, Mr. Griffee takes a hard slap at the Forest Service for its slowness in marketing of virgin timber. His review of the,whole situation is in this fashion:

"Our industry accounts for roughly one-fourth of the country's total softwood output. Timber stands are scattered through the twelve western states, except a narrow strip along the Pacific €oast. The B0 million acres of actual