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The Ambassador hotel, Los Angeles, is converting its theatre and two adjoining wings into a 25,000-square foot convention and exhibit hall u'hich is expected to be completed in October at a cost of about $750,000. The facility can be partitioned for three separate events, and the hall will include a stage, projection equipment, power outlets, u'ater and lvaste lines, p.a. system, closed circuit television and an auto entrance. The Ambassador is frequently the scene of the SCRLA dealer conventions.

The J. Knox Corbett Lumber Company, Tucson, Ariz., established in 1890, has opened a new line yard on the east side there. William C. Bell, Jr., grandson of the founder, is managing the retail store, assisted by James Corbett, grandson of W. J. Corbett.

The Fir Plywood Jubilee Display, incorporating the most dramatic ideas from the "50 Golden Ideas"' for plyrvood construction at the recent Jubilee celebration in Portland, Ore., will tour \\rillits, Calpella, Ukiah and Sonoma in late November, reports The Willits News.

A sarvmill operating full blast rvithin sight of the city skyscrapers rvill be one of Detroit Diesel Engine division's major attractions at General Motors' Po.werama on 23 acres of rvaterfront rvhich opens in Chicago August 31. A11 exhibits and the sal'mill rvill focus attention on the lrrmber industry. Timber l ill be trucked in dailv from midrvest logging' centers and sar,ved into lurnber {or the visitors, many of u,horn rvill be smellins fresh san'dust for the first time.

How lumber looks

(Continued from Page 2) unfilled order file \\'as 831,915,000 b.f.; gross stocks 886,458,000 b.f.

The Western Pine Association reported for 108 mills in the week encled July 9: production, 47,892,Ufi feet; shipments, 49,178,000 feet; orders, 50,024,000 feet. In the rveek ended July 2,90 mills reported production 64,385,000 feet, shipments 60,683,000 feet, and orders 68,489,000 feet.

Hones Wilh R.0.Ws Sell Foster-Stoy Sold [onger

Buyers are selecting homes with great care today. They are choosing those homes which combine beauty with comfort and efficiency features-plus ualues that set them apart. That's why some homes are sold before completion, and others carry a "For Sale" card for many months before moving. Volume production has kept the price down to the cost of ordinary wood windows. R.O.Ws have outsold all competitors for years, and their popularity is still increasing.

T. M. COBB COMPANY

The Southern Pine Association reported for \27 'r'llls in the week ended July 16: production, 20p74,0N feet; shipments, 20/82,Un feet; orders, 22,097,000 feet (10.08% above production). In the rveek ended JuJy 9,105 mills reported production 14.577,0@ feeL shipments 14.719,000 feet, and orders 15,.522,000 feet.

Fir plywood production in the week ended Julv 16 increased 52/o lrom the previous holiday rveek, according to DFPA figures. Output continued belorv normal capacity, hor.vever, with 18 mills not operating (compared to V) the previous week) and strikes keeping closed the four M&M mills. Orders climbed 47/o from the previous rveek to hit 94,000,000 feet, while production was 75,884,000 feet. Unfilled orders at week's end were 508,000,000 feet. For the year to date, plywood production n'as 2,618,880,000 feet; orders were 2.609.865.000 feet.

New Consfruction fo R.eclch q R.ecord-Breqking 941.8 Billion in | 955

Nerv construction activity is expected to reach $41.8 billion in 1955, ll/o above last year's record of $37.6 billion, according to revised outlook estimates prepared jointly by the Departments of Commerce and Labor. Prospects are that both private and public .construction will reach an all-time high in 1955, r,r.ith private expenditures probably increasing (by lac/o) to $29.5 billion, and public outlays $V a%) to $12.3 billion. These revised estimates reflect the unprecedented volume of construction activity so far this year, at ievels above earlier expectations, and indications that there rvill be virtually no abatement in the present rate during the remainder of 1955.

The outlook assumes further that mortgage funds will be adequate, on relatively favorable terms, despite anticipation of heavy demand on the credit and capital markets occasioned by continued economic prosperity. Notwithstanding recent spot shortages of cement and gypsum wall,board, nationvuide supplies of all building materials sl-rould be suffrcient for 1955 demand. In preparing the 1955 estimates, costs rvere assumed at levels moderately above those of last year.

The projected $14.6 billion of expenditures on privately owned neu' dn elling unit construction in 1955 is about a fifth higher than in the previous peak year 1954' This increase in dollar outlays reflects not only an over-the-year rise in starts (in the neighborhood of 8-10/o), and a very large carry-over of rvork on the unseasonally large number of dwellings begun in the latter part ol 1954, but also an increase in construction costs, together with a trend torn ard larger and more expensive homes.