Proposed New /fne Continuing Lumber Standards I Controversy

you right in the pocketbook !

National Lumber Manufacturers Association

A beneficial new system of establishing lumber sizes at a maximum moisture content of 19 per cent (15 per cent average) has been recommended by 'the American Lumber Standards Comrnittee for industrywide adoption.

Under the proposed new standard, the minimum dressed thickness for nominal 2-inch lumber will be Ir/z inches at the 19 per cent maximum moisture condition. For normal l-inch boards, the new drydressed thickness will be 3/a-inch. A new E/*-inch dry-dressed thickness also has been approved. Present ALS widths remain unchanged, except that they will now apply at the 19 per cent maximum moisture condition.

The immediate benefits of the ALS Committee's new proposalswhen accepted by the U. S. Department of Commercewill be that of havins uniform dimensions. in service. for both uns"ason"d and seasoned lumber. All lumber, surfaced after seasoning to the 19 per cent moisture condition, will be marked to provide the consumer with easy identification.

A long recognized fact is that the moisture content of lumber controls its dimensions. But this is the first time, in a lumber standard affecting the entire softwood industry, that these two basic factors have been definitely related by standardizing sizes at a specific moisture condition,

In addition to the ALS Committee, others who have assisted in developing and promoting the proposqd new size standards include technical representatives of the National Association of Home Builders, the U. S. Forest Products Laboratory, the National Lumber Manufacturers Association, and construction experts of the U. S. Savings and Loan League.

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Lumber Association Of Southern Califorma

The Honorable Luther H. Hodges Secretary of Commerce Department of Commerce Washington, D. C.

Dear Mr. Secretary:

Enclosed is a copy of a questionnaire distributed to all Southern California Lumbermen. You will note that most have asked to be placed on the "Acceptor List."

This Association continues to maintain its position that the proposal approved by the ALS Committee is not an accurate reflection of the industry as a whole and does not take into account the wishes o{ the consuming public. Furthermore, we join with the mills that supply lumber for the California market in feeling that the American Lumber Standards Committee as presently constituted should be dissolved and a more representative Committee appointed thereafter to approach the Standardization question {rom a less biased point of view. A new committee could take into account requirements of governing agencies, building officials, consumers, re-

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Tlrc Am.eri.can Lumber Snndards Committee, August 13, ap proued,, utith onJy rninor changes, proposed, reuisions to the Snn^dard,s lor Soltwood Lumber. Now that th.e specific lnngtnge ol the reaisions lus been ofricially rccepted, by the Committee, it will be sent to lumber manufacturers, whnbsalers, retnilers, architects, builders, and other interested parties. Il atcepted, thc reaisions will be appli,cable throughout the country.

Western Lumber Marketing Association

The Western Lumber Marketing Associa' tion has announced its stand on "package" changes in the size and moisture content of diiension lumber which are being proposed by the American Lumber Stand' ards Committee.

W.L.M.A. president Hershal M. Tanzer of Portland said that a written poll among his group's membership indicated that 69/o oI the members were against proposed changes as they now stand', 28/6 took no position either way, and only 3/o of the voting lumbermen favored the A.L.S. changes. The western trade organization represents wholesalers and sawmills that cut and ship more than I,000,000 carloads o{ lumber to the east annually.

Tanzer says "There has been no comprehensive industry-wide survey of small and large mills, integrated operators, rvholesalers, retailers, builders, trade unions, antl consumers and architects to determine what they want; what changes they support to help put wood back into its proper position as leader in the buildine materials field.

'oFurther," Tanzer said, "laboratory testing of fiber strength and other factors common to green or dry dimension lumber has, not been sufficiently complete or in' tense enough to justify this fast-paced, illconsidered series of proposalswith all deference to scientists who have begun to study wood's qtrenglh in various dimensions and with varying moisture content.

'oVe support the movement begun bY other lumber trade organizations to holdoff this sudden and little understood attempt to change radically the foundation of our industry until several things can come about.

'oFirst, we believe, and some of the high(Continued, on Page 89)

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