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Economy Grain Bins
As in previous wars and emergencies, wood is again proving a real patriot in World War II. In scores of uses wood is releasing other critical materials for the weapons of war at home and abroad. Today lumber is helping the American farmer solve his paramount problem of providing for greatly increased stofage facilities to meet the bumper grain crops this year.
A very practical and economical type of wood grain bin put on the market recently is a square bin developed by the Economy Grain Bin Company. B. H. Critchfield, presi.dent of the firm, stated that the simplicity of this grain bin design, its limited use of nails and the ease of its fabrication and erection are the principal factors that appeal to the farmers, where they are being put into service as rapidly as they can be erected' Thousands of these new type of bins are now being erected in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, the Dakotas, Montana, Oregon and Washington.
The Commodity Credit Corporation has awarded its largest single contract to the Oregon Grain Bin Company of Klamath Falls, Oregon, for, 6000 Economy bins of 3000 bushel capacity. The bins are being prefabricated by a group of Western Pine lumber manufacturers in the Klamath Basin of Oregon. They are shipped in knocked down form by rail to the grain-producing states of the nation. This one contract will require about 30,000,000 board feet of Ponderosa Pine and associated woods. According to G. C. Lorenz, of the Crater Lake Box and Lumber Company, which is furnishing a major portion of the material, other firms in the area who are participating, are Big Lakes Box Company, Crane Mills, Ellingson Lumber Company, Ivory Pine Company, Palmerton Lumber Company, Pelican Bay Lumber Company, Shaw Lumber Company, 'Western Pine Mills and Wheeler Pine Company.
Each bin is 16 feet squpre and 17 feet high and is set on a foundation of concrete blocks. The sidewalls, roof sheathing and other parts of the bins are constructed of Ponderosa Pine, while other native woods are used for the cross ties, floor joists and flooring. Red cedar shingles are used on the roof. The bin walls are made of Z'inch tongue and grooved material lock-jointed and cross-tied to give maximum strength and rigidity to the storage bins' It has been determined that this unique method of assembly saves 100 pounds of nails per bin as compared with ordinary nailed construction. Only 30 pounds of nails are required per bin. This is especially important when nails are such a critical item'
All the lumber items going into the construction of these bins are cut to length or notched and worked to pattern, as the case may be, at the fabricating plant. When this material, including the shingles, door hardware and nails, arrives at destination four men can erect completely as many as four grain bins a day. With such speed of erection and other advantages it is no wonder that this new type of wood bin is attracting wide attention among graiir growers everywhere.
Two Sons In Army
John C. McCabe, well known San Francisco wholesale lumberman, has two sons in the Army, John C. McCabe, Jr. and William B. McCabe. John is at Camp Roberts, Calif., where he has been since September 1941' He is a corporal on the headquarters staff. William is also a corporal in a medical detachment in connection with aviation at Keesley Field, Biloxi, Miss. He has been there since last February.
Frank Connolly In Washington
Frank J. Connolly, vice-president and general manager' Western Hardwood'Lumber Co., Los Angeles, left September 4 on a business trip to Washington, D.C. He expects to attend the annual convention of the National Hardwood Lumber Association at Chicago, September 24 and 25.
Central Procuring Agency Designated For Purchase of War Lumber
In line with previously announced plans for centralizing the purchase of materials for war projects, the Material and Equipment Section, Operations Branch, Construction Division, Office of Engineers, has been officially designated as the Central Procuring Agency to purchase lumber for war needs.
The auction system iS to be continued and will include in its scope all lumber requirements for the following agencies: War Department-Signal Corps, Quartermaster Corps, Corps of Engineers, Ordnance Department, Army Air Force, Transportation Service; Panama Canal Commission; Navy Department-Bureau of Ordnance, Bureau of Aeronautics, Bureau of Yards and Docks, Bureau of Ships, Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, Office of Procurement and material, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, U. S. Marine Corps, U. S. Coast Guard; U. S. Maritime Commission; War Shipping Administration.
In addition to the foregoing agencies, it is expected that Lend-Lease, Defense Plant Corporation, and Treasury procurements will avail themselves of the services of the Corps of Engineers in the procurement of lumber.
None of these using-agencies may purchase lumber in any amount without authority from the Central Procuring Agency. It is expected that such authority will be granted for the purchase of initial requirements of projects in an amount not to exceed 1,000,000 feet. The expediting of lumber will be coordinated by the Corps of Engineers.
This action consolidating the purchase of lumber in the Corps of Engineers has been the result largely of recommendations and requests by the lumber industry. Lumber continues to be a critical material, however, and every manufacturer is urged to cooperate with the Central Procuring Agency in making available to the war needs every foot of lumber produced.
It is believed that if this system fails to secure needed supplies of lumber, the industry will be faced with the strictest sort of allocation program. The Corps of Engineers requests continued and increased efforts on the part of the industry in this program.
CAN THEY HELP?
The California Redwood Association in its News Bulletin No. 15 to the trade suggests that if dealers have any questions now, or any problems later, as to how M-208 applies to Redwood, either selling, shipping or purchasing, they will be happy to have them write to the Association's offices, 405 Montgomery Street, San Francisco.

Course In Timber Engineering
A new tuition-free timber engineering course, under the supervision of R. R. Martel of the California Institute of Technology, will start at the John Adams Junior High School, 151 West 30th Street, Los Angeles, on Thursday, September 17,1942. Charles Mackintosh will be the lecturer.
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