of Eogle Rock Lumber Compqny

On the weekend of August 15, the Eagle Rock Lumber Company, 2214 Faft Park Ave., celebrated the completion of the first stage of a $200,000 improvement program when its new 62'x305' "Serve-Yourself Market" building was opened to the public. During the three-day weekend, the new development attracted more than 2,000 customers, friends and visiting lumber dealers.

A section of the new storage {acility is set aside for the self service shopper, where all materials, including exterior and interior fir'rishes, are stocked for immediate selection. The new structure by Empire Steel Buildings Co. of Los Angeles was con.rpleted at a cost of $59,000 on the 320'x140' corner in Eagle Rock where the lirm was first established by Emil F. Swanson and the Orban Lumber Company of Pasader-ra in 1912.

N{obile yard equipment is available for loading l-reavy items, and trucks stand by for immediate clelivery of bulk ourchases. ^

The finish shed, adjacent to the new steel structure, contains complete stocks of trim, moulding, kitchen cabinets, hardwood pauels, sash and doors for customer selection.

In 1920, Dealer Swanson purchased the Orban interest and started a long career of retail lumber merchandising as the pioneer in the fast growing Eagle Rock suburban area, serving the builder-contractor, homeowner and rrp to today's do-it-yourself customers. With the additional market facility now in full operation, buying hours at the yard have been extended to include all day Saturday and Sunday morning.

In 1947, Emil Swanson $'as joined by his son North, an Occidental College graduate and a Navy veteran of World War II, who was raised in the lumber business. Today, North is vice-president and general manager of the progressive retail establishment.

He has a definite policy of operation and that is Customer Service first, last and all the time. "If you can nams i1-!rre have it," he said. "And if we haven't got it in stock, we'll get it quickly," he declared.

It requires the services of 21 ordermen and yard employes to handle the constant flow of customers during every day of the week. Attractive disolavs of all standard brand building items, including paint, hirdware. cement, aggregates, wall surfacing and lumber are arranged for easy and quick selection.

A cashier's desk is situated in the new yard facility for fast comoletion of the serve-vourself transaction.

"We service a steady fow of weekend carpenters and homeowners who are constantly improving their property. Eagle Rock is an older section of Los Angeles and expansion and remodeling is the first order of the day," said Yard Foreman Harry Klein.

Assisting Nortl-r Swanson in the administration and management of the concern is the veteran lumber dealer, Ira Kemper. Kemper has been identified ir.r lumber for the past tr,vo decades and is assistant general manager and secretarytreasurer of Eagle Rock Lumber Company, Inc.

Future expansion plans call for additional steel storage buildings, new offices for yard and administrative personnel and the replacement of various out-of-date yard buildings.

"We expect to spend an additional $150,000 during the next year on improvements," said General Manager North 5wanson.

"It is also our intention, through sales promotion and advertising, to reach all homeowners in our area with a steady flow of directed copy regarding the part our firm plays in the development of our community," he contiriued.

"Good housekeeping is the secret of success, and we aim to help them keep a good house," declared young Swanson.

Further lmprovement in No. 2 Grode Of Sourhern Pine Dimension

By action of its board of governors, th.eiSouthern Pine Inspection Bureau has amended the 1956 Southern Pine grading rules to eliminate the provision permitting pieces of dimension lumber having less than four rings to the inch but not less than three if otherwise No. 1 to be classified and sold as No. 2. This amendment, which becomes effeclive on October 1, 1958, will require the No. 2 grade of. Southern Pine 2" dimension as well as the No. 2 SR grade (applicable to stress-rated heavy dimension and timber 3r, and thicker) to be medium grain (at least four rings to the inch) without exception, reports A. S. Boisfontaine, secretary-manager of the Bureau.

-_He-stated th_at, as a result of this change, it will be possible for the FHA to assign spans for No. 2 Southern Pine dim-e_nsion, in cases limited by deflection, equal to those for No. I or better grades.

Keeping Up Vio The CtM

"I enclose my check for $5 for two years' subscription to your California Lumber Merchant. Have hadlt rr for years through companies for which I worked, bulnow that I am retired I must keep up with what, goes on."

-Chalmers G. Price

USP Soles qnd Profir Up

United States Plywood Corporation reports that its consolidated net earnings for the three months ended July 31 (first quarter of its 6scal year) amounted to g3,637!00 before income taxes. The net earnings after income taxes were $2,057,000.-E*fnings before incomt taxes in the corresponding quarter last year were $2,988,000, and after income taxes were $1,806,00G.

S"lgl fo1 the'quarter exceeded those of a year ago, reaching $53,362,000, -compared with $52,391,000'for thle corresponding three months in 1957. It was the largest sales volume for any first-quarter period in the history of the company.