Conslruction Mqintoins Record Level in August

Outlays for new construction continued at peak levels in August 1955, totaling nearly $4 billion, and reached an alltime high of $22.1 billion for the first eight months of the year, according to preliminary estimates of the Departments of Labor and Commerce. After adjustment for seasonal factors, new construction activity in August was at an annual rate of $41.5 billon. This compares with the record annual rate of $42.4 billion in May 1955, an average rate of $41.7 billion for the first eight months of this year, and actual outlays of $37.6 billion during 1954.

The total value of nerv work put in place in August was eight percent above the previous August high in 1954. Private expenditures for new construction in August 1955

($2.8 billion) were lZ/c above the year earlier figure, rvhile total public outlays ($1.2 billion) were off slightly.

Private residential construction (which usually remains steady) edged off, reflecting a dorvntrend in housing starts during the preceding two months. Dollar volume thus far in 1955 was at record levels for private residential building. Private activity accounted for almost the entire increase over 1954, comparing the first eight months of each year, with private residential building alone accounting for over 70/o of the total dollar gain.

A minor fire was discovered at the Peninsula Lumber Co., Menlo Park, Calif., recently.

0ltlrraaat

Miller Freeman, Sr., 80, publisher of The Lumberman and numerous lumber and maritime trade magazines, died of a heart attack in Seattle September 18. Frederick C. Talbot, @, first vice-president of Pope & Talbot, Inc., died in San Francisco September 6 after a brief illness. Walter Mulford, 78, first dean of the University of California School of Forestry, died September 7 in St. Helena Sanitarium. lle was a pioneer forester and rvorld authority on lumber conservation, serving on the faculty from 1914-47 and built the School of Forestry to one of the leading institutions of its type. Dean Mulford was a graduate of the first forestry course given in America. at Cornell, and first man in the U. S. to hold the title of state forester, in Connecticut. Robert M. Pettet, 47, plant superintendent .of the Simpson Logging Co. at Arcata. died at his home there August 30. Otto C. ,,Bud,' Hart, 60, who supervised construction of the M and M Wood Working Co. plant in Eureka, died September 15 in Oregon. Vern Moore, 78, former woods and mill foreman for Union Lumber Co., died at his home in Fort Bragg September 1 aftel a long iilness. Waldon W. Parker, 55, Artesia, Calif., hardu'are store o\,vner, died August 17. . . U. S. Grant Hinton, 86, early real estate developer in the Huntington Park area, died September 1. Richard Lloyd Wattenbarger, 8, son of Lloyd Wattenbarger, Bakersfield contractor, n,as killed September 2 in a tractor accider.rt at his father's lumberyard u'hile operating the machine used to haul luntlter. Mrs. Helen Harlan Watzek, 90, widor. of Dr. John \V. \\'atzek, died last month. N'Ir. Watzek had been active with the recently deceased Edrvarcl C. Crossett in the early building of his lumber empire. She leaves two sons in Portland, one in Chicago, and a grandson, Peter Ficke Watzek, of. Crossett, Ark.

Cut S

lIMINATES / (-'-'-'-

,7 AN TXIRA HAND z

Makes A Stronger Structure

Von-Loc Tongue ond Groove Sheothing wos designed to eliminote the necessify of ponels hoving lo be cui to fit the studs. With Vqn-Loc Tongue ond Groove Sheolhing, ends qnd sides ore locked, thereby giving unusuol strength for siding, roofing or sub-flooring.

An exfrq mon is never required ro hold boqrds in ploce for noiling os the Tongue ond Groove in Von-[oc outomoiicolly hold eoch piece.

On most conslruction o sovings o( 3oo/o con be mode on moleriol olone! There is obsolutely no wosfe! You will nole on the diogrom thot when you reoch fhe end of the woll, roof or floor, the overhong is cuf off ond o new row slorted with lhe remoining piece-regordless of lhe size. The some proctice is followed ol door ond window openings. Thus when the sheqlhing is completed you hove on oir-tight slruclure not subiect to exponsion ond contrqclion.

Where exlro slruclurol strength is required, woter proof glue con be used either in lhe groove sr on lhe longue. Afier the glue hos set, ihe combined strenglh of lhe iongue ond groove ond the glue provides o sheothing for superior fo ony other.

Your firsf use of Von-Loc Tongue ond Groove Sheothing will convince you of its superiority.

Von-Loc Sheothing is monufoclured in th" ond %" lhicknesses -both interior ond exlerior-qnd is 24" wide by 72" or 84" , long. z1o" or thicker monufoctured on order.

The Mon Who Could Not Be Emperor

By Thomas Dreier

Did you read Giovanni Papini's story about "The Man Who Could Not Be Emperor?"

This man was full of great thoughts and went out to conquer the world. He was going to be master of a realm so vast that man would grow old carrying messages from one of his cities to another.

On his journey he arrived at a great city and, when he announced that he wished to be king, the people laughed at him. When he went to another city the same thing happened. When he was not laughed at or given charity, he was cursed.

Finally he returned to his own home. His shoes were vvorn out, his cloak was threadbare, and his hair was white. He went into his house and said: "I have no followers. I have won no battles. I own no treasures. I am not, it appears, master of the World."

Then came this idea that made him strongly joyous. He said: "At last f understand my lot. I was blind to go forth to conquer the earth. What I thought was real was only an illusion. The real world exists in me, in my thoughts, in my imagination, in my dreams-I can conquer it when and how I will."

"This man,'f said Giovanni Papini, "was the father of all poets, metaphysicians, and dreamers."

His Only Regret

"Now that you have made a great success in life, and amassed millions of dollars, what regrets have you as you look back over your long life?" asked the reporter of the very old millionaire.

"Only one," said the old min. "f sure regret that there were no drive-in theatres in my young days."

A True Vogobond-John Muir

John Muir was a true Vagabond. He loved to wander. Unlike ordinary tramps who ride the rods under freight cars and who go from one tramp jungle to another, he spent weeks alone in the California forests and mountains. At no time was he a slave to possessions. He carried a little tea in his vest pocket. He himself described his pack as "unsubstantial as a squirrel's tail." He would even climb a high tree to hear the music of its topmost needles. The company of other people was not essential to his happiness. He traveled with satisfying thoughts and the beauty in his mind found the world a place of great beauty. He never reached a permanent goal.

Cqlled lt Wrong

"I believe in calling a spade a spade," said the stranger in Cattle Town.

"Me, too," agreed Broncho Bill. t'There was a stranger here last week that lost his life tryin' to call a spade a club."

Not Hymn

The Sunday School teacher of a class of the very young, asked each pupil to write down on a piece of paper the name of his or her favorite hymn. When she gathered up the slips, she found that one little girl had simply written"Jimmy Jones." "What is this?" she asked the little girl. And blushingly she pointed at the little boy across the aisle, and said:

"That's him."

Americo for Me

By

Henry Van Dyke

'Tis fine to see the Old World, and travel up and down, Among the famous palaces and cities of renown, To admire the crumbly castles and the statues of the kings, But now I think I've had enough of antiquated things.

So it's home again, and home again, America for me, My heart is turning home again, and there I long to be, In the land of youth and freedom, beyond the ocean bars, Where the air is full of sunlight, and the flag is full of stars.

Oh, London is a man's town, there's power in the air; And Paris is a woman's town, with flowers in her hair; And it's sweet to dream in Venice, and it's great to study Rome;

But when it comes to living, there is no place like home. I like the German fir-woods, in green battalions drilled; I like the gardens of Versailles, with flashing fountains. filled;

But, oh, to take your hand, my dear, and ramble for a day, In the friendly Western woodland where Nature has her way.

I know that Europe's wonderful, yet something seems to lack:

The Past is too much with her, and the people looking back. But the glory of the Present is to make the Future free,We love our land for what she is, and what she is to be.

O, it's home again, and home again, America for me ! f want a ship that's Westward bound to plough the rolling sea;

To the blessed Land of Room Enough beyond the ocean bars, Where the air is full of sunlight, and the fag is full of stars.

A personn.r di,.Hlt:l-:l1tf 11.,,ro.,",, middre-aged woman who was applying for a position:

"How old are you, Madam?"

The lady thought for a few moments, and then asked: "Do you want my business age, or my social securitv age?"

(To All Our Regulor Adveriisers:

PTEASE RESERVE YOUR EARLY so we sove your preferred position this yeor.)