Aggressive Young Firm Stresses Service

A voung Los Angcles hardwood cont' pany is sprcading its wings and growing with southern California.

A bcautiful ncw'oflice building \ras re' ce ntly completerl b,v Nlercury Hardrvood Lumbcr Co., two nerv Koppers pole'constructed rvarehouses are storing the dry stock and nerv mobile equipment has been acquired.

It was iust four years ago that two enter' prising loung lumbermen established N'Icrcurl' Hardruood for dealers and industrial users of domestic and imported hardwood Iumber. Bob King, a l0-year veteran in lumber procurement and sales and Jerry Lapin, also a l0-year man, lead the firm. Bob has eained his lumber business background in the rvest. So it is just natural that the firm no*'stocks Pacific coast softwoods, as rvell as other domestic spttcies for the trade. Jerry has covcred the easf middle u'est and far wcst and has vast experience in scllirrg and servicing aecounts. "Service i,s, and ahvays will be, our first aim," thel' both declared.

Located at 2tr183 Sheila Street, Los Algeles 23, the one and one-half plus acre facility parallels Washington Boulevard in the greater Los Angeles industrial district an<l is near the Long Beach and Santa Ana Frecrvays, for fast delivery to their southern California market area.

"Our ability to perform is primarily due to our key personnel who have many vears experience in this ficld," said Bob King, "Although the average age of our staff is only 28, we are long on experience as each and every employce is a dedicated Iumberman," he continued. George Caudill, formerly chief assistant inspector for N.H.L.A., is general superintendent of tlle plant. Joe Robles, trafEc manager, has a complete background in both hardwood and softrvood lumber and its uses. "Girl ['riday," Yolanda Panagos, gained her etlucation in handling office details t'ith other [orrvard looking lumber wholesale organizations. 'fhe tnrck drivers and yard pcrsonnel all act as company salesmen.

The new Mercury L C L distribution yard is located on a 10 car Santa Fe spur, offers milling facilities on the premises and, as stated above, is growing with the area it serves. o'W'e are a young organization, with a young staff, but long on ability to perform," said the two executives, Bob and Jerry. A diversified inventory is maintained to service all types of accounts and direct shipments are also ofiered via rail or truck and trailer.

Senqtor Refufes Post Article

Sen. Harrison A. Williams, Jr., a member of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Housing, has highly praised on the Senate floor the contribution of the home-buildins industrv to the nation's economic and social progress.

His remarks were prompted by a recent disparaging article in the Saturday Evening Post under the title: o'lfhy New Houses Cost Too Much."

". . I cannot help but say that the article went rather far in trying to prove its point," Senator Srilliams said. "At one point the article states that builders-not a few builders, not some builders, but builders-'are under enormous pressure to cut corners-and even to chisel.' o'There is no question that many local building codes are antiquated and have impeded the rate of technological progress as the article points out; and there is no question that the homebuilding industry could be doing better in the field of research. After all, all of us could do better in our fields of endeavor. But to say that little or nothing is being done is simply untrue."

"The tone of the article would suggest that nearly every homeowner in the United States might have good reason to lie awake" wondering whether his house will stand up through the night.

"Mr. President, I think it is obvious that today the American people enjoy new housing in a quantity and quality unparalleled in the lvorld.

'oBut the article, in addition to its emphasis on poor and faulty construction, gives the impression that there has been virtualll' no technological progress in the housing industry {or the last 30 years. Mr. President, this just is not so.

Senator Williams, Democrat of New Jersev. also had inserted in the Congressional Record a letter written by NAHB President W. Evans Buchanan to the Post editor and an editorial by former President Leonard L. Frank in the July, 1962, issue o{ the Journal o{ Homebuilding.

In his letter, Buchanan stated his "outrage" at the "distorted picture" painted by the author of the artiile. Frank's editorial dealt with the high priority being given by NAHB to its efiorts and studies in making efiective use of land.

On this point, Senator Williams said that old, time-tested methods of land development have had the effect o{ pushing the countryside farther and farther away; of driving up the cost of providing the necessary roads, and of driving up the costs of providing water, sewer, and electrical facilities,

". There are better and more imaginative ways in which this nation can house a growing population," he added, "and can preserve a great many more amenities in our suburbs as well.

'oOne would not expect the homebuilding industry to be in the forefront of the effort to try new and more imaginative ways to develop our suburbs. Ilut it is."

He noted that the magazine article made virtually no mention at all oI the whole problem of land costs and the present wasteful use of land. He called attention to NAHB's development of Planorama, a table-sized model, "rvhich visually demonstrates the many ways in which new subdivisions can be developed in more imaginative and more economical ways."

In particular praise of the homebuilding industry, Senator Williams said: "Far more than do many other profit-motivated segments of society which are engaged in building our cities, towns and suburbs. the homebuilding industry has recognized the inseparable relationship between the home and other aspects of community development."