T\TENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO TODAY

As reported in The California Lumbcr Merchant Dec. 1,1927

H. W. Gaetjen, Empire Planing Mill, San Francisco, was elected president of theMillwork Institute of California at the annual convention held at the Oakland Hctel, C)akland, on November 17-18. Other officers elected were

A. W. Bernhauer, Fresno Planing Mill. first vice president; C. I. Speer, Zenith Mill & Lumber Co., Oakland, second vice president; A. E. Nicholson, Pacific Door & Sash Co., Los Angeles, treasurer; H. T. Didesch. Los Angeles, managing director.

C. C. Stibich was appointed sales manager for the San Francisco Bay Distri'ct and Coast Counties territory for the Pickering Lumber Co., San Francisco. He rvas formerly associated with Frederic S. Palmer. San Francisco oine wholesaler.

East Bay Hoo-Hoo Club No. 39 met at the Leamington Hotel, C)akland, on November 18. I\{ilt Henderson presided at the meeting. A large delegation from the California Millwork Institute, who were meeting in Oakland, attended the meeting.

Old Bros. Lumber Co., Winslow, opening of their new of6ce and store equipped new mill and cabinet shop, of cabinet work.

40x 100 feet which doubled their shed capacitv.

Los :\ngeles lfoo-Hoo Club plans to entertain about 400 children at their annual Christmas Party that will be held on December 22. A. L. "Gus" Hoover will act as chairman of the Christmas Party Committee.

Paul n{. appointed trict.

P. Merner, Merner vicegerent snark cf Lumber Co., Palo Alto, was the Peninsula Hoo-Hoo Dis-

The Valley Lumber Company reported a large crowd attended the opening of their nerv offices and display rooms at El Centro. The offices are finished in Philippine Mahogany.

J. D. Halstead Lumber Co. started ii new yard at Flagstaff, Arizona.

Prescott Brick & Sanger l-umber Co. Lumber Co. of Fresno purchased at Sanger. the

Plarrs were under way by the Tom McCann Hoo-Hoo Club to hold a New Year's eve dance at McCloud, Calif. At the November 7th meeting, the Playgrounds Committee announced that all the eqtripment had been installed at the Municipal Playgrounds, a large part of the funds being supplied by the Club. The Gustine Lumber Co.. Gustine. built a new shed

Ariz., held a formal building. Their well turns out all kinds

Lumber Outlook

(Continued from Page 46) rigid terms of Regulation X can be reimposed if the sea. sooally-adjus.ted "-annual rate of starts exceeds 1,200,000 units for three successive months. The present authority for Regulation X does not expire until next June 30. f n the civilian picture, commercial, recreational and amusement building probably will rise as the rigid controls which held down their construction are eased. At this writing, such action was slated for May 1, possibly earlier. The speed rvith which the supply of steel, copper and aluminum improves will have a decisive influence here.

The defense demand for lumber is expected to hold up rvell next year and may improve. This prospect is linked to indications that military expenditures may increase.

A sustaining influence on defense lumber demand will be the progress made in encouraging the alternate use of lumber and wood products for steel and other critical materials.

An early end to the Korean war vvould not appreciably affect the defense demand for lumber, since the nation is committed to a continued rearmament program. Co.ngress rvill decide-through budget appropriations-the pace at which defense objectives will be pursued during fiscal 1954 beginning next July 1, butlittle change from the present program is anticipated.

Sufficient contract authority and unexpended funds are available outside the new budget to insure a high level of defense spending next year. There is every reason to believe that the military establishment will continue to require substantial amounts of lumber for construction projects, ships, planes, crating, and various weapons.

Some quarters expect industrial construction to fall slightly below this year's level. An offsetting factor may be the construction of non-defense plants which up to norv have been deferred.

Although a general easing of inflationary pressures is anticipated next year, lumbermen probably will find their operating costs up slightly. This appears likely to result from the recent increases which the government allowed in prices of metal products such as salvs, trucks and heavy equipment. Labor, too, will be relentless in its push for higher wages.

Any analysis of lumber prospects for the year ahead must also note the growing importance of such innovations as Milpak, lamination, and related developments in wood technology.

The progress made along these lines has been encouraging and sufficient to dispute the assertion, sometimes voiced, that 12 years of relative prosperity have dulled the lumberman's incentive to seek new markets and to improve his relations with the public.

A different challenge is posed by the rapid growth of competitive industries. Well-planned action and persistent alertness to opportunities will be necessary to maintain present markets, to recapture lost outlets and to gain nevi. customers.

An equal amount of vigilance is called for if the lumber_ _ man is to avoid being swamped in a sea of unnecessary go\rernment controls.

There is cause for both optimism and pessimism as the lumberman views the calendar for 1953. But few problems defy solution and patient attention can help to ease even the most difficult.

This rugged intlividualist, the American lumberman, also has a "secret weapon" over his competitor. His product has greater versatility and gives customers more value per dollar than any other building material marketed.

Names Assistant Advertising Manager

The appointment of John J. Hickey as assistant advertising manager of Georgia-Pacific Plywood Company has been announced by Graham Rohrer, director of Specialty Sales and Advertising.

Mr. Hickey comes to Georgia-Pacific with broad experience in advertising and sales promotion. Since t947 he has been associated with National Gypsum Company in Buffalo as advertising manager of fiberboard insulation products for one year, then as advertising manager for gypsum wallboards and allied products for three years. More recently he served as National Gypsum's advertising and sales promotion manager in the entire paint products division.

Prior to joining National Gypsum, Mr. Hickey was with the advertising department of Mathieson Chemical Corporation. He was graduated from Michigan State College in 1945.

By Ed Nofziger

WE LIKE TO SAY "THANK YOU" FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE OF SERVICE AND TO \rISH YOU SUCCESS AND PROSPERITY IN THE DAYS THAT LIE AHEAD MAY YOU ENJOYA MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS NE$T YEAR.