l 13 Years 0n California Street

September Construction Conlrqcls Totoled $3,273,120,000

St'ptemlrcr t'ontracts for lrrture constmction in the United Staks werer tht. highest Ior an,v Septemlit:r on record, but on a seasonallv adjusted hasis the figrrre-" declined -qomt:wltat from August.1962. at'r'oldirrg to tht' t:ountrl'; ieading corrstrut'liotr Irt:ws atrtl ntarketing .1rt'r'iltlisls ( ()ml)tn\'.

tr'. \\-. l)odgt' Corporation reporteti thc Stltcmlrer volumc of contlacls totaled $3.27:',.120"000, an jncrcast-- of 9 per ccnt compared to thc likc 1961 month. Horvr:ver, the Dodgc Index o{ (lon-*trLrr'tion Contacts. 'uhit:h makes aliowance for the normal seasonal patteln o[ construction. fe]l {ronr l 18 in Atrgust to llil in Seuternlrer.

Dr'. Gordon \\r. \It Kinler'. Dodge r ice presidt:nt and chief econo' mi-st. commenting on the Scptember figures declared, "It's heartening to notc that increases over September 1961 were registered in all three major construltion categories. namely non-residential, r.sidenliaI arr,l lr,'ar t engineering.

"The boom in apartment colrtracts continued through September rvith contract-s amounting to $1150,0130,000" a surprising 56 per cent irrcrease comparcd to Septemirer 19(11.

"Other ttreas of stlengih r\('re ('omrnercial btrilding at $3(i1.209.(XX). ul) on(' per r:ertt; streets antl highrvays at $ll'10,1:J6.000. up l0 lier tent: electric light and I)ower sysl('ms at $5 l.f]-1.7.000. up 'l I per cerrt: an<l u'atcr supply systems at $ilil-:196.000, up l3 I)('r ('ent."

The dollar volumc of rcsidential ('oniracts in Sr,:pt.t'mlrer amounted to $1.519. l;12,000. up l0 pcr cent ccimpared to the likt: month oI a 1.ear ago. Althorrglt corttrat:ts Iot apartrncnts were altcad sulrstantially, as noted above. onc- and two-Iamily houses declined rl Per t'enl.

Non-re,qidential contracts in September btaled $1,018,687,000. up i3 per cent. In addition to gains in commercial and manufacturing huilding. contracts {or hospitals and institutional building-. at $89,6i17,000 registered an increase of 26 per cent. Although contracts for educational and science buildings gained less than one per cent, they totaled a healthy $240,859,000.

September engineering construction Lontracts, made up of public works and utilities. amounted to $735,301.000, a substantial 16 per cent increase.

This category o{ construction, which is expected to provide most of the gain in the year ahead, is already gathering momentum.

November 1962 Red Book Off the Press

The November 1962 issue o{ the LTIMBERMEN'S RED BOOK is just off the press. It i-q the l62nd is,.ue of the famous credit and sales guide.

Since 1876. the Rl.ll IJOOK has been the print'ipal source of credit information for the lumber, woodworking and allied indus' tries of the United States. It lists-and evaluates-the manufac' turers. wholesalers, retailer-s and quantity users of lumber and wood products of all kinds. The listings include credit ratings, business classifications, addresses and other facts of value to buyers and sellers alike.

The RED BOOK is published semi-annually and is kept up to date by supplemer.rts that go out every Tuesday and Friday throughout the year. These Twice-A-Week Supplements r:ontain hundreds of last-minute items of r:redit and sales information. They provide a unique service that is available nowhere else.

The RED BOOK agency also compiles detailed analytical credit reports. and conducts a collection service for the handling of com' mercial claims.

The RED BOOK is published by the Lumbermen's Credit Association Inc. Its headquarters are located at 608 South Dearborn Street. Chicago 5, Illinois, and an Eastern Branch is maintained at 99 Wall Street, New York 5, New York. lnquiries to either office will receive prompt attention.

Burning Chqrqcteristics of Cross Piles of Wood

.summary: The burning ol cross pilcs ol uood. ot the National Bureanr ol Snnd'ards is one ol the initial, steps in an ouerall inaestigation of the use ol rnod'els to stud,y the d,eaelopm,ent and, growth ol fires in buildings. Su,ch expeimen'Is are intend,ed to increase the und,erstand,ing, ol the mechanism inud,ueil in the spread, ol fires anil should, grearl'y redace the number ol more expensiae full'rcale tests required.

Lack of basic knowledge regarding growth and propagation of fires in building structures has hampered efiorts to evaluate the true degree of hazard represented by flammable interior finish materials. As part of a long range r'gsearch program intended to provide technical information on fire growth phenomenao the National Bureau of Standards has recently completed preliminary experiments involving the controlled burning of simple, symmetrical cross piles or "cribs" of wood of varying sizes. Daniel Gross, of the NBS staff, has conducted such experiments to study the effect of the model parameters involved in fire propagation.V Thus far, the work indicates the possibility that siinple models may eventually be useful in analyzing fires in enclosed rooms and buildings.

A recent study by the Committee on Fire Research of the National Academy of Sci- ' enees --- National Research 'Council, has spurred research in fire investigation. Funds made available to NBS for fire re- search will be used for both theoretical and experimental investigations of ignition, combustion, and fire growth phenomena, and the detection, inhibition and extin' guishment of fires.

,YIATERIATS STUDIED

Douglas fir, a common building mate' rial, was used tnost extensively in the cross pile tests. Limited use was also made of balsa, mahogany, and ash to determine the effects of density and thermal properties on maximu.m rates of burning. Sticks of square cross section varying from 0.16 to 9.15 centimeters were used. The length of the stick in each case was l0 times its width. Sticks of the same size were stacked in layers with cticks in adjacent layers at right angles. Ten layeri were used to make a cubical stack. The number of sticks in each layers of a particular test crib was constant; however the' number of stieks per layer was changed with each test in order to examine the efiect of porosity.

The cribs were ignited by burning eithernormal heptane or alcohol in a square pan beneath the fuel pile. AII tests were con. ductcd within a high-ceilinged closed roorn to minimize the effects of wind and draft. The crib weights were recorded before, during, and after burning. Measurements were also made of flame height, temperatures, and radiant intensity.

RESUlTS

Data gathered from the series of experiments showed a definite sequence of buining: (a) The ignition stage, characterized by a gradually :ncreasing weight loss per unit time, (b) the active combustion stage, corresponding to a maximum'and relatively constant rate of weight loss, and (c) the decay stage resulting in the collapse of the pile and the exhaustion of burning, Information from the series of cross pile experiments can be considered in terms of the maximum r6te of weieht loss andporosity factor. The rate with which a firg

(Continued on Page 74)

The Wonders of Wood (Continu,ed, lrom Page 4)

We have a total of 6l products with hundreds of uses.

Paper was first made by the Chinese in 105 AD. The first paper mill in this country was established near Philadelphia in 1690. Today 700 paper and pulp mills in the U.S. are producing nearly one-half of the world's paper and pulp.

In 1960 the paper consumption of every man" woman and child in the U.S. was 431 pounds each. It is interesting to look at paper consumption of other countries in the world (1960 figures):

Canada-28O lbs. per capita.

Sweden-265 lbs. per capita.

United Kingdom-236 lbs. per capita.

Denmark-I98 lbs. per capita.

Switzerland-I95 lbs. per capita.

Norway-l8O lbs. per capita.

New Zealand-176 lbs. per capita.

And Russia is 36th, with 33 lbs. per capita.

It is said that there are over 5,000 products made from wood. In thinking about that in preparing these notes, I

.€lsrted to list some of the products I live with everv dav that are made of wood:

1. T'uffiex mattress pad; 2. morning paper; 3. milk carton; 4. "gg carton; 5. maple syrup; 6. the house I live in is rcO% wood; 7. and is insulated with balsam-wood; 8. and is acoustically treated with Nu-Wood Ceiling tile; 9. hardboard; 10. particle board; ll. plywood; 12. wood windows; 13. linoleum; 14. rayon; 15. photo film; 16. cellulose sponge which I use to wash my car.

17. These drug items my druggist carries in stock: tannic acid, eucalyptus oil, camphoro acacia gum, tincture of benzoin, cedarwood oil, and Creomulsion, a cough medicine made out of "active ingredients" of beechwood creosote, cascara, ipecac, menthol, white pine and wild cherry.

'We have looked behind four billboards that too many people notice on the highways-the billboard of short supply, the billboard of high price, the billboard of poor quality and the billboard of decreasing use of wood products. A summary of what I have said, and of some things time does not permit me to say, is well worded by Robert W. Olin, a wood technologist with Potlatch Forest Inc., in Lewiston, Idaho. Under the heading of a paper, ooWood Is Good", Olin says, o'It is strongly competitive in cost. o'It can be produced in large sizes. It can be readily worked into items of exceptional delicacy. It stands up ruggedly under abuse. tPainted, it presents a smooth, attractive, enduring surface.

"If wood were discovered today, it would startle the world. Mankind has lived with this odiscovery' so long that it is too often taken for granted.

"This new material is available in vast quantities.

"The supply renews itself so the product will always be available.

"It will not shatter when struck. Its resilience permits it to absorb shocks that would rupture or break other materials.

"It has fine natural insulating qualities.

'oWhen properly used it will last indefinitely. Left in its natural state, it ofiers an infinite variety of beautiful patterns.

'olt responds to manipulation with the simplest of tools and may be employed repeatedly.

"It is relatively light in weight, yet possessed of great strength.

"There is a reason why wood has remained a primary construction material for thousands of years. The reason is simply that no competitive material has all the advantages of wood,

"A great many things are happening to wood, and the end is not yet in sight.

IAAN'S BEST FRIEND

Wood is man's best friend, Let us consider a few of the countless instances wherein man has been inextricably related to wood.

The Colonies' first exports to England were wood-Our first president lived in a wooden house-Lincoln's log cabin was made of white oak- Lincoln split black walnut into rails-The wheels that carried settlers to the West had oak spokes and hickory rims. The English Navy sailed to some of its greatest victories in the lSth Century in ships with masts and yards of New England white pine.

A tree has the power of reproduction and the power to repair injuries and go on with a stout heart. It can overcome obstacles, split rocks apart, travel far in thirsty search for water, It can adjust to circumstances. It can endure with an immortality all its own.

Wooden piles under the streets of Venice have been found intact after 1.000 vears. White cedar in the swamps of eastern Virginia has laid buried an estimated 3,000 years-yet is being dug up today and sawed into boards that may last another l,(X)0 years.

Each tree is an individual; no two are alike, nor two boards from the same tree. Each piece of wood with its grain and rings is as difierent as your finger prints are from those of anyone else in the world. Wood reminds us, in its pliancy and resilience, of human flesh and, yes, evm human spirit.

Say if you like, wood has no thoughts and no tongue to speak them. But let him who says this, look into his own heart and produce for us a thought that will warm the hearth of a friend. or endure 1.000 years.

Let me conclude simply by giving you Joyce Kilmer's famous poem, "Trees."

"I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree,

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair; Upon whose bosom snow has lain; Who intimately lives with rain. Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree."

Weyerhoeuser Estoblishes Automoted Ordering System

The first one-step automatic order transmission system in the lumber industry was presented to retail lumber dealers by Weyerhaeuser Company at the ninth annual convention of NRLDA in Chicago Ocr.20-23.

Purpose of the system: to cut to 24 hours the time to transmit to the producing mill, a dealer's order {or lumber. plywood and other wood products of the firm. The speed-up means faster service to dealers; important, too, the automation assures greater accuracy since rewriting of orders is eliminated.

And the system also permits fast message communication between area sales offices across the nation, Tacoma, Wash. headquarters, and producing mills for speedy handling of inquiries.

Now in {ull operation, the circuit uses 15'500 miles of leased wires, a complex of sending and receiving equipment at Tacoma headquarters, 50 teletype machines and 28 Flexowriter machines' It also consum,es thousands o{ feet of punched paper tape a day for electronic transmission and automatic duplication of orders in various offices for order control and shipment scheduling.

All of the 27 Weyerhaeuser area sales offices, the wood products manufacturing plants, and the Tacoma communications center are connected by the system.

Though based upon the now-familiar teletype communications method, the new fast-and-sure automated ordering system incorporates a major refinement. An electronic Flexowriter makes possible (t) transmission of the order in final form, (2) printing of multiple copies on actual order forms, and (3) the cutting of duplicate tapes for re-transmission to achieve maximum efficiency of the circuits.

Then, too, the transmission rate has been upped to 100 words a minute, more than 50/o iaster than by older methods.

Deolers See Aulomolion. Leslie G. Everitt (center| of Fort Collins, Colo., presi' dent-elect of NR[DA, qnd Edword C. Doherly lrightf of Roslindole, lVloss., presidenl of Northeoslern ossociotion, were omong first deoters lo see the Chicogo denonstrdlion of fhe new Weyerhoeuser order communicolions syslem. John P. Rycn {lefrt, Weyerhoeuser region monoger ot Chicogo holds typicol order. Although o bottery of equipmenl wos included in the NRIDA exhibit ond qn operolor is seen ol exlreme lefl, lhe bockground octuolly is n big photo of lhe Tocomo. Wosh., system conlrol cenfer.

Many Northwest timber-owners and foresters have yet failed to recognize the emergence of red alder from the status of a o'weed tree" to that of a recognized and valuable commercial species. Those who handle their timberlands for luture use, rather than {or the past, are quite generally interested in retaining this multi-purpose species.

Far West Fir Sales Company

For added structural strength, all Jones panels have Douglas fir cores and backs. As members of The Hardwood Plywood Institute every panel carries the seal of this rigid testing and inspection agency.

WHY

Did you know thot even q mon who is drowing unemployment insurqnce is o prospect for our promolion line of preftnished Hordwood Woll Poneling?

Toke odvontoge of our merchondising know-how ond lei us show you how to increose your soles. Our men hqve been froined in this ffeld qnd they ore qvoiloble to you.

Here is the most complele line of promotion ponels ovoiloble in the Hordwood Plyrood lndustry.

Genulnc Birch Ncturul Colonlal Antlquo Chorcool ChcrrYlon6."t' "' :"

Jones Veneer & Plywood Co. is America's largest manufacturer of prefinished wall paneling. Be cause of modern and mass production techniques, home owneni everywhere, regardless .of Income can now enJoy the luxury and custom quality of genuine harG - wood wall fdteling.