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Redwood Pqrk Opposition Grows

Firm opposition to the Redwood National Park proposal has been expressed by the North Coast Timber Association in a letter to the National Park Service, according to Fred Landenberger, association secretary-manager.

The finest remaining stands of virgin old growth redwood are already preserved in state parks, Landenbergei i'eiterated. Therefore, any additional stands preserved would be seeond rate in character and not truly deserving of national recognition, he added. Our industry ofiers assurance to the State of California of adequate opportunity to make minor acquisitions felt to be necessary to round out existing park programs, he emphasized.

"We believe that there must be a balance between park preservation on a portion of the redwood lands and commercial operation or use of most of the redwood lands." he said. ooThis balance should have as one of its goals the economic stabilization of the local communities."

There is an urgent need for more development of additional recreational facilities on the public lands that we now have, the association representative declared, in first priority over acquisition of much additional land for parks.

Referring to the economic analysis portion of the National Park Service report, Landenberger stated that there is the inescapable conclusion that the proposed park, particularly the largest plan, will have far greater economic afiect on the local area than is indicated by the report. 'oWe feel most strongly", he emphasized, "that the economic section of the report is of insufficient depttr" that it contains data on forest valuation which cannot be iubstantiated, and that it leads to conclusions relating to the timber industry which cannot be established by proof or competent evidence."

_ Referring again to the forest valuation data in the report, Landenberger concluded by saying that there is difficulty enough in explaining the admittedly complex procedures involved in ipplication of the ad valorem tax system to timber properties. It is generally agreed among those knowledgable in foresi valuation piinciples, he said, that timber has singular and unique characteristics as taxable property.

For further information on how fii 'iPecial automated highioi,"a'milling, gluing and finidning equiPment can serve Vour -Particular needs - Please iontait our rePresentative' todaY.

The North Coast Timber Association consists of the major forest products industries of Humboldt and Del Norte counties of Califolnia. The group is organized for the purpose of promoting efficiency in local government and study oi taxation problems oI the forest industry.

New Diqmond Nqtionql Store

Work has been started on Diamond National's new retail building supply center on Cohasset Road in Chico. It will replace the store and lumber yard at 4th & Cherry Streets, destroyed by fire last year.

The modern redwood, brick and glass structure will provide 5,000 square feet of air conditioned shopping area with an additional 6,000 square feet of retail warehouse space for pre-cut lumbero plywood, doors, moulding, and related items. 12,000 sqrurre feet of covered lumber storage will be provided in the 132,000 square foot paved area adjacent to the retail facilities. Completion is scheduled early in January, 1965.

Diamond operates 47 retail building supply centers in northern a_nd central California, 3 in Idaho and Washington and 30 in the New England states. The company has a total of 47 plants in the U.S., Canada, and Western Europe, engaged in the hanufacture of packing and printing paper, molded pulp prepackaging: paperboard, papermaking machinery, automated- p".t "gi"g 1yrt.*., matches, lumber, plywood, consumer and industrial wood pioducts.