Looking Ahead

Bv A. E. Ficklins President, Southern Colifornio Retail Lumber Association

As we stand on the threshold of a new year we naturally want to look ahead and see what is in store for the poor lumbermen in the year 1942.

After a careful survey of the situation it appears to me that Southern California is in as good a position as any place in this old troubled world.

We are the hub of the Southern California defense program. While the first year has seen a large part of the construction. from now on the increased production will have its benefits.

Los Angeles County has defense orders for nearly two billion dollars at the present time and this is giving employment to one hundred and thirteen thousand men who draw twenty million dollars a month.

The backlog of two billion dollars in defense work will mean that one half of it will be spent for labor.

This is just a mere bagatelle when things get into motion. Douglas had just finished a twelve million dollar plant when they broke ground to double the original. Many other plants are expanding which means that 6efore 1942 is very old Los Angeles County alone will be spending a million dollars a d.ay, including Sunday, for labor.

With this enormous amount of money turnover it is bound to find its way into every channel of business, and the wideawake lumberman should be able to corral his share.

The National Lumber Dealers Association is sparing no expense or trouble in an effort to work out with the Department of Justice a plan and a set of definite rules to govern the activities of any or all associations in the United States. This should be of great benefit to all lumbermen and a highlight of. 1942.

The Southern California Retail Lumber Association is making plans to render even a greater service to its members for the coming year.

All signs point to factors that will make a good year, but whether it will be a profitable one or not depends upon the mind conditions of the lumbermen. Volume will not make a good year, but if all pull together, and have a little of the thing that was lacking last year and obtain a reasonable price for materials and services, 1942 will be all that one could ask for.