Research in Action -- Reducing Small Home Costs

In an address presented before the Construction Industry Advisory Council of the United States Chamber of Commerce at Washington, D. C., November 20, Norman P' Mason, president of the National Retail Lumber Dealers Association said:

"For well over a year now, even back before hostilities in Europe and Japan had ceased, some of our governmental agencies have been pointing the finger of ridicule at the luitai.tg industry of this country' The present political administration, through the propaganda agencies of NHA, CPA. OPA, OWMR, and through inspired articles in our Leftist press and blurbs from certain of our radio commentators has deluged the American public with the story that the building industry of this nation is archaic, outmoded, greedy, and incompetent. A gullible public has been led to believe that the constrttction industry, and not the town and city of6cials, were responsible for restrictive buil<ling codes, that the industry was sprawling and uncollected and totally disinterested in its own future, that it thought only of ways to gouge the public.

"This propaganda has ignored the record of resear'ch of this industry just as it ignored the fact that the private construction industry has seen to it that America is the best housed nation in the world today.

"I could recount for you a long record of research, a research on products conducted that we might have better structures at lower costs. The reseafch that produced the Teco rings and timber constructions of the lumber manufacturers group-the development of new kiln drying processes for lumber-the advancement in .the use of adhesives and the ner.r' types of plywoods-the discovery of a new sealer for painting over pine knots, the machine which firmly glues back in place the loose knots in low grade lumber-the new splicing joint rvhich permits the use of many small pieces of lumber to make up a regular studthe development of insulation materials-the development of a whole nerv line of wall treatments, decorated hardboards, ceiling panels, the evolution of the prefitted 'rvindow complete u'ith frame and screens and weatherstripping-the evolving of the new prefinished hardwood floorings.

"I could go on and on. I could tell you of the development of the modular size program-a plan for reducing costs in construction which has already gone so far that industry house plan books now carry its story."

The speaker told of the research in the line of reducing marketing costs carried on by retail lumber and building material dealers' associations in the Northeastern area, Ohio and Wisconsin, and the extensive research programs of the large building material manufacturers'

As an example of the desire of the industry to give better housing values for less money, Mr. Mason outlined (Continued on Page 82)

Los Angeles Hoo-Hoo Meet

There was a large attendance at the luncheon meeting of the Los Angeles Hoo-Hoo Club at the Chapman Park Hotel, Los Angeles, Tuesday, November 26.

Lieutenant Edwin Lombard, U. S. Navy, was the guest speaker and he showed a motion picture of the atomic bomb tests conducted by the Navy at Bikini in the South Pacific. The picture showed the explosion of the bombs in both the midair and under water tests. This is one of the most spectacular pictures ever taken.

George Clough introduced the speaker, and President Bob Osgood presided.

Mcrny New Scrwmills In Roseburg Area'

J. H. Booth, manager of a Roseburg bank, reported recently that more than 20 new sawmills have been started in the Roseburg, Oregon, district in the past few months.

Douglas County, in which Roseburg is situated, has the largest stand of virgin timber in the country, and this is a big factor in making Roseburg an important center of lumber operations, Mr. Booth said.

Three In A Row

There was rejoicing in the homes of three employees of the United States Plywood Corp., Los Angeles, at the recent arrival of babies. A fine boy to Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Vernon, a handsome son to Mr. and Mrs. Herb Petersen, and a beautiful daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Art Michel.

House Orgcrn Newsy Number

The Christmas issue of the Stantonite, house publication of E. J. Stanton & Son, Los Angeles, contains a lot of interesting items. On the front page there is a Christmas message from the president, Leroy H. Stanton, Sr., and a personal sketch of Tom Haverfield, salesman for the company, with 72 vears' service. On another page there are some extracts from Jack Dionne's Vagabond Editorials, and there are more personal items that have particular interest for Stantonites, an article on accident prevention, and Clint Laughlin's column, "The Moving Finger." On one side of the insert page there is a two color reproduction of the full page Christmas ad that appears on the outside back cover of The California Lumber Merchant.

E. K. Wood Buys Bcrskett Lumber Compcrny

Art Twohy of the Twohy Lumber Company, lumber yarcl and sawmill brokers, sold the Baskett Lumber Company at Whittier to E. K. Wood Lumber Company. They will move their present retail yard in Whittier to the newly acquired location, possession having been taken December 4.

When H. C. Baskett passed away suddenly a few months ago, his brother, Val Baskett and his brother-in-law, Paul Griffith decided to dispose of the business.

The Basket Lumber Company was established 45 vears ago as the Whittier Lumber Company, and has occupied the same location continuously.