SCRLA Decrlers tline Pure Gold in 7th Annucrl Polm Springs Conference

California's lumber dealers are unique in their desire to learn all there is to know about their industry-and to share and pass on the good, new ideas with their brother 'dealers, competitors or not. And so it was at the 7th annual Retail Lumber Dealers Conference of the Southern California Retail Lumber Association at Palm Springs a month ago, when nearly 200 dealers and their wives and guests gathered at El Mirador hotel, November 14-16, for another meeting and exchange of knowledge.

It is stimulating to watch these retail lumbermen pick one another's minds, to watch a team of them on a panel take the ball and score a touchdown, and to hear th,e progressive, worthwhile ideas that they come up with and toss into the feedbin for the mutual nourishment of all.

The three-day meeting was composed of two days of sterling discussion on retail yard problems and one day of fun. Altogether, it was one of the best "shows" that SCRLA Executive Vice-President Orrie W. Hamilton and the association officers have ever put on. And they can thank their membership, for these dealers proved themselves to a man to be at home on a platform, a panel or in open discussion from the floor.

The presiding officer at the Conference. was President Wayne F. Mullin, president of the Mullin Lumber Co., Los Angeles. Following a directors breakfast in th,e Starlight Patio, delegates breakfast in the hotel dining room, and the registration, President Mullin opened the first session at 10 a.m., November 14, in the excellent new theatre auditorium of the hotel with his "President's Report of ProgrCSS.,,

Mr. Mullin reported on the just-concluded, two-hour directors meeting, the SCRLA finances, its two excellent new field men this year-George Cordrey and Erik Flamer, budget, association plans, etc. In his comprehensive, wellrounded "Report," President Mullin again showed the great leadership under which the SCRLA has forged ahead in his administration of the past two years.

Clifford L. Gorce, personnel manager of the Hammond Lumber Co. Division of Georgia-Pacific Corp., Los Angeles, spoke next on "Engineering Our Plants for Safety." Mr.

R,OSTER, OF DETEGATES TO THE 7TH ANNUAL R,ETAIL tUTtf,BER, DEAIERS CONFER.ENCE

El Mirodor Hotel - Pcrlm Springs,Gqlif. - November l4-16, 1956

Bob ond Por Allen Fonners Lumber & Supply Co., Downey

'Bernord and lllloxie Ancwolt, Anowoh lunrber & Mqleriols Co., Iuiungo

Hol ond Frcnces Anowolt, Anawolt lumber & l/loteriob Co., Tujungc

Pork cnd llcyme Arnold Fox-Woodsum Lumber Co., Glendole

Rolph ond Helen Boker, Bsrr Lumber Co., Sonlc Anc

Edrrord and Louro Bollcnlyne, Signcl lunber Co., Inc., Long Beoch

Wilbur ond Joie Dorr, Borr lumber Go., Sonfo Ano

Ben nnd ltlildred Bortels, Peoples Lumber Go., Venturq

Austin ond Nellie Borchelder, Rossmon llill & lumber Co., Wilmington l. A. ond Rulh Beckstrom, Arcodio Lumber Co., Arcqdic

Corvel ond Ailcen Brown, Orbon Lumber Co., Possdcno

Hal ond Dorothy Brown, Woodheod lumbcr Co., los Angeles

Stonley cnd Yvonne Brown, Ghandler k mbcr Co., Von Nuys

Norbert ond Cloire Bundrchuh, Bruce Bundrchuh, Myrllc Avenuc Lurnber Co., llonrovio

Homcr ond Dororlry Burnobn llirc Soroh Burnoby, Sun Lumber Co., Son Pedro

Al & Wincna Childs, lunber & Bui]derr Supply Co., Solqno Beoch

Rex ond Arlenc Clorlr, Sun lunber Co., San Pcdro

Jock ond Elishc Clinc, Peopler lumber Co., Venlura

Chnrles ond Horriet Gooper, W. E. Cooper Lumber Co., lor Angelor

Williom G. Goopcr, W. E. Coopcr Lumber Co., lor Angeles

Gcorgc ond Violct €ordrey, So. Calif. Rctqil lumber A*n., los Angelcs

Fronk Doepker, l/lullin Lumber Go., Noilh Hollywood

Merrill ond Pquline Edmi:ton, Weslern lurnber Co., Scn Diego

Joc ond leono Fitzpotrick, Concoliddled lumber Co., Wilmington

Erik Flomcr, 5o. Golif. Rctoil lumber Arcn., los Angeles fhomor ond Borboro Fleming, Fleming & Hightower lumber Co., Los Angeles lhomos ond.Cstherinc Fo& John W. Firher lumber Co,, Sontq ll/lonico

Pou[ ond Elvcro Fritchcy, Polm Avenue Lumber Co., Alhombro

John ond Ccrhcrine Gsnohl, Emest Gonohl lumber Co., Anoheim

Oscor ond ldo Gibbs, Gibbs Lumber Co., Anaheim

Dungon ond Allene Gibson, Gibron lumber Co., Son Bernqrdino

Clifiord L. Gorce, Hornrnond lunbcr Co., los Angeles

Poul ttnd Erhcl 5. Hollingby, Hcrnnond Lumber Co., Los Angeles

Orrie ond louire Hornilton, So. Golif. Retoil Lumber Assn,, lor Angelcs

Tony ond ilorgoret Honsen, llullin Lumber Co., los Angoles

Fronl cnd Juonito Horrington, Ward & Harrington lumber Co., Sontq Ano

Glenn ond Cleonc Harri:, Erncst Gonohl lumber Co., loke Arrowhesd

Stuort ond Kothorinc Horris, Lounrberry & Horris, Los Angcles

Stephen ond Edirtc Hothowoy, Ocesnride lumber Co., Occnnside

Norton Holhowon Clcocnride lumber Go., Occonride

C. W. ond Noro Hestcr, Word & Hcrringlon lumbcr €o., Sonla Ano

George ond llory Hinkle, Consolidoled lumber Co., Wilmington

Wolloce ond Dororlry Hull, Hull Bros. Lurdber Co., Cqnogc Pork

Woyne ond Donnc Hull, Hull Bros. lunber Co., Conogo Park

Bob ond Virginic Jomes, Macco lumblr Co., Porqmounl

George ond Jone Johirson, Nqtionol Lumber Co., Norionol Ciry

Frode snd Hcrriet Kilstofte, Rossmon Mill & Lumber Co., Wilmington

Frederick ond Alice Kronz, Golden Stcte lumber Co., Sonfc Monicc

Herschell ond Annobel lorricl Lumber & Buildcrs Supply Co., Solona Beoch

Gorl nnd llorion loughlin, Mor Visto lumber Co., Los Angeles

Lothrop ond i/lorie Leishmcn, Crown City Lumber & Mill Co,, Pqssdeno

Corr tnd Ollie McCouley, Onfario lumber & Hordwqre Co., Ontqrio

Horry ond Ino l/lcGohcy, Son Diego lumber Co., Son Diego

Albcrt ond Evelyn l/lcKee, Forest lumber Co., Los Angetes

Kingrton ltlcKee, Imperiol Volley lumber Co., Browley

Williom ond lucile llormion, Son Gobriel Vclley Lurdber Co., Son Gcbriel

Arthur ond Pstricio Alilliken, Viney-Milliken Lumber Co., Govino

Rurrcll ond Merced lAullin, Burbqnk lumber Co., Burbqnk

Woyne cnd Chqrlotte llullin, Mullin Lumbcr Co., los Angelet

Joncs ond Alory Nclson, Bueno Pqrk Lumber Co., Buenq Pork

W. V. ond Morgoret O'Brien, Son Gqbriel Vclley Lumbcr Co. Son Gobriel

Gcorge ond Foye Rodccker, Williarns lumber Yord, Azusc

Al E. RoEen, Hydc Pork lumber Co., 1or Angeles

Rolph ond lcla Rusrell, Conrolidqted Lumber Co., Wilmingron

Horold ond lrobel Smirh, Smith.Trcvor lumber Co,, Son Diego

Pool ond Joonnc Snyder, Alullin lumber Co., Studio Ciry

Gole ond Yvonnc Sto$ord, lAullin lurnber Co., Sqn Gobriel

Elsie W. Sullivon, Weslern lumber Co., Son Diogo

John cnd Eleqnor Sullivqn, Weslern Lumber Co,, Son Diego

Robe* ond Lorno Sullon, Airline lumbcr Co., San Diego

Deon qnd Noro Swortz, Mor Visto Lumber Co., los Angeles

Wolt ond Groce Toylor, Wolt Toylor Lumber Co., Anoheim lorry cnd frlcry Von Ctrder, Blue Stor Lumber Co., lynwood

Al ond Hildo Wohl, Consolidoted Lumber Co., Wilmington

Gilrnore ond lUlildred Word, Word & Horrington Lumber Co., Sonto Ano

Chorles ond Eeth Word, Sun lumber Co,, Son Pedro l{owqrd snd Kothleen Wellmon, Weslern lurnber Co,, Son Diego

Hugh ond Gertrude Wilhoir, W, E. Cooper Lumber Co., los Angele:

Jock ond It/lcuveno Adelstein, Sunlond Lumber Co., Norwolk

Bill ond leoh Crowell, Southlond lumber & Supply Go., Inglewood

Voughon Dcvies, fhompron lumber Co.. ltd,, San Bernordino

Roy ond luth Engstrond, Wilrnington lurnber Go., Lor Angcler

Dqve ond Rorcnory Hil!, Burtcnk lumbcr Co., Burbqnk lloyer ond llildrcd Weircl, Sunlond lumbcr Co., El l/lonte

SOUTHERN CAUFORNIA RETAII lUrliBER ASSOCIATION deqlers met in Gorce said his dealer audience all knew the obvious safety measures-steel helmets, red flags, etc., but asked if they knew the safety in lifting with the back instead of the stomach, about using red paint in yard danger areas, etc. He said industrial records show that accidents kill one worker every three minute!, injure one every 11 seconds.

"If we can curtail accidents, we can hinder legislation which will seriously curtail our operations," Gorce declared. He especially cautioned on th,e speed and condition of yard equipment. Quoting from a still applicable set of safety rules published by the Red River Lumber Co. in 1928, Gorce read:

"Keep your eyes on your work and your fingers on your hand."

"There are Old Lumbermen, and there are Careless Lumbermen-but there are NO Old, Careless Lumbermen.t'

In the Question-and-Answer period that followed, Mr. Gorce was asked about guards on saws, etc. One dealer declared from the floor that it had cost his yard $1800 new hotel rhedrre building; Orrie Homilton (stonding) wirh tope recorder because an employee had left off the guard. President Mullin also added some good comments to Gorce's talk.

Under the topic, "Are You Participating in All of the Association Benefits?" ex-SCRLA President Ben W. Bartelb, treasurer and general manager of tile Peoples Lumber Co., Ventura, cited such benefits as the monthly meetings at the Biltmore hotel in Los Angeles, the representation in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., the services of the SCRLA n'eekly bulletins prepared by Orrie Hamilton 'rvith their informatior-r, employment listings, etc.; the rvork of Erik Flamer on the ner,v grading rules, the SCRLA's Workmen's Group Compensation Insurance program which now lists 55 members, etc. "These SCRLA plans are not just 'pie-in-the-sky,'" said Mr. Bartels.

He presented yard Safety Certificates to these honored winners of them: Stanley Brolvn, Chandler Lumber Co., Van Nuys; Jack Cline, Peoples Lumber Co., Santa Paula: Wayne Mullin, Mullin Lumber Co., Los Angeles; Frank Doepker, Mullin Lumber Co., North Hollyrvood; Mayer Weisel, Sunland Lumber Co., El Nfonte; Russ McCoy,

McCoy Lumber Co., Hemet, and one in absentia to the Gibson Lumber Co., San Bernardino.

Carvel D. Brown, vice-president and manager of the Orban Lumber Co., Pasadena, spoke next on the subject "Are Your Cars Being Loaded for Quick and Safe Unloading?" He said that the coming of the lift trucks was a great day for lumberyard safety. He also stated that he believed 9O/o of the dimension lumber is being shipped on open cars today.

Mr. Brown spoke on proper horizontal. separation in cars (stickers), said strapping is now more generally pricticed and may soon become mandatory, which would be very good for the industry in Southern California; the uniform load with the railroads specifying the size of stickers, etc. He passed out photos of carloading while he mentioned sorting to length, figuring the load for the car, r.vidths of flat and boxcars, etc. He said the association could handle any complaints on carloading. Dwelling on

Et ffllRADOn, HOfEl, scene of the Confcrcnce, is :hown ot the left; here is o rypicol loncheon tcene

SAFETY CERTIFICATES worc aworded by Ben Bcrrels (lefr) to (1. ro r.): Jcck Cline of Peoplcr' Sonto Poulc yord, Rusr l/lccoy, Hcmct; Woyne llullin qnd Fronk Doepker of rhc ltullin yords in Lor Angeler ond North Hollywood, respectively, and Sfcn Brown of rhc Chtrndler yord in Von Nuys new methods of loading, Brown told how the NWP R.R. started "unitized" loads without any side stakes, which takes a lot of strapping but it is cheaper with, strapping; he mentioned the "belly band" type strap which goes clear around the lumber "package." He said it saves at least $10 a car over stakes. He told how short lengths could be loaded in certain types of loads and detailed a reel that Orban's has developed for cutting.

Brown was plied with questions from the dealers on the floor after his talk. In the discussion, Dealer Herschell Larrick told how hls yard at Solana Beach disposes profitably of steel strapping after shipment is received.

Concluding the first morning's session, a buffet lunch was served on the El Mirador Terrace with a fine variety of food while a stunning fashion show was staged for the dealers' wives (not that it displeased the men at all).

Thomas J.

Fox, president of the John W. Fisher Lumber