LETTERS

E. L. Reitz Company

THE CAI-IFORNIA LUMBER MERCHANT:

Your article, in the November issue, mentions our narne as an applicant for the lease of the lumber dock at Port llueneme, which is in error.

We took tl.re exact opposite stand and urged the Port officials NOT to lease the dock to any one company, but to leave it open to ALL shippers desiring its use. Under this method, the Port of San Diego has operated successfully and beneficially both to the shippers and to the retailers for many years'

We understand, however, that the new Lessee rn''ill handle outside cargo, which does, in effect, render the port open. Our original letter is enclosed'

E. L. Rritz

September 22,1957

Mr. Warren Lawrence

Port Manager Port Huenenre, California Dear I\{r. Lawrence:

In connection with our telephone conversation the other day concerning the lumber dock at Port Hueneme, we respectfully submit for your information the methods under which the Port of San Diego operates in connection with lumber receipts.

The lunrber dock there is open for use of any shipper desiring to discharge lut.uber cargo. Five days ale allowed free of denlurrage for the removal, after tvhich 35 cents per thousand is charged for the first week-7O cents for the second week-$l'40 for the third week and so on. No sorting, tallying, or breaking of packages is permitted on the dock. The lumber must move out in its original bundles to the various yards.

Conditions at the Port of Hueneme are parallel to those of the

Port of San Diego. They differ to those of San Pedro and Wilmington, in that there are no water-front yards owning their own docks. There are several shippers discharging cargoes there steadily, each enjoying the privilege of exercising competition, the benefit of which to the lumber yards, is obvious.

It is respectfully requested that consideration be given to adopting a similiar method for the Port of Hueneme, rendering these facilities to any and all shippers. No one shipper can adequately supply the diversified neecls of the yards. Opening the dock to several shippers would unquestionably increase the footage across the dock. This u'ould introduce competitive conditions and eliminate the establishnrent of a monopoly.

The benefits of an open port, such as those enjoyed by San Diego and Los Angeles, will be considerable to the community and to the port itself. It would most certainly induce the maximum of shipments by water, creating a competitive element, and would encourage good operatol's to use your port facilities.

Very truly yours,

E. L. Reitz

OXNARD HARBOR DISTRICT

Post Ofhce Box 297

Port Hueneme, California

October 16, 1957

E. L. Reitz Companl'

526 Ocean Center Building

Long Beach 2, California

Dear Mr. Reitz:

Thank you for your letter of 27 September 1957 outlining rnethods under which San Diego and San Pedro handle lumber over their plef

We at Hueneme feel our facilities are not adequate for such an arrangement due to lack of space that is available to us. On our own Dock 1, we have many enterprises involving the use of a single docking area, y€t we do have an adequate storage area for quite a large volume of lumber. To overload the docking area with more lumber vessels than we are able to dock would only complicate our problem on Dock 1. We have chosen to lease to one operator (Ocean View Lumber Company) who can regulate their shipments to work in with other enterprises. Their storage needs are also ad€quately filled by the space that is available to them.

For other interested lumber shippers having cargoes of a transient nature, we have additional facilities available to us under the terms of a license from the U.S. Navy.

This agreement allor.vs that cargo be handled as per terms of our Port Hueneme Tariff No. 5 and five days are allowed before demurrage begins.

We feel that with this Navy agreement in efiect, making adequate facilities available, we will be able to take care of u tr-rultiol. of shippers, thereby eliminating the thought of a monopoly.

We would be most happy to discuss this subject with you and aid you in any shipping probleni you night have in the port Hueneme afea.

Your very truly,

Warren T. Lawrence Marraraer

Mqnnion Joins The Befon Compony

Ralph Mannion (left), former partner in GreyMannion Plyrvood Co., has been appointed sales director of The ]Jeton Company's lumber and plyll'ood division at San Francisco. The announcement \\ras made November 15 by Harvey Masonex, general manager of the lon g-establ ished lmport-export concern.

Mannion, 'lvho is n'ell knorvn to the trade from years of experience in tl-re hardrvood and plyu'ood industry, is a graduate of S. F. State and entered the lumber business in 1935 r,vith the J. E. Higgins Lumber Company in San Francisco. lle remained rvith that firm for 16 years and rose to the position of salesmanager. During 1951, Ralph was appointed branch manager of Davidson Plywood & Lumber Co. in San Francisco, 'where he remained until forming the GreyMannion partnership early in 1954.