Business Outlook For 1996

KENNETH SMITH, Secretary-Manager, Lumber and Allied Products Institute,

there is a likelihood of a runaway market. or a market similar to that occuring after the War.

The outloot to, 'otrl*oJ

t*T:1"i"*eles

for 1936 is the best in many years. It appears certain that u'e wjll have as great a percentage increase of buildihg in 1936 over 1935 as was 1935 over 1934. The onlv cloud on the horizon at all is the possibility of the building boom being halted by subsidy legislation or talk of such legislation in Washington, which will cause inyestors to decide not to put one hundred cents of their own money into construction if there is a possibility that a little later the Government will finance thirty cents of it for them. I do not think we need to worry any about Government housing projects because they will be relatively a drop in the bucket. The subsidy, however, if it gains serious consideration, would halt building until it was either enacted or defeated.

EARL E. BOWE, Reilly Tar & Cherqical Corporation, Los Angeles

We look for ,continued strengthening of sales. 'I'he past six months have shown a marked improvement. Business should improve more rapidly in the next six months. 'The building industry is planning ahead more than at any time since 1931. This hopeful condition is well grounded. Let us hope we keep moving forward with our feet on the ground.

R. H. MYERS, Manager, Peoples Lumber Company, Ventura

We are anticipating a larger volume of business than we have had in past years. I believe that there are more inquiries and individuals preparing and talking of building now, than there has been for several years.

FRED HOLMES, Holmes Eureka Lumber Co., San Francisco

The real facts will no doubt be that although we are going to have an extremely active year, it is going to be pretty hectic. It will be very much a year of- contrasts. The public has the spending bit in its mouth-is going to build in spite of handicaps. All the figures about accumulated shortage of modern homes are no doubt true and the pressure has been accumulating for the last four years to nll this need of more and better homes to live in.

The political situation no doubt will have quite an efiect in holding things back. But there is going to be a lot of business in spite of all the political turmoil.

The labor situation is also going to keep everybody guessing. It will throw monkey wrenches into the steady flow of lumber. The year will see extreme shortages and also surpluses, particularly in some items. It is going to be a year when everybody will have to be wide awake, but it is going to be very interesting. Of all the years, 1936 holds the greatest possibilities for getting real benefits from sensible cooperation:

If you look at 1936 through the glasses of pessimism you will miss the mark a mile. If you think everything is going to be rosy and easy you had better prepare yourself now for a grave disappointment. 1936 spells hard work and hard thinking. Some are going to be well rewarded. We. can at least wish that all will receive their rewards for an extremely active new year.

Vice-President,

E.

E. JOHNSON,

C. D. Johnson Lumber Corp., Portland, Ore.

We have booked more business during the last week than any time since 1928. Such orders are coming from all over the country-Middle 'West, California, and a great many on the 72c rate East. There is every indication that this volume will continue, and if it does, -it appears to us that

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c Kinnon'Iif;3* ""t"?a, H ouis te r

We do not expect very much improvement in our county before the middle of next vear.

If we get seasonal rains ind a good fruit crop, with better prices, we should have more activity.

Our live stock friends are doing well.

The fruit prices this year were so low that the fruit growers are standing still. We are hoping to have the business of the country turned back to the business people again.

GLEN M. MINER,

General Manager, Whiting-Mead Co., San Diego

With regard to the outlook for 1936 in this territory, I feel that we will have a substantial increase in our 1936 sales volume.

We have a very small volume of vacancies in residential property and coupled with this is the fact that there are many people who have been holding off building until a more opportune time. Through the efforts of F.H.A. there is no doubt that folks are more home conscious and building minded now than they have been for a long time.

There are only two factors that may keep us from having a big year and they are very vital and important. They are the possible lack of available finance for new construction and the political situation; however, we are optimistp and are expecting a good year.

RALPH P. DUNCAN, Managerr, Merced Lumber Co., Merced

In reply to your letter of December 20 asking an opinion of the business outlook throughout this territory for 1936, will say that I rather anticipate slightly better than 1935 but not a great deal better.

The water situation here is apparently in very, good shape, the crops can be raised and the question is what will be paid for them, but we are starting the year without much surplus so conditions generally should be in fair shape.

Hardwood Dealers to Con vene at Del Monte

The annual convention of the Pacific Coast Hardwood Distributors' Association will be held at Hotel Del Monte, Del Monte, on January 30, 31, and February 1.

C. H. White, White Brothers, San Francisco, is president of the Association; James Ahern, Emerson Hardwood Co., Portland, Ore., is first vice-president j Frank Connolly, Western Hardwood Lumber Co., Los Angeles, is second vice-president, and B. E. Bryan, Strable Hardwood Co., Oakland, is secretary-treasurer. I

Seth L. Butler is now associated with M. Byrnes, San Francisco, Northgrn California representative of Dant & Russell, fnc., Portland, Ore.

L. ttBentt

Mr. Butler started his career in the lumber business as manager of the Pacific Coast Lumber Surveyors' Associa. tion befofe the World War. After the war he was with the Union Lumber Co. fol some years, and left the Red. wood business to entei the retail lumber business with Spring Valley Lurnber Yard, and Mission Lumber Yard, San Francisco, which-concerns he was with for a number of vears.