Better Lriving Standards

Excerpts From an Address by I.

N. Tate, Vice-President of Weyerhaeuser sales company, Delivered at Recent construction Industry Conference at Washington, D. C.

The American people are entitled to better living standards. They are entitled to the best living standards. It is not enough that our living standards are norv higher than the standards existing anywhere in the world. and higher than they have been at any time in the past. It is not enough that our living standards have improved more in the last ten years than they improved in the previous fifty years. The point is that there is room for improvement, and that it is definitely the business of the construction industry to provide still better homes, and to make those homes more easily available to a constantly larger proportion of the American people.

There is no disposition on the part of the industry to shirk this responsibility. And just as there is a new appreciation on the part of the public that better living standards are possible, so is there an appreciation on the part of the industry that it can provide better homes, and that it can make those homes easier to own.

Right at the out-set of a talk like this I want to make the position of the industry clear. Let us admit freely that there are ideals of home building and home.ownership which have not yet been attained; that we have not seen or lived up to our full responsibility. But I am not aclmitting that the Construction Industry is a backward industry; that it is not progressing today as fast as any industry you can name. I am' glad to say that it is today fully awake to its responsibilities and opportunities, and is willing and anxious to assert the leadership and to pro. vide these best living standards with a degree of coopera- tion and a desire for perfection that has never existed before and that augurs w*ell for*the home of tomorrorv.

Disparaging statements, whether or not they are deserved, do have the virtue of stirring an industry out of its lethargy, out of the inertia that is so apt to result from the routine performance of daily tasks. And it does bind our industry together in a common effort to justify its existence and to give values in its homes that would not be possible with its many divergent units working separately and in secure isolation. Even the smallest modern home is a complex mechanism gathered from a hundred sources; so bulky that it must of necessity be assembled on the job. How much simpler are the problems of the manufacturer of a small product that may be assembled at a distant factory, securely crated and shipped to its final destination, and easily installed in a garage or in a kitchen or on the library table, there to do a comparatively simple job in a restricted field.

This subject of better living standards is much too large for a single talk, it involves all construction-homes and apartments, banks and stores and office, buildings, highr,vays, the tremendous but just now diminished fi,eld of farm buildings. We shall get nowhere unless rve begin to eliminate. Let us talk today only of the srnall home; and in the main, let's talk about the detached small home, built by private initiative, financed by private capital; and pay our respects only briefly to subsidized housing, even though that is an important field and though our neglect of it does not imply any failure to appreciate its problems.

For our purposes, let's hold to the privately built home, whether it be single or multiple; and let us consider for a moment what has been done to provide an efficient home. Two questions arise immediately, because they are much in the public eye-standardization and prefabrication; both arc tantalizing, alluring words.

What about the costs of the materials that go into this modern small house? And of the labor? Has the material manufacturer done his duty, which is clearly to give more and more value each year, to take advantage of the new materials and new processes as they are perfected, and to give the public each year more house for his dollar? What has labor accomplished along these lines of delivering more value, more house for the dollar ? We are all familiar with the facts in a general way, I do not need to recount them here in detail, but we should recite just enough of the figures to guide us in our conclusions, and to determine which way the construction industry is traveling. The favorite prescription in all matters economic and statistic is to take the year 1926 as 16/o, the normal year by which all other years are judged; and using the United States Bureau of Statistics, it develops that the year 1938 brought us a price for all building material of m.3% of 1926. The important fact is that the present price of all building materials is lo/o less today. Cement is 4.5/o less, brick is 9% less, lumber is lO/o less, paint is l9/o less, plumbing is 2L/o less. There is that much saving for the home-owner in all of these basic materials that go into this home. The twenty-year average is 95.9/o of 1926.

What about wages ? Not all building labor works on the union scale-not a great deal of it outside of the larger cities. But the only figures I have are for seventy cities, again compiled by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nor do I know why, in the case of labor, they take l9D as the IAO/o year. But the wages of all building trades were in 1938, 106.7,%: of l9D; and they .',ere l2/o more than t926. Plumbers and gas fitters were 18/o more than 1926, plasterers were 7/o more; painters were 9/o more; carpenters werc 12/o more; bricklayers 5/o mote. All union wages for the building trades were in 1938 2O/o above the twenty-year average.

We want our labor to be adequately paid; and as I have said, most of the labor that built these small houses throughout the land worked on a prevailing wage rather than a union wag'e. Just the same, it is clear that our costs have been reduced through building material reductions and not through building trade wages. In general, we can say that 6O/o of the cost of the house has been decreased 7/o through the reduction of the cost of materials; while 4O/o of the house has increased N/o, representing labor. That would be a total increase of approximately 4/o. However, that figure must be analyzed a little further. It does not take account of all of'the laborsaving devices that make it possible to build today's home with fewer man hours of labor. We must count in the final tally the steam-shovel that digs the basement, the cement mixers, the power saws, the precision-cut framing, the pre-assembled frames that I have mentioned, the electric sanders which finish the floors, these pre-assembled heating and plumbing units, the kitchen cabinets all ready to be put in place. It has been well said that building is becoming more and more an assembly job rather than a cutting and. fitting job.

It is not easy to get at the exact final result; but in the case of one'carefully estimated house where the cost in our normal year of 1926 was $7,725, the estimated cost for the first part of 1939 was $6,215 and the fuyear average was $6,693.85. We cannot ..""pi the conclusion that this construction industry is building better homes, and we must admit that they are better homes-better to live in, better to look at-for much less money.

We certainly do not expect any serious decline in wage rates, and I have already pointed out to you the low present level of building material prices. Certainly those prices cannot continue on the present levels, nor will as expert building labor be available when the rate of employment is higher.

A very important item is the fact that every lending institution in the country is looking for investment of its surplus funds. That has resulted in the present low interest rates, and this condition in itself points to the present as a favorable time to build, bef'ore our interest rates increase with the coming of the other opportunities to invest those surplus funds.

There is almost no limit physically to the building of homes; none of these industries producing the materials are working to capacity. We could build. 5O/o' more houses without building many more mills or factories. But if more are needed, the money for them is eagerly seeking investment. The one big limiting factor is onr inability

(Continued on Page 19)

The New Year That For You Waits

A flower unblown; a book unread; A tree with fruit unharvested; A path untrod; a house whose rooms Lack yet the heart's divine perfumes; A landscape whose wide border lies In silent shade 'neath silent skies; A wondrous fountain yet unsealed; A casket with its gifts concealedThis is the Year that for you waits Beyond tomorrow's mystic gates.

-Horatio Nelson Powers.

WONDERFUL WORLD, IF_

It would be a wonderful world if we could do as well today as we expect to do tomorrow.

On The Decline

"fsn't it awful? I refused to marry Bob last month and he's been drinking ever since."

"Seems to me that's carrying a celebration too far."

SAID TREASURY SECRETARY MELLON_

When the average citizen is as careful about how public funds are spent as he is about spending his private salary, we will not hear :rny more about government extravagance.

Hooch And Haste And Her

Intoxicated driving, uncontrolled thumbing and indiscriminate spooning, according to a traffic report, are among the major menaces of highway safety. Or, to put it more briefly, "hic, hike and hug."

Observing The Rules

Two matrons who might well have come from the depths of the country got into a Madison avenue bus at the height of the evening rush hour, and when they atighted, used the front door, interfering with a lot of people who were trying to get in.

"Lfse the rear door, please," the driver said, with a good deal of irritation.

Both ladies were by this time on the curb, but they turned, entered the bus again, walked through to the back door, and exited. The driver couldn't speak for ten blocks.

The Harbor At Twilight

As twilight comes, row after row Of masts against the deep sky showThe shipping of a mighty stream, Hushed to the quiet of a dream. Moved gently with the ebb and fow Of waters, lapping soft and slow, Beneath the sunset's purple gleam, As twilight comes.

A mighty calm seems oft to go O'er earth and sea and sky. The woe With which the daylight hours teem Is past. God's work and man's all seem To rest, beneath heaven's sunset glow As twilight comes.

-Ethel Wendell Trout.

Not Very Choosey

Two spinsters were discussing men.

"Which would you desire most in your husband," asked one, "brains, wealth or appearance?"

"Appearance," snapped the other, .,and the sooner the better."

Where To Find It

The City of Happiness is in the State of Acceptance, on the border of Contentment, in a country called The Mind.

-Walter J. Munro.

AF'TER THE HUNT

Ole: "I bane want a license."

Clerk: "What kind? A hunting license?',

Ole: "No. Aye tank aye bane hunting long enough. Aye want a marriage license."

A "FULL'' MOON

Pat had been out on a New Year,s party. Along about four in the morning he was staggering home. Coming to a bridge he halted in the exact center and saw the moon reflected in the water. Just about that time a policeman came along.

"\Mhat is that down there in the water?" asked pat. "Why, that's the moon."

"Well, how did I get up here?',

Better Living Standards

(Continued from Page- 17) thus far to organize an effective sales program that will get this attractive story to the American people. The need exists but the desire must be stimulated, and no one of these building industries can do that job alone. There is a spirit of cooperation among them that has been sadly missing in the past. There is a realization on the part of the government of what a successful home-building program lvould mean to our unemployment problem, what it would contribute to the living standards of our people. True, in carrying through its necessary objectives, that realization must express itself in contradictory terms. One division of the government builds a tremendous organization with 4,7@ employees in one department to exploit the building of homes. Another department tells the people that the cost of building is too high; that building costs must come down. Ifowever, I believe the objectives are clear. and that there is a sincere desire to purge the industry of those sins that are inherent in every industry, and clear the channels of distribution for the accomplishment of the needed, larger building program. It is unfortunate for the American people that this could not be done without giving the public the impression that the sins of one person who may be guilty are practiced by the 99 who are honestly trying to make this efficient' modern home available to the people at the lowest possible cost and with the greatest possible value.

Let me repeat for emphasis, even though repetition may not be necessary; that we have a tremendous selling job to do; that it is more important than the engineering job because the engineering job rvill go on anyway. We shall have each year larger value to offer to the American people; and you can trust the American engineer to <1o that job. It is inevitable that each year our products t'ill be improved and new products will be available. It is by no means inevitable that these products and these efficient new homes will be bought and will be used by the number of people who should be using them. I hope that this conference may be able to develop and thoroughly digest the idea that its jotl is not even half done when the American small house has been perfected and can be delivered. Our largest contribution to better living would be an organized, efficient plan to create in each family a desire to own that home. Each company represented here; every one who contributes materials or ideas for the home of tomorrow, can and should be doir,g their part in telling this story and creating this desire.

Frank Harris At Palm Springs

Frank H. Harris, vice-president of Van Arsdale-Harris Lumber Co., San Francisco, and Mrs. Harris are spending the Christmas and New Year holi'days at Palm Springs.

Spend Holidays In Redwoods

Jim Farley, assistant Western sales manager, The Pacific Lumber Company, San Francisco, with Mrs. Farley and their son, Kim, spent the Christmas holidays in Humboldt County. Jim took the opportunity to visit the company's mills at Scotia.

New Booklet on Wolmanized Lumber "Economy Sidingg in We3tern P,nes"

The ability of Wolman Salts preservative to extend the service life of wood by eliminating failure due to decay or insect attack, resulting in the broadening of its use through nearly every class of engineering and construction, is interestingly told and illustrated in a new booklet, "Wood Preservation," bI the American Lumber & Treating Company,37 Van Buren Street, Chicago.

The term "Wolmanized" is applied to any species of lumber or timber which has been impregnated by the vacuum-pressure, full-cell process with a solution of Wolman Salts preservative. The physical characteristics are in no way adversely afiected by the treatment.

Representative installations for which Wolmanized lumber has proved well suited are illustrated, such as the wet process industries, including pulp and paper mills, textile mills, textile dyeing and finishing plants; decks, piers and boardwalks; railroad structures; bridges; posts and poles; oil tanks and derricks ; mine timbers; refrigeration plants; institution and municipal buildings; sanitary rvorks and water supply construction; stadia, and numerous other.uses.

Re.sidential construction has not been included because of the necessarily complete discussion which house design rvarrants. A separate publication dealing with the use of Wolmanized lumber in residential construction is available to those interested in this subject.

Also included in the booklet are specifications for treating with the Wolmanizing' process, treating facilities and distribution. Pressure treatment with Wolmanized Salts prebervative is carried out in eighteen plants located at convenient points from coast to coast, To stimulate distribution of Wolmanized lumber through established channels, it is the policy of'the company to refrain from the purchase or sale of lumber, and to offer treating service only to lumber manufacturers and distributors. Thus the purchaser obtains Wolmanized lumber through the same concerns rvhich supply untreated lumber.

A copy of the new booklet may be had free on request to the company.

A. C. MARSH AT FEATHER FALLS

A. C. Marsh has been appointed comptroller of Feather River Pine Mills, Inc., Feather Falls, Calif. Mr. Marsh for some years held an important executive position with Cobbs & Mitchell Co., Portland, Ore.

Portland, Oregon, December 19.

Low,cost housing through rpractical economy in every phase of building construction has been a much discussed subject in recent years. Considerable progress is being made along these lines and the lumber industry is doing its part to further this ,program. As an example, the Western Pine Association has just issued a new 8-page illustrated folder entitled, "Economy Sidings in Western Pines." This new publication of the Association's Pro.motion Department has been prepared to meet the growing demand for specific information on the use of the Common grades of Western Pines for exterior siding. The use of these modern patterns of economy sidings made from Idaho White Pines, Ponderosa Pine and Sugar Pine is definitely on the increase, both for residential and commercial buildings. Until recently perhaps,ithis popularity has been more evident in the Pacific Coast states where striking examples of homes, shops, stores, hangars and other similar structures are being styled for modern needs with Western Pine flush sidings. The various types of sidings in the "economy group" are shown among the twenty-,trvo illustrations. The folder gives specific recommendations for exterior painting, the painting of knots, suggestions for nailing and outline drawings of modern siding patterns.

Lumber dealers, operative builders a.nd'architects will fincl this attractive folder on "Economy Sidings in Western Pines" helpful when discussing the subject with prospective home owners. Single copies are available to all interested persons without charge simply by writing the Western Pine Association, 510 Yeon Building, Portland, Oregon.

Christmas Party For Neighborhood Children

A. J. Koll Planing Mill, Ltd., Los Angeles, according to their regular custom, entertained,, about fifty children whobeside in the vicinity of their plant at a Christmas party on December 23. The youngsters were presented with Christmas gifts.

Spent Christmas In Los Angeles

Bob Wright of Portland, Ore., Northwest representative for George M. Coale Co., spent the holidavs with his brother, Ted Wright, California representative for Washirrgton Veneer Co.

Hi-Jinks Brings Out a Large Crowd

About three hundred attended the Lumbermen's Fii- was the recipient of many fine compliments from his host Jinks held at the Royal Palms Hotel, Los Angeles, Fri- of friends for the efficient manner in which he handled day evening, December 15. the iob.

Following dinner there was a splendid program by a companv of beautiful girls in singing, dancing and musical numbers that lasted over two hours. Russell Gheen was master of ceremonies, his introductions to the various numbers adding a pleasing touch to the program, and he

Guy Smith Back From Northwest

Guy E. Smith, who returned December 22 from a trip to Portland, Tacoma and Seattle on business for the Rounds Trading Company, reports that this concern loaded and dispatched shipments to Australia and South Africa in the week ended December 23.

Mr. Smith also announces that the Rockport Redwood Company's yard in San Pedro is now well stocked rvith both dry and green Redwood.

The door prize, an automobile battery donated bv the Frank W. Dillon organization, was won iy Charles Stuart of Glendale.

The ,party was sponsored by Lumbermen's post, No. 4O3, of the American Legion.

Bill Dunning In East

W. D. (Bill) Dunning, wholesale lumber distributor, Los Angeles, left December 14 f.or a trip East. Ife rvas accompanied by his wife and M. O. parrick of Western Mill & Moulding Co., Los Angeles. I\{r. parrick pickecl up a new car at Lansing, Mich., and the party crossed over into Canada, where Bill visited his olcl home in Ottawa. They will drive South and return by rvay of Netv Orlean-q,. arriving in Los Angeles about January 8.

Sallv Rand Visits M and M Plywood Plant

Convention Dates

lan. 9-Il-Indiana Lumber and Builders Supply Association, Indianapolis, Ind.

Jan. 16-18-Northwestern Lumbermen's Association, Minneapolis, Minn.

Jan. I6-19-Ohio Association of Retail Lumber Dealers, Dayton.

Jan. 2Z-Z4-Mountain States Lumber Dealers Association, Denver.

Jan. 23-Zl_Kentucky Lumber and Supply Association, Louisville.

J an. 23-Zl-Northeastern Retail Lumbermen's Association, New York.

Jan. 24-26-Southwestern Lumbermen's Association, Kansas City, Mo.

Jan. 3O-Feb. 2-Michigan Retail Lumber Dealers Association, Detroit.

Jan. 31-Feb.2-Iowa Retail Lumberrnen's Association, Des Moines.

Feb. G&-Illinois Lumber and Material Dealers Association, Chicago.

Feb. 13-l5-Wisconsin Retail Lttmbermen's Association, Milwaukee.

Feb. 14-lG-Virginia Building Material Association, Roanoke, Va.

Famed fan dancer visits mill. Sally Rand sees how the big ones are made out at the N{ and M plywood plant, Portland, Oregon. "I'd like some cores to pave a terrace and a big chunk of bark for a woodland scene I'm planning," the U. S. No. 1 show girl comrnented as she toured the big mill from log pond to final trimmers, where she posed with a 6 by 10 foot Resnprest panel, weather and waterproof plywood used extensively on San Francisco's Treasure Island.

Bob Morgan In Oklahoma

Bob Morgan, Chas. C. Adams Lumber Company, San Bernardino, is spending the holidays in Blanchard, Okla., visiting his folks. He is a nephew of Chas. C. Adams, San Bernardino retail lumberman.

Feb.2l-23_Nebraska Lumber Merchants Association, Omaha.

Feb. 22-24-Western Retail Lumbermen's Association, Salt Lake City.

March 5-6-South Dakota Retail Lumbermen's Association, Sioux Falls.

March 7-&-southwestern Io'r,va Retail Lumbermen's Association, Council Bluffs.

March 12-13-North Dakota Retail Lumbermen's Association, Fargo.

April 8-10-Lumbermen's Association of Texas, Fort Worth.

Travels By Airplane

Ray Julien, salesman, E. K. Wood Lumber Company, Los Angeles, spent December 19 in Las Vegas, Nevada, calling on the retail trade. He traveled both ways by airplane.