Calilornia Building Permits lor 1942

Industry Hails New Chief Forester lmproved Prefabrication Methods Make

"The forest industries, through American Forest Products Industries, Inc., and the National Lumber Manufacturers Association, take satisfaction in felicitating Lyle F. Watts on his appointment to the office of Chief Forester of the United States," says Dr. Wilson Compton, executive officer of those associations, "and have extended to him assurances of co-operation in mutual efforts towards the advancement and betterment of our forest land management, both public and private.

"In the appointment of Mr. \Aratts the country is fortunate in having at the head of the Forest Service a career forester of broad experience. His 30 years tenure with the Service has been characterized by administrative ability of a high order and by earnest devotion to the public interest and to the best traditions of the forestry profession of which he is a distinguished member."

In behalf of the forest industries, Dr. Compton has written the new Chief Forester as follows:

"As Chlef of the United States Forest Service, you have a great opportunity in a great job in a great field. In behalf of the lumber and timber products industries, I congratulate you.

"We, no doubt, will have disagreement with the Forest Service as well as agreement. I hope that we may be as frank in the one as in the other. If we are, the area of disagreement will greatly diminish. Fundamentally, the interests of forest owners and the public interests are common.

"There should be more of forestry in the woods; and less of it in reports and resolutions. Forestry should be a business, not an issue; a promise, not a threat. You can help to make it that. So can we."

Northwest Visitors

E. S. Brush of Loop Lumber Company, San Francisco, recently made a business trip to Portland.

N. B. Bowden, Pacific Manufacturing Co., Santa Clara, recently spent a few days in Portland on business. He made the trip both ways by plane.

G. R. Tully of Hallinan Mackin Co., San Francisco, returned a few diys ago from a business trip to the Northwest.

Huge \food Structures Possible

Ward Mayer, head of Timber Structures, Inc., of Portland, Ore., has announced that his firm shipped over 8O,000,000 feet of prefabricated timber in 1942. This went mainly in construction of roof trusses for hangars, cantonments, and other large structures, but a great variety of items was included. Of special interest are the gluedlaminated members made at the Portland plant. These have been employed as heavy beams and arches, and this unit can produce lengths up to 120 feet in almost any size.

The outstanding feature of these structures is that this new use of wood has released a large volume of steel for use in the armaments program. Mr. Mayer has been referred to in the Northwest as the "Kaiser" of the lumber industry. I{e seems to have overcome practically every <;bstacle by the use of intelligent design and practical resourcefulness.

At present this firm is prefabricating members for structures that will be the largest ever built of wood. Their exact nature is a military secret, but when the story can be told wood r,r'ill gain valuable publicity for its employment in this manner. A total of more than 50,000,000 feet of lumber will be used in these structures. They are being pressure-impregnated with fire-retardant salts. This is another step in the development of timber structures.

CoNNECTED WITH NAVY PROJECT

The following lumbermen, with their former business affiliations, are now associated with the lumber department of the McNeil Construction Co., at Pleasanton, Calif., where this firm is building a Recuperation Unit for the Navy: B. R. Julien, E.K. Wood Lumber Co., Los Angeles; G. W. Treadgold, Benson Lumber Co., San Diego; H.T. McGrath, Owens-Parks Lumber Co., Los Angeles; I. O. Brown, Hudson-Bonney Lumber Co., Glendale; Cyril L. Otto, Canyon Lumber Co., Laguna Beach, and H. M. Munger, San Francisco.

Residing In Oregon

H. S. Corbett, who formerly operated the Lafayette Lumber Company at LaLayette, Calif., is now living in Tiller, Oregon. Mr. Corbett closed up his yard a few months ago for the duration.