Joint Meeting of Sacramento Valley, San Joaquin Valley, and Centml California Lumbermen's Clubs

Lumbermen frorn all sections of the state rvere in attendance at the Joint Meeting of the Central California, Sacraryento Valley, and San Joaquin Valley Lumbermen's Clubs, held at the Stockton Hotel, Stockton. on Saturdav. Febru?\y 14. The meeting \\'as one of the largest e.trer' held itt Northern California, nearly 400 were present at the luncheon and business session. The visiting lumbermen were the guests of the Central California Lumbermen's Club and the members of this progressive lumber organization were bighly complimented for their wonderful hospitality. A. L. (Al) Porter, Secretary-I\{anager of the Weitern -Retail Lumbermen's Association of Spokane, 'Washington, led the list of arrivals and checked in at headquarters Friday morning; Friday evening a large delegation came in from San Franc.isco; Saturday morning the San Joaquin Valley and Los.Angeles delegatiCrns, together with many automobile parties from the Sacramento Valley, Sonoma County, Bay District and Peninsula sections arrived, which filled the hotel lobby to over-flowing of lumbermen and their guests who were reminiscing, talking shop, and discussing lumber conditions for 1925.

At 12:15 P. M., the gathering assembled in the hotel dining room for luncheon. Seated at the speakers table were: W. H. Falconbury, A. J. Russell, Dr. Tully C. Knoles, Raymond J. Wheeler, Elmore King, A. L. Porter, L. H. Chapman, R. F. Hammatt, F. Dean Prescott, Austin J. Black, Frank Trower, and Parson Simpkin. The invocation was made by Parson Simpkin, Chaplain of the Concatenated Order of Hoo-Hoo. During the luncheon, the Stockton Rotary Club Quartette rendered several enjoyable selections, Community Singing was led by Frank Thornton Smith, and several selections were played by Bower's orchestra.

At the conclusion of the luncheon, W. H. Falconbury. President of the Central California Lumbermen's Club, flled the meeting to order., In opening the meeting, Mr. Falconbury said that until 1922, it had been the custom to have a Joint Meeting every year, but this was the first meeting that had been held for three years, the last Joint Meeting having been held at Modesto. Mr. Falconbury paid Charles Gladstone Bird, Stockton Lumber Company, a pleasing compliment when he stated that most of the work in arranging for the meeting was done by Mr. Bird, and he also expressed his thanks to Frank Minard and C. L. LeMaster for the excellent assistance they rendered in getting the members of the San Joaquin a.rd Sacramento Valley Lumbermen's Clubs to attend in such large numbers. Mr. Falconbury stated the object of the Joint Meetings was to get an interchange of ideas, meet their many lumbermen friends again, and to enjoy a day of rest and relaxation. He then introduced A. I. (Gus) Russell. Santa Fe Lumber Co., San Francisco, as ihe Toastmaster of the meeting.

Charlie Bird surely made a knock-out when he invited "Gus" Russell to act as toast-master. "Gus'" introductory remarks for the various speakers were immense, as he wai in rare form, and kept the gathering in a continual uproar. In taking over the gavel, he said'that after an inspection of the program, "he felt like a General in the Mexican Army as he had only Presidents to announce."

In announcing Raymond J. Wheeler, Mayor of Stockton, Mr. Russell said: "Mayor 'Wheeler is going to give us the key to the city and he promises to get you out of jail after you have paid your fines." Mayor Wheeler extended a cor-' dial welcome on behalf of the city to the visiting lumbermen and said it rvas a great pleasure to meet them at the Port of Stockton. He spoke of the accomplishments of the city during the past few years and stated that the citv was about to build a harbor that would anchor the ships of the world. Mayor Wheeler said that the city was building a large dam in the mountains for reservoir purposes but was sorry that the dam rvas.not being constructed of wood. He also spoke of the construction of the new Stockton City Hall, and he paid the city of Stockton a fine tribute as the seat of one of the greatest educational institutions in W