SUOAR PINE

Sugar Pine (Pinus lambertiana) grows chiefy in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. Small stands are also found in southern Oregon. It is the largest tree form of the genus. It grows, otdinarily, from 150 to 175 feet high and from four to five feet in diamete", though occasional specimens varying from 200 to 300 feet high and from l5 to 20 feet in diameter are seen. According to the figures of the LJ. S. Forest Service, there is a merchantable timber stand in California of 3l,gZ8,OO0 M board feet, and 2,433,L16 M board feet in Oregon.

How Shall We Stabilize The West Coast Lumber Industry

(Continued from page 43) the present weakness in over producing and in selling West Coast products is overcome.

These two lines of effort should go hand in hand, namely: trade extension to gain new gr,ound for the West Coast lumber industry and a firm selling policy to take advantage of the markets we already have or the nerv markets we are able to enter.

Nor should we overlook the importance of progressive developments in merchandising, such as making American Lumber Standards fully efiective, promoting the marketing of our lumber on quality through such means as grade ancl trade marking, and meeting the consumer on the plane of personal service by the manufacturers to satisfy his p,articular requirements. These all have a place in our program. I am passing them now with scant notice simply to direct our thought today to the more fundamental questions of production and price policies.

The Road to Profit

The practical test of any such proposal as I have outlined is the profit it will earn for the West Coast lumber industry. A fair profit is the underlying essential of all business. It is what makes a business worthwhile,.stable, the support of its communities and payrolls, and capable of efficient service to the public which consumes its products. The West Coast lumber industry must work out of the profitless condition.r in which it has been floundering. The effectiveness of our discussions of business conditions and our cooperative efforts to improve them all boil down to the acid test of giv_ ing this.industry aliving profit. Nor is this a selfish glal. -t air and stable pr-ofits are the corner stones upon which- the future structure of the West Coast lumber bujiness depends in its service to its states, its communities and its labor and in its relationship to economic requirements of the entire country. Industrial reforestation will not be possible with_ out a profit-earning industry.

I have outlined what I believe to be the most direct road to a fair profit in the West Coast lumber business. Amono the many things this industry can and should do to improv? its- position and increase.its service, this problem of estab_ lishing its .position in the lumber m"rGts thr,ough firm price policies and adjustments in production abiolutely comes first.

f am not so foolish -as to, expect that a change of this characte.r cag.bg put through over night. But i ";;_ vrnced that thrs rs the sound and straight road for the west Coast industrf !o take; and that ouipresent general eco- nomic situation is such that we can trivel far 6n tt6,;;l ighJ no-w in 1929, if we determine. to do it. The .;;;ri;;: ity is within our own -grlsp. It is a simple propo^iitio"-ot clean, sound merchandising-through adjristing ti" ;.1;;; and determining_the price of his pioducfs by ihe individuai manufacturer. It is in accord with the dbctrine ,f ;;ii- governryrent in industry _which has been so strongly preach_ ed by _President-Elect Hoover and exemplified- i"'r."""t years by- the attitude qnd policies of tfre Federal Cr;; Commission. I am satisfied it can be done if the W..; Coast lumber manufacturers choose'to do it. Hence, I. pr."p_9r9.as.our._program for 1929 a firm price policy for the individual mill and a control of producti;;; the individual mill to the extent necessary t" -;i";i; it: own price policy.

In "Robbins" Elooring you are assured of the very fineit that has gver been, or ever-will be produc;d. O.-t geographical lo""'tiorr, th; modern machinery in our mill, and lhe type of meri who male our flooring, all go to make this state- menlpopt4.. "Robbins" Maple and Birch Flooring is the best.

SoutLcrn Celifor:nia

C. J. LAUGHUN

!iil5-O Pctrolcum Securiticr Btdr. Lor AngclcrVl/Ertmori 9955

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