Vagabond Editorials

(Continued dispensable commodity we have been .without for many years, and are now eagerly searching for. If we get it, things are certainly going to improve a lot before the coming summer is over, in the lumber business. That's why I hammer away at the things that seem to me to continue to obstruct the return of confidence; because with the re_ turn of confidence on the part of those who own money and property in this country, will come prosperity for the lumber business. If we had the confidence and the credit the lumber business would be gogd right now; and with the army of people that would be thus returned to profitable employment, every _other line of business would be beneficially affected.

And what problems .ht, "; ,i*0", industry is going to have to meet and face that it never did before. One of the big ones is the problem of the truck. What to do about it? How to meet it? Or-as seerns much more intelligent-how to coordinate with it, so as to continue in from Page 7) existence. All intelligent men know that the truck has come to stay. Every day our highways are improved, and every day more trucks appear upon those highways, haul_ ing freight. Only the fool can hope that this is but tem_ porary. Such an assumption can be based on nothing that even savors of sound thought. What is the lumber in_ dustry going to do about it? THAT question is going to have to be answered. THAT, of course, is a problem of the retail distributor. old-timey methods will never herp him solve that problem. A too-high mark_up on his lum_ ber is an eternal invitation to more and more truck busi_ ness. It will require the best thought of the retail depart_ ment of the industry to clear that hurdle. :F:t*

The lu_mber industry is going to have to evolve, improve, develop, in a vast variety of ways. I don,t believe the old_ fashioned lumber yard with old-fashioned lumber yard ideas has a Chinaman's chance to survive the competition of the next few years. The signal is ,.Get up or get out.'?

\(/arren B. \(/ood, Manager Adds Ne* Salesman'

Warren B. Wood of Los Angeles, vice president of the E. K. Wood Lumber Co., took over lris new duties as manager of the company's Southern California operations on February 11. He succaeds Frank Curran, who becomes outside contact man for the company, and will devote his time to calling on the retail lumber trade.

Mr. Curran has been with the company for a good many years and is widely known to the Southern California lumber trade. In his new ,capacity as good will ambassador, he will be in ,close touch with his many friends in the industry.

J. A. Privett, assistant manager, will be in charge of the company's Los Angeles and San Pedro operations.

Bids Disqualified

A number of bids on governmental purchases have been disqualified within the last two weeks for non-compliance r,vith the code, according to a statement by Retail Lumber & Building Material Code Authority, Inc. (Northern California). The bids were on an Oakland SERA project, X'Iodesto Irrigation District, Modesto School District, ancl Stockton Board of Education jobs.

From the same sour,ce also comes the staternent that in a number of cases where protests. had been made against bidders for non-payment of dues to code authority before bids had been awarded, compliance was secured and.the protests withdrawn.

Chas. B. Cross, formerly with Cross Lumber Co., Coalinga, joined the sales staff of the Santa Fe Lumber Co., San Francisco, February 1., Ife is covering the Sa,cramento Valley territory, succeed_ ing Al Kelley, who is now sales manager.

With San Dieso Fim

Major Howard B. Oakleaf of portland, Ore., is now sales manager for the Peterson Lumber & Finance Co. of San Diego. Major Oakleaf was formerly in the air service and for many years was identified with the lumber industrv in the Northwest.

Back From Mill Visit

Jirn Farley, assistant Western sales manager, The pa_ cific Lumber Company, San Francisco, was back at his desk February 15 from a 10-day visit to the company's sarry_ mill at Scotia.

CAN'T GET ALONG WITHOUT THE ..MERCHANT''

Just cannot. get along withorrt your magazine. Jack's Ner,v Year's sermon each year is worth the entire year's cost'

Fred H. Yost, Fred H. Yost Lumber Co., Lin,coln, Nebraska.