Vagabond Editorials

(Continued from Page 6) give derrick satisfaction. And when a derrick built of cheap and unfit materials proves a failure, "wood" gets the blame. But the proper sort of wood, properly constriucted, always reflects credit on wood. And, as far as life is concerned, there are numerous oil derricks in the California fields from 25 to 4O years of age, still giving as good satisfaction as the day they were erected. There is no reason why a properly constructed wooden oil derrick should not last indefinitely. we hear much of *"rJr"*rrr-"ll lines of industry. we will continue to hear of them-and many of them will be consummated-as long as business is depressed. Just as soon as the pendulum swings up and we get another bull market, all talk of mergers will cease; to be re-newed again when the pendulum swings downward.

Many times during ,n";"; ol.""r, months the question has been 4sksfl-"\A/ouldn't advertising reduced prices of lumber move lumber?" fn almost every instance the answer given was "No, conditions are such that price doesn't make any difference." But THAT was not the right answer. For f have known of a number. of instances in recent months where lumber dealers have put a low price on lumber and advertised it widely, and in every instance it sold a lot of lumber. ft created a demand for lumber where there was none before. And it developed a lot of construction. In most cases it was cheap lumber at cheap prices, come and get it, and pay cash on the barrel head. In such transactions a man looks at the stock before he buys it, he pays cash, so the dealer has no credits to extend, and there is no return, and no kicking. Generally such stock does NOT go into the better class of homes. It builds sheds, fences, garages, bins, repairs barlrs, builds shacks, etc. The economic side of the thing is not considered in these remarks.. But it DOES sell lumber, and lots of it, and it employs labor be' cause every foot of stock so sold is used at once.

One dealer told me an", "*"0 ,umber at cheap prices in an adjoining city, had created business for him for better lumber. A number of his townspeople came to him to ask about the price of lumber, having heard of the cheap prices being advertised. The low price gave them a building idea. This dealer put in a stock of the same low priced lumber that was being advertised in the other town. When his trade came to ask about cheap lumber he said sure he had it, and showed them the cheap stock. "That is what you see advertissd," hs told them. "and I'll sell it at the same pfice they do, for cash. But I don't think that is what you want for your purposes. All my prices are reasonable. Let me show you the lumber you really want." And he made some sales.

Canada Lumber Production A. C. Dixon To Give Full For 1930

ll'otal production of lumber, lath and shingles in Canada dtrring 1930 is estimated at 3,787,162,000 board feet compared with 4,233,937,W during L9D. a decrease of lorl per cent by the Canaclian l-umbermen's Association. This information u,as forrvarded to the Lumber Division of the Department of Commerce by Assistant Trade Commissioner Avery F. Peterson at Toronto.

Production of lumber in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunsrvick and Nova Scotia amounted to 1,455,348,00O board feet cluring 1930 compared u'ith 1,763,937,m feet during 1929, a decrease of 18 per cent, according to figures compiled by the Canadian Lumbermen's Association covering practically all the larger mills. Production of lath decreased from 132,568,000 board feet in 1929 to 53,736,W0 in 1930, a drop of 6O per cent. The most prominent East Canadian decreases were white pine 23 per cent and spruce 22 per cent under l9D. Ash shorved an increa-.e of 38 per cent.

Production of lumber, lath and shingles in British Columbia during 1930 is estimated at 2,050,000,000 board feet compared with 2,3O9,346,000 in I9D.

The Canadian Lumbermen's Association has developed grading rules for Jack Pine and is considering a hardwood trade extension bureau.

Time To Association

A. C. Dixon, president of the National Lumber Manufa,cturers' Association, has retired from the managership of the Booth-Kelly Lumlter Co., Eugene, Oregon, in order that he may devote his entire time to the affairs of the association.

Mr. Dixon has been elected a vice president of the Booth-Kelly Lumber Co., and re-elected a member of the board of directors.

Western Retail Lumbermen Re-Elect President

President W. C. Miller, Columbus Lumber Co.. Seattle, was re-elected president of the Western Retail Lumbermen's Association at the annual convention of the association held at Tacoma, February 19 to 21.

Noah Adarns, of the Noah Adams Lumber Co.. Oakland, was re-elected vice president for California, and Frank Edens, Cottonwood Lumber Co., Cottonwood, Ariz., was re-elected vice president for Arizona.

Roy S. Brown was again elected as secretary-treasurer.