John G. Ziel Returns From Trip to Orient

John G. Ziel, partner in Barg Lumber & Shipping Co., San Francisco, has just returned from a six months' trip to the Orient, in the course of which he spent two months in the Philippine Islands, u'here he secured for his firm the agency for United States and Canada for the Filipinas Lumber Co. of Manilla, with several mills in the province of Tayabas, on the Island of Luzon.

Stock produ,ced by this company is of the hard, ,closetextured variety and compares very favorably with the best Philippine hardwoods. Filipinas Lumber Co. is one of the so.called "Big Five" of the Industry, and the stock is well liked on the Pacific Coast.

NIr. Ziel spent several weeks on the Island of Hokkaido, Japan, visiting the Japanese Oak and Birch mill in Otaru, which his concern represents in North America, and also paid a visit to the logging operations in the interior. This mill produces excellent Jap Oak lumber from the choicest logs, and shipments are being made not only to America but also to Europe, Australia and South Africa. Japanese Oak prices are higher this year on account of the strength of the Japanese Yen, which is about 15 per cent higher than at this time last year.

He also spent some time in China, where among other places he visited Shanghai, Hongkong and Canton. General ,conditions in China are poor, he said, owing to the internal troubles, civil war, etc. Business in Japan is only fair. In the Philippines certain industries are curtailing their activities somewhat in the belief that there is a chance that the Islands will be gianted their independence. "My personal opinion, however, is that there is no chance of the Philippines becoming independent for a long time to come, nor would it be to their interest," Mr. Ziel said.

Smith-Lindsay Buys Yard

The Smith-Lindsay Lumber Company, Pasadena, have pur'chased the Abbot & Abbot Lumber Company of that city and are now operating the yard under the name of the Smith-Lindsay Lumber Company.