MY FAVORITE STORIES

By Jack Dionne

Ag" not guaranteed---Some I have told br 20 years---Some less

The First Spring Snake Story

The first snake story of spring comes from the swamps of Louisiana.

A fellow found an inland lake, and went fishing. He took along a bottle of Louisiana corn whiskey; freshmade; a home product. And he imbibed it while he hunted the lake to fish in.

He had no more than settled down to fish when he heard the loud croaking of a frog, and spied a great big moccasin snake starting to swallow a big bull-frog. So, not liking snakes and thinking the frog would make good fish bait, he put a forked stick over the neck of the moccasin, pinned him down, and made him disgorge Mr.

Frog. Then a new thought struck him, and pulling out his bottle of corn licker, he poured it generously into the open and distended mouth of the big snake. Then he turned the snake loose, watched it wriggle off, and went to fishing.

A few minutes later he heard rnore agonized frog noise close at hand, and spied the same big moccasin snake, with a much bigger frog in his mouth, swimming in friendly fashion round his fish line, and holding the frog in his direction. lle saw the point.

The snake wanted to trade the frog for another drink of that Louisiana corn.

Homestead Developments Will Southern Calilornia Dealers Create Demand lor Building Meet at Los Angeles Materials

Max E. Cook, San Francisco, agricultural engineer for The Pacific Lumber Company, rvho for years has been identified rvith colonization and homestead development, has completed a trip to Los Angeles where he contacted the various interests rvho are promoting subsistence homesteads. The Department of Interior has a project of 100 one-acre homesteads in the San Gabriel Valley, ancl another of 40 one-acre homesteads in the San Ferna.ndo Valley, norv getting under r,vay.

The average homesteacl development will be arouncl $3000. Homesteads 'ivill be sold on a 2O-year amortization basis with monthly pavments running from $18 to $20. These homesteacl developments r,vill be under government supervision.

These developments r,vill create a considerable dernand for the building materials.

Lumber Promotion Urged

The Tacoma Lumber Men's Club, at a recent meeting authorized submission of a resolution to the West Coast Lumbermen's Association urging intensive lumber promotion work in the districts of California damaged by earthquake and flood. The club suggested sending a promotion engineer into this district. L. L. Doud, of Defiance Lumber Co., Tacoma, suggested this action.

The Southern California retail lumber dealers held a meeting at the Hotel Rosslyn, Los Angeles, Wednesday, April 25. There rvere about 250 dealers in attendance, all sections of Southern California being represented.

Follor,ving luncheon, there rvas a business session with Harrl' A. Lake, president of the California Retail Lumbermen's Association, presiding. Reports rvere made as to the operation of the retail lumber code in the various districts. O. H. Barr, member of the Retail Lumber Code Authority for the Southern California Division, gave a report of the Code Authority meeting rvhich convened at Washington, D. C., on Aprii 11.

NRA Approves Minor Lumber Code Amendments

Washington, D. C., April l8.-Sixteen minor amendrrents to the Lumber Code, as submitted by the Lumber Code Authority, have been approved by General Johnson. These are amendments Nos. 7,l}(l),11, 13. 14, l5(2),16, 17, 18, 19,20,21,23,24, 26, and 36. Generally speaking, they add certain definitions to the Code and rnake adjustments for control of production. Much of the purpose of the amendments rvas merely for clarification of Code provisions and for correcting typographical errors. In his report to President Roosevelt, General Johnson said, "These amendments in no instances involve nerv principles."