California-Texas-Thin Shingles--Thick Shingles-Stained Shingles--Nails, Etc.

By Jack Dionne

"I've put in a stock of these thick 300/o Red Cedar Shingles and they're selling fine," said Gerald Mellifi, lumber merchant extraordinary of San Antonio, to me the other day.

"Three hundred per cent shingles.? What are you talking about?" I asked.

"You know" said Melliff, "these shingles are IW% edgegrain, 100o/o heart, and 10O% clear. That makes 300/o shingles doesn't it ?"

So we call them "three hundrecl per cent shingles, now." **,F

I have had men remark to me quite f,requently, with soue degree of friendlv sarcasm-(']6q publish lumber journals in the two big Star Shingle states. Why don't you educate them better?"

I have had to plead guihy to the not soft im1>eachment; but always rvith the understanding that I never starterl the business of making thin shingles, have never believed in them, and r,vould like to see the thin shingle eliminated entirely. lloweve,r, I can't see that anyone is to blame for the prevalence of thin shingles in Texas and California except the shingle folks themselves. And I HAVE, been trying to preach better shingles, as rvell as better shinglc rnethods, for a long time.

Jttst three weeks ago a keen youlrg rnan fronr the verv iar northwest invaded the states of California and Texa,; both, for the first time. He is a great preacher of the gospel of better shingles for better roofs. (I am not going to rnention his nan.re. He has been getting too much free advertising this trjp).

He nearly criecl or,er the great state of California. He looked at shingle roofs by tl-re thousands in California, and he just sarv thin shingles every'ivhere, and hardly any quality shingles at all. "Why do the dealers sell them? Whi' clo people buy them ?" rvas his constant pliant as l-re lookecl over Star ridden California.

It is undoubtedly a fact that toda;- Califor'nta rlses a suraller percentage of cluality sl-ringles than any other stal.e in the Union. Of course, California is due for an awakenirg. There ARE some quality shingles being sold in California, and there ARE sorne lumber dealers that are stocking and boosting better shingle roofs, but they are verl', very few.

It is my opinion that all California neecls is some educating regarding better shingles, and that she rvill quickly follorv in the trail that Texas-the other great Star shingle state-is already on.

For be it knorvr.r unto all men. that Texas l-ras seen the light, and has come a-running into the fold of better shingles. If you don't believe me, ask the keen young man from the far northwest r.vhom I have mentioned above. rvho almost wept over the shingle situation in California.

From California he journeyed to Texas, and in Texas he staved for iust two weeks. It rvas his first visit to thc

Lone Star State, ancl he came to look over this twelve rnonths in the year building territory. He "knew his stuff" did this young man. He was immediately amazed at the interest shown by every' lumber dealer he called on. They all wanted to know about better shingles, the cor-nparative actual cost of the long and thick shingle roofs, and barrels of other questions were served up to this young shingle booster. And because he knew the ansu'ers to the questions, and because he could sholv them so conclusively s'hat a really friendly act the dealer performs for his customer when he sells him better shingle roofs, and how little more a good shingle costs than a common, ordinary, thin shingle, they grabbed his shingles.

'fl-re young man solcl these Perfection shingles er.er1-rvhere he rvent in Texas. Sold thern in such quantities as amazed him. He loaded his order book as he had never l>efore loaded an order book in the same length of time. It rvas the biggest two weeks sales of his life, and that at a tine rvhen tl-re shingle'market u'as cleplorably tveak, when burring generally has been very light, and general shingle and lumber conditions \lrere lery bearish indeed.

So this young shingle booster has learned the truth o{ n'hat I have said over and over again in these shingle articles in these colttmns, namely, that the dealer buys ancl sells thin shingles simply because the shingle men have not done their duty in showing them and explaining to them the virtues of better shingle roofs, and that all that is required to sell better shingles is an honest and intelligent effort on the part of those who make the better shingles.

For the old state of Texas is fast departing from the ranks of the thin shingle advocates, and the probabilities are that the transformation will be rapid. Texas, demanding and consuming a higher class of lumber than any other territory, should in all reasoh use quality shingles. She used to consume all the heart Cypress shingles she could get. And when she jumped from the finest of Cypress to the poorest of Red Cedar shingles, it was the fault of the folks who make Red Cedar Shingles. Can there be any' doubt about that?

And this young man is saying to every dealer to u'hom he talks: "Make it your business to see that these gootl shingles are nailed to the roof with nails that will last for fifty years, and if you do you,can truthfully tell your customer that you are selling him a roof that will be souhd, and safe, and satisfactory, and beautiful to behold, for two generations. DON'T sell fifty year shingles anrl allow them to be nailed to the roof with ten or fifteen year nails."

Get that into YOUR head, Mr. Dealer, even though you are selling thin shingles. ANY shingle will last longer than a common wire nail. Zinc coated nails are now avail-

Catholic school erected k l8f0 nozo being dismantled for its sound Redanood ltmber.

Old l.ard Mark built of Redwod becomer ncw home and barn" yearr ago .[. built this Catholic gchool Califomia. lt ie now being Redwood lumber able to ANY dealer, anywhere. STOCK THEM', even though you don't carry hardware generally. Stock them in order that you may not only sell better shingles, but , that you may guarantee to your trade BETTER ROOFS. For selling BETTER ROOFS should be your obligatioir and your DUTY to 'r'our trade.

Dear Mr. Hart:

My attention the impression Whitacre of N. company.

Los Angeles, May 3, 1924. has just been called to the fact that amohg the local trade is that Mr. Whitacre & Sons, is interested in our

This is entirely wrong and the only way I can account for it is my interest in the Whitelock Lumber Co. in Maywood, and the similarity of the two names Whitelock and Whitacre.

While no doubt Mr. Whitacre would be a very valuable addition to our organization, I have never harl the pleasure of meeting him. I feel that in justice to both of us the matter should be put right.

I know of no better publicity than thru your valued paper and would appreciate. if agreeable, your giving it the proper publicity.

Best wishes to you: Verv truly, E. W. HURST.