Some Facts and Figures That Impress

At the recent convention of The Lumbermentr Association of Texas at San Antonio, a gentleman, speaking on ttThrift" as. a fundamental of home building in this country, made s<)rne statements that cannot be too frequently dwelt ulxrn, and nrhich every retail lumberman ought to lrnow.

He said ttrat we talk too much about the difrculty of financing home builders, and yet enough money is being foolishly spent in this country every year to build homes for all the homeless of the land, giving these figures in particular:

The United States spent inl92L

$50,000,000 for chewing gum.

$35O,0O0,0(X) for soft drinlg.

$460,000,000 for iewelry.

$650,000,000,for candy.

$750,q)O,000 for cogmetics.

$1,8(X),00O,(X)0 for tobacco.

$3,0OOr(X)O,fi)0 for parties and entertain' ments.

He didn't give the liquor bill, but it would make a huge addition to that list, probably equaling the tobacco bill.

Then add $500,(X)0,(X)0 loat annually in worthless securities, as is estimated by the U. S. Crovernment, and we have a total of $11r340,(X)O,(X)O of what might be called "wasted money.tt

More tlran eleven billions of dollars which the home buil&rs have a shot at diverting into more ureful channels.

When the dealer doubts the posaibility of creating business in HIS torvnr or territory, he should just remember that that terri' tory and every other territory ig furnishing itr share of this huge total