Random Editorial Ramblin$s

By Jack Dionne

At the beginning of this year we said that it looked as though 1929 would be a better year than 1928 in the lumber business in California, and that 1930 would be a whal,e of a lot better still-a real, big year. It looks that way more than ever, today. We are going to have a fine building summer all over California. And next year is going to be grand * * *

As a matter of fact, the entife lumber industry of the country is following that same route, although conditions generally show greater improve.rnent as compared with last year, than they do in California. The entire hardwood industry of the country' the Southern Pine industry, and the Fir industry are having a much better year than was 1928. Conditions for the first four months of' 1929 are 100 per cent more optimistic and hopeful in every respect in these branches of the lumber industry than they were the first four months of last year. This is going to be a good year with those t'hree branches. The Pine industry of the West is making some money, and feels better than it has in three Years' * ,r :r.

California, consuming as it does more lumber than any other state in the Unlon regardless of population, lags behind the general lumber industry as to consistent Prosperity because of the trade conditions surrounding the California lumber business that do not exist elsewhere. California is, and has long been, a lumber "dumping ground". And dumping grounds always know plenty of vicissitudes. They get it to California too quickly, too easily, wittr too little impediment. The whine of the saw' the rattle of the ship's chains-and it's ready for use in California.

Cartons, cartons, everywhere. Or nearly everywherg in this modernizing lumber business. Trimpak and other organizations are packing and shipling- their finish, etc., in ittractive and protectivi cartons. The larger manufacturers of built-ins are neatly packing and shipping their units in cartons. One of the big fooring manufacturers is packing and shipping its fancy hardwood fooring borders in cartons. On'e of the big door manufacturers is shipping all its doors in cartons-a new departure. The biggest of all lumber concerns is packing and shipping most of its product with cartons over the ends of the bundles. A big wooden shingle concern is shipping its stained shingles in attractive cartons. A great Redwood concern is selling ready-cut fower and windo'w boxes in cartons, knock dorrn style. Great stuff!

This column has been telling you for a long time that the use of cartons and package shipping of lumber and other forest products is the biggest thing on the lumber horizon. And it's working out fast. Watch it. Naturally it has a ,big appeal in. the shipping and selling of high class wood products. Not only is the protection desirable, but the opportunity for advertising on the cartons is worth more than the cost of boxing. ***

Calvin Coolidge, in addressing a group of advertising men some tirne since, made this statement: "The busingss which on the whole is likely to prosPer most is that business which aims to give the customer something more than the merd commodity which he comes to buy." Of course, he didn't mean that we will go back to the old-fashioned days when the baker gave you thirteen for a dozen, and the butcher always threw in a soup bone or a chunk of meat for the dog. FIe was not thinking of what the French call "Lagniappe". He was thinking more along the line of the well known Texas firm that advertises-"Service AFTER you buy." That's what Coolidge meant.

The University of Minnesota has established a degree course in agricultural engineering. Students may specialize in their junior and senior years in farm machinery, land reclamation, or farm buildings. This course will turn out men who will be of untold value and worth to the lumber industry. For the retail lumber business sadly needs men with farm engineering ability. Such a course would be valuable in every state in the Union. The loss to the farmers of this nation every year by reason of impractical farm buildings would pay the interest on our national debt. The retail lumber concern in agricultural territory, with a prac' tical and scientific farm building man on their staff, pos' sesses an asset of great value to its own business, and to the welfare of the communitY.

The West Coast Lum;;"': Association recently decided to recognize as component parts of the lumber industry certain classes whom they found themselves doing business with, and to fix the remuneration their members are willing to pay for the service rendered. They named the wholesaler, the commission salesman, the commission buyer and retail buying agents, allowing the latter two classifications fifty cents per thousand. The National As. sociation of Commission Lumber Sdesmen has vigorously protested this recognition of the commission buyer and of

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