Stickins Mv Neck Out

By Jack Dionne

More than two months ago I stuck my neck out in these columns, and expressed the opinion (as a warning to lumber dealers who might be making their plans differently) that lumber would become scarcer before it became more plentiful, and that the opportunity for securing lumber for civilian building was becoming more remote, instead of less.

Those prognostications proved correct. It required no prophet to see what was coming. The Government said it wanted all the lumber the mills could make, so the consequences were obvious.

Right now, if I were in the retail lumber business and. wanted to stay in it rurtil the war ended, I would take it for granted that lumber is going to become even scarcer than it has been at any time yet so far as civilian building is concerned; and I would likewise take it for granted that there would be new and more drastic restrictions issued against civilian building, rather than any relaxation that optimism might suggest. That's the way I'd make my plans and my figures. If it didn't happen, I would be no worse off. If it did, I would be prepared for it.

And I would prepare for eventualities by going deep into the business of changing from peacetime to wartime merchandising. IfI hadn't yet got started substituting new things to sell for the things I used to sell, I wouldn't wait a minute to start. And if, as thousands of dealers have already done, I HAD started looking for new things to

Contract Loggers

Contract loggers in Oregon and Washington west of the crest of Cascade Mountains' are authorized by OPA to make specified additions to their maximum prices if they operate 48 hours or more per week (Revised MPR 151, Amendment 3), effective May 5.

sell and selling different things, I would intensify my efforts along that line.

Many thousands of dealers today are selling supplies for new gardeners and new poultry producers in the city; and selling small unit buildings of all descriptions to help the farmer intensify his activities in some measure toward increasing the production of food. In this direction lies one big out for the harassed lumber dealer. But these things require work, hard work and along entirely new lines. A salesman friend of mine who just returned from a trip around his district on which he called on more than two hundred lumber yards, says that every single yard he called on is doing more or less new merchandising; selling things he never sold before. EVERY YARD, mind you. And what is true in his territory is probably reflected in conditions all over the country.

The war emergency has practically said to lumber dealers everywhere: "GET OUT AND SELL AND SUBSTITUTE-or GET OUT."

So get busy and sell all these new garden and farm helps; sell paint, wall paper, roofing, sidewalls, insulation, builtin furniture, cement, gypsum products, available wall boards, etc., etc., etc.In the old days the dealer used to make his living on his lumber sales, and used his side lines for extras. Today he's got to sell what used to be side lines for his main business, and do the best he can about lumber until the emergency recedes. For in that direction lies hope.

Changes In Basing Points

Several changes in basing points, used to determine inbound freight charges in computating distribution yard ceilings for some species of softwood lumber, are announced by OPA (MPR 215, Amendment 5), effective May 1.

SouthernPine Boards

Mill ceilings for No. 2 common southern pine boards are increased $1 per 1,000 board feet, and those of No. 2 common dimension are decreased an equivalent amount by OPA. Important changes are also introduced by the regulation in new definition of "distribution yard." Tables of specific prices are established for the first time for some items of car materials and for other materials which were priced until now by special formula (Revised MPR 19), issued April 26.

Gus Johnson In Army

Gus Johnson, accountant for Harbor Plywood Corp. of California, San Francisco, was recently inducted into the Army. He is in the finance department at Camp l\IcQuade, Calif.

Paul Penberthy In East

Paul Penberthy of the Penberthy Lumber Company, Los Angeles, left May 9 on a business trip to Eastern cities. He was accompanied by Mrs. Penberthy, and they expect to be gone about two weeks.

The Penberthy Lumber Company specializes in lumber for the aircraft and glider industries.

Visit New York And Washington

Frank J. Connolly, executive vice-president and general manager, Western Hardwood Lumber Co., Los Angeles, and H.M. Walker of P. J. Walker & Co., Los Angeles, are on a business trip to Nerv York and Washington. They left May 7 and will return about May 21.

Chicken Visits California

A flat car of lumber arrived not long ago at the Oakland yard of E. K. Wood Lumber Co. with a new kind of passenger aboard-a Plymouth Rock hen, rvhich had laid an egg. No doubt this Oregon chicken had always longed to visit California, and flew aboard when its owner wasn't looking.

Nofthern Redwood Mill Starts

The large sawmill of the Northern Redwood Lumber Co. at Korbel, Humboldt County, Calif., started operation April12. The work of rebuilding the mill has been going on for the past year, and the company has been logging for some time.

Only one side is being operated. With both sides expected to be running soon the cut will be about 150,00O feet per day.

Fentress Hill is presient of the company. Offices are in the Russ Building, San Francisco.

Yellow Poplar Aircraft Lumber

New specifications and grading rules covering yellow poplar aircraft lumber are listed by WPB.

Proof Of The Pudding

The story goes that at the famous training center of Jefferson Barracks, Mo., they have installed a lot of big mirrors near the parade grounds, and they can see for tlremselves how badly they do it. And the Sergeant ju$ stands there and smiles as they do squads right in front of the mirrors and says: t'Now, you big apes, you can see for yourselves."

DIDN'T DUCK

Strategy

Pathfinder tells of the two rabbits that started out on their honeymoon, hopping along over the hills. They had gone but a short distance when they heard the excited bayrng of hounds. They stopped and listened. Desiring to show off, the male rabbit said: "Let's wait right here and I'll lick those babies." The coy rabbit bride dropped her eyes, and said: "Let's wait until tomorrow and we'll outnumber them."

Here lies a Nazi, cold as ice; He only ducked once, when he should have ducked twice. ARMY CHOW

No Whistling On Shipboard

Whistling on board a navy ship is forbidden. The pipe which the boatswain's mate blows to attract attention and silence before making announcements or giving orders, resemblcs a shrill whistle. To avert mistakes and avoid con' fusion, no whistling is permitted.

Seemed So To Him

He was only eighteen years old, and he was taking the rnental exam for the army, and when they asked him the quqstion: "What is the term of the President of the United States?" he answered: "Life."

Dollar And Cent

A big silver dollar and a little round cent, Rolling along together they went, Rolling along the smooth sidewalk, When the dollar remarked-for dollars can talk:

"You poor little cent, you cheap little mite, I'm bigger and more than twice as bright; I'm worth more than you, a hundredfold, And written on me in letters boid

Is the motto drawn from the pious creed

'In God we trust,' which all may read."

,,Yes. I know," said the cent,

"I'm a cheap little mite, and I know I'm not big, nor good, nor bright, And yet," said the cent, with a meek little sigh, "You don't go to church as often as f."

Another

"Sugar Pie," said the dark one to his Susie. 'Did that kiss I jus' gave you make you long fo' anothah?"

"Sho did," said his sugar pie. "But he's outa town."

A rich guy was being inducted into the army via the draft route, and he was none too happy about things. When he sat down to his first meal with Uncle Sam, he looked the food over critically, turned up his nose, and said to the soldier next to him:

"Don't you get any choice around here?"

"Oh sure," the other soldier said. "You get two choices. You can take it or leave it."

Street Scene In Berlin

The sirens were screaming in Berlin, and everyone was rushing toward the bombproof shelters, when one man stopped quickly. His frightened wife grabbed his arm and urged him to hurry.

"But I've dropped my false teeth," he wailed.

She said: "False teeth? What do you think those British are dropping-ham sandwiches?"

BAREFOOT BOY-LATE MODEL

Blessings on thee, little man, Barefoot boy with cheek of tan; Trudging down a dusty lane, With no thought of future pain; You're our one and only bet To pay off the national debt. Little man with cares so few, We've a lot of faith in you; Guard each merry whistled tune, You are apt to need them soon. Have your fun now while you can; You may be a barefoot man.