This Depression

Everybody is wondering when the present "slump" in lumber will be at an end; when, in other words, will good times return ?

The correct answer is most likely that there is no "slump"; we are merely going through a normal business year, only we are so accustomed to abnormal conditionsextra demand, occasional high prices, unusual wages, night shifts, etc.-that we do not recognize today's normality.

This northwest lumber industry, especially the fir territory, was greatly inflated during and immediately follow. ing the war. New camps and mills were started. Modern high class machinery was installed. The world wanted our lumber and asked for it in a hurry. Prices held until during l9T, wh'en over-production gave our markets to the buyers and prices began slipping. Excepting for the unusual demand brought about through the Japanese earth-' quake late in 1923 the trend of lumber sales since 1920 has been toward lower prices and the tendency has also been toward a lessening consumption. This, we believe, is but a gradual return to the fairly normal condition which existed prior to the war. There is probably no way to help the situation other than by:

1. Producing about the amount immediate markets will absorb.

2. Developing other markets and extending sales, by better merchandising, in present markets.

3. Getting the habit of figuring exact costs and taking them into consideration before selling even a bundle of lath.

4, Better methods of financing-hand-to-mouth day-today financing leads straight to over-production and sales at less than cost.

Every interested and capable observer- has been amazed at the number of fir sawmills which have started and remained with the five-day week. This common acceptance of an industrial duty is one of the most hopeful signs for an orderly and profitable future. I\{ills are doing what their best friends said six months ago could not be done. The reaSon, of course, is that they lost money last year and .are going to do everything possible to prevent the like happen- ing in 1925. The present curtailment is a tribute to the power of red ink.

The five-day week, at present costs and prices, is but the first step. Either many mills must go out of business or new and larger markets must be created and developed. In the meantime, our most competent judges do not believe that full-time production will be reached by the entire fir capacity at any one time this year.

Bretter business methods,.which means a more exact connection with the basic economic facts, are the one greatest need of the fir industry. Given these we will not spend our time wondering when the hoped-for boom is going to arrive; we'll make a little money every month and pray that booms do not come ourway. For booms unfit men and industries for normal tirhes.--4-L Bulletin.

Here's another one of those wonderful specially created English home plansthere.are forty-five of them in the new album we have made ready for you to apply to your business.

If you haven't received your album better let us send one for your inspection.

6(Min" Gives "Andy Gump" a Good Selling Thought

The selling thought creeps into everything, nowadays, even into the "comics." Sidney Smith draws "The Gumps" every day for a big list of daily papers, and in one of the recent splashes of this interesting family, the wife, "Min," gives the husband, "Andy,t' some mighty good selling thoughts. The dialogue is as follows:

_ Andy--'Ho, Hum, I wish my ship would come in. Some fellows just seem to be born lucky. They make a little investment and clean up enough dough to last 'em for the rest of their lives. I wish I had some of their luck."

Min-"A successful man is the man who goes along with the bit between his teeth and wouldn't recognize failure if he saw it. And you're waiting for your ship to come in. NO SHIP EVER CAME IN TO A MAN UNLESS HE SENT ONE OUT. You'd rather have people point at you and say, 'There's lucky Gump,' instead of saying'There's Andy Gump, the business man, the empire builder-there is a man who DOES things.' I suppose if you were a farmer you'd sit out in a meadow with a pail between your legs an! wait for a cow to back up to you to be milked."

(Sounds sort of California Lumber Merchant-like, doesn't it?)

LOS ANGELES HOS? TO SHRINERS

It has been estimated that more than one hundred and fifty thousand members of the Shrine are en route to the 1925 Convention, at Los Angeles, June 2 to 6,

The southern city has made great preparations for this, what is said to be the greatest affair of its kind ever held, the streets are lavishly decorated and a tremendous program of mighty spectacles is awaiting the opening day.

Blinn Erecting New Dock

The L. W. Blinn Lumber Company, Los Angeles, will erect a new lumber dock at Berths 200 and 2@-8, Los Angeles Harbor.

The dock is to be 730 feet long and 78 feet wide. It adjoins two other berthing spaces which the company has had in operation for a number of years.

BURNS AGAIN IN McCULLOUGH'S SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA OFFICES

Mr. L. G. (Bob) Burns, who has been in Portland for some time, as buyer for the McCullough Lumber Company, recently moved back to Los Angeles to again become associated with the Southern California forces.

While in the north, Mr. Burns made arrangements for the Morrill & Sturgeon Lumber Company to, handle the affairs of the McCullough Lumber Company, in the Columbia River District.

Builders merely nail a roll studding-then apply cement. the beveled boards and forms a dovetail-tfie 3trong6t mechanical key lmown. 'We recommend

I I gauge galvanized wire netting to reinforce the cemsnf-fhgn the wall will be stronger and better and cogt no more.

Sold by Eastern Lumber Yards for 18 Years

Lumber merchantg in Eastern Statee know Bishopric Base as one of their biggest selling items. It outgelle sheathing and pays a greater profit. In practically every state where the law compels l " sheathing, Bishopric Base has been tested and approved for use in place of sheathing because Bishopric Base is rtronger.

National magazinee have advertised Bishopric Base to Architects, Contractors and Prospective Home Builders for the last l8 years. Now a separate Log Angelea factory is producing Bishopric Baee in economical quantity. A amashing advertising campaign in the leading Los Angeles newapapers ie telling this territory what Bishopric Base ishsly rlush better i1 is-and that it costs no more than other bases which are not a fraction as strong.

There is no question but that Biahopric Base will duplicate in the West the outetanding success it haa made in the Eaet. Dozcne of lumber yards have already stocked Bishopric anticipating the big demand. They sell but little sheathing-and they realize that with Biehopric Base in stock they can now sell a wall-board material for inside and outside walls and get a pro6t that has formerly been lost to the material supply dealer.

Send for free sample display for your sales floor and get full details on how much profit you can make from Biehopric Base eales. Biehopric Manufacturing Company of California, producing Bishopric Base for Stucco, Plaster, Brick Veneer and Frame Buildings; Bishopric Stucco for Exterior Walle; Sunfast Color Stucco; Flooring and Drain Board Composition, 604-626 Eaet 62nd Street, Los Angelea, Phone AXridge 9 | 08.