Random Editorial Ramblings

(Continued from Page 6)

Apropos of saving lumber, timber conservation, etc., thcte's a Pine mill in the West that has perfected a machine that ccrtainly deserves particular and specid mention. The ldea isn't brartd new, but the perfecting of the scheme mechanically, is. They use this machine in their box shook dcpartment. ft often happens in Pine box material, that a big loose knot spoils an otherwise fine board. Ordinarily there is nothing to do but cut out the two feet of board in which the knot is located. This new machine cuts out the knot, and in cutting it, threads the inside of the hole. At one and the same time it screws INTO that hole a Pine plug. The plug is tight, strong, a4d looks very well indeed. It can be done in the rough, then the board dressed, and the plug is smooth as glass with the surface of the board. It wouldn't work for all uses, but for shook and many other uses, it is perfect, and often saves many feet of good shook by one plugging, which takes only a few moments. Putting plugs in place of knots has been done before, but not petfectly and mechanically as*in this case.

. Speaking of advertising, the churches are at it. Ihe Lutheran Church conducted a national campaign for a4 advertising slogan for that creed, and received over five thousand suggestions. They chose this one: "A changeless Christ for a Changing world."*

The difrerence between the old and the new is always cropping up, and generally in favor of the new. For instance one of the famous philosophical remarks of the wise Seneca was: t'flow much does great prosperity overspread the mind with darkness." Today we have a street phrase

Robert Cameron On European Trip

Robert Cameron, secretary-manager of Marin County Lumbermen's Association, left San Francisco recently for a trip to Europe.

.Mi. Cameron is on three months' leave of absence from the association. He is accompanied by his wife and baby, and will visit his father and mother in London, England, and also hopes to do considerable sight-seeing, including an airplane lrip from London to Paris.

on exactly the same subject that uses six words less, and shorter and easier words, and covers the thought infinitely better than the splendid phqase of Seneca. We simply say-"He can't stand prosperity."*Better, isn't it?

I've written a lot about deders stocking ar\d selling built-ins, in the past year. I would like to see every retail lumberman get out of the two-by-four rut, and selling beautiful new lumber things for the old home and the new, is one grand way out, in my opinion-a service-giving route. The other day I had a long confab with a man who has gone into the built-in business strong of late, rebuilding a fine factory to specialize iq them. He has troubles, and seeks the answer. "I have always sold my goods through the lumblr dealer," he said. "That is my experience, and that's the way I want to sell. But I can't ge! the dealers to stock and merchandise this stuff. The stufr is being used all around them. It provides a wonderful business. B,ut they sron't take hold and do it. I've got to run my factory. I've got to'keep rny crew working. I've got to eat. And moreover, I've got to supply the demand for buitt-ins that is scarcely scratched as yet. So I have to sell my stuff direct to building and contractor. And that makes the dealer mad at me. What can I do? He won't sell my stuff to his trade but I sell it easily to that same trade. What's the answer?"

I wish some good lumber merchant would write and tell me what they think the answer is. Truly the builders have a right to this stuff. It supplies a human need, and gives human service. How shall they get it, if the dealer does not stock and actually merchandise it?

N.

B. BOWDEN VISITS SAN FRANCISCO

N. B. Bowden, Pacific Manufacturing Company, Santa Clara, vras a recent business visitor to San Francisco.

Redwood Men Return From Trip To Plant

J. M. Hotchkiss, manager, and G. N. Whiteside, sales minager of Hobbs, Wall -& Co., San Francisco, rqturned May 23 from a trip to their Crescent City plant. Mr. Hotchkisi was accompanied by his young son Billy.