West Coast Lumbermen Meet at

Joint selling agencies in the Atlantic Coast trade, the possibility of eastbound lumber freightrate reductions, lumber merchandising opportunities in California and federal control or the lack of it in intercoastal freight rates, were the principal topics discussed at the monthly meeting of the West Coast Lumbermen's Association held in the Hotel Portland, Portland, Ore., May 15. The meeting concluded with a "good of the order" discussion which concentrated on cooperation in extending the local use of lumber. Approximately 70 were present, practically every operation in the Columbia river territory being represented.

J. D. Tennant presided.

Roy Sharp, secretary of the Puget Sound Associated Mills, discussed the problems confronted in selling to the East Coast, outlined the organization of the Puget Sound sales agency and told what it hopes to accomplish.

H. W. Bunker made recommendations on how West Coast mills could develop their California cargo trade constructively. Mr. Bunker's talk appears infullin this issue.

J. D. Tennant made a report on the conference held earlier in the year in Chicago between the presidents of transcontinental railroads and a group of West Coast lumbermen in regard to the request of lumbermen for lower rates on lumber shipped fromthe Northwest to Middle West and Eastern markets.

The question of what the attitude of the West Coast lumber industry should be toward the proposed gov.rnment regulation of water freight rates was discussed at length by Col. W. B. Greeley, secretary-manager of the Association, who outlined various interests and points of view involved. The matter was then thrown open for general discussion.

One of the lumber industry's needs in Oregon is a greater use of lumber in public works, particularly in trestles, it was said. A principal reason for the comparatively scant use of lumber in highway bridges, trestles and other public projects, has been the lack of aggressive promotion work on the part of lumbermen, it was pointed out. As a result of the discussion it was decided that a group of lumbermen will call on the highway department soon and present a plea and arguments in behalf of a greater use of lumber. The lumber interests will offer to cooperate with thg Oregon highway department engineers in developing plans for timber structures that will reflect credit on the highway department and on lumber. J. E. Mackie, field engineer of the National Lumber Manufacturers' Association, told of work now being done to promote lumber use in Oregon.

C. H. Grinnel, representing a group of 21 British Columbia mills which formed a sales organization three years ago, told of the progress the agency has made in marketing lumber on the East Coast.