Regarding Redwood

By R. F. Hammatt, Secretary, California Redwood Assn.

Redwood mills entered 7925 with the distinct expectation that business should average, for the year, 5 per cent better than during 1924.

For the first six months of this year that expectation has not been met-for orders booked (California Eastern and Foreign) is 2 per cent below the figure f.or 1924.

But it is 2 per cent only, and this difierence by no means tells the story for the entire year. There is still six months to go and the difference is so small that most of the Redwood mills believe December will show a difierent, and a distinctly more favorable, condition.

Examination of territorial figures-both for orders booked and for shipments-discloses the (presumably well known) fact that only in Southern California is Redwood business less than for last year. Northern California, Eastern and Foreign territories all show a healthy increase even during the first six months of the current year.

The six months just passed have been one of intensive preparation on the part of the Association. Much, in a quiet way, has been accomplished-work which already is beginning to bear fruit.

Our new booklet "Redwood Home Plans by California Architects" and each of the small, all-wood homes rvhich it illustrates-is (we have been told) "refreshingly new." Certainly it-and the plans and specifications with which it is backed-are in great demand, though it is but just coming off the press.

And we have kept faith with those customers of our member mills who have asked for material to help stimulate the Farm trade, too. Within 60 days now our "Agricultural Series" bulletins will be ready for distribution.

Business might be better, surely. And it might also be worse-much worse. We don't expect it to be worse, and we shall "do our &-dest" to see that it is made better.