Better Hardwood Floors

By B: E, Bryan, General Manager, Strable Hardwood Co., Oakland, and Vice President Pacific Coast Hardwood Flooring Dealerst Association.

B. E| Bryan

When our forefathers landed on the eastern coast of America and commenced the establishment of an empire on this continent, their first problem was that of providing habitations. These first American homes were crude, but fashioned as they were from the native woods which grew in profusion on or near the Atlantic seaboard, they we-re most substantial and afforded ample protection from the elements and dangers prevalent in the wilderness which they were to conguer.

These early homes were almost invariably floored with Oak or Mapft, both of which were plentiful. These hardwood floori have been in common use east of the Mississippi since America was settled. On the west coast of the Unlted States where large quantities of excellent Pine, Fir, Spruce, Cedar and Redwood were produced, the floors in piactically all of the buildings erected prior to 1880 on this coast were .of these native so-called softwoods.

As transcontinental transportation was established, Oak and Maple Flooring commenced to come to the west coast from the hardwood districts ,of the country. This movement westward gradually increased until the use of hardwood floors west of the Rockies is now as prevalent as in any other given section of the United States.

No manufactured floor covering can ever take the place of, or give to the user, the same degree of satisfaction that a well installed Oak or Maple floor does. lluman ingenuity has accomplished much, but man's efforts have not been able to improve on what nature has done in producing -a tree from which a hardwood lumber for our beautiful Oak and Maple floors is obtained.

The resiliency of hardwood results in wearing qualities which are not equaled by other floor covering, under,continuous hard usage. The stone steps leading up to a school' house door in one of our eastern states were hollowed in the center to a depth of one inch by countless steps of small feet over a period of years. In the doorway over these steps, a Maple floor installed at the same time as the stone steps, showed no wear visible to the eye.

The Oak or Maple floor in your home has, at no great distant time prior to installation, manifested life and growth, and who shall say that it does not still reflect life is it confronts you daily and hourly a thing of beauty and satisfaction.

Within the last few years, the improper merchandising and installation of hardwood floors has resulted in some dissatisfaction on the part of the ultimate user and, consequently, in the substitution of fabricated floor coverings. The manufacturer, the distributor, and the installing contractor have been quick to see this trend toward substitutes and definite steps have been taken to re-establish hardwood flooring to the place in the public mind where it rightfully belongs.

This movement to make mandatory the installation of better hardwood floors, could probably be traced back to the present occupant of the White House. Among several major accomplishments which President H'oover has set for his- administiation, is the betterment of business and the elimination of what has, in the past, been designated as "profitless prosperity." The ramifications of this movement extena trom Washington, D. C. down through the entire industry, to the installing contractor.

We, of the- hardwood flooring industry, are convinced that we must "give to get." We have therefore started by insuring the uliimate user a properly installed floor, with provision for a legitimate profit to the lumber merchant ior service, and adequate compensation for the installing contractor, thus insuring the best possible installation which has been made mandatory.

Trade association has come to stay and is fast becoming a definite movement in business; and the one result of group action which will return the greatest dividends to buJinesi generally, will be the placing of the finished product into the possession of the ultimate user in the most satisfactory and economic manner.

The liardwood floor in a building is an item which represents both a utility and beauty value, and any concerted effort toward the betterment of this part of the habitations of humanity, will result in advantage to society.