Solcrncr Becrch Ycrrd Builds Model House crf Fqir

The Solana Lumber & Ruilders Supply Company, Solarra Beach. Calif., erected the handsome model home front. showrr above, on the fairgrounds at Del Mar racetrack for the Southerr.r California Exposition and San Diego County Fair which closecl July 5.

It was the only exhibit by any lumberyard at the big fair and marks the fifth year that the Solana yard has successfully usecl such an advertising display. "It brings us in lots of new business," said Hershel Larrick, Jr., who is associated in the Lumber & Builders Supply Cornpany with his father, H. G. Larrick, Sr.

The only cost of the exl-ribit to the yard was in the materials used. 'fhe Fair itself furnishes the labor and the setting is landscaped by local architects in competition. The lumberyard gets the use of the setting on the fairgrounds for a space of four years.

Unired Lumber Yords Buys Merced Lumber Compony

John Martin of Modesto, California, president of the Unitecl Lumber Cornpany, before leaving for a six-week tour of Europe, made a very important announcement. United has closed a deal for the purchase of the Merced Lumber Company, with yards located in Merced, Le Grand, Atwater and Livingston, for about $400,000. This gives United a total of 26 yards in the San Joaquin Valley.

With regard to personnel changes, Mr. Martin states that the newly acquired yards have come under the management of J. E. Webb, general manager of United, and that Al Corrigan, former United manager at Oakdale, is now manager at Merced. Bill Crews will continue as manager of the Atwater yard, Manuel Fariea with the Livingston yard, and Oscar Oswalt with the Le Grand yard.

\Aralter Found, former manager of the Merced Lumber Company, retires.

Gqlifornio Plywood Plont

Clara, Calif., state that the Olympia, Washington, has a large plywood manufac-

The 1954 model home front was constructed mainly of ceclar. X{r. Larrick said it was more elaborate than anything the 1'ard had put up in previous years. It was the only modernistic exhibit at the fair. "It has attractecl lots of comment -pro and con," said tl-re young lumberman.

The photos show some of the modernistic construction details. An inset panel near the front door showecl constantly changing color slides which featured building with cedar. In addition, a "Take One" box on a railing around the plot contained free literature, "You Can FIave a Cedar Home," with the imprint of the Lumber & Ruilders Supply Co., and illustrated interior use of cedar in exposed beam ceilings, paneled rvalls, cabinets, etc. The pamphlet on Solana Brand Cedar was so popular with the fairgoers that the box had to be replenished several times daily.

Tatest Lumber Strike News

As this is written, July 10th, here is the West Coast lumber strike situation, little changed from ten days ago: No break in the Fir situation, about 85 per cent of the procluction down, amounting to about one-third of all softwood produced nationally. Negotiations between unions and mills started July Bth, no report to date; changes may come soon, or not for weeks. In the meantirne, stocks of Fir lumber get shorter every day, and prices advance u'ith scarcity in all reporting regions.

Practically all the production of softwood plywood in Washington, Oregon, and California reported down. Reports show manufacturers of plywood glue also heavily curtailing. All markets that hinge on Western lumber and plywood heavily affected.

About a dozen Western Pine mills have been struck, sympathetically. I-atest reports from Portland say general strike mn.1 sxtend at any timc to mills generally.

Situation may change quickly, or continue for some time. There are reports of a number of mills trying to conduct operations in face of the strike.

California Redwood, from various non-union mills, continues in considerable oroduction.