National Lumbcr Tradc Promotion Committee Adopts a Minimum Program of Research and Trade Extcnsion Endeavor

Chicago, Aug. 1.-The Trade Promotion Committee of the National Lumber Manufacturers Association met here during the last three days of last week and canvassed the program of the Committee's work for the near future. Geo. W. Dulany, Jr., Chairman, explained that the purpose of this first meeting of the new Tlade Promotion Committee was that the members might be informed in detail of the activities of the Trade Promotion Department of the National Lumber Manufacturers Association, and consider the recommendations of the stafi for trade promotion activities for the current year. He remarked that the trade promotion budget is deplorably small and gave it as his opinion that the Committee should keep rvithin the budget limit, although it would be proper to ,consider extra-budget projects.

Arthur T. Upson, trade promotion manager, took the position that there'are three classes of trade promotion activities, namely, those of general interest to the lumber industry, those which are of interest to some lumber manufacturers but not to all, and third, ,commercial exploitation of the results of research and investigation. Mr. Upson described and explained these industry activities at considerable length and outlined a number of desirable projects of less than general industry interest, for which there is definite need. Mr. Upson also drew a sharp line between the protective activities of the N. L. M. A. which are now being prosecuted and those of a more emphatically promotional character which should be undertaken as soon as possible.

In discussing the work of the Department of Government Spe,cifications, Mr. Upson said that it was a very broad, as well as detailed field, which could well employ a considerable number of competent men. Specific promotion projects of parti.cular interest to regions or companies mentioned by Mr. Upson are study of new devices of the type of timber connectors of interest to lumber manufacturers and distributors, a careful survey of the status of prefabricated building, exploration of the field of wood treatment for preservation and to prevent shrinkage, new architectural designs, dependable mechanical 'device for the measurement of moisture content of lumber, studies of improved design of wood sash and frame, resear,ch regarding superstru,cture of railway freight cars, investigation of the service records of wood used in tanks, vats and pipes, and research in.the furniture and fixture field.

Prohibition of Lumber

Richard G. Kimbell, in charge of the building code activities of the National Association, gave the Committee some information as to the immensity of the field. There are, he said, 7822,cities in the United States, practically alt of which have building laws. There are also state laws relating more or less to building in all of the 48 states. There are 100 semi-public agencies constantly engaged in research and investigation of building ,codes and developing standards and recor-nmendations influencing them. Mr.

Kimbell emphasized the fact that a building code restriction is a type of prohibition which really rvorks-and if a code prohibits or restricts the use of lumber, prohibition or restriction is the result. He calculated that a market for 5,000,000,000 feet of lumber is at stake in communities with a total population of 50,000,000 people, in which are consumed 4O per ,cent of the softwood and 25 per cent of the hardwood output.

Mr. Kimbell emphasized the importance of insurance relations and the need of statistical information bearing on insurance. Technical publications on lumber, su'ch as those already published or on the l"'ay, Mr. Kimbell said, were of fundamental importance in promotion work.

Digest of Decisions

The relations between N. L. M. A. and A. F. P. I. were discussed at length with a view to defining them as rigidly as possible. It was the opinion of the Committee that there should be no direct solicitation of regional association subscribers in behalf of A. F. P. I. under any circumstances wherein the association would act for its subscribers, and that if it would not so act there should be no soli'citation without its consent.

The Committee voted to approve and recommend as essential to the lumber industry the continuance by the N. L. M. A. of the following current promotion department activities:

Building Laws and Regulations; Government Specifications; National Housing; Retail Merchandising and Lumber IJse Information Service.

Regional associations not now aftiliated with the National were urged to join at once. In view of the desir4bility of extending basic activities it was considered that additional funds would be necessary.

The next advance in the program of trade promotion, it was decided, should include research features, development of a moisture meter and sorter, designs for building interiors and exteriors of wood, fabricated frame building, retail merchandising, and wood treatments.

Decisions were taken intended to be promotive of the work of the Committee through the regional associations. It was agreed that consideration be given to the advisability of establishing in Washington a worthrvhile exhibit of Iumber and timber produ,cts. It was also recommended that the series of National handbooks on wood structural design data should be published at the earliest possible moment.

Members of the Committee present in person or by proxy were: H. H. Butts (by T. R. Kerr) ; n. n.. Bailey (by W. A. Ellinger); J. F. Wigginton (by B. R. Ellis); W. T. Neal (by V. A. Stibolt); W. B. Earle (by E. C. Singler); M. C. Woodard (by I. N. Tate); C. L. Isted; M. E. Kline; Geo. W. Dulany, Jr.; J. W. Ma]'hew (by H. E. Everley). J. W. Watzek, Jr., President of the National Association, and the following members of the National staff were present: Wilson Compton, Carl Bahr, A. T. Upson, R. G. Kimbell. C. E. Close and L. W. Smith.