Harry B. Hewes

Harry B. Hewes, transplanted from the South to the West a number.of years ago, has become a very enthusiastic and loyal San Franciscan. A large portion of his business interests are now in the West. However he still maintains his old home in Jeanerette, Louisiana, where he manufactured Cypress lumber for nearly forty years, and he goes back to his old Southern home trvice everv vear.

Mr. Hewes lived and assisted in one 6f tne greatest epochs that the lumber industry of the world has k-nownthe Louisiana Red Cypress period. He saw Cypress develop from an unknown and unappreciated wood to the most popular and successful species in all lumber history, and he was one of those stalwarts who played a dominant part in selling the world the Cypress idea that brought ab,out that great tide of prosperity that lasted through a long term of years; which terminated, in fa'ct, only when the effort was allowed to lapse.

No one knows better than Mr. Hewes what CAN be done in the lumber business by cooperative merchandising, cooperative advertising, and cooperative protection of a species through intelligent direction. He believes that the future of the lumber business of the west-when this present depression ends-will be whatever the lumber manufacturers make it; as great or as small as their effort. But he knows that it CAN be done. He's seen it done. Ffe's helped do it.

He is the last living man of the famous old guard of Cypress men in Louisiana. The rest of those who were in the game when he started with it as a boy in 1887 are all gone to their reward. lle was the youngest of the lot, and therefore outlived the rest, and is still in the finest of health and spirits, although no longer a youngster.

H. B. Hewes was born in Houston, Texas, June 23rd, 1866. His forbear, Joseph Hewes, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. His father, a member of an old Quaker family in Pennsylvania, moved to Houston, and in 1853 started a sawmill in that city. At the time of his death he rvas the oldest lumberman in Texas. His name was Samuel D. Herves. So Harry Herves came naturally by his lumber leanings. His mother's father, Lttke Moore, fought in the Texas army in the battle of San Jacinto, where Sam l{ouston won independence for Texas.

He went through high school, refused a college education, and started working in a planing mill in Houston for a veteran lumberman, M. T. Jones. In 1887 he went to Jeanerette, La., as bookkeeper for a Cypress mill owned by Milmo, Stokoe & Company. It looked good and he borrowed the money and bought an interest. In 1894 they organized the Jeanerette Lumber & Shingle Company. Wm. Cameron, famous Texas lumberman, was an associate. Mr. Hewes operated the mill until it cut out a few years ago. Mr. Cameron died and his son-in-law, a man who was to make Cypress history, inherited his holdings, as well as other Cypress mills in Louisiana. IIe was the late Robert Downman, one of the strongest and most constructive leaders the lumber industry has known.

Cypress was not a money-maker then. It was a tough game. How Robert Downman took the lead and raised it from the dumps, it too long a story to tell here. Under his leadership was organized the Southern Cypress Manufacturers Association, and the Louisiana Red Cypress Company. The Association did the trade promotion and pub- licity work. The Company did the cooperative selling. They raised the price of Cypress from $19 to $50 or more a thousand and kept it there for many years-until there wasn't any left. Mr. Hewes became the devoted associate and lieutenant of Mr. Downman inall his activities in Louisiana, on the Atlantic Coast and in the West. He be- came a great believer in all association work, and in all intelligent cooperative activities for the lumber industry. In late years he has been an ardent worker for the National Lumber Manufacturers' Association and has been ofrered the Presidency of that organization in recent years. He was vice-president of the Cypress Association for twenty- five years.

Inserted here with his picture is one of the steamer Amy Hewes, whi'ch he built ind used for many years to tow their Cypress logs on the beautiful Bayou Teche. This steamer is still operating and giving service in that territory, although there are no longer logs to haul.

Mr. Hewes married Miss Nellie Bussev. Thev have one son, Ciarence B. Hewes, who is first secreiary of'the United S_tates E_mbassy, in Berlin, and two daughtirs, Mrs. Amy Hewes Flowerree, and Mrs. Florence Hewes Griswold.

In 1924 Mr. Hewes and Mr. Downman came West and made_large milling and timber investments, and gradually Mr. Hewes moved to San Fran,cisco. Mr. Downman died several years ago, and Mr. Hewes looks after both their interests. These interests include the Clover Vallev Lumber Company, of California.

He believes in a great future for the lumber industry. But he believes that it must be achieved ,cooperatively and intelligently; that the lumber industry of the West must be organized into fewer and larger units, so as to efiect better control over manufacturing and sales policies, and that more money must be spent for trade promotion and research.

He believes that the West needs a Robert Downman, and that if one appears, what was done with Cypress, .could be done for the Western woods.

He is and has always been an affable, tolerant, friendly, and intensely constructive personality.

Announce New Shingle Product

Introducing a new era in the manufacture of asphalt shingles in the west. The Pioneer Paper Company has announced that Setab Shingles, the most revolutionary product in the roofing industry since the invention of square butt asphalt strip shingles 16 years ag'o, are now ready for the market.

Stocks of Setab Shingles are being shipped this week to Pioneer dealers in the eleven rvestern states. An extensive nervspaper campaign has also been released, using metropolitan papers with a series of advertisements that unfold the story of Setabs and stress the fact that these new shingles cut the cost of roofing at least 50 per cent to the home owner.

Setab Shingles are manufactured by Pioneer under license and at present this company alone controls the right to make Setabs in the western states, thus placing Setabs in the Pioneer line as an exclusive product.

Setabs are a decided improvement over the ordinary asphalt shingle, in that the cut edges are protected with an extra coating of asphalt and crushed rock, thus sealing-in the saturant, lvhich is the verv life of the asphalt shingle. The process which makes the Setab Shingle an outstanding achievement, is patented.

Most modern products are packaged to keep in the dryness, flavor or color. Glassine wraps, moistnre proof containers and various other expedients have been perfected to protect factory freshness. With the asphalt shingle, the asphalt impregnation of the felt base has always been the most important feature in preserving the life of the product. In the old process of manufacture, when the felt sheets are cut into shingles, the edges were left exposed, which permitted the saturant to dry out in time and also allowed the felt base to absorb moisture.

Setab Shingles have corrected this condition. After the shingle is manufactured, a special handling seals-in the saturant by wrapping the exposed edges in an outer coating of asphalt. Thus, Setab Shingles are protected with an impervious thick film into which is embedded fire resisting granules of rock for added protection.

Heavier than ordinary asphalt shingles, because the crushed rock surface extends over the edges and on the back of the Setab Shingle, this new product produces a super-shadow effect, which has won favor with architects.

Carrying the same Forestry Blend colors u'hich have caused Pioneer shingles to gain such a rvave of popularity during the past year, Setabs enhance the beauty, texture and strength of a roof, while contributing extra years of life because of the patented sealed-in process of manufacture.

The feature of the advertising campaign to consumers throughout the west, is the saving rvhich Setabs offer because they have double the life of an ordinary asphalt shingle, and therefore cost half as much to the home owner.