Freight Rate Compromise Decision

Advantageous to Lumber

Washington, October 21.--The opinion was expressed at the offices of the National Lumber Manufacturers Association here today, that the lumber industry had fared comparatively well at the hands of the Interstate Commerce Commission in the decision handed down yesterday in the matter of the application of the railways for a 15 per cent increase in freight rates.

It was pointed out that in its suggested plan for increasing certain freight rates, in lieu of the blanket increase asked by the railways, the Commission excepts only agricultural products and logs, fuel wood, railroad ties, wood excelsior and sawdust.

Lumber, shingles, and lath are placed in the class to have the lowest rate of increase per car in case the railways accept the Commission's suggestion. This rate is $3 a car which, on the basis of an average of 25,000 feet of lumber to the car, means an increased freight rate of only 12 cents a thousand feet for lumber. This is considered virtually a victory for the industry which has consistently maintained that it was entitled to especially favorable treatment in the matter of any increase in freight rates permitted by the Interstate Commerce Commission.

Moreover, in the group of commodities on which rates may be increased more than those on lumber are such competitors of lumber as rough and finished stone and artificial stone, cement, brick, and other substitute building materials.

The fact that lumber and lumber products have fared so well is cited as proof of the benefits derived from a united front of the industrv. While the intrinsic merits of the position that lumber-should be accorded special consideration are undeniable, it is held to be certain that if the industry had not been united in presenting the Commission with irrefutable statistics and other facts. the outcome might have been far different.

Red River Lumber Co. lnstalls Panel Re-Dryer

The Red River Lumber Company, Westwood, California, rccently installed a panel re-dryer of the Moore Cross Circulation type in their veneer factory for redrying Ponderosa pine plywood and also high-grade furniture panels made with pine core and hardwood faces. It has been found dcsirable to redry the glue moisture from the panels. Thir redrying eliminates the tendency of panels to warp and algo places the panels in proper condition for interior use.

The kiln was designed and equipment furnished by the Moore Dry Kiln Company of North Portland, Oregon.

San Diego Hoo Hoo Elect / Officers

The San Diego Hoo Hoo Club at its annual meeting elected John Lupton, president; Mearl Baker, vice president, and Russell Piersall, secretary-treasurer. Mr. Lupton was vice president of the club last year and succeeds Robert W. Reid. At the business session plans for the coming yearwere discussed and retiring President Robert W. Reid and George F. Nolan, vicegerent snark of the district during the past year, were complimented for their fine work.

George MacFarlane, of San Diego, has been appointed vicegerent snark for San Diego and Imperial counties for the ensuing Hoo Hoo year, succeeding George F. Nolan.