D. J. Cahill Passes On

D. J. Cahill, president of the Wiestern Hardwood Lumber Company, Los Angeles, died suddenly on October 13 after receiving the Maritime Commission's "M" pennant in ceremonies at Terminal Island.

The "M" award was presented to his company and the P. J. Walker Co., a joitrt venture performing joiner contracts for the U. S. Maritime Commission, in recognition of their production achievement. Mr. Cahill had just finished his speech of acceptance when he suffered a heart attack, passing away almost instantly.

Mr. Cahill was born on a farm in Nebraska seventyfive years ago, and his early education was acquired in the rural school district in which his home was situated. At the age of twenty, due to failing health, he found it necessary to move west to Colorado. He settled in Denver, continuing his educational activities and became associated with the railroad industry. Through his contacts soliciting freight for the Missouri Pacific Railway Company, he became interested in the lumber business and left railroading for a new field that was to become his life's work. He secured an interest in The Hardwood Lumber Company of Denver. In 1906 it was decided that a branch yard would be opened on the Pacific Coast, and Mr. Cahill came to Los Angeles to handle this new development. This led to the acquisition of the 'Western Hardwood Lumber Co., a small, struggling firm that had been organized, in I%JZ.

The Western Hardwood Lumber Co.. under this new rnanagement, launched immediately into a far-reaching search for the best hardwoods in the distant forests of the Orient and other parts of the world to meet the urgent demand for hardwood lumber in this territory. A hardwood sawmill was erected at Los Angeles Harbor, and through the able management of Mr. Cahill and the close cooperation of the Robert Dollar Compahy, imported hardwoods were introduced into Southern California for the first time in 19O7. Up to that time nearly all hardwood lumber used in this market was secured from Eastern mills. From that time on, hardwood logs continued to come in from Japan, Central and South America, Mexico, the Philippines, and other South Sea Islands, and were manufactureid intci many varidties of luinber and veneers. This industrial activity had a stimulating effect on the development of Los Angeles Harbor because the tonnage of hardwood logs cgming to this port was of sufficient consequence to-induce.,the steamship operators to load other cargo in the Orient for discharge at Los

Angeles Harbor, that would subsequently be trans-shipped east by rail.

World War f, through its demand for ships on the Atlantic Coast, forced the closing of a part of this operation, but the distributing yard continued to grow and has become one of the leading hardwood distributing businesses of the country, and its organization reflects the energy, ability and intelligence of the man who was the active head through all the years of its growth.

Mr. Cahill was a past director of the National Hardwood Lumber Association, the second president of the Pacific Coast Hardwood Distributors Association, and up to the time of his demise was first vice-president of the National Wholesale Lumber Distributing Yard Association. These last two organizations he helped to found and actively participated in their developrnent. His intimate association with local, state and national organizations that carried the cudgel for the betterment of the industrial and social life of the nation is a matter of record that covers many years.

His desire to be of maximum assistance to his country during this present period of danger forced the activities of the Western Hardwood Lumber Co. into the position where one hundred per cent of its present production is for the war effort, and it was while he was in the act of receiving recognition from the United States Government through the Maritime Commission for his outstanding accomplishment when death laid its heavy hand upon him. The last paragraph of his speech of acceptance exemplifies the spirit wlth which he was so generously imbued. He said:

"f feel that I can speak for each man and woman who has had a part in this production achievement, so generously recognizedby the Maritime Commission, that this is but an earnest of what we shall, with the help of God, continue to do, only with intensified fervor and increased results, to the end that our enemies may be speedily crushed, and the abomination of war banished from the land; and may God speed the day when the homes and firesides of free and liberated peoples everywhere may be forever relieved from the terror of desecration by hirelings of brutal agg'ressors temporarily self-inflated by visions of world domination.,, In the passing of D. J. Cahill we have lost a great man. Great because of his simplicity, because of his never-tiring efforts and his willingness to discharge every respons- bility that belonged to him.

Mr. Cahill was a member of the Jonathan Club, Los Angeles Country Club, Chamber of Commerce, and a fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus.

He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Honora Cahill, and two brothers, Daniel and James Cahill, both of Los Angeles.

. Requiem mass was celebrated rit 10:00 a.m. at St. Bren_ dan's Church, Los Angeles, on October 15.