\(/estern-Walker Gets Fourth Maritime Star

On October 26th, Admiral E. S. Land, Chairman of the United States Maritime Commission at Washington, officially advised the Western Hardwood Lumber Company and the P. J. Walker Company, of Los Angeles, that their joint services in supplying prefabricated ship materials to the Governrnent had t'on them their {ourth additional star to go on tl-re "M" Pennant given thern tr,vo and one-half years ago. It lvas a great honor, and one rvell earned.

The arn'ard, addressed to F. J. Connolly, President of the Western Hardrvood Lumber Company and Vice President of the joint Western-Mralker effort, reads :

"Dear Mr. Connolly:

"As Chairman of the U. S. Maritime Commission, I take pleasure in advising you that the Board of Awards, in recognition of continued production achievement, has ar,r'arded your company its Fourth Gold Star'to be addecl to your "M" Pennant, and badges of production merit for all employees added to your rolls since April 22, 1944.

"To each and every one of the employees of your company who share in the rvinning of this award, I extend the appreciation of the n4aritime Commission for their noteworthy contribution to the Victory Fleet Program.

"As our fighting forces press forr'vard the attack on Berlin and Tokyo and greater burdens are placed upon our merchant fleet, it is my sincere hope that your company will continue to demonstrate the teamrvork and cooperative effort so vitally needed to win this lvar."

A most interesting thing rvith regard to the production and installation work of this combination of Western and Walker, is that they started in making and furnishing wooden equipment for the earlier types of ships tl-re Government built at Los Angeles harbor, and todav they are furnishing the same sort of parts and equipment for the new combat troop transport ships, made almost entirely of metal. There is almost no w'ood in these new ships, of which Calship is building tl-rirty, and expects to have them all in the water by Christmas. Yet these versatile concerns were enabled to change their field o{ operations entirely, insofar as materials are concerned, and they are making the same enviable record in the steel ships that they did in those with wooden interiors.

The combination of the Western Hardwood Lumber Company and P. J. Walker Company, is a splendid one. Western produces, procures, and fabricates the materials ready for installation. Walker, a famous old contracting and building concern, puts the stuff into the boats. Their plants in Los Angeles, a few months ago piled high rvith fabricated woocl, is nou' piled just as high r,vith fabricated rnetal to furnish the interior equiprnent of these 'splendid vesseis. Their contracts stretch far into the future.

The Western-Walker plant where the shipbuilding ecluipment is made and assembled, is separate and apart from the lumber plant of the Western Hardwood Lumber Company, and located several blocks from the big lumber plant. Frank J. Connolly runs them both, and takes lots of "ribbing" from l.ris friends concerning his switch from a rn'ooden ship builder, to steel.

Mcisler Bros. Ycrd Sold

Announcement .ivas made in Fresno on November 1 by S. L. Caplan of Fresno, and R. E. Lewis, former owner of Farmers Lumber Company, Corcoran, that they had purchased the yard of Maisler Bros. Lumber Company, located at 2224 Railroad Avenue, Fresno, from Ben and Aaron Maisler.

Mr. Caplan is head of the Alta Investment Company, and a former vintner. He and Mr. I.ewis will operate as partners, and the business will be knor.vn as the Maisler l-uml.>er Company.

This concern lvas founded 41 years ago by the Maisler brothers, and it has been a large factor in the lumber and building material business of Fresno. The property includes 6f acres, 11 buildings, various tools and equipment. Tlre normal stock of lumber carried is 2,225,000 feet. The firm rvill continue to carry a full line of hardware and plumbing supplies in addition to lumber and builcling materials.