Rcdwood Production Lowest in Many Years

Bv Jock Dionne

Up to the first of November the Redwood mills of California inanufactured approximately 115 million feet of Redwood lumber. If November and December continue at the same rate of production the total for the year will be about 138 million feet. This will establish a record of many, many years standing for LOW production of California Redwood.

In 1923 the production of California Redwood totaled 650 million feet. In 1924 it was 602 million. It has been dropping steadily since that time, due to market and building conditions.

Redwood production has been holding steady for the past three months, while sales and shipments have exceeded production during those months. For instance, in July the production of the Redwood Association mills (whi.ch usually total about 87 per cent of the total in the state) was 7,010,000 feet ; shipments were 8,239,00O; sales were 9,388,000. In August production rose to 9,590,000 for these same mills ; shipments 11,190,000; sales 12,171,000. In September this healthy trend continued with production 9,42I,W; shipments 10,371,000; sales 13,803,000. In October production was 9,658,000; shipments 13,603,000; sales 13,411,000.

It will be noted that sales continue to slightly surpass shipments, which shipments,continue substantially ahead of production.

For the Redwood Association mills production for the year up to November first was 100,637,000; shipments 123,93,000; sales 133,970,000. While all volume is low, it will be noted that the relationship between production, shipments, and sales was a very healthy one, and is continuing .so through November.

The building permits. of California for the year 1932 are thus far just about 50 per cent of those of 1931. But Redwood shipments into California for these same ten months arc 70 per cent of what they were in 1931, showing that Redwood is doing a larger share of the available business this year than it did last.

This can be fairly attributed to the fine and direct trade extension work of the California Redwood Association, which has, for the past six months, kept six active field men working the California territory, selling the use and idea of Redwood. That direct results are being obtained from the efforts of these men. there can be no reasonable doubt. Acting under the daily direction of "Chuck" Griffen, the stout lumber retailer whom the Association drafted from his own business to see what ,could be done for Redwood by aggressive and coordinated merchandising methods, the Association work is showing direct results from one end of California to the other. The field men call on everyone who 'could be interested in the use of Redwood, including architects, contractors, engineers, dealers, builders, and prospective builders. They are also giving their attention to schools and school children, teaching the young idea the facts about this great native California wood.

Six months is a very short time for judging a trade extension campaign, but the men have been well chosen, the field divided, the work prospected and prepared, and the campaign prosecuted with vigor and enthusiasm. A bound book for the information of the members of the Association is made every month, showing work accomplished and results obtained each month by the organization.

My personal opinion is that it is the most practical and should be the most productive effort ever made by any lumber producing association in lumber history, and, if continued in proper manner, might well be expected to fairly rebuild the Redwood industry. With Redwood salesmen, both mill and retail, working in behind these trade extension forces, either one of two things is absolutely and utterly certain; either Redwood use will be tremendously increased, or else Redwood is not the wood that its proponents so enthusiastically declare. When things swing back, and people really begin to build again, Redwood should reap a rich harvest from this tradi: extension work.

I see no reason why an organization of that strength and chara,cter should not be able to entirely change home building styles in California. Why not? Styles of all kinds are created and directed by thinking humans. Why should not a great and intelligent organization, working with a marvelously useful wood, be able to direct the very trend of public opinion ?

I think an inferiority estimate by the Redwood folks themselves of the possible accomplishment of such an effort in California, would be about the only thing that could obstruct its huge success. Laugh that off!

Don't pull those old bromides about people don't use rvood for this and that and the other any more ! People are sheep ! They go where they are led, just as they have always done. Redwood is on the right track. Teach the people of California to use this wonderful wood, and make them buy it. It CAN be done. Only the weakling says no.

East B.y Hoo Hoo Meet Dec. 12

The last dinner meeting of the year of East Bay Hoo Hoo Club No. 39 will be held at the Athens Athletic Club, Oakland, Monday evening, December 12. The speaker of the evening will be the well known Catholic priest, Msgr. J. M. Gleason, of Oakland.

Dinner will be served at 6:@ p.m., eighty-five cents per plate.

E. B. Culnan

Ed. Culnan Appointed General Manager of \Testern Lumber Company at San Diego

E. B. (Ed.) Culnan, since 1926 district sales manager of the Chas. R. McCormick Lumber Co. with headquarters in their Los Angeles office has resigned to become general manager of the Western Lumber Company at San Diego, Calif. He will take over his duties on December 5.

He has been connected with the Chas. R. McCormick Lumber Co. for the past twenty-one years. He joined the organization in 191 1 as yard foreman and latdr salesman at their San Pedro yard. In 1913 he supervised the building of the company's yard at Oceanside and acted as manager of the yard for nearly a year, when he was transferred to their Riverside yard where he remained as manager for eight years. He was,called in to the Los Angeles office in 1922, and after four years spent on the road calling on the trade he was appointed district sales manager in 1926.

He has been associated with the lumber industry continuously since I%)7, and prior to his coming to Southern California he followed the business in Wisconsin and the Northwest.

The Western Lumber Company has a large waterfront yard at San Diego and several branch yards in San Diego county. The company is owned by Jerry Sullivan, Sr., president of the company, and his two sons, Jerry Sullivan, Jr., of the Sullivan Hardwood Company of San Diego, and Herbert L. Sullivan of the Western Lumber Company.

T. B. LAWRENCE ON NORTHWEST TRIP

T. B. Lawrence, Lawrence-Philips Lumber Co., Los Angeles, left for the Northwest on November 17 where he will spend several days calling on the mills. He made the trip north on the S. S. Claremont which will make stops at Coos Bay and Grays Harbor. The S. S. Clari:mont and S. S. Point Loma are operated by the Lawrence-Philips Lumber Co. He will make the trip south by rail, stopping off at San Francisco for a few days, and expects to be back at his desk after the first of the month.