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The Maritime Strike

A meeting betrveen Assistant Secretary of Labor Edward F. McGrady and representatives of the Shiporvners'-Association of'the Pacihc and the Masters, Mates and Pilots' IJnion at San Francisco, November 28, broke up rvithout any agreement being reached.

Insistence of the operators that unions rvithdraw men from oicket lines and return masters to strike-bound vessels ciused the break-up. Disbandment of prckets and return of masters was neaessary before operators would discuss a proposed agreement.

The Shipowners' Association and the Marine Cooks and Stewards'-Union reached an agreement on November 27 which was the first successful peace conference since the strike was called on October 29. The schooner operators granted the cooks and stewards preferential hiring and the eight-hour day. They previously reached an accord on wage demands. Agreements with six of the seven unions involved were reached by the schooner operators prior to the coastwide walkout-the exception being the masters, mates and pilots.

The Shipowners' Association operates over 70 schooners in coastwise shipping, and represents 25 per cent of the ernployers. Deep sea operators own 150 of the 221 ships now tied-up in Pacific Coast ports. Ships operated by the Shioowners' Association carry on most of the coastwise lumber trade on the West Coast.

With other strikes adding to the business paralysis, industrial reports reflect the further slowing down of West Coast activity because of labor troubles.

The San Francisco chamber of commerce research department said the maritime strike is preventing the movement of $7,000,000 worth of goods daily on the Pacific Coast and that $5O,000,000 worth of goods was tied-up in strike-closed lvarehouses.

Washington and Oregon cargo lumber mills estimated the;r loss at $2,000,000 since the strike started. Fuel oil companies reported a $2,000,000 business loss. Canning companies have laid off more than a thousand clerks because of the tie-up.

14,000,000 feet of lumber is strike-bound at Los Angeles harbor aboard eighteen idle lumber ships. With the exception of less than a million feet, all this lumber is sold.

The lumber terminals at Los Angeles harbor are being picketed to prevent nonunion truck drivers from hauling lumber unloaded before the strike from the harbor area. Union truck drivers continue to haul loads .ivithout interference. This has not interrupted the movement of lumber at the harbor, and as far as stocks permit, truck deliveries are going out as usual.

Consumption of lumber in California is heavy and building operations are active. Building permits issued in Los Angeles for the first twenty-four days of November, 1936, totaled $3,843,583 as compared with 91,848,1'17 for the same period in 1935.

With lumber cargo shipments from the tidewater mills in Washington and Oregon suspended, there is considerable lumber moving into both Northern and Southern California by rail. Fir common dimenslon and boards are coming mostly from points in Oregon, Portland and south. Some uppers and shingles have been shipped in from as far north as Puget Sound. Prices have advanced from $1.50 to $2.0O on Fir common grades.

The demand for Ponderosa Pine is good with prices firm; No. 3 clear and all shop items are reported scarce. The Sugar Pine market is strong and prices viry firm; mill stocks are broken.

The Redwood market is active and prices are firm. The mills report a scarcity of dry uppers.

FHA Loans Stimulate Home Building C-X Texbord a New \7ood Yeneer in Northern California Interior Finish

October shattered all Northern California records for new homes financed under government insured mortgaged loans according to D. C. McGinness, Federal Housing Administration. San Francisco.

During October construction was started on 346 new homes in Northern California financed by FHA insured mortgages, aggregating $1,7I4,W. The next highest record was set in the previous month of September, Mr. McGinness stated, and third on the list was August, "indicative of the steady and substantial increase in government insured mortgages for home construction as the public becomes better acquainted with this economical, safe and convenient form of financing."

It was pointed out that the Federal Housing Administration has helped 11,600 Northern California families acquire homes of their own by insuring mortgages aggregating $49,4OO,000.

LUMBE,R COMPANY CHARTERS BOAT

George W. Gorman, general manager of Trans-Pacific Lumber Co., Port Orford, Ore., announces that the company has chartered the steamer Cottoneva, which has recently been re,conditioned and is ready to sail as soon as the strike is settled.

The Cottoneva has a capacity of approximately 1,000,000 feet of lumber. A regular two weeks' service will be established between Port Orford and California oorts.

The Celotex Corporation, through Harold Knapp, general sales manager, has just announced C-X Texbord, a new interior finish of genuine wood veneer with a Celotex backing. This new attractive interior finish is available in Mahogany, Avodire and Walnut. C-X Texbord brings these finishes within the range of the average family budget.

C-X Texbord is /4" thick, and comes in units g',9",12" wide and 8' and 1O' long. It is easily applied to the wall without showing nails or any need for special moulding. This application is made possible by a special patented joint treatment. Because this new wood finish is only r/4" thick,. it can be used for both old and new construction. New literature and descriptive material is available from The Celotex Corporation, 919 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago.

s. F. CLUB ENJOYS REDWOOD FrLM

The showing of the California Redwood Association's. sound film, "California Giants" at the weekly luncheon of the San Francisco Lumbermen's Club, held at the Engineers' Club, November 23, was enjoyed by a capacity attendance.

Louis Ehling, of the California Redwood Association, who exhibited the picture, was introduced by President C. C. Stibich.

The luncheon is held every Monday at 12:15 P. M., and all lumbermen are welcome.