Allocation System for Procurement of Critical Materials

Washington, D. C., Nov. 7-Preparation for the allocation of all critical materials throughout American industry was called for today in parallel actions by the Supply Priorities and Allocations Board and the Office of Production Management.

In setting its sights for this all-out allocation program, SPAB laid down the principle that where feasible the allocation programs should be developed in such a way that minimum quantities of the needed materials would be assured to essential industries whose operations are curtailed.

1. SPAB announced that it had authorized its Executive Director to request OPM to obtain detailed production programs, industry by industry, f.or 1942.

It stipulated that these programs should contain ample information to indicate the month-by-month requirements of critical materials needed for the production of military, industrial and civilian items, and essential public services.

It also directed that these programs should show similar requirements for repair parts and capital expenditures.

2. OPM issued an administrative order setting up the machinery by which the whole program of requirements is to be developed, outlined the manner in which the various industrial branches and other units of OPM are to work together toward this end, and instituted a new system of handling preference ratings in harmony with this program.

I.t will, of ,course, take a good deal of time to get the entire program into effect. As it gradually emerges, however, the program will give greater certainty to American business and industry; and it will also mean that defense officials will have a clear, over-all picture of the nation's total requirements for raw materials, SPAB having previously authorized its Executive Director to get detailed requirements statements for the Armed Services, the merchant ship program and Lend-Lease.

In substance, the development of an allocation program will proceed roughly as follows:

An fndustrial Branch in OPM takes the first step, calling on its several sections to develop requirements programs for each industry which manufactures the products for which the Branch is responsible.

Each program is built up by the Branch or by its Section, through consultation with the Industry Advisory Committee involved and also through discussion with either or both of the Armed Services, depending on the nature of the product and the materials used in its manufacture.

When this has been done, the officers of the Industrial Branch who have the program in charge discuss the entire matter with the Industrial Branches which have jurisdiction over the materials or the products out of which the irticle in question is made. Agreement is reached between the Branches as to the amount of material which can be allocated, etc.

Or, as an example: a program for the manufacturers of plumbing equipment would be initiated in the Plumbing and Heating Branch of the Division of Civilian Supply. It would be worked up in consultation with the industry and cross-checked to see how the military requirements situation might affect it. Then, when it had been put in shape, it would be referred to the various raw materials eroups-the Iron and Steel Branch, the Copper Branch, s1s.-fe1 a final checking.

Thus, in effect, each program would originate with the group which is responsible for the end product, with the raw materials groups coming into the picture in an advisory and consultative capacity. Since all programs must of necessity be decreased or increased as armament pro.duction rises. each one will be framed so that it ca.n be modified upward or downward in case of need. When a program has been drawn up, it will be reviewed carefully in order to cut down the use of critical materials to the greatest possible extent through simplification of lines, substitution, and so on. The OPM Bureau of Industrial Conservation will work with and through the Industrial Branches to accomplish this.

When the program drawn up along these lines has been agreed upon by the Branches involved, it will be presented to the Executive Director of SPAB, in order that it may be properly synchronized with other programs.

Sudden tt Christenson

It is then presented to SPAB.

After SPAB has passed on a program-either approving it, modifying it, or taking such other action as seems advisable-the program is referred to the OPM Priorities Division, which undertakes to make it effective, and where possible, to make sure that the needed quantities of goods will in fact be available, through the issuance of the required priorities ratings or through allocation of materials.

In order that current operations may dovetail properly into the whole broad project, OPM's administrative qrder devised a new routing system for the handling of PD-l preference rating applications, effective Dec. L

Defense Housing---Sacramanto Added to Defense Areas

Amendments to Critical List: Amendments to the Defense Housing Critical List and to Interpretation No. 1 of this list, just announced by the Priorities Division, and effective November 15, restore to good standing the use of oil burners in defense housing construction o.n the eastern seaboard.

Amended Priority Procedure: The Priorities Division has found it desirable further to encourage construction for rent, rather than for sale, and this has been done by assigning higher preference ratings than formerly to houses which will be rented by defense workers, since the Priorities Division feels that rental is better suited than purchase to their needs. This amendment became effective also November 15.

Defense Housing Areas: A revised list of Defense Housing Critical Areas, announced at the same time as the amendments. includes three additional areas. These are: Sacramento, Calif.; Marion-Carbondale (Crab Orchard Lake), Ill.; Bonham, Texas.

Mrs. Maude \(/. Eubank

Mrs. Maude W. Eubank of Inglewood, Calif. passed away on October 26. She was the wife of Lee H. Eubank and the mother of George Eubank of L. H. Eubank & Son, Inglewood.

She is also survived by another son, Emmett, of San Antonio, Texas, four sisters and three grandchildren.

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Making Motor Courts Pleasandy Remembered

With the greater use of automobiles each year, it is little wonder that the highways and byways of America are fast becoming dotted with attractive motor courts and motels for the convenience of the traveling public. These overnight accommodations, it is true, may be known by one of many names, such as motels, motor courts, auto courts, tourist courts, cabins, camps, cottages, inns, lodges, villiges and resorts. On the other hand, it is interesting to note what a high percentage of them have used Idaho White Pine, Ponderosa Pine or Sugar Pine for one item or another in the structures. For instance, it may be clear or knotty pine paneling, siding, trim, windows, doors, shutters, screens, Venetian blinds, gable ends, built-in features or even pine furniture. These soft-textured Western Pines always create an informal, friendly atmosphere, which largely accounts for their popularity and wide acceptance in motor court construction and decoration. And their low upkeep cost is an important point that is often mentioned by court owners.

Typical examples of the more modern courts using Western Pines are illustrated in a new l?-page folder titled, "Making Motor Courts Pleasantly Remembered", just published by the Western Pine Association. This colorful little folder is a pictorial presentation of nearly fifty tourist accommodations which show exterior and interior applications of Western Pines. It should prove of special interest to motor court owners and operators as well as

More Homes Built This Year

Washington, Nov. 22.-The number of new homes started in the United States during the first 10 months of this year already substantially exceeds the total constructed under FHA inspection in all of 194O, Federal Housing Administrator Abner H. Ferguson announced today. Through Oct. 31 the FHA made first-compliance inspections on homes being financed with 186,031 mortgages, compared with 173,062 during the whole of 1940.

those contemplating new construction or remodeling. This folder. which is the same size as a railroad timetable, also is a handy reference book for the motor traveling public, since there is a partial list on Page 11 of motor court hosts from Coast to Coast who have built with Western Pines. This directory lists 118 courts, located in 28 states, including the District of Columbia. Persons desiring a copy can obtain one without charge by writing the Western Pine Association, Yeon Building, Portland, Oregon. Simply ask for Folder No. 48.

New Plywood Plant at Port Angeles

The new plywood manufacturing plant of Peninsula Plywood Corporation at Port Angeles, Wash., with a capacity of 7,000,000 feet per month, is expected to start operation soon.

John Roberts is president, Carl Stromberg, vice-president; Ed Sund, secretary and Wilbert Brewer, treasurer. Robert Sand is manag'er, and Emory Moore is sales manager, with headquarters at Port Angeles.