Associations of Forest Products Industries Meet

Seattle, November 24, 1945.-Preparing to move forward on a nation-wide front, associations of the forest products industries are holding a series of meetings this week in Chicago, Lo set up programs for 1946, according to H. V. Simpson, secretary-manag.er of the West Coast Lumbermen's Association, who is attending with other leaders of the industry from the Pacific Northwest.

"The outlook {or progress in industrial forestry projects throughout the nation's forest regions, and for the building construction business that will pay for them, is bright with promise," Simpson stated. "The crises of reconversion the country over, the little wars that have followed victory over Germany zrrrd Japan, are bound to be settled in due course by demand of public opinion and the needs of returning veteralrs. There is reason to hope that the normal peacetime rise of spling building will come with fair weather in 1946. and that thc lumber industry will be able to supply it.,'

The gruups meeting in the Midwest, Mr. Simpson said, are the N'ational Lumber Manufacturers Association and American Forest Products Industries, Inc. Both have headquarters in Washington, D. C., with regional manufacturing associations for members.

"There rs plenty of timber to supply the country,s building requirements for lumber, and projects for growing tree crops in the wake of the sawtimber harvests have expanded amazingly throughout the war period,,' the West Coast lumber executive continued. "Further expansion will be plan- ned at Chicago, with the certified Tree Farm as the medium, and with increased protection measures against the forest fire as a main objective. Encouragement is in the fact that timber is growing all over the United States in far,greater volume than the average man dreams. The industry pro_ poses to demonstrate this fact fully.,'

"The most pressing question from the public, however, is that of lumber supply for home and farm building. Here, too, a big j,rb has to be done in informing the publi,c on the fact that lumber prices remain low in comparison with those of many other necessities of life. Aside from millwork and hardri'ood flooring, the lumber required for the con_ struction of the average wood home generally represents no rnore than12 per cent of the total cost of the home. This is remarkable, when it is considered that the bulk and rveight of lumber in a house are so much greater than that of all matcrials in it combined.',

"The na.tional lumber industry is a vigorous giant of the American enterprise system," Simpson continued. ,.The West Coast lumber industry is its mightiest unit, and so stands in the forefront of the industrial institutions that have made America what it is today and which will produce the future g-reatness of the country. Our industry challerrges comparison with any other on progress. It is producing homes. It is growing trees. And that's what West Co".t lumbermen will be doing 'til the .cows com.e home'!,'