A. J. Russell Returns from Seattle Shingle Congress

A. J. Russell, of the Santa Fe Lumber Co., San Francisco, who was the only California lumberman to attend the seventh annual Red Cedar Shingle Congress, held at the Gowman Hotel, Seattle, Washington, on Decembet 6 and 7, stated on his return to San Francisco that the Convention this year was one of the most successful ever held by that organization and that a great deal. of good constructive work was accomplished at the meeting.

The Convention opened on the morning of December 6 rvith a meeting of the Board of Trus- wlth tne boarc or r rustees of the Shingle Branch of the West Coast Lumbermen's Association and the Advisory Commitee of the Red Cedar Shingle Bureau, presided over by E. E. Case, of Raymond, Washington, president. This was followed by the third anual Filers Conference, at which sar,r' filers from every section of the Northwest discussed problems of mutual interest.

With W. C. McMaster presiding, the opening session of the seventh annual Red Cedar Shingle Congress opened on the afternoon of December 6. Among the speakers at the afternoon session were A. J. Edgecumbe, president of the British Shingle Association, who spoke on "Shingle Merchandising." R. W. Neighbor spoke on the "Relation of Stock Control and Sales Turnover" rvhile A. J. Russell, of San Francisco, discussed "Advertising and Sale of Shingles as Roofing Material."

R. S. Whiting, Manager of the Shingle Branch of the West Coast Lumbermen's Association; A. Bevan, Assistant Manager; Col. J. W. Warren, Field Representative, and Charles E. March, Field Representative, concluded the afternoon program by talks on "The Activities of the Shingle Bureau.tt

In his annual report, Manager Whiting of the Shingle Bureau, declared that 923,000 pieces of literature exploiting of shingles in home construction have been year at a cost of $8,454.00 being expended by the British Columbia manufacturers. Theiame idea wai urged by T. Coale, engineering special- ist with the Colby -Engineering Company of Seattle. Charles E. Marsh, of ChicJgo, coniected *itttthe field staff of the Shingle Association, urged the collective advertisinig of shingles through the association.

A. J.fuorley, of the Saginaw Timber Co, Aberdeen' was elected president fo irthe ensuing year. P. R. Smith, of Seattle, -was elected wice-president. R. q. Whiting was elected Manager, and A. Bevan, of

REPRINT FROM SEATTLE POST INTELLIGENCER DECEMBER 10, 1923

A. J. RUSSELL IS SEATTT.E VISITOR

A. J. Russell, debonnair manager of the Santa Fe Lumber Company of San Francisco ,one of the biggest lumber wholesalers in California, and the original Ausustus B. Biddell, the famous lumber character in the Cappy Ricks stories of Peter B. Kyne, casually dropped into Seattle yesterday to get an t'earful" as he expressed it, of the seventh annual red cedar shigle congress at the Gowman llotel.

"Gus" Russell, as he is affectionately known by his large circte of friends throughout the Pacific Coast, is a close acquaintance of Capt. Robert 'Dollar, the original "Cappy Ricks," and a boyhood friend of Peter B. Kyne, the author. Although past the middle age of life, Russell is considered the most fashionable lumberman on the Pacific Coast. coming here garbed in the height of winter masculine fashions.

Russell brought to Seattle a word of optimism for local industry: the advantages distributed this

"California has exoerienced the greatest building year in history, and 1924 will even show a greater record," he declared. "This, of course, will re- flect prosperity in Seattle, for the lumber for this building program must necessarily come from this section. The entire Pacific Coast will orofit bv this industry."

The morning session on December 7 began with an open forum, with A. J. Wartes of the Excel Shingle Company, of Seattle, in charge. Indrrstrial problems were discussed by H. Fugerson, of Anacortes, and D. H. Carpenter, of Everett.

A. J. Morley, of Aberdeen, presided at the afternoon operi forum during which the red cedar shingle bureau discussed various phases of the shingle industry. A. Eastman, of Vancouver, B, C., urged the industry to expend more money in advertising, explaining that a fund of $60,000.00 was now

Seattle, was elected assistant manager. In commenting on the work at the Congress, Mr. Russell stated that the Assoliation was particularly gratified at the excellent association work accomplished by Manager Whiting and his staff in exploiting Red Cedar Shingles in home construction throughout the country. He said that it was the desire of the Congress to continue this excellent work on an even bigger and stronger plan in the future. After' the Congress, Mr. Whiting returned to Chicago where he will continue this work through the eastern sections oI the country, while A. Bevan will push this r,r'ork along the Pacific Coast. Mr. Russell said that the shingle manufacturers of the Northwest are determined to make better shingles and a better standard of grades. The manufacturers state that in the future they rvill not produce any more shingles than the market will absorb, and that the mills that are now down will not begin manufacturing shingles until the srrpply and demand become more equalized. It was also announced at the Congress that the manufacturers ol 24" shingles have decided to market this grade of shingles through one sell-; ing organization.

On the evening of December 6, a smoker was held at the Gowman Hotel, which was the Convention headquarters, after which the shinglemen told a. few stories and did a lot of reminiscing, and many of those prresent regretted the abscence of Peter B. Kyne, lvho at present is in New York, and Jack Dionne, who lvas detained at Houston, Texas, on business. Both Peter B. Yyne and Jack Dionne, together with A. J. Russell, were the California representatives at the 1922 Congress. A special theatre party'ivas arranged for the ladies on the evening of December 6.

The congress was brought to a close on the evening of December 7, with a banquet, entertainment, and dance held at the Gowman Hotel. The arrangements and entertdin":