Random Editorial Ramblings

By Jack Dionne

Now the Christmas season approaches, the time, as the old adage says-for giving and for getting-forgiving and forgetting. In many lands and among untold millions of people, this holiday will be observed. The plain and simple words of that plain and'simple Carpenter of Galilee, will be frequently quoted. Men twist His words and His meanings to suit themselves, yet never was a plainer or more understandable philosophy preached. Be kind, be honorable, be just, be decent, take an interest in the other fellow and help him, pretty well covers His entire teachi4gs.

*d.**

Here's a suggestion for a Scriptural reading for Christmas. Read in Matthew, Chapter 20, verses 17, 18, and 19, the story of the earnest young man who asked the Galilean the direct question what must a man do to have eternal life, andfhe direct and forceful answer he received. It is interesting because that is the only time He was asked that direct question, and He answered it most directly. You will probably be surprised at what He told the young man he must do, and more so at the things He failed to tell him. It will give you something to think about.

***{3

And, of course, inventory time is also at hand. Everyone who sells and everyone who buys has been painfully aware of that proximity for the past several weeks. As far a's lumber is concerned, the approach of inventory time probably has a more pronounced effect than it ever had be fore. Radio-like delivery of lumber is the reason. In the old days when it took months to get a lumber order filled, the buyer could not figure so closely on his deliveries, and he paid less attention to the end of the year. Nowadays the buyer knows just how long it takes to get lumber after he orders it, and this fact permits him to rate his late year purchases, without dangerously reducing his stocks. From about Nov. 20th to Dec. 15th buying of lumber is very, very slow, because they dont' want it on their this yeay's books. It has been so this year.

Lumber buying should be very brisk all over the country immediately after the first of the year. There should be more than the usual amount of business placed between the middle and the end of December, for delivery after the first, and a high tide of buying through January. With the average stocks that the yards carry nowadays, any damming up of orders such as we have seen for the past three wee'ks, necessarily means that buying will accelerate right alter the first, because the stocks will be leeded.

When the lumber history of 1928 is written the records will show that-speaking generally-it was a great improvement over the preceding year. True, it might be that and still be a very poor year, because 1927 was one of .the most disappointing years in lumber history. It was that for the reason that the year started with a fair lumber market, the strength of which declined slowly but steadily for twelve straight months. 1928 started with a very weak market, but conditions have improved, slowly but surely, throughout the year, the result being that the morale of the industry is on a much higher plane than it was twelve months ago. The seasonal decline in orders previous to inventory time should not detract from the fact that the situahas greatly improved-

There has been more merchandising activity in the lumber industry during 1928 than during any previous year. This has been bolstered by sane methods of production during the year, and these two factors have been the big contributors to lfie noted improvement.

Lumber production for 1928 will fall far short of that in 1927. 1928 has been marked by almost innumerable improvements and modernizations along merchandising lines in the various branches of the industry. At the rate we a.rc going the manufacturing end of the lumber industry will be doing notable things and achieving notable and valuable results within the next couple of years. The old idea of cutting logs into such boards and planks as they will pro. duce the easiest, and turning ttrem loose on the world like Mavericks seeking a home, will soon, thank the Lord, become a thing of the past. {.

In the Pacific Northwest the reported slow buying of the past month will be much more than offset by the heavy holiday curtailrhent. It is reported that no mill in tfio Northwest will shut down less than a full week for Christmas, and a very large number will close for thirty days. In the Redwood industry there will be heavy curtailment during the holidays. In the California Pine industry the winter season naturally brings considerable curtailment, since there are many Pine mills that cannot run during the colder weather because of their high altitude. fn the South the Christmas shut-down will not be of great duration, but most of the mills take that opportunity to do necessary repairing for a fenr days. *{.rf*

At this time for looking baclnnard, it is likewise permissible to look forward. What will 1929 bring us? To our mind it seems certain that 1929 will be a still better year than 1928. The coui-try is prosperous and will continue its building program. Lumber production will be carried on along sane lines. There will be more effort to sell lumber, and buildings, and building improvements next year, than ever in history. 'We are going ever deeper into the re manufacturing of lumber. We are going to do rnore and more work at the mills that used to be done at the consum-

(Continued on Page 8.)

the Home Owner fo, the Lumber f)ealer

Redwood profits those who build, for its durability eliminates upkeep, ite grain ig even and free from blemishes, is adaptable to any finieh and its cost comparable with ordinary softwoods.

Redwood profits the dealer for it is backed by consumer advertiding which is broadcasting the Redwood message to thousands of prospects, creating a real demand for this euperior wood. A redwood cuetomer becomes a gatisfied cuetomero and satisfied cugtomers build good will.

Redwood from Hammond's bears the stamp of guality for it is manufactured by Hammond mills under exacting supervieion. Prompt deliverye for well aeeorted etocke are always on hand.