PACKAGED LUMBER INTRODUCED AS AID TO LUMBER SALES POINTS

What is claimed as a new step in the merchandising of lumber has been undertaken by a certain Mississippi Valley lumber company which plans to manufacture and distribute the products of its mills. In general, this program includes: (1) Re-butting every piece of the better grades of finished lumber of the mill so that both ends are entirely smooth and four-square; (2) packaging this improved product and labeling each package so that the label identifies and guarantees the kind, species and grade of the contents clear through to the consumer; and (3) advancing the improved product to the building public by all the successful, legitimate sales-promotion methods than can be applied to labeled, packaged goods.

A member of the concern states: "One of the troubles with the lumber industry and its merchandising methods seems to be that lumber always has been looked upon merely as lumber. With nothing to talk of but price, with no exclusive sales arguments with which to answer those of the specialties manufacturers, and with competition from the unscrupulous dealer who figures on the same specifications but delivers a different species or a lower grade, the legitimate lumber dealer has been forced to buy and sell lumber solely on a price-basis."

This new line includes all finishing grades, both square-edge and pattern, bevel and Colonial siding, ceiling and partition, wood flooring both side- and end-matched, drop siding, casing, base, stepping and a wide variety of mouldings. The package which constitutes the chief distinguishing feature, consists of a heavy sulphate fibre binder or cap which fits over each end of the bundle. It is a combination of sleeve and hinge, which allows for the flexure of the pieces. Each end-cap is labeled, and on each label is printed the species, grade, and kind of lumber, together with the name of the mill from which it comes. Broken lots are piece-labeled. The permitted proportion of shorts, all re-butted and of the best quality, is bound into each bundle of such items as siding.

Actual tests, it is said, have shown this package lumber to withstand satisfactorily, loading, transcontinental shipment, unloading, warehousing, trucking and truck-dumping on the job. The faces of the boards are turned inward to protect both the faces and edges. It is said that the saving in labor cost on building jobs through having each piece rebutted more than offsets the additional cost of material, and that a better job results. The lumber concern in question considers that it has developed a lumber product into which display value as well as talking points have been built, and that this product will afford a dealer some basis for promoting the sales of lumber. (Minneapolis District Office)

Information Bulletin No. 21, "Airports: Types of Management, Rentals, Concessions, Field Rules", just released by the Aeronautics Branch of the Department of Commerce, presents case studies and examples illustrating the points mentioned. This bulletin may be procured, free of charge, upon application to the Air Information Division, Aeronautics Branch, Department of Commerce, Washington, D. C.

Among research projects being conducted by the University of Florida, College of Commerce and Journalism, are studies of the phosphate industry in Florida, the policing of industrial disputes, and business fluctuations; and, an investigation of the emotional connotation of newspaper headlines. (Jacksonville District Office)

ACTIVITIES OF COMMERCIAL STANDARDS GROUP, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Inasmuch as signed acceptances have been received from a sufficient number of producers, distributors and users to insure general adoption by the respective industries, the Division of Simplfied Practice announces that revised simplified practice recommendation No. 56, carbon brushes and brush shunts, may be considered effective from November 1, 1927; and, that original recommendations, No. 80, folding and portable wooden chairs, and No. 83, Kalamein single-acting swing doors, frames and trim, may be considered as effective from March 15 and April 1, 1928. The respective advisory committees have reaffirmed without change the existing schedules of simplified practice recommendations No. 18, builders' hardware (first revision), and No. 52, staple vitreous China plumbing fixtures. Information presented at the committee meetings indicated a satisfactory degree of adherence to the existing schedules.

In accordance with the unanimous action of general conferences of representative producers, distributors and users, the Commercial Standards Group has prepared and submitted for approval of the industries concerned, simplified practice recommendation No. 87, containing a simplified schedule for sizes of removable or permanent forms, pans or domes made of wood, steel or other material used in concrete ribbed floor construction, and a commercial standard for Stoddard solvent. The latter standard contains recommendations as to the appearance, color, odor, flash point, corrosion test, distillation range, acidity, Doctor test and sulphuric acid absorption test of Stoddard solvent, as well as the methods of inspection and testing, packing and marking. Copies of the recommendations and the respective acceptance blanks may be producred from the Commercial Standards Group, Room 316, Department of Commerce, Washington, D. C.

PROGRESS ON PUBLIC UTILITY QUESTIONNAIRES REPORTED BY F.T.C.

In regard to its investigation of public utilities, the Federal Trade Commission reports that returns from the first questionnaire sent to electric and gas operating companies total 4,650. These replies are being tabulated and analyzed for information on production, purchases, sales, interstate business, inter-company relationships, earnings and investment, to provide bases for measuring the importance of interstate and power group business in the power and gas industries. The second questionnaire, which is intended to secure information concerning amounts expended for political campaign contributions and to influence or control public opinion; as well as regarding the growth of capital assets and capital liabilities of holding company and management groups; methods of issuing securities; inter-company relationships and services furnished to utility companies by holding, management and service companies, is about to be issued.

TESTS OF PAPER DURABILITY UNDERTAKEN BY BUREAU OF STANDARDS

Research to determine the durability of paper has been begun by the Bureau of Standards, Department of Commerce. In the course of the investigation, accelerated-aging tests will be employed. Requests received by the Bureau of Standards from Federal Government Departments, State Governments, the Library of Congress and public libraries, an from many business concerns for information respecting the durability of paper indicate that the results of this research will find a widespread demand.

VOLATILE OR ESSENTIAL OIL INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED STATES

The production of volatile or essential oils in the United States and the methods of extracting such oils are treated in a bulletin just issued by the U. S. Department of Agriculture. According to the bulletin, there are three main methods of producing such oils, among which steam distillation is the principal in this country. Turpentine distilling is the most important example of essential oil production by steam distillation, but as there are a number of separate publications on this industry it is not covered in this bulletin. Extraction by solution is the method used in obtaining some of the more delicate odors, principally those of flowers, and the products are used mainly in the compounding of high-grade perfumes. Extraction may also be achieved by expression, particularly of orange, lemon and bergamot oils. This method demands an ample supply of cheap skilled labor not available in this country.

Next to turpentine, peppermint oil constitutes the largest volatile-oil industry in the United States, with an annual production of from 350,000 to 400,000 pounds. This oil is used largely as a flavoring agent for candies, chewing gum and tooth-paste. It also possesses medicinal qualities and is used extensively in the medicinal practice. Other oils produced include spearmint, Japanese peppermint, American wormseed, wormwood, tansy, dill, sassafras, wintergreen, sweet birch, erigeron, witch-hazel, eucalyptus and pennyroyal. Technical Bulletin 16-T also includes suggestions and drawings for the designs and construction of volatile-oil stills in both experimental and commercial sizes. The bulletin is available for free distribuion from the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.

WALNUT MANUFACTURERS SEEK TO STIMULATE WALNUT REFORESTATION

Among trade association activities, it is interesting to note efforts of the American Walnut Manufacturers' Association to increase the sources and supply of their raw materials. This endeavor has taken the form of an inducment to farmers to grow walnut trees on all spare land. Statements carried in newspapers in the Corn Belt, for instance, are to the effect that specialists in forestry find both corn and walnut trees thrive on the same kind of soil. It is pointed out that the nut yield will help to pay for the reforestation while the trees are maturing for lumber. The American Walnut Manufacturers' Association concludes that "planting walnut trees in odd corners of the farm is profitable because the value of the wood is such that it pays lumber companies to buy the trees either in small groups or singly". (Des Moines District Office)

A modification of the regulations governing the interstate movement of narcissus bulbs grown in this country, is announced by the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Most of the changes are of a minor nature and relate only to the details of administration. Copies of the complete regulations may be procured free of charge from the Federal Horticultural Board, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.

Trade practice conferences were held under the auspices of the Federal Trade Commission for the millwork industry in Chicago on May 15, and for the hickory handle wood-turning industry in St. Louis on May 22. Another conference is scheduled for the wax paper industry, to be held in Washington on June 7.