244 AMERICAN FORESTRY 



range of quality ; tin and galvanized duce a new product which is to displace 



iron; asbestos shingles; slate and tile, an old well-established article. The 



etc. The most serious competitor is shingle man on the other hand usually 



that with prepared roofing and metal has a smaller business organization, less 



roofing. There are several reasons for funds for advertising purposes and has 



this, some of which may be ascribed to allowed his competitors to enter the 



the shingles themselves, the others to field without a struggle, 



outside agencies. Among them may However, the shingle makers at last 



be mentioned the reduced life of the realize that they have delayed too long, 



present-day shingle roof owing to the and the struggle for supremacy is now 



use of wire nails which rust off in a few on, being manifested by the effort made 



years; in some instances to improper by some cities to prevent the use of 



kiln-drying at the plants which takes shingles in them and the opposition to 



the "life" out of the shingles and makes this ruling on the part of shingle manu- 



them inferior in quality. facturers and dealers who are now en- 



A very important feature in connec- gaged in a strenuous effort to produce a 

 tion with the substitution of materials fire-retardant paint which will decrease 

 other than wood for roof coverings has the fire risk of wooden roofing and per- 

 been the apathy of the shingle manu- mit the use of shingles. This problem 

 facturers on the one hand, and the is still far from a satisfactory solution, 

 strenuous advertising campaign of the but it is believed that the efforts now 

 substitute manufacturers on the other, being put forth will result, at least, in 

 The producers of all kinds of wood prod- a fair measure of success and make it 

 ucts for years devoted very little atten- possible to again use shingles in most 

 tion to the advertising of their of the cities which have recently passed 

 wares. The introduction of substi- ordinances prohibiting their use. From 

 tutes, especially steel and concrete, as the standpoint of forest conservation it 

 building materials did not seem to is very desirable that a wider field for 

 awaken the lumbermen from their sale and a greater demand for shingle 

 indifference to advertising, and before consumption should be secured since 

 they were fully aware of what had the waste in shingle manufacture is now 

 happened the substitutes had gained very great. The West, which produces 

 such a strong hold on the builder that a very large per cent of the total number 

 it could not be overcome. The lumber of shingles manufactured in the country, 

 manufacturers now appreciate that the is far removed from the great consum- 

 lumber trade can be saved only by ing centers of the middle West and the 

 creating a desire for lumber on the part Eastern States and on account of the 

 of the public. Sectional advertising high freight rates into the territory 

 campaigns have been conducted by east of the Rocky Mountains and the 

 lumber interests for some years and it keen competition with the various sub- 

 is now being taken up by the lumber stitutes, the shingle producers of the 

 industry as a national problem. Pacific Coast find it profitable to 



Shingle men, in spite of the inroads manufacture only the best grades of 



that have been made on their business, shingles. It is hoped that the opening 



have not yet shown as great activity in of the Panama Canal may improve the 



pushing their product as have their conditions under which western shingles 



chief competitors. Every magazine to- are marketed and thus permit a closer 



day contains from one to several ad- utilization of the red cedar of the West, 



vertisements of substitutes for wooden Lath are a by-product in nearly 



shingles and, further, a strong personal every large sawmill, being made from 



effort is put forth by firms manufactur- slabs and edgings which otherwise 



ing such goods to get in touch with the would be consumed in a refuse burner 



retail dealer who sells roof coverings, at an expense to the lumber manu- 



offering special inducements to carry a facturer. It is very desirable that the 



stock and also to push the product. All manufacturer of lath shall continue since 



of these things must be done to intro- there is not a market for much of the 



