The Washington herald., 1922-07-16
PAINT SALES Are
UNPRECEDENTED,
REPORT OF CHIEF
Association Head Warns
Against Initiation as
Result of Revival.
QUOTES SURVEY
Statistics Reveal Astounding
Figures in Demand for
Paint Products.

The present demand for paint
and varnish products is the great
est in history" said Ernest T.
Trigg. OF Philadelphia. president OF
the National Paint, Oil and Varnish
Association. in addressing the first
Pacific Coast Regional Convention
of that association recently
Mr. Triggs. who is also president
OF the National Federation of Con-
struction Industries. sounded a
warning to all branches of the ion
struction industry not to permit the
present record-breaking revival OF
construction to be hampered or in
terferred with by a runaway mar
ket In the cost of materials or labor.
because IL is the backbone of a
general business revival which for
the public welfare must continue.
UrEes Specialization.
Il think Of business as the doing
on the part OF each one of us, of
our specialized part for the bene-
1T Of others" said Mr.. Trigg. In
order that We may be entitled to
receive in exchange the products
OF their specialized activity or in
dustry. So after all the real funda-
mentals of permanent business sue
Aeess are all wrapped up in the
thought Of service OF a useful kind
which gives to the public the things
they want and need.
Il am convinced that to be sue
cessful as individual units OF the
paint and varnish industry and to
be successful as a whole industry.
we must carefully measure all Of
our actions in terms of the public
welfare. Anything which is not for
the public use is not good for US.
Gives Figures.
Figures for the first five months
OF 1922 show that the sales OF paint
and varnish in terms of tonnage
are slightly greater than the same
period in 1920. our peak year"
said Mr.. Trigg. as he made public
for the first time some valuable
facts and statistics on the condi-
tions of the paint industry. and the
conclusions reached by recent
survey of production and sales of
$50 manufacturers. Comment on
this survey. Mr.. Trigg said:
reported an equal or increased ton
mage for this year up to June L,
compared to the same period in
1s21-and fifty-six per cent report
ed an equal or increased tonnage
for this year up to June l. as COM
pared with the same period Of 1920
Another conclusion is an average
percentage arrived at by totaling
al he 4
decreases and dividing by the totaf
number who reported. Figuring
1921 tonnage up to June / as 100
per cent. this shows that for the
same months in 1922 the average
was 1884 per cent-and figuring
1920 tonnage up to June 1 as 100
per cent. that for the same months
in 1922 the average was 1O0.5 per-
cent. Recognizing as we all do, the
abnormally active conditions of the
first half OF 1920, and the depressed
condition Of the first few months
at least of this year-the industry
Is to be congratulated. based on the
figures obtained and computed in
the manner stated.
While II is true that these figures
i
In the business. and the. percentage of
increase or decrease of the large
manufacture is thrown in with
the small one-at the same time. I
feel convinced myself. that it is a
representative showing and clearly
Indicates that for approximately the
first half of this year we more than
held cur own with 1920.
The property owner who keeps his
property in excellent paint repair is
an asset to his community. So is the
property owner who allows his prop
erty to deteriorate. decay and grad
ually rot away. a liability. In say
ing this. am not unmindful Of the
property rights bestowed upon indi-
viduals by the Constitution of the
United States. but wonder if. without
discussing legalities. but thinking only
in terms Of moral rights. il we have
not passed the stage of individualism
which once existed and if. after all,
there are not certain things which
we owe to the community in which
we live. the performance of which Is
essential to our proper community
character
Let us hope that the day Is not
far distant when the owner of prop
erty who neglects II and thereby fails
to make II serve the useful purpose
for which it was intended and at the
same time depreciates the value Of his
neighbor's will be considered an un-
desirable citizen and social outcast
with whom other citizens do not
care to associate"
Sounds Warning to Industry.
A timely warning to the construc-
tion Industry was given by Mr. Trigg
in urging all branches not to disre-
gard economic law.
The revival" he said. which has
taken place in the construction indus
try Is. without a doubt, the backbone
of general business revival and
should not be hampered or interfered
with: The point I am making and
the appeal which would like to make