The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1944-03-09
Tells Why
Libby Industry
Is Essential
Article Enumerates
Important Work Done
BY ]. Neils Lumber Co.
IS PER CENT OF
PRODUCT IS FOR WAR

! AOOONx Id rON VxkN
There seems to be some question
in peoples minds as to just what
extent the plant of the ]. Neils
Lumber Co. is engaged in war work
and just how essential to the war
effort that work is
An American soldier going over
seas to war requires approximately
eight tons OF equipment, supplies,
ammunition, food and other items
and further, he needs a ton month
as long as he is over there. An
American troop ship leaving New
York or San Francisco is accom-
panied in the convoy by several
ships bearing this mountain of sup
plies; supplies gathered at the port
OF embarkation from every state in
the union. Meat and other food for
our fighting men cannot be dumped
in conglomerate mess in the hold
of ship with ammunition, guns,
tanks, jeeps, clothing medicinal
supplies and other equipment. Prac-
tically everything must be boxed
or Grated. Even huge tanks must
be shored in or secured in their
place in the hold with dunnage.
Dunnage is the lumber used to Sc
cure q ships cargo to prevent it
from shifting in rough seas. The
average ship requires from one
hundred to two hundred thousand
feet Of lumber for this purpose and
none Of it is brought back
Much Goes Into Boxes
Approximately one sixth Of the
OUTPUT Of the planning mill goes
through the box factory and most
all the boxes made here will even
tual1y be unloaded on some distant
beach after they have safely carried
food, medicine, ammunition or
clothing to our soldiers in Italy,
England; the Aleutians or the Soath
Seas.
Another sixth Of the outfit goes
to other companies which are also
making boxes for direct war use
There are many boxes being made
in Colorado of Libby pine and
spruce. These boxes must keep NOV
ing in a steady stream from mill
to factory, to food plants, to dock
for the constantly growing stream
Of supplies heading overseas.
A large metal working plant in
Minnesota has been converted to
war essential heavy iron and steel
manufacture, such as depth charge
racks, tank track and other similar
equipment. A construction machin-
cry company in Iowa is in the same
category. These and other COM
panies in like work take nearly all
the coarse type of lumber common
ly used for Grating. This accounts
for approximately one-third of the
output Of the planer
Building Program Not Finished
Contrary to general belief the ex-
pansion program of the army and
the army air force has not been
completed. Rush orders recently
came in for construction materials
for Washington air field and an
other from a Montana air field.
These orders take most Of the type
of lumber usually used in the con-
struction OF private homes. We have
the greatest air force in the world
and must have homes for thrir
planes, their equipment and their
personnel. Some hangers are built
entirely Of wood, the huge spans
being built of laminated, select lum-
Der; usually eight inches wide and
from Is to 80 boards in thickness.
AT the beginning of the war the
United States had the largest re-
serve of cereals in history. This
was scattered throughout the mid
west in warehouses and grain ele-
vators. This huge quantity OF grain
is being moved in ever increasing
volume as our men and our allies
require more and more flour and
bread. Each car load moved re-
quires grain doors to make the box
car grain tight. Day and night Lib
by men are making those doors
from the rougher, coarser' type of
lumber.
Strict Checks Kept
When log is sawn there are nat
urally some types of lumber which
develop which are not suitable for
the various demands of war indus
try. These types are manufactured
with the rest and sold to help out
the civilian demand but here again
all of this is doled out to those buy
ers who show the greatest need by
a priority rating. An AA1 rating
means the government or direct
government contact. An AA2 rat
ing includes essential farm needs
and those companies whose activi-
ties are closely allied with and abb
solutely essential to the war effort
AA3 and AA4 are less and less con-
nected with any furthering of war
essential needs. The percentage o1
AAl and AA2 orders shipped in the
past year by the ]. Neils Lumber
company is between 95 per cent
and 90 per cent. It is too bad the
company cannot, as one government
expert advised, cut logs containing
only number two and three boards