Lumber Industry Climbs 75 Per Cent Above D"pression Low

Washington, D. C., Dec. Zo.-Lumber production in the United States in 1935 climbed back from the depression low record of 1O billion feet in 1932 (about the same as in 1869!) to approximately L7l billion feet, as compared with 15r/, billion feet in 1934, 14 billion feet in 1933, and a normal production of 37 billion leet in 1929. In the last quarter of 1935 softwood lumber production was approximately 4O per cent greater than in the last quarter of 1934, and consumption during the last half of the year was approximately Z0 per cent above that of the corresponding period of. 1934.

Residential building, which is the largest factor in lumber consumption, was, in floor space contracted for, nearly 2l trmes that of 1934 during the last part of 1935 and is expected next year to be double that of 1935 which would make it the largest year since 1929. Such an increase in residence building, if other factors show similar gain, would signify an increase of lumber production in 1936 to around 25 to 26 billion feet or about equal to the 1930 lumber output. The industrial demand for lumber has been gaining rapidly and all the signs point to an approximation of industrial consumption next year equal to that of 1931 and perhaps to 1930. Employment has been slowly gaining during the last part of 1935 and rvith present tendencies should begin to approximate in 1936 at least the "normalcy" of 1930-31. These forecasts will be somewhat affected by the results of increased imports of lumber under the new Canadian-American trade agreement, which r,r'ill become effective in January.

Resumption of normal production by the lumber and timber products industries (sawmills and logging operations, which is the most important in the forest products group) will be noticeably advantageous in some 30 states in which the forest industries are important. The lumber and timber products industry was in 1929 the leading one in 10 states in respect of the number of wage earners; it led in 9 states in amount of wages, and in 6 states in the value of products. Despite the exceptional effects of the depression upon it, it is still the leading industry in 8 states and the second in 5 states, the number of wage earners being the criterion. In the State of Washington, in 1933, the lumber industry employed 45 per cent of all the wage earners; in Oregon 48 per cent; in Mississippi 41 per cent; Idaho 42; Arkansas 38; Louisiana 27, and New Mexico 35.

The forest products industries (including lumber and its manufactures) is fifth in number of wage earners in a national count of 15 general industrial groups; seventh in payrolls. and ninth in total value of products. It is exceeded normally in the number of wage earners only by the food, textiles, machinery, iron and steel groups.

Up to 70 years ago the Northeastern states led in lumber production in the 80s and 90s the Lake States took the lead; at the turn of the century the South was in the van; and now leadership is conceded to the far western states. Washington and Oregon have been the leading lumber producing states since 1920, with Louisiana, Mississippi, and California not far behind. California is now third on the list. Southern pine is the leading species in point of production; then come Douglas fir, Ponderosa pine, oak and white pine. Of the hardwoods, gum ranks next to oak and maple is third.

It is estimated that nearly 6O per cent of all iumber goes into building and construction. Boxes and crates require about 15 to 16 per cent; the railways directly use 8 to 9 per cent, and exports absorb about 7 per cent, leaving somewhere around 11 per cent for the fabricating industries. Lumber is the major material used in residence building; approximately 80 per cent of the residence strgctures of the United States are at least lumber framed.

Frank N. Gibbs Shows Comparative Cost of 5-Room Bungalow

Frank N. Gibbs, Gibbs Lumber Co', Anaheim, has prepared some interesting figures which show the comparative cost to the consumer in Orange County of a S-room bungalow on which he has made an estimate as of October I for each year since 1920.

The material bill consists of the follorving quantities: Rough Lumber, Redwood and Fir ..4O77 feet Fir FloorinC S5ofeet Redwood Novelty Siding ' . .150O feet Cedar Shingles . 350 feet Inside Finish, Fir Sanded - .I226leet OutsideFinish,Redwood ..'.456feet

Mouldings, Redwood and Fir ' 344leet Oak Flooring, sfxll2 2nd Plain White . 480 feet Windows and Doors (24 openings).

Drayage.

The cost follows: the S-room bungalow for the various years