Redwood Prospects Bright ]or 1939

Bv Selwyn J. Shorp Stotistician, California Redwood Association

1937 opened with the heaviest file of unfilled orders in history which continued to increase during the early weeks of the year. This back log of orders permitted the volume of shipments to hold up after the volume of new business started to decline. The momentum of heavy production inaugurated to meet the requirements of current shipments and build up depleted stocks carried over until late in the year.

In direct contrast, 1938 started with a comparatively low file of unfilled orders, with production slowed down and no urgent need of decided increase, and with shipments at a relatively low volume. The first months of the year were complicated by suspension of rail shipment from Humboldt County due to storm damage to the Northwestern Pacific Railroad. Normal shipping conditions were not encountered until April and this interruption probably affected the volume of sales as well as the volume of shipments during the whole year.

Association reports show that Redwood orders placed with reporting mills in 1938 were approximately fl6% of. those of the preceding year as compared with 787o for their shipments and 68% for their production. Sales in Northern California were 93% of 1937 and to Southern California, er%.

Calls On Representatives

Roy M. Janin of Roy M. Janin Lumber Co., Portland, was a recent business visitor to Cali{ornia where he conferre.d with the company's sales representatives, Arthur H. Cole, San Francisco; A. T. (Art) Mathews, Fresno; Frank A. Clough and W. L. Farrens, Los Angeles.

FRANK BROWN ON NdAO

Frank A. Brown, who has been in the sales department at the San Francisco office for some years, is now covering Marin, Napa and Sonoma Counties for Porpe & Talbot Lumber Company, San Francisco.

The volume of business was relatively steady throughout 1938 in contrast to the wide fluctuation in volume during the preceding year. Orders received during the last half of 1938 averaged approximately 2/o above those of the first half and lO% above those of the last half. of.1937.

The outlook for Redwood in 1939 is bright. Business indi.cators all point to a better market and a greater volume. Forecasts of residential construction are larger. Industrial production has increased, and apparently will continue to increase. There is greater confidence generally throughout the country in business prospects. Export trade looks much brighter than for 1938.

A factor of considerable importance to Redwood particularly is the evidence of greater care that is being exercised in specifications both by home builders and industrial establishments. In both these fields the knowledge of wood is apparently growing steadily with the result that the right species and grades of wood are more often being specified for the places where they are most useful. This seems to us to be important to all lumber. The m'ore completely the public learns to use "the right wood in the right place" the more the entire lumber industry will benefit, because it then will be furnishing species of lumber where their use values are greatest.

Roy Bleecker California Visitor

G. R. Bleecker, manager of Westfir Lumber Co., Westfir, Ore., spent the first week of the year in San Francisco, rvhere he called on a number of his friends. Accompanied by Mrs. Bleecker he attended the East-West football game at Kezar Stadium, January 2.

SPENDS HOLIDAYS IN D'EATH VALLEY

M. A. Harris, president of Van Arsdale-Harris Lumber Co., San Francisco, spent the Christmas an'd New Year holidays at Furnace Creek Inn, Death Valley. He was accompanied by Mrs. Harris.

Above: Sugcr Pine stiles cnrd rqils were specified lor these splendid doors in the living room of c Bel Air home. The mcrssive trim design, which is ccrried out in Port Orlord Cedcr, is hcrrmonious cnd effective. Gordon B. Kaulmcrn, crrchitect.

Bighf These doors unique in their setting cnd desigru are built oI smcrll llcke White Ock stcined Cathedrcrl Oak, in c Piedmont home. Willicms d Wcstell, crchitects.