THE CALIFOR}IIA LUMBERMERCHANT JackDionne,fubldhm

W. T. BI.ACK Advertising Mcrncger

How lrumber Lrooks

The Government started purchasing by means ol the auction system an estimated amount of 4OO,@0,000 feet of lumber at Seattle, Janaary 7. Purchases of lumber went at prices close to the ceiling prices on Fir.

At the same time purchases made in New Orleans and Richmond, Va., brought the total Government buying to an estimated 900,000,000 feet. This is probably the largest amount of lumber ever bought inside a single week in the world's history.

Western Pine manufacturers were asked to bid on 26,000,000 feet of lumber at San Francisco, January 5, but this auction was postponed.

At the Seattle opening there were in attendance 168 millmen and'rvholesalers, mainly from Washington and Oregon and some from California and Arizona. By the third day nearly 200 had registered.

The auction was conducted by representatives of the procurement section of the corps of engineers, United States Army, James F. Maloney and M. J. Hyman, civilian members and Capt. James C. Stowers.

Severe weather in Washington and Oregon has seriously affected production since the first of the year. Orders for West Coast Lumbermen's Association mills for the week ended January 3 exceeded production by about 5O per cent.

A surcharge of $4.98 per 100O feet will be assessed, effective January 15, in addition to the regular cargo rates on lumber from ports in the Pacific Northwest to California ports. This assessment is made to cover the cost of war risk insurance on vessel cost of life insurance and war bonus of crew and insurance of crew's personal effects, also extra war risk insurance of crew under protection and indemnity insurance. All insurance rates are for 30 days only.

This makes the water rate from Portland to San Francisco $12.98 on rough lumber, and $13.48 to Los Angeles.

The West Coast Lumbermen's Association for the week ended January 3 reported orders as 136,974,ffiO feet, production 70,500,000 feet and shipments 112,809,000 feet.

The Western Pine Association for the week ended January 3, 81 mills reporting, gave orders as 73,916,00O feet, shipments 46,763,W feet, and production 35,15Q00O feet. Orders on hand at the end of the week totaled 300.691.000 feet.

The Southern Pine Association for the week ended January 3, 104 mills reporting, gave orders as 28,619,000 feet, shipments 30,750,000 feet, and production 26,441,@O feet. Orders on hand at the end of the week totaled 110.846.000 feet.