THE CALIFOR}.IIA LUMBERMERCHANT

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How Lrumber l-rooks

Seattle, Washington , January 12,1943.--:the weekly average of West Coast lumber production in 1942 was 168,327,000 board feet, in comparison with weekly production average of 166./32,W board feet for 1941, according to the West Coast Lumbermen's Association in its monthly survey of the industry. Weekly average of production in December (5 weeks) was 118,316,000 board feet, or 61.3 per cent of estimated capacity. Orders averaged 141,535,000 board feet; shipments, 139,966,000. Weekly averages for November were: Production, 154,450,000 board feet (78.4 per cent of the 1926-l9D average); orders, 166,226,00; shipments, t52,715,W.

Fifty-two weeks of. 1942, cumulative production, 8,752,998,000 board feet;53 weeks, 1941,*8,810,311,000; 52 weeks, 194O,-7,396,660,000.

Orders lor 52 weeks of 1942 break down as follows: Rail, 7,I7O,5l8,On board feet; domestic cargo, 944,455,000; export, 185,540,00O ; local, L,347,221,0m.

The industry's unfilled order file stood at 1,056,769,ffiO board feet at the end of December; gross stocks, at 497,17ZffiO.

Although 1941 was a S3-week year, in terms of work days, and 1942 a 52-week year, the West Coast lumber industry produced practically as much lumber last year as in 1941. In average weekly production, notwithstanding manpower shortage, the industry bettered the 1941 weekly average by 1.3 per cent. This is a record unmatched by any other lumber producing region.

The end of. 1942 saw war plant construction-cantonments, warehouses, etc.-go over the peak. Looking ahead, the prospect is that requirements of all lumber construction, under limitations on civilian building, will decline from now on to the end of 1943, particularly after the second quarter of the year. There is no prospect, however, of decline in requirements for special war items such as airplane lumber, decking, and structural timbers. Demand for these items may increase, and supply will be a special obligation of the West Coast industry. Further increase of requirements for box and crating lumber is in view. It is evident that for months ahead, all the war lumber items that West Coast mills can produce will be required.

Under various controls on West Coast lumber, as established by the War Production Board, the war agencies are given first call on the industry's product. The volume released for requirements that are not direct military needsfor railroad, mine, highway and related types of construction-is running close to one-half of the industry's production. This proportion is more likely to increase than to diminish, for two reasons. The war agencies do not require all of the industry's production of yard items of building lumber. There is growing recognition by the agencies of the necessity of providing for essential civilian uses, such as by railroads, mines, highway construction, defense housing, and farm building that is vital to food production.

A strikingly effective job has been done in meeting criti-

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