California Building Permits for December

Estimate of Consumption of \(/estern Pine Lumber for First Quarter o[ 1944

Portland, Oregon.An estimate of the probable consumption of lumber from the 'Western Pine region for the first quarter ol 1944 is given in a statement issued by the Western Pine Association here today. The statement in full is as follows:

Freliminary ,estimates of. 1943 U. S. lumber productiou, which may later prove conservative, indicate a volume about l2/o less than that produced during 1942. Shipments are estimated to exceed the production by approximately one billion feet, this amount coming from mill stocks. fn vien' of the many obstacles which have confronted the industry during the year, this is an excellent recordof accomplishment. Also, despite the same dire predictions of lumber shortage which were made during 1942 in an apparent effort to discredit the lumber industry in the public mind, there is no evidence to show that any specific part of the war effort has been actually delayed because of a lack of lumber.

Government forecasts lor 1944, show further substantial decline in the lumber demand for war'construction. However, due primarily to the tremendous increase in rvar requirements for boxing and crating, these forecasts anticipate the total lumber needs for 1944, will at least equal those in 1943. The lumber industry can undoubtedly meet the actual 1944 war requirements if the war agencies will give intelligent, practical support.

Preliminary estimates' of fourth quarter performauce indicate that the Western Pine industry during 1943 produced 5 billion 689 million feet and shipped 5 billion 856 million feet. This means that production was 7.5/o less than for the year 1942 and shipments 10.5/o less. Tliis record is apparently better than that of any other major producing region and is particularly significant when it is recognized that the production of the Western Pine industry in both 1941 and 1942 exceeded by almost twenty per cent the region's production in any previous year of its history. Another most en'couraging development is the volume of production during the past two months, November and December, 1943. For the first time since last May the production in those two months exceeded that for the same period in 194?.

Based on geueral predictions and all other available information, it is expected that during the first quarter of 1944, the shipments (consumption) of Western Pine lurnber will approximate one billion 85 million feet. This is 94 million or8/o less than was shipped in the same 1943 quarter. This will obtain, in spite of an indicated production equal to that of the same period last year, due to the lower level of stocks at the year end as compared to those on hand at the close of 1942. Obviously, first quarter shipments will be limited only by ability of the mills to make deliveries. The Western Pine industry continues to do an excellent job as a part of the war e{fort in spite of all the obstacles of the war time economy and of the inexcusable bungling on the part of some war agencies.

Phil Bciley Now Mcrior in Air Forces

Philip W. Bailey, well known to lumbermen in the Pacific Coast states as manager of the West Coast Stained Shingle Company, Seattle, has been advanced to the rank of Major in the U .S. Army Air Forces, according to a recent report. He is now stationed in England

With all the excitement of cross-channel bombing expeditiorrs and the massive preparations for the invasion day, time passes quickly, and all the men want to get it over with as soon as possible so that they can come back home, says Major Bailey.

Phil wants to be remembered to all his friends, says he is keeping abreast with developments in the lumber industry, and hopes to be back on the job talking Creo-Dipt shingles and stains soon !

Fir Mill Burns

Scott Lumber Company's sawmill at Culp Creek, Oregon, was completely destroyed by fire, said to have started from an explosion, January 14.

The mill employed 6O men and had a daily capacity of 75,000 feet. A. Merle Scott, is president and managei.

Rebuilding of the mill will start as soon as arrangements can be made.

Club Hcs ll4 Members

The January issue of "Meoll'," monthly publication oi, the East Bay Hoo-Hoo Club, ably edited by Frank Brown, announces that the paid-up membership of the Club is now 114. Secretary "Chris" Sechrist has Set a quota of.125 f.or this vear and no doubt will make it before long.