How Lumber Looks

Douglas Fir-345 mills reporting to the Vest Coast Lumberments Association for the week ended February 14 operated at 38.85 per cent of capacity, as compared with 66.65 per cent for the same week last year and en average of 40 per cent during the last three months of 1930.

The tendency of mill inventories is downward. During the past eleven weeks orders have averaged t3.94 pet cent over production due to the low levels of cutting and fairly regular although low volume of buying.

Although there has been no new developments in the California market during the past two weeks, it is the general opinion that after tax assessment date, which is the first Monday in March, that the market will improve. Retail inventories are low. Fir prices remain about the same. Unsold stocks on the public docks at San Pedro on February 25 totaled 7r274rOOO feet, the lowest since lpst June. 11 cargoes, 8 Fir and 3 Redwood, arrived at San Pedro during the week ended February 21 totaling llr4T5rOOO f.eet. 53 vessels in the California service are laid up.

The California Vhite and Sugar Pine Manufacturers Asso- ciation for the week ended February 14 reported production f.rom 25 mills as 41456,000 feet, shipments lt,l77,O0b feet, and orders l4r238,OOO f.eet. Pine sales continue far in advance of production with prices reported firm. The Redwood market shows practically no change; prices are firm and mill inventories are reported about normal.

The current relationship of shipments and orders to ptoduction for the first six weeks of. 1931, as reported by the regional associations to the National Lumber Manufacturers Association, follows:

West Coast Lumberments Association-Production 567,418 M feet; Shipments 605,478 M feet; Orders 652,885 M feet.

California White and Sugar Pine Manufacturers Association-Prodution 21,6t6 M feet; Shipments 73,785 M feet; Orders 72,498 M feet.

Southern Pine Association-Produaion 2271537 M feet; Shipments 2441650 M feet; Orders 262,269 M feet.

Total Hardwoods-Production 1241868 M feet; Shipments 130,292 M feet; Orders 140,822 M feet.

Sacramento Valley Club Albany M. S. Pearce

The regular monthly meeting of the Sacramento Valley Lumbermen's Club was held at the Hotel Senator, Sacramento, Saturday noon, February 21.

President Chester Minard, of the Cutter Mill & Lumber Co. presided.

Ralph P. Duncan, Merced Lumber Co., Merced, chairman of the Lumber Committee of the State Association, outlined the activities of his committee in their relations with the manufacturers of lumber.

Fred V. Holmes, Holmes Eureka Lumber Co., San Francisco, gave a talk on the discussions between the members of the State Association's Lumber Committee and the Redwood Relationship Committee, at their recent meeting in Los Angeles.

McGoldrick Lumber Co. Elects Officers

The McGoldrick Lumber Company, Spokane, Washington, at its annual meeting last month elected J. P. McGoldrick, president and manager, J. D. Bronson, Stillwater, Minn., vice-president, R. C. Lammers, secretary, C. A. Rockstrom, assistant secretary, and M. P. M,cGoldrick, treasurer and assistant "nranager. The officers also constirtute the board of directors.

Albany M. S. Pearce, manager of the Oakland yard of the E. K. Wood Lumber Company, was instantly killed rvhen his car was forced off the road as a result of hitting a rock slide as he rounded a curve on the Reno-Truckee highway on February 23.

Mr. Pearce was thrown out of the car when it plunged down a steep embankment. Mrs. Anna Margaret Pearce, his rvife, and Miss Paula de Luca, who rvere riding with him, were seriously injured. Gilbert Pearce, his son, also a member of the party, escaped with minor bruises.

Mr. Pearce, who 'lvas 54 years old, was a native of Devonshire, England, and had spent most of his business life in the lumber business. He entered the lumber business in Portland. where he worked for some time for the InmanPoulsen Lumber Company. From there he went to Oakland, where he became superintendent of the Hogan Lumber Company, remaining in this position for several years. In 19@ he went to Los Angeles to enter the employ of the E. K. Wood Lumber Company. After nine years' service there he was transferred to the Oakland yard as manager in 1918.

In addition to his wife and son, Mr. Pearce is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Cleveland McDonald of Chicago. He was a member of the Athens Athletic Club, the Oakland Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, and East Bay Hoo Hoo Club.