Howl-rurnber Lrooks

Government buyers purchased 17,570,W feet of Douglas Fir and Western Pine lumber at an auction held in Portland, Ore., Februaty fr.

In attendance were 150 representatives of manufacturers and wholesale lumber dealers from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and California.

Of the total amount, 4,000,000 feet was for shipment to a mili,tary project at Fort Sill, Oklahoma; 5,500,000 feet was for shipment by water to an unannounced destination, and the rest was purchased f.o.b. mill for later shipment.

The buyers were Major C. E. Kirkendall, Captain James C. Stowers, and Mike Hyman, all of Washington, D. C.

While no date was announced it is expected that an auction will be held in the near future in the Northwest for the purchase of lumber for Army cantonments.

Seattle, Washington, February 12, 1942.-:The weekly lverage of West Coast lumber ptroduction in January (.{ weeks), was 159,3€,00O board feet, or 87.2 per cent of estirnated capacity, according to the West Coast Lurnbermen's Association in its monthly survey of the industry. Orders averaged 191,374,000 board feet; shipments, 155,688,000. Weekly averages for December were: production 1.33,226,On board f.eet (67.7 per cent of the 1926-1929 average) ; orders, 184,398,000; shipments, 129,853,000.

Orders for 4 weeks of 1942 break down as follows: rail. 584,983,000 board feet; domestic cargo, 95,505,0@; export, b,527,0@ ; local, 78,382,000.

The indtrstry's unfilled order file stood at 926,469,N0 board feet at the end of January; gross stocks, at 991,' 415,000.

New business for the West Coast lumber industry during January continued on approximately the average level of the last three weeks of the prior month, following thr: sudden lift of war construction requirements. Civilian demand declined through January. These are the two delinite features oI the present situation of West Coast lumber. Throughout the past six months the portion of total business due to Government requirements has steadily increased, while there has been continuing shrinkage in private building.

No credible prediction can be made on future volume of West Coast lumber, as the extent of demand is subject tb day-by-day decisions of various Government agencies. It is reasonable to believe that this demand. however, rvill continue at a relatively high level.

The Western Pine Association for the rveek ended February 14,94 mills reporting, gave orders as 61,519,000 feet, shipments 74,187,M feet, and production 52,875,0@ feet. Orders on hand at the end of the week cotaled 379.356.000 feet.

The Southern Pine Association for the week ended Febraary 14, 105 mills reporting, g'ave nerv business as 4O,236,M feet, shipments 34,384,000 feet, and production 30,565,000 feet. Orders on hand at the end of the week totaled 155,169,000 feet.