How Lumber Looks

Six of the eight major mills in Seattle closed on March 4 when between 1,200 and 1,300 employees of the Sawmill and Lumber Workers' tlnion struck after negotiations over new contracts and wages broke down. The union demanded an increase of 10 ,cents per hour.

The employers'have ofiered to increase the wages 7rf cents an hour which was demanded by the union a few weeks ago before their'convention at Longvierv, Wash.

At the Longview meeting, the union demanded a flat l0 cents per hour wage increase for all lumber workers in the Pacific Northwest mills.

A total of l7l mills in Washington and Oregon which reported to the 'West Coast Lumbermen's Association for the rveek ended February 27 produced 98,D5,927 feet, shipped 128,934,532 feet, and booked new business of 87,753O80 feet. The unfilled order file at these mills stood at 7D.152.158feet.

The Association reports that conditions remain about the same as the past. two or three weeks. Shipments continue to be high with production and orders by comparison low. Production is still 1O per cent less than the average established last October or just prior to the maritime strike.

The Western Pine orrolr"Jorr*for the week ended February ?7,112 mills reporting, gave new business as 63,804,000 feet, shipments 68,846,00O feet, and production 44,556,000 feet. Orders were 43.1 per cent above production, and 7.3 per cent below shipments. Shipments were 54.5 per cent above production. Orders on hand at the end of the week totaled 332,N7,ffi feet.

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The California Redwood Association for the same week reported production of l3 mills as 8,672,00O feet, shipments 9,903,000 feet, and new business 8,352,000 feet. Orders on hand at the end of the week totaled 83,406,00O feet.

An unusually small increase in building permits was reported by 88 of the largest Pacific Coast cities during February in contrast with the same month last year. Permits from these cities showed a gain of but 2.26 per cent in February, L937, over February, 1936, according to the Western Monthly Building Survey prepared byH. R. Baker & Co., California investment banking firm.

A total of $15,239,471 in building permits were issued this,February compared with $14,902,089 last February, but the number of permits showed a sizable gain, in,creasing f.rom 7,1@ in February , 1936, to 8,832 in February , 1937.

Los Angeles retained first place although it recorded a decline from the preceding month, while San Francisco in second place was almost identical rvith both the preceding month and the corresponding month last year. Oakland follor,ved in third place, rvith an increase over both the preceding month and corresponding month of 1936. The same was true rvith respect to Denver in fourth place. San Diego rvas in fifth rank and was followed by Long Beach, Portland. Sacramento. Vernon*and S*eattle.

Fir prices are very firm and lumber is hard to get as the mills have heavy order files.

Lumber cargo receipts at Los Angeles Harbor for the week ended IVIarch 7 totaled 15,731,000 feet, as compared with the record breaking previotts rveek, when 29,743,W feet came into this port.

The Ponderosa Pine, Sugar Pine and Redrvood markets continue very firm and the mills report a fine volume of business.

Wholesale Lumbermcn of Southern California

You are cordially invited to attend the opening of our new office

711-,6 Western Pacific Building roSr South Broadway Los Angeles

March Twentieth-Nine O'clock A.M.

Established to provide direct contact for wholesalers with our mill and factories

Full information at all times regarding stocks and shipments of CALIFORNIA SOFT PONDEROSA ANd SUGAR PINE LumberMouldings