LUMBERMERCHANT

How Lrumber Lrooks

Seattle, Washington, March 13,1944-The u'eekly average of West Coast.lumber production in February (4 rveeks) was 163,921,000 board feet, or 103.7 per cent of 1940-1943 average, according to the West Coast Lumbermen's Association in its monthly sun'ev of the industry. Orders averaged 178,N2,000 board feet; shipments, 158,043,000. Weekly averages for January were: Production, 157,843,000 board feet (99.9 per cent of the 1940-1943 average) ; orders, 165.858,00O ; shipments, 1 53,280,000.

Fortune smiled again on the war production efforts of the West Coast lumber industry in February, with a continuing mild winter keeping the woods open and the mills supplied with logs. At the end of the month the industry was 39 per cent ahead of its production on the same date last year, or by 360,00O,000 board feet.

War requirements continue two or three jumps ahead of the sawmills, however; especially those for shipping lumber -box, crating, and the like. Estimated needs for the year in lumber required for packaging and shipping war items run to the giant figure of 17,000,000,00O (seventeen billion) board feet-exactly half of the national lumber industry's total estimated production for the year-

The general critical status of lumber has led the War Production Board to consider a rather.drastic form of rationing under which use of lumber will be restricted to a point that will keep well within available supply. This shapes up as the next big change in the lumber picture. Along with direct *", ,r""'dr, those of farms, war housing and railroadt'i are paramount in that picture. Aim of the rationing prq; gram will be sure supply of lumber for essential civiliaa;; ,t- t: uses and war requirements together.

The Western Pine Association for the week ended Marehi 18, 110 mills' reporting, gave orders as 87,4O7 ,ffi feet, shipi-J ments 7O,239,W feet, and production &,373I/Ul_ feet.;:;:1 Orders on hand at the end of the week totaled 400,101,00O;: feet.

The Southern Pine Association for the week ended March": 18,89 units (144 mills) reporting, gave orders as 17,250,$l:' feet, shipments 17,983,000 feet, and production 20,356,0m;it] feet. Orders on hand at the end of the week totaled l4?,'.'t:; .': 526,00 feet. r

The West Coast Lumbermen's Association for the week ir ended March 18, gave orders as 119,031,000 feet, shipmentsl,! LZS,7ff,,W feet, and prodriction 113,247N0 feet.

The California Redwood Association reported productionq ' ri at of twelve operations for the month of February, L944, ae:';) 34,6I6,W feet, shipme nts 34,722,0ffi feet, and orders received: ;j 40,063,000 feet. Orders on hand at the end of the mont$ totaled 158,094,000 feet.