THE CALIFOR}.IIA LUMBERMERCHANT

JackDionne,prtlislru

W. T. BI.ACK

Advegtirlng Mcacgrr

IncorDorclod uldcr tho lcwr ol CqlUoraic l. C. Diolae, Prcr. od'Trecr.; I. E. Mcrib, Vice'Pro-' W- t. Elscl, S.ctetct Publirhod thc lgt cad l5rb ol ccch nooth ct Ccatral Buitdlnc, l(F Wcrt Sixth Strcet, Lor Angelo ll, Cql., I - -r.r.iel q Sicond-clcs Eattet S.pt.Eber 25, 19t8, ct tho I

S0B-9-t0 Ccdral Buitrttng, tm VtlJrr- Sixtf Sq--u Anselo^-ll, Ccl., tclcphoc Vtsdib

- Lor Argelc'r, Cclitonic, -uldor Act of McJcb 3, 1879

ANGELES 14, CAL.,

How Lumber Looks

Seattle, Washington, March 13, 1945-The weekly average of West Coast lumber production in February (4 weeks) was 149,063,000 board feet, or 91.9 per cent of 1941+ 1944 average, according to the West Coast Lumbermen'S Association in its monthly survey of the industry. Orders averaged 153,556,000 b.f.; shipments 153,479,000. Weekly averages for January w'ere: Production, 147,214.000 b.f. (90.8 per cent of the 194l-1944 average) ; orders, 169,642,000 ; shipments, t43,773,0@.

The industry's unfilled order file stood at 992,931,0CI1 b.f. at the end of February; gross stocks at 432,1.19,000.

Lumber production has held up strongly against difficulties in the lack of manpower and the lack of truck tires and many other items of equipment. Log production dropped somewhat in the cold weather of late winter. The manpower shortage .coupled with the accumulative efiect of truck tire depletion faces the industry with the danger of a dwindling log supply that would adversely affect lumber production during the summer months.

Meantime, military needs for lurnber are again very critical. WPB Director Krug has coupled the urgency of lumber requirements to the need for B-29 bombers. That leaves little to say about the place of lumber in the war.

In addition to large Pacific sl-ripments of West Coast lumber and the heavy requirements for packaging munitions of all kinds to supply both fronts' a new factor has entered the picture in immediate housing restoration for England and the liberated countries in Europe, The construction of prefabricated homes in England is already un- der way and orders for lumber to be shipped directly to England are about to be placed. Prefabricated barracks are being erected for longshoremen and other dock workers in France.

In short, the West Coast lumber situation remains very tight, the war control on it are more and more strict, and less and less lumber is available for civilian needs.

The Western Pine Association for the week ended March 10, 110 mills reportingl gave orders as 58,772,W leet, shipments 65,008,000 feet, and production 6O,824,000 feet. Orders on hand at the end.of the week totaled 316,676,ffi feet.

The Southern Pine Association for the week ended March 10, 84 units (132 mills) reporting, gave orders as 17,823,000 feet, shipments 17,@5,000 feet, and production 18,503,000 feet. Orders on hand at the end of the week totaled, 126,724.A00 feet.

The California Redwood Association reported production of thirteen operations for the month of January, 1945, as 34,535,000 feet, shipments 33,512,000 feet, and orders received 53,795,000 feet. Orders on hand at the end of the month totaled X).797,Affi ftet.

The West Coast Lumbermen's Association for the week ended March 17, 163 mills reporting, gave orders as 92,ll2,N0 feet, shipments 94,854,000 feet, and production 102,380.0CI feet.