\(/est Coast Lumber lndustry Pledges its Resources to Meet Delense Needs

Seattle, Washington, April n, 194I.-Production to the full limit of its resources to meet the rising crisis in national defense is the order of the day for the West Coast lumber industry, Col. W. B. Greeley, secretary-manager of the West Coast Lumbermen's Association, said today, in asking "all-out public support for the industry in doing the job the Government expects it to do." He cited recent statements by William S. Knudsen and John D. Biggers which declared the next four months to be the most critical period on the industrial defense front, with shipbuilding, defense housing, the new cantonment proglram' expansion of railroads, and of 784 industrial plants and other construction being of No. 1 importance.

"The office of Production Management recently estimated total military and merchant marine lumber requirements over a 3O-month period-July l, 194O, to December 31.I942-at 8,500,000,000 board feet," Colonel Greeley said. "In the World War but 6,000,000,000 feet were used for the same purposes. The Government looks to Oregon and Washington for the main supply of this basic war material as it looks to Pennsylvania and Ohio for steel and to Michigan for tanks, trucks and planes.

"In shipbuilding, Mr. Knudsen points out that 'the urgency for speed is extreme-A gratifying start has been made-some new ships are already being delivered ahead of schedule. On the other hand, it is only a start-this program outstrips anything ever attempted as to time, volume and complexity.' 3,40O ships are scheduled for construction, and a great number will be of wood. What West Coast lumber production means to this program may be visualized by the fact that no other region can supply the large structural timbers required for shipyard construction, or the dense structural keels of 7O-foot length which are in immediate demand for emergency shipbuilding in yards as far from the Northwest as Miami' Florida, or dense vertical grain decking stock in lengths of 40 feet and upwards for battleshiPs.

"Mr. Knudsen states that Army and Navy construction is better than half behind us' TlTis one job embodies 44,50O buildings and 95,000 tent frames and utilities. The work on Naval base facilities, air fields and storage depots is well advanced and they are expected to be ready for use in large part within the next few months if the flow of materials to the projects continues. Over half of two bilion dollars worth of factory expansion is accomplished and sustained effort will complete this vast job on schedule. Defense housing is at last started, wit}r. 5,424 units completed in 23 localities, 4O,00O ready to start construction, and 72.803 units allocated as ol March D. From 28 to 34 new Army cantonments are projected' About 4O per cent of West Coast production is already going into such defense uses.

"The defense demand upon the industry will certainly increase, in both volume and for special items of absolute necessity. The industry has pledged its resources without stint or limit to do its part on the job the Government has asked it to do. All-out support is asked from the people of the Pacific Northwest, on the basis of the following statement by Mr. Knudsen:

"'Over across the ocean a battle of life and death is being fought-in the field, in the air, and in the shop. Over here. thank God, we have only the battle of the shop, but it is just as serious, just as important, just as indispensable, that we may not be in the same position here I sometimes am afraid that we haven't quite realized the serious' ness of the battle against time. The next four months might be crucial in the whole history of the world and if we can only save part of a month in these four, it might mean everything in our future and the future of our children."

Henry Winfree With Seth Butler

Henry Winfree, for the past 14 years with Redwood Manufacturers Co., is now covering the San Joaquin Valley from Merced north, the Sacramento Valley, Contra Costa and Sonoma Counties for Seth L' Butler, San Francisco, who represents Dant & Russell, Inc., in Northern California.