THE CALIFOR}.IIA LUMBERMERCHANT JackDiorrne,publ*hu How Lrumber Lrooks

Seattle, Washington, April 15, 1943.---:lhe weekly average of West Coast lumber production in March (5 weeks) was 149,449,000 board feet, or 98.4 per cent of L939-1942 average, according to the West Coast Lumbermen's Association in its monthly survey of the industry. Orders averaged 143,467,W board feet; shipments, 151,362,W. Weekly averages for February were: Production, 126,505,000 board feet (83.3 per cent of the 1939-1942 average) ; orders, 132,291,0C0; shipments, t34,D2W.

Orders for 13 weeks ol 1943 break down as follows: rail, 1,334,896,000 board feet; domestic cargo, 106,966,000; export, 30,705,000 ; local, 247,O35,000.

The industry's unfilled order file stood at 1,005,735,000 board feet, at the end of March; gross stocks, at 463,274,000.

The production of West Coast lumber continued to climb steadily during March, and at the end of the month was moving toward last fall's level. The second important feature of the month for the industry was another wave of war demand, in the form of a tremendous volume of box and crating lumber. Munitions factories.are running at full stride, with unprecedented requirements for lumber to box all types of their production. Normally West Coast mills do not produce box materials. The natural place of the Douglas fir log in the lumber picture is as a source of construction items. However, the War Production Boarcl has asked industry to treble usual production of boards, and it is apparent that providing box and crating ma- terial will be a big job for war lasts.

West Coast lumber while the'

The Western Pine Association for the week ended April 10, 99 mills reporting, gave orders as 67,556,000 feet, shipments 69,288,000 feet, and production 60,574,000 feet. Orders on hand at the end of the week totaled 44O,437,W feet.

The West Coast Lumbermen's Association for the week ended April 3 reported orders as 113,789,000 feet, shipments 114,907,NO feet, and production 112,060,000 feet.

For the week ended April 10 orders were reported as 116,070,000 feet, shipments 122,704,000 feet, and production 119,126,000 feet.

For the week ended April 17 orders were reported as 127,062,0N feet, shipments 117,379,000 feet and production 121,866,000 feet.

Visits Northwest

Don Philips, Lawrence-Philips Lumber Co., Los Angeles, recently called on the mills in the Coos B"y, Oregon, district.

Returns From East

Ed Bauer, Bohnhoff Lumber Co., Inc., Los Angeles, has returned from Pittsburgh, Pa., where he was called due to the death of his mother. He traveled both ways bv airplane.

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