THE CALIFOR}.IIA LUMBERMERCHANT

W. T. BLACE 645 Lecuworth 3t, So Frcucisco PRospect 3810

M. ADAMS Circulction Mcncger

Advertieing

How Lumber Looks

Seattle, Washington, April 13, I945.--:The rveekly average of West Coast lumber production in March (4 rveeks) was 136,782,000 board feet, or 84.3 per cent of t94I-I944 average, according to the .West Coast Lumbermen's Association in its monthly survey of the industry. Orders averaged 152,707,Offi b.f.; shipments 141,144,000. Weekly averag'es for February were: Production, 149,063,000 b.f. (91.9 per cent of the 1941-1944 average); orders, 153,556,000 ; shipments, 153,479,0O0.

Thirteen weeks for 1945, cumulative production I,879,449,W0 b.f.; 13 weeks, 1944, 2,O9Z,2U2,UJO; 13 weeks, 1943, t,670,343,Cn,0.

Orders for l3 rveeks of 1945 break down as follows : rail, 1,563,395,000 b.f. ; domestic cargo, 278,1O5,0W; export, 51,135,00O ; local, 180,623,000.

The industry's unfilled order lile stood at 1,015,386,000 b.f. at the end of March ; gross stocks at 416,938,000.

Again in March West Coast lumber production dropped and log supply grelv less, reflecting a cumulative effect of freezes and snorvs of late winter with shortages of manpower, equipment and truck tires. Log supply may be the bottleneck of the rn'hole year for tl-re West Coast industry, or until a break in the war situation fills its lack of rnen, tires and tools.

The industry's manporver requirements have risen to a peak by force of lurnber requirements deemed essential by General E,isenhower for military purposes, in reconstruction of England's war shattered housing. This judgment is back of allocations of lumber for British housing, through direct lumber shipments and in the medium of prefabricated hombs. It is evident that for the duration of the war in Europe we must expect closer and closer control of West Coast industry output to supplv the lumber that military authorities decide is needed.

The Western Pine Association for the week ended April 7,105 mills reporting, gave orders as 62,O22,W feet, shipments 63,868,000 feet, and production 59,187,000 feet. Orders on hand at the end of the week totaled 351,325,000 feet.

The Southern 7,89 units (136 feet, shipments feet. Orders on 552,000 feet.

Pine Association for the week ended April mills) reporting, gave orders as 16,799,00O L7,719,O@ feet, and production 16,833,000 hand at the end of the u'eek totaled 144,- l-umbermen's Association for the week mills reporting, gave orders as 86,033,93,310,000 feet, and production 98,666,-

The West Coast ended April 14,163 000 feet, shipments 000 feet.