THE CALIFOR}.IIA LUMBERMERCHANT

How Lrumber Lrooks

Portland, Oregon, May 15.-April lumber shipments from the Douglas fir region exceeded those of any month during 1946 and nearly equalled the peak reached in February, 1947, H. V. Simpson, executive vice president of the West Coast Lumbermen's Association, announced today.

Average weekly shipments from Oregon and Washington during April were 135,156,000 board feet. The February peak was 136,881,000. Despite continuing high production, April shipments exceeded both the production and order totals.

disclosed that gross stocks on hand at Pacific Northwest are lower than at any year, indicating that lumber is being abit is manufactured.

"The record of heavy shipments to all parts of the country demonstrates that lumber is being distributed rvith all possible speed into the normal construction channels," Simpson said.

Arrerage weekly production of West Coast lumber in April was 134,631,000 board feet; orders averaged 130,591,000 b.f.; shipments 135,156,000 b.f. Weekly averaf{es for March were: production, 137,976,m0; orders, 170,535,000 ; shipments, 131,346,000.

During 17 weeks oil 1947, cumulative production w'as 2,203,978,000 b.f. an increase over the 1,988,778,000 b.f. produced during the first 17 rveeks of 1946. Orders for the same period break down as follows: rail, 1,534,062,000; domestic carg'o, 295,247 ,W; export, 403,590,000 ; local, 211,2I3,000. The industry's unfilled order file stood at &5,617,000 b.f. at the end of April; gross stocks at 374,t39,000.

The \Mestern Pine Association for the week ended May 10, 104 mills reporting, gave orders as 57,557,N0 feet, shipments 62,486,000 feet, and production 66,.587,000 feet. Orders on hand at the end of the week totaled 157.370.000 feet.

The Southern Pine Association for the week ended May 10, 80 units (105 mills) reporting, gave orders as 14,936,000 feet, slripments 15,874,000 feet, and production N,024,000 feet. Orders on hand at the end of the rveek totaled 66.429.000 feet.

The West Coast Lumbermen's Association for the week ended May 17,135 mills reporting, gave orders as 77,982,000 feet, shipments 88,617,000 feet, and production 89,605,000 feet. Unfilled orders at the end of the week totaled 514,645,000 feet.

For the week ended'May 10, 130 mills reporting, gave orders as 89,772,044 feet, shipments 89,563,000 feet, and production 88,873,000 feet. Unfilled orders at the end of rhe rveek totaled 530,735,000 feet.