More Facts About Taking the Lumber Pressure off of California

By lack, Dionne

Speaking of taking the pressure of lumber off of California by the opening of Fir markets elsewhere, there will be found in this issue text of an address recently delivered by Chas. S. Keith to the West Coast Lumbermen's Association at Tacoma in August. That address will bear careful reading by every California lumberman. In it will be found a number of ideas bearing out our recently stated opinion that the lumber pressure on California will be lessened from now on.

Mr. Keith was one of the founders and first President of the Southern Pine Associatioq. He is a powerful lumber thinker and observer, and speaks a direct language. This address has caused great discussion all over the country since its delivery.

In one part of his address-which discussed the preparation of Fir for market, and the marketing of Fir after preparation-Mr. Keith very directly mentions California and the effect of the California market, when he refers to the tremendous volume of Fir that is loaded on boats and shipped to California-not sold but for sale, and, of course, for that reason to a great extent at the mercy of circumstances-when he asked how men can expect a fair price for their lumber who ship it in great volume, unsold. He urged the mills of the North to prepare and sell their stock carefully and intelligently.

Another strong point he made was in his discussion of dry versus green lumber. As the largest consumer of green lumber on earth, California will be interested in those remarks. He quoted the figures of the Northwestern statistical bureau, which gathers such facts, to prove that No. 1 Fir, kiln dried, is bringing an average of $10 a thousand more than the same stock green or partly seasoned. In fact, .so great is the demand for this stock that the firms that kiln dry their No. I have to put a definite percentage limit on the amount of this stock they will sell in each car.

These are TWO things that are helping take the lumber pressure off of California. There is every evidence in the Northwest of a determination to quit "dumping" their stock, but rather to SELL it. And it is certain that if dry lumber will bring so'great a premium elsewhere, it will be sold elsewhere as much as possible.

California is the lowest priced Fir market. With other markets opening that are willing to pay more money, those markets will get the preference, and this helps take off the pressure.

And there is plainly evidenced i4 the Northwest a disposition to dry more and more of their lumber. THIS also takes the pressure off. Catifornil is buying more dry lumber today than ever before. And she will increase that consumption, undoubtedly. But the bulk of the dry stock will go elsewhere and seeh higher prices.

And thus they will encourage higher price levels in California.