THE CALIFOR}.IIA LUMBERMERCHANT

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Seattle, Wash.-The weekly average of West Coast lumber production in August (4 weeks). was 165,163,000 board feet, or 108.7 per cent of 1939-1942 average, according to the West Coast Lumbermen's Association in its monthly survey of the industry. Orders averaged 173,477,W board feet; shipments, 167,!89,000. Weekly averages for July rv'ere: Production, 153,373,000 board feet (101.0 per cent of the 1939-1942 average); orders, 161,560,000; shipments, 158,424,ffi.

Thirty-four weeks ol 1943, cumulative production, 5,088,484,000 board feet; 34 weeks, 1942-5,781973,W;34 weeks, tg4l, 5,67,162,000.

Orders for 34 weeks of 1943 break down as follows: rail, 4p41,4ffi,W board feet; domestic cargo, 449,341,000; export, 102,958,000 ; local, 67 4,768,000.

The industry's unfilled order file stood at 1,116,915,000 board feet at the end of August; gross stocks, at 5O2,995,N0.

There is a lull in the volume of war demand for West Coast lumber because the construction of the war plant in the United States has been substantially completed. This lull will turn into another heavy load upon the industry when the signal is given for further offensive operations, especially in the Pacific.

Meanwhile, there are two or more places for every foot of lumber in the essential civilian uses, which have been kept on short rations for many months. Farm requirements are now particularly in front and railroad demand is very large.

To fit changing needs of the war situation, especially the tremendous requirements for box and crating lumber rather than for heavy construction lumber, the West Coast industry is changing over from industrial cutting of heavy timbers to production that will be 50 per cent boards and dimension within the next few months-something unprecedented in the history of Douglas firmills. The industry and the War Production Board are working out ways and means to reach the new objective. It is a difficult war job but one necessary in meetihg current needs.

The Western Pine Association for the week ended September 18, 98 mills reporting, gave orders as 66,580,000 feet, shipments 73p50,000 feet, and production 83,341,00 feet. Orders on hand at the end of the week totaled 400,028,000 feet.

The Southern Pine Association for the week ended September ll, 152 mills reporting, gave orders as 25,398,00i) feet, shipments fr,794,000 feet, and production 19,678,000 feet. Orders on hand at the end of the week totaled 139.511,000 feet.

The West Coast Lumbermen's Association for the week ended September 11 reported orders as 108,763,0CD feet, shipments 103,636,000 feet, and production 107,010,000 feet.

For the week ended September 18 orders were reported as 118,537,00O feet, shipments 120,199,000 feet, and production 120,O72,000 feet.