THE CALIFOR}IIA LUMBERMERCHANT

JackDionn e,fublislru

Itrcorponted undcr thc lawr of Callfmia

J. C. Diomc, Prea ard Treu.i J. E. Martln, Vie-Prcs.i W. T. Black, Sccretary Publiehed ttrc lst rnd l5th. of each montb at tlt-lr-z0 Centnl Bullding, lOt Wett Sixth Strer' lo Angcbs' Cal.' Tclepbmc VAndike {56ti Entend ar Seond-clarc mtts Soptmber E, ls2jz, at thc Pct Offle at Lor Angeles, Califmla, uldc Act of March 3' lt?0.

Subrcription Pricc, $2.011 Per YGar Single Copier, 25 ccntr each.

LOS ANGELES, CAL., OCTOBER 15, 1937

How Lumber Looks

Renewal of the maritime agreements between six unions and the Waterfront Employers' Association for another year was announced in San Francisco, September 30, by Almon E. Roth president of the Association.

At the same time the Shipowners' Association of the Pacific Coast, representing steam schooner operators, announced that their agreements had been renewed for one year with minor modifications. *

The situation at Portland, Ore., in the jurisdictional controversy between the A. F. of L. and the C. I. O. for control of the sawmill rvorkers is about the same, and as we go to press, it is reported that olly*oti sawmill there is working'

An agreement assuring no further stoppage of work before the Golden Gate International Exposition in 1939 ended the nine rreeks'plasterers' strike in San Francisco, September 30.

The agreement grants the union an increase from $9.00 to $10.00 a day, establishes the rvork day at six hours, provides for reopening the wage question February 1, 1938, and decrees arbitration of all questions except hottrs. Plasterers resumed work October 4.

Hod carriers also returned to t'ork on October 4 after being on strike nine weeks. They r.vere granted a slightly higher wage than the $1.25 an hour scale prevailing before the strike, and will contintte their rvage scale negotiations with the employers.

The West Coast Lumbermen's Association, in its nelvs rclease of October 9, says:

Production. orders and shipments reported to the West Coast Lumbermen's Association by 177 down and operating mills in Washington and Oregon for the rveek ended Octo- ber 2 continued to reflect a general slowing up of business. Production for the rveek for these mills of 95,371,955 board feet shows that the entire industry produced 59.9% ol its average weekly cut during 1926-29 and sets a new low for recent months. The volume of orders reported received. 96,470,130 feet, while 12,000,000 feet more tian the previous week, is still extremely low. The increase shown in orders is chiefly in the local and the domestic cargo trade; but the difference is too small to indicate change in market trends. While changes up and down in the volume of orders received occur frequently, experience has shown that only the general trend is of consequence and in recent weeks this movement has been downward.

The immediate market outlook is uncertain and lumbermen anticipate further reductions in cutting schedules unless the volume of sales should increase sizeably. ***

The Western Pine Association for the week ended Octobet 2, 116 mills reporting, g'ave new business as 60.437,000 feet, shipments 63,964,000 feet, and production 82,537,00O feet. Orders on hand at the end of the week totaled 162,301,000 feet.

)k**

The California Redwood Association for the week ended September 25 reported new business of 13 mills as 6,945,000 feet, shipments 8,676,000 feet, and production 10,183,000 feet. Week end orders on hand totaled 37.063.000 feet.

***

The Southern Pine Association for the rveek ended October 2, 101 mills reporting, gave new business as 25,117,0N feet, shipments 28,4O6,000 feet, and production 26,895,000 feet. Orders on hand at the end of the u'eek totaled 57,843,000 feet, equivalent to 2,754 cars.