THE CALIFQR}.IIA LUMBERMERCHANT

JackDionne,fublbhu

How Lumber Looks

Seattle, Washington, October 9, 1941-The weekly average of West Coast lumber production in September (4 weeks) was 172,255,000 board feet, or 108.1 per cent of estimated capacity. Orders averaged 153,566,000 board feet; shipments, 171,871,W. Weekly averages for August were: production, 187,52,m board f.eet (95.2 per cent of the 1926-D average); orders, 162,799,ffi; shipments, 190,617,000.

39 weeks of. 1941, cumulative production, 6,62,3ffi,M board feet; same period, l9n,-5,D3,288,000; 1939y',732,839,000.

Orders for 39 weeks of. l94l break down as follows: rail, 3,754,331,m board feet; domestic cargo, 1,8@,911,000; export, 163,924,000 ; local, 900,868,000.

The industry's unfilled order file stood at 69,003,000 board feet at the end of September; gross stocks, at 820.,62,m.

While the use of lumber in private construction which does not caffy a defense label is declining because of the effect of priorities on supply of nails, plumbing service equipment and other building metals, the West Coast lumber industry was still working under forced draft in September. This was in response to requests from defense agencies on urgent lumber requirements. Substantial headway was made during September in the production drive to overtake orders.

The requirements of defense continue to be heavy, par.

ticularly for railroad and ship lumber. The real demand for lumber in private non-defense home and farm building appears to be as strong as ever. Families who want to build homes have pay roll money for down payments and farm buying power has taken a strong upturn. The major question in this market is: how far can building materials other than lumber be made available?

Another factor of the September situation of West Coast lumber was the setting up of ceiling prices on Douglas fir, which took effect October 1. Publicity on this undoubtedly beclouded the market and slowed up lumber purchases.

The Western Pine Association for the week ended September 27,97 mills reporting, gave orders as 95,998,000 feet, shipments 97,424,W feet, and production 103,368,000 feet. Orders on hand at the end of the week totaled 359,912,000 feet.

The Southern Pine Association for the week ended October 4, 112 mills reporting, gave orders as D,524,,000 feet, shipments 33,049,000 feet, and production 28,453,000 feet. Orders on hand at the end of the week totaled 128,831,m0 feet.

Lumber cargo receipts at Los Angeles Harbor for the week ended October 11 totaled 13,217,W feet as compared with 18,986,000 feet the previous week.