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Mcncser

How Lumber Looks

During the week ended November ,+. 500 mills produced 24O,154,W feet of softwoods and hardwoods clmbined. shipped 254,315,W feet, and booked orclers oI l99.26l.ON feet, the National Lumber Manufacturers Association' reported.

Monthly Lumber Facts by the West Coast I-umbermen's Association show the weekly average of West Coast lumber production in October (4 weekg u'as 138,495,000 feet, or ,7O.3 per cent of the weekly an.r"g. tor I9Z6-19D, tt-ti industry's years of highest,capacity-realization. Orders averaged 128,521,W feet; shipments, 14O,621,O0O feet.

The feature of the market -for West Coast lumber in October was a definite letdown in buying. The drop in average -weekly orders-rvas 23.6 per cent fiom the Sepfem_ ber weekly average. The sharp buying wave of the first war weeks has subsided to the tevel oT last spring. The reasons are as follows: l. September buying, especially for rail deliveries, .ivas influenced by war psychology. Nluch of it was for hedging, in anticipatio." ol prite rises or car shortages. This wave has spent itself.

2. O,ctober buying from Atlantic Coast was substan- tially curtailed by lack of ships.

3. Caifornia buying has been restricted by uncertainty on the outcome of the ."ham-and-eggs" issue. Littl-e building will be projected in the State, and not much lumber will be put in stock until the issue is settled.

4. While the buying of car material and other items by the railroads continues to be substantial, this business is down from the peak of war pressure and is moving on a more conservative basis.

5. A seasonal letup in building begins in October, par- ticularly in the colder sections of the country. Taking due account of these factors, and of normal pros- pects for West Coast lumber, the industry is now on a sound level. The building of low-cost homes of lumber remains the major source of West Coast lumber movement. The most promising development in this field is that of the house costing $2,500 or less. This is the price rarrge in which 7O per cent of American families must find home ownership. Nine years of building industry research and experience have produced livable housing rvhich this mass group can afford to buy.

The Western Pine Association for the week ended November 4, 176 mills reporting, gave orders as 55,339,ffi0 feet, shipments 84,160,000 feet, and production 79,234,ffi0 feet. Orders on hand at the end of the n'eek totaled Z8Z,478.000 feet.

Strike Ties up Coastwisc Lumber Steamers

San Francisco, Nov. 13.-San Francisco's 'ivaterfront was tied up for the fourth time within ten months when the Ship Clerks'Association went on strike November 10. The strike effectively tied up companies that carry 95 per cent of the business from the port of San Francisco.

William T. Guerts, Federal Maritime Labor Board meditator, is conferring with union groups and spokesmen for the Waterfront Employers' Association in an attempt to bring about joint sessions.

Negotiations are proceeding between the Marine Firemen's lJnion, which went on strike November 8, and the Shipowners' Association of the Pacific Coast. The strike has tied up steam schooners on the Pacific Coast. The firemen are asking for hours similar to those enjoyed by crews on "off shore" vessels, including the watches in port, plus Saturday afternoon off.

TWO IIIVEIITORIDS TOR DEAIERS' COTIVTilIEIICE

At our Fresno ycrrd we ccrrry complete stocks ol USG Wecthenvood Insulcrtion Bocrds curd USG Red Top trsulcting Wool, Douglcrs Fir Commons cnd Clecrs, Redwood, Bed Cedcr Shingles, Plywood cnd Ock Flooring.

At OcrHcnd we specicrlize in Douglas Fir Commons, Rough Clecrs cmd Finish.