How lrumber lroohs

Seattle, Washington, Nov. ll, 1942.--:The weekly average of West Coast lumber production in October (four weeks), was 17Q559,00O board feet, or 88.0 per cent of estimated capacity. Orders averaged ITZ,IJO,WO board feet; shipments 175,780,000. Weekly averages for September were: Production, 16f.,962,W board feet (S4.8 per cent of the 1926-lW average); orders, 184,258,000; shipments, 173,624,W.

The industry's unfilled order file stood at l,@4,692,W board feet at the end of October; gross stocks at 577,684.000.

Despite labor shortages averaging 30 per cent in logging camps and.20 per cent in sawmills, the West Coast lumber industry put through October production slightly over that of October, l94l_1.2 per cent.

In October the war needs for West Coast lumber were emphasized by the most drastic ,,freezing', order yet issued for lumber, and as drastic as any applied to any other commodity by the War Production Board. The Board's L-218 order freezes practically the entire production of Douglas fir under the Central Procurement Agency. It not only gives the agency first call on Douglas fir production but requires all orders from all sources for lumber of this species to be screened through the agency, so there may be no interference with the flow of war orders.

Douglas fir has been singled out among all U. S. lumber species for such distinction. Many large lumber items and technical lumber items can be supplied only in Douglas fir; such as framing items for the whole gamut of secondary Navy boats-sub chasers, mine sweepers, tugs and related types, now taking tremendous lumber footaga the week ended Noorders as 86,171,000 production U,S72,m of the week totaled

Growing out of labor shortage in the woods, the log shortage on the West Coast represents an immediate and serious handicap in supplying the lumber the country wants for all purposes. Supplied with enough logs to have run full time, the mills of the region could have produced another 100 million feet in October. The industry is piecing out its logs in all possible u/ays to sustain production, and utilizing those of lowest grade to the utmost. No change in war demand for West Coast lumber is in sight for the remainder of the year.

The Western Pine Association for vember 14, 95 mills reporting, gave feet, shipments 83,679,00O feet, and feet. Orders on hand at the end 427,2@,ffi feet.

The West Coast.Lumbermen's Association for the week ended November 7 reported orders as 115,375,000 feet, shipments 112,238,W feet, and production 118,375,000 feet.

For the week ended November 14 orders were reported as 119,929,000 feet, shipments 117,115,000 feet, and production 119,441,000 feet.