1941-- RED\rOOD --1942

By Kenneth Smith Cclilornic Redwood Association" Scnr Frcncisco

Considering the fact that Redwood normally operates on a stock or inventory basis, 1941 has probably been even more hectic for Redwood manufacturers than for the lumber industry generally, where the bulk of the business of manufacturers is on the basis of quick turn-over and minimum stocks.

Volume of sales for the first quarter was above normal, but did not put any strain upon production facilities. In the second quarter, unfilled order files built up rapidly, to reach by the end of July a peak equal to 60 days' production. Of this, 25/o to 45/o, varying at the different mills, was represented by direct and indirect defense orders. This caused production to be stepped up until it variety of uses than any other species, and has been particularly called upon to step back into fields where it had in a measure been displaced by steel. f,ennetb Snith was 50 per cent above normal, and while it has not been dropped back as much as orders have declined since October 1, production is now running at a rate of about 25 per cent above normal.

Naturally, there is uncertainty as to what the efiect of the impact of the war economy may be upon cutting schedules in L942. The announced restriction upon private residential construction will definitely curtail some typ'es of business, but on the other side of the picture is the tremendous increase for industrial and war purposes.

In addition to defense housing, it is expected that there will be a definite increase in the requirements of the farm trade for new utility buildings, maintenance and repair, and that in cities there will be a continuing large volume of remodel business, as well as a sharp increase in the "over the counter" trade for fencing and other improvements of the thousands of small homes that have been built in recent years, and for which the owners will, for the most part, have more money available for such purposes than usual.

There is some question as to the adequacy of supplies to assure continued operation of the mills, but it is believed that these will be made available because of the necessity of keeping the sawmills in first-class condition for the production of lumber actually needed for defense, although difficulty is likely to arise from the unbalanced order files caused by the changing nature of the market. Staple yard items accumulated in the production of defense orders may not move in the accustomed volume.

The Redwood Industry recognizes that it will take more than ordinary resourcefulness and selling ability to meet the challenge of a war economy, but expects to hold up its end of the lumber business.

While Redwood production is only about 2 per cent of total softwood production, it probably goes into a greater

WITH GEO. M. HUFF LUMBER CO.

W. G. (Bill) Laubender has joined the sales staff of Geo. M. Huff Lumber Co. and is working in the Los Angeles territory. Bill was formerly rvith E. K. Wood Lumber Co. and is well-known to the Los Angeles lumber trade.