Legislator Questions lyz" standard

Represcntative John Dingell (D'Mich.), Chairman of the House Small Business Subcommittee on Regulatory and Enforcement Agencies, has requested that Cornmerce Secretary Stans provide his subcommittee with a progress report on Department studies of working stress assignments for grouping of various lumber species.

Dingell noted that Commerce had assured the Federal Trade Commission and his office such a study would be made before new lumber grading rules are prepared by the various softwood lumber rules writing agencies.

He also told the secretary he had received American Lumber Standards Committee inspection records since May 6, 1968, and that an analysis indicates there is ooa se'rious question" whether western lumber species can be dried to a maximnm moisture content of 19 percent except by air drying in a hot, dry climate or tested except by using special equipment to cheek the mois- ture content of each piece oI lumber.

These allegations have been made repeatedly despite refutation by industry and FPL technical representatives.

Rep. Dingell and members of the subcommittee stafi have consistently repre' sented minority views on the proposed new lumber standard.

NFPA Production Estimoles

The National Forest Products Assn. an' nounced an estimated 1969 lumber pro' duction figure of 37.3 billion board feet, compared with actual production in 1968 of 37.1 billion b.f. The association predicts a 1970 production dip to 35 billion b.f. based on expectations of a static level o{ housing starts and slight increases in nonresidential construction.

Softwood lumber used for housing and other construction is expected to drop to about 27.6 billion b.f. in 1970 compared with 29.4 billion b.f. 1969 estimates and

1968 production figures of 30.1 billion b.f.

Hardwood production should increase to 7.9 billion b.f. in 1969 compared to 7 billion in 1968 and a projected 1970 figure of 7.4 billion b.f.