N EWS BRI EFS

More money Jbr housing, and related construction. showed in two areas: Iheprime lentling rate for the banker's best customers dropped for a 4th time this year, down to 83/+7c; the president of Bache & Co., the U.S.'s 2nd largest stock brokerage, expects the prime to hitTVz% in'74 deposits at s&ls (from whence cometh most home mortgage $$) rose in Jan. (latest figs.) by $2.4 billion. a highly favorable figure compared t6 Januarys past .-

Gasoline shortages continued to cause disruptions to virtually all area,; o.f the lVest; many Western states now endure gas restrictions of various sorts -. generully speaking, Westerners have hacked it withour serious losses, but further cutbacks could quickly result in sizeable losses for affected firms

Optimists say the worst of the gas shortage has probably been felt as public and government pressure to find out what is rydly causing the shortage will rnduce an increased flow of fuel . and you can guess what the pessimists think without our reporting of their dreary predictrons

Speaking of crises, a shortage of v,ood may be our next . . National Forest Products Assn. pres. Al Baxter has called for "maior increases" in federal spendidg to avert an impending wood supply crisis the widely anticipated 3rd quar- ter upturn rn houslng construction nri11 quickly exhuust sup- plies, and cause price hikes, Baxterfeels...

The Forest Service's director of timber manasement has said publicly that a $300 million management program is essential to avoid a severe timber shortape by the year 2000 . a fedeial judge has ordered the U.S. to reduce timber sales on public lands by l0% in FY 1974, negating earlier attempts to increase timbersupply...

Housing starts in Jan. (latest figs.) popped up to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,486,000 units, up 0.6Vc from Dec.a3Yz year lowbut far below the 2,472,00A rate of a year-ago Jan. ; every region in the U.S. picked up except tlte west . . the gain was only the 2nd in the last 6 mos.

Government and some independent experts said the hike signalled the bottom of the slide in housing, but the home builders'assn., lobbying hzrrd in D.C. for additionul fecleral mon()' fttr ltottsinr,, not"surprisingly said "it's a little early to say housing has turned the corner"

A boctm in home intpr<tvemenl is widely predicted by analysts as an offshoot of the energy crisis; the National Home Improvement Council says the energy crisis is having a less adverse effect on the home improvement industry than on most other industries

A bigger '74 than rec'ords e t t in g' 73 (barring oil shortages) was forecast at the annual mgrs. meeting in Portland of J.W. Copeland Lumber Yards, which operates 33 retail lumber & bldg. mtls. stores in 5 Western states . Wells Fargo Bank says "California Housine: Better Days Coming" . -

"We'll soon see u recoyeta'in this importanl sector (housing) of the economv," George A. Christie, F.W. -Dodge forEcasting firm . A2.., Co. and N.M. will be among the I I hottest housing markets nationally, forecasts lnvestors Mortgage Insurance Co., with the Pacific

Northwest as an especially activ e re h ah ili t ct t i o n,' r e n oy,it t io tt and restorulion market

Duvirlson Plywood & Lumber Co. has acquired Van Noy Plywood Co., Sacramento, Ca., for an undisclosed amount. included is Van Noy's 26,000 sq. ft. warehouse on Oates Dr. John C. Toylor Lumber Sales, Inc:. is now at a new Beaverton. Or., address after being flooded out of their previous offices...

Sierra Pacific Inclustrtes has acquired an ll%o interest in Welsh Corp., the decorative panel mfgr.; stock purchase was for investment purposes, earlier merger plans have been dropped . Burlinptott ltlortltern has admitted it is seeking a "large scale" acquisition in a forest products related area; Plum Creek Lumber, their subsidiary, seeks to buy several more lumbermills...

Hundy Dan has opened a new home improvement center in Modesto, Ca. Wickes has opened new operations in Stockton and the Napa-Vallejo, Ca., areas and has broken ground in San Marcos (Escondido) and Lancaster . Georgiu-Pacific' has opened a wholesale distribution center in Tucson; 59,400 sq. fr....

Triongle Lumber & Supply Co., Sweet Home, Or.; has been sold to Laurie Young who changed the name to Sweet Home Hardware & Lumber . Branson-Cross Lumber Co., Irt<'. is a new incorporation for a planned lumber yard in Alameda, Ca. . J.W. Copelond Lumher has closed yards in Tule Lake, Or. and Mabton, Wa., due to sales' declines

"Mr. Douglas' Awesome Tree," Jan. Readers Digest, tells the fascinating story of this famous Western tree Smokey the Bcur. now an antique 24 years old and a living American legend, may have to be destroyed if the pain he has been sufferins from arthritis and other ailment-s increase

San iimbers clears - long dimension - special grades treated and fire retardant lumber & plywood