NEWS tsR[EFS

Widespread unemployment, wood and paper shortages, higher prices and further delays in the housing recovery will result if the Monongahela court decision is applied nationwide, forecasts National_ Forest Products Assn. pres. Eliot Jenkins. .

The controversial decision, which originally applied in only 4 Southeastern states, eliminates clearcutting, essentially limits logging in National Forests ro dead, dying, diseased and overmature ftees .. the decision was based on a narrow interpretation of the 1897 Organic Act.

Now under appeal in the West following its application in the Tongass National Forest in Alaska (which threatens the jobs of 1500 workers), an appeals court decision is expected in early April from the Ninth Circuit Court.

If the Monongahela decision is upheld, timber sales could be severely limited from the National Forests; the Ninth Circuit Court covers the heavily timbered Western states of Oregon, Washington, Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, 'Hatvaii and Aloska.

Quoting the USFS, Eliot Jenkins has said: '"The Monongahela issue could cause the loss of three-fourths of the timber avatlable from the nation's 155 National Forests in fiscal 1976 and a 50% reduction to the end of the century." . morethan one fourth of the softwood saw timber used in the U.S. comes from the National Forests. .

An 11% jump tn btdg. permtts was about the only bright spot in the Jan. housing start figures (latest available) which were down for the 3rd mo. in a row, a

6 mo. low . starts were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,221,000 units. off 5% from Dec., but 2lVo above Jan. a year ago when the figures hit their lowest monthly levels in nearly 30 years. .

Favorable signs for housing: prinre lending rate now at 6Yz%; Western s&ls posted a record net savings inflow in Jan. (much of that $$ will go to home mortgages); Federal National Mortgage Assn. says mortgage interest rates could drop as low as 8%% in "1 6 consensus at nt'|. builder show in Dallas was for a housing upswing '76 - '77.

Redwood Empire, Inc., Belmont, Ca., is now exclusive sales agent for Preston Lumber Co. , Cloverdale, Ca.; Jack Davies, Preston gen. mgr., is coowner of Preston Lumber with Roger Burch of Redwood Empire. Davies was formerly with Masonite's 14estern Lumber Div.

Mark's Building Supply is the new name for Richards Payless Lumber, Island City (LaGrande) Or., since Mark Richards acquired his father's share of the business . . .lholf Creek Lumber. Wichita, Ks., has been purchased by Chandler Supply Co., Boise, no price revealed; Jerry Weimer of Boise is the new gen mgr.

Bob Porter, all ex-United Wholesale Lumber . Boise Csscade has bought sawmills from Avery Brothers Lumber Co.. Kettle Falls, Wa.. and Olson-Lawyer Lumber Co., White City, 0r.

Floor Service Supply Co., San Jose, Ca., has a handsome new hardwood display at The Design Center, S.F. . . lilood Markets, Irtc. is a new lumber and plywood wholesaling company in Portland. and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mercill Lynch Co., which is also the parent of Menill Lynch, Pierce, Fermer&Smitlt...

Longntont True Value Hardware, Longrnont, Co., has filed a $5 million suit against Evans Products, alleging fraud and breaches of contract in connection with a distributor agreement covering territory in northern Co. more than 76,000 attended the l Tth annual Colorads Home & Garden Show, & 357o increase in attendance, second highest in show history.

California Pacific Wholesale Inc. is in a new distribution center, Cucamonga. Ca.; reman. and milling facilities are being built Pope & Talbot will spe.nd. $3 million in.a dry lumber and boiler expansion program, Port Gamble, Wa. K&R True Value Hardware, Phoenix, has remodeled its store.

Bohemia Inc., Eugene,plans to buy Yuba River Lumber Co. and Brunswick Timber Products, both owned and run by Bill Pendola and his family; excluded in the agreement is the retail building material operations, no price revealed in the sale.

Catifomia-Ttmberllne, Santa Ana, Ca., is a new wholesale distribution yard firrn begun by Bill Gunnell, Pete Skibba and

84 Lumber Co., Eighty Four, Pa., has purchased 2.87 acres near Stockton, Ca., for a new store fire caused $12,000 damage to Grand Avenue Lumber & Hardware, Glendale,. Az., recently . Southwest Forest Industries, Phoenix, is closing its Flagstaff particleboard plant and its Montezuma Plywood subsidiary in Dolores, Co. .

President Ford recently signed a bill into,law setting up a MefricConversion Board to coordiriati a voluntary conversion to mettic measure by U.S. firms; no dea& line or even a probable date'fio1 conversion was specified.