The BiglO ReallyCut Up

By Dwight Curran Contributing Editor The Merchant Magazine

OT long ago, Frank Sinatra made popular the song "It llas A Very Good Year." That title aptly applies to lumber production in 1976-

The production figures cited here are based on information from the May 30, 1977 issue of Forest Industries in their Annual Lumber Review & Buyers'Guide.

During 1976, l,9ll mills in the United States and Canada produced 4l billion 327 million feet of lumber. ln 1975, 1,845 mills sawed 32 billion 955 million feet of lumber.

That is a 25% increase in produc- tion, a zubstantial increase by any method of reckoning. In addition, the 4l billion feet produced last year is the most lumber ever produced in the more than 15 years this writer has been following the survey.

For purposes of ranking in this article, the survey only considers {omestic production. If Canadian producers were included in a ranking of the top 10, four of them would make it: MacMillan Bloedel. British Columbia Forest Products. Northwood Mills Ltd. and Canadian Forest Products.

Third place was captured by Georgia-Pacific Corp. The firm produced I billion 159 million feet of lumber in 1976, a 42% increase over 1975's 815 million feet. Although G-P is often thought to be a large fac- tor in Western production, just the opposite is true. Less than 20% of their production is situated on the West Coast. This includes 145 million feet at Fort Bragg and Myers Flat, Ca., as well as 47 million feet at two stud mills on Oregon tidewater. The bulk of G-P's production is located in the (Please turn to page t2.)

Story at a Glance

Lumber production last year set an all-time record the jump over the previous year was substantial included is a breakdown of the top ten lumber producers.

THE TOP TEN (000 omitted) Company

In First Place

The perennial front runner (and there again in first place) is Weyerhaeuser Co. This industry giant cut more than 2 billion 300 million feet. a 100 million foot jump over 1975. However, rn 1973, Weyerhaeuser sawed 2 billion 405 million feet of lumber which was 100 million feet more than 1976.

Just behind the leader is Louisiana-Pacific Corp. L-P produced I billion 648 million feet last year versus I billion 33 I million feet in 1975. Again, peak production for this firm was in 1973 when more than 2 billion feet were cut.

In the last few months, however, , Harry Merlo, chairman of L-P, has b'egun to streamline and consolidate operations through the closure of some plants such as the Dinsmore, Ca., site or the sale of othen such as the Healdsburg, Ca. plant.

Wonder who was in the top l0 last year, but fell out this year? So did we, and we thought you might like to see a short report. Our condolences to those who missed.

TANDSCAPING was still not in when these shots at grand opening time were taken late last year. Pix (1) & (2) show street and parking side of building, consumers go in through glass doors at center, contractors use other side. (3) Concrete tees are visible in this look