NEWS BRIEFS

Earlier forecasts of declining housing starts went out the window again as the seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts came in above 2 million. the 7th straight mo. in a row it has been above 2 mill. for 13 of the last 15 mos. .

In Sept. (latest figs.) starts hit a 2,A73,N0 pace, up l.4olo frorn the revised Aug.rate of 2,044,000. . . single family starts were off a bit *om Aug., at 1,451,000; bldg. permits, an indicator of future construction, were up 9/oin Sept. from Aug., which declined 4o/0.

Starts were up in all parts of the U.S. except the West, rfto permits increased... total '78 figs. could be close to 2 million for the year. construction con' tracts in '79 are expected to be up 2o/0, to $155.8 billion, according to McGraw-Hill...

Analysts stick to their Predictions of an easing in housing construction in '79, a gentle diP which would leave the pace of home building at what is still a high level historically.

The cost of $$, an important factor affecting home bldg. and all construction, continues uP: the prime lending rate, now at l0 l/40/0, its highest level since '75, is widely predicted to hit 10 l/20/s. . . home buyers are spending a greater o/o of income, worrying lenders, who note mortgage delinquencies rose in Sept. for the lst time in '78... money to borrow remains available, but costlY. .

Total public comments received by the Forest Service on RARE 1/ were 350.000. first analysis is expected any day . . final decision could mean 1.6 billion bd. ft. less from the National Forests in their annual timber sales program. , the Alaska Wilderness Bill was killed as the 95th Congress concluded.

Calls for a near total ban on shingle roofs in Los Angeles fire areas have been made following disastrous brush fires, onlY pressure-treated wooden materials would be allowed; similar bans after earlier big fires have been subsequently repealed. OSHA has repealed 929 rules it calls "nitpicking," including the famous one on toilet seat design.

Arcata Redwood Co., Arcata, Ca., is negotiating to buy the production facilities and timberlands of Simonson Lumber, Smith River, Ca.; expectations are to {inalize the deal by Jan. 1... Ralph S. Plant, Inc., Yancouver, 8.C., has opened a cargo sales office in Covina, Ca...

Harwood Products plans a multi-million $ renovation of its Branscomb, Ca., mill . .. Cedar Forest Products is a new wholesale company est. in Portland by Leonard Newman, formerly with Nikkel Corp.. J.C.& K Wholesale Siding Supply Co., has moved to Tigard, Or..

Chandler Carp., Boise, Id., has bought Temple Mobile Truss Co.. Belton, Tx.... Stanline, Inc., L.A., has opened its new 30,000 sq. ft. San Diego warehouse; 125 are employed. more than 2 million bd. ft. of ced4r were destroyed in a fire at Sundance Lumber, Springfield, Or.. Columbia Colifornia Lum' ber Sales has moved to new offices, 24A0 Marconi Ave., Sacramento.

Blevins Lumber is building a l0 acre wholesale facilitY between Napa. Ca., and Vallejo, on Hwy 29-, including an office, yard and reman. equlPment. Dunon Pacific Forest Products. Portland, has purchased the ChaneY Lumber operations at Boring, Or..

Louisiana-PaciJic is building a new warehouse and distribution oenter in Fremont, C4.,. .. Timber Products Transport, Longview, Wa., is a new trucking firm est. by Rollin Tapley, Milan Michie and Gale Daugherty. Tenino Lumber Co., Tenino, Wa., has been purchased by B.D. and Rick Oram...

Massachusetts Avenui Lumber Co., Lemon Grove, Ca., has been sold to Worth Ward. who will operate it as l{ard Lumber Co.. . Pacific Home lrnprovement Center, San Luis ObisPo, Ca., has opened a new store in Atascadero. Johnston Hardwood, Huntington Park, Ca., is celebrating its lst half year in business, reports Dennis Johnston..

Kinzua Corp.'s new HePPner, Or., sawmill has begun operating. . Georgia-PaciJic is closing its M&J mill at Meyers Flat, Ca.. the end of this mo.; its fir production is now being handled out of G-P's Fort Bragg mill ...

R&L Wood Products, Rialto, Ca., has opened a new Grass Valley, Ca., sales/buying office; Ray Lizotte is in charge . Grossman's has oPened a new d-i-y store on Hammer Lane. Sacramento, by HwY. I5. . Randall Lurnber Co. has opened a new yard in Huntington Beach, Ca.,.

(Please tum to pase 23 )