THE CALIFOR}IIA LUMBERMERCHANT

JackDiorne,publ*lr*

Circulatlon Mauger

Coastwise Lumber Tonnage Practicalfy Afl Tied Up

The full effect of the coastwise steam lumber schooner tie up wiur felt in California ports during the past week. Lumbet cargo arrivals at Los Angeles harbor totaled only 4r6E3r0fi) feet for the week ended December l1 as compared with 12'1811000 feet for the previous week. 60 coastwise lumber veesels are reported tied up due to the dispute.between operatots and crews (wer working hours and overtime pay, and only a few vessels are operating. The Sailorst Union is demanding a 6-hour day and ll.OO an hour overtime while in po,rt. Thete is no prospect of an early setdement in sight.

The California demand is good. With the coastwise lumber tonnage practically all tied up, a considerable diversion of usual water shipments of Fir lumber to railroads for California delivery is repoted from the Columbia River. section, and shipments from rail mills have greatly increased in volume. Prices on both Fir commons and uppers have advanced during the past three weeks. Part of the increase on uppers is due to the increased demand fot high grade logs by the plywood manufacturers.

Shipments of Redwood are moving by rail from all Redwood mills with rail connections. Supply of dry uppets is increasing. Eastern business is holding up well, considering the season of the year.

Red Cedar shingle prices are strongert and an eady advance is looked for.

New business reported to the Vest Coast Lumbetments Association for the week ended Jamrary 4 by 2Ol mills was 101'-

Built-in-Fixture Prospects Better

"We did 50 per cent more business in 1935 than we did in 1934," said Ray B. Cox, r'ice president and general manager of Peerless Built-in-Fixture Co., Berkeley, a few days ago to a representative of this paper.

"December was an exceptionally good month, and prospects for the coming year are better than any time in the last four years.

"Our best business is coming from the Coast Counties, both north and south, and from the northern part of the Sacramento Valley. Retail lumber dealers are displaying more interest in the sale of kitchen furniture than for some time past."

Mr. Cox concluded by stating he looks for an increase in the prices of his firm's products during the first half of the year, due to new taxes, and the increased cost of materials.

24Er2O8 feet against a productio,n of. 67rO27,860 feet, and shipments of 7715@1976 fet. Current sales were 51.O per cent over production, and shipments wene over production by 15.6 per cent. The orders booked for the week were approximately .11,0001000 feet under the total for the preceding vrcek.

The unfilled order file at these mills stood at 47EA64,622 feet, approximately 23rq)O,O0O feet over the week before. The aggregate inventories of these mills are 12.6 pet cent less than at this time last year.

The Association reports the volume of new busines continues to be heavy for the tirne of the year. Placement.of orders frorn California has dropped olf sharply due to the marine strike. The Atlantic coast rail trade is active. Expo,rt is quiet' ,F

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The Western Pine Association for the week ended January 4, ll4 mills reporting g ve orders as 40r116rfi)0 feet, shipments .|2,884,OOO feet, and production 27,140rAO0 f.eet. Orders were 47.8 pe cent over production, and,21.9 per cent over shipmelts. Shipments wete 2l.l lr€r cent above pnoduction.

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The California Redwood Association reported production of 15 mills for the week ended December 28 as 7,757,000 feet, shipments 2r97tr000 feet, and new business 414891000 feet. Orderc on hand at the end of the week were ,8,O22,OOO feet. Fifteen identical mills repo,rted production 22 pet cent gr€ater, and new business one per cent less than for the same week last yean

The Southern Pine Association, 104 mills reporting, for the week ended January 4 gave orders as 2613111000 feet shipments 30,032rfi)0 feet, and production 2612611000 feei orders for the urcek c/ere 0.19 per cent above producion, art 12.79 per c.ent below shipments. Shipmen$ were 14.36 pet cent above production. Orders on hand at these mills totded 7rr044r0J0 feeq equivale^a to rr478 cars. Total stocks on hand, January 4, at 92 reporting mills aggregated t46r337rOOO feet, t 91 per cent of normal and 4 per cent below t'his time last year.

Jack Dionne to Speak at Lor Angeles Meeting

The Lumber & Allied Products Institute will hold a dinner meeting at the Hotel Clark, Los Angeles, trn Friday evening, January 17,1936, at 6:15 p.m. Jack Dionne, Publisher of The California Lumber Merchant. will address the meeting.