Howl.rumber Lrooks

As we go to press the A. F'. of L. strike at the redwood mills in Humboldt and Mendocino counties, which started January 15, continues and the mills are still down. Chief issues involved in the strike are the union's demand for the union shop and a 22tl cents an hour pay increase. The lumber operators offered a 15 cents an hour wage increase, the same as was accepted by the Fir workers in the Northwest, but it was turned down by the union.

Seattle, Washington, Feb. 21.-The tveeklv average of West Coast lumber production in January (5 weeks) was 103,874,000 board feet, or 71.7 per cent ol 1942-1945 average, according to the West Coast Lumbermen's Association in its monthly survey of the industry. Orders averaged 104,987,000 b.f. ; shipments 106,233,000. \\reekly averages for December were: Production88,27l,NO b.f. (60.9 per cent of the 1942-1945 average) ; orders 90,48q,000; shipments, 85,650,000.

West Coast lumber production for the first five rveeks of 1946 ran 29 per cent below the figure for the same periocl in 1945. Last year at this time logs were coming out o{ the woods, rvhile continued snows have kept most camps closed through this January. That is one factor of the current low production rate of the West Coast lumber industry. Another is the business uncertainty which prohibits acceptance of orders in large volume. It is a period u'hen any business may be crushed in the interplay'and conflict of group demands and governmental controls. Tl-ris is particularly true of the rvl-role building industry, and most of all of the industry that produces the basic material of build- ing construction-lumber. Good weather will relieve the acute West Coast log shortage. but there is no similar prospect for an increase in production that will materially reduce the industry's unfilled order file ol 702,728,00O board feet- an amount which alone lvould keep the industry cutting for six and one-half weeks at its current rate.

The Western Pine Association for the week ended February 9, 101 mills reporting, ga'i'e orders as 47,398,000 feet, shipments 42,689,Om feet, and production 33, 990,000 feet. Orders on hand at the end of the week totaled 285,5n,00O feet. I

The Southern Pine Association for tl.re rveek ended Febrtary 9,87 units (118 mills) reporting, gave orders as 18,532,000 feet, shipments 16,116,000 feet, and production 17,090,000 feet. Orders on hand at the end of the week totaled q5.960.000 feet.

The West Coast Lumbermen's Association for the week ended February 9, I4O mills reporting, gave orders as 76,800,000 feet, shipments 74,939,Ufi feet, and production 76,380,000 feet. ,

The San Francisco telephone number of The California Lumber Merchant has been changed to GRaystone 0756. The address is unchanged, 645 Leavenworth Street. San Francisco 9.