
3 minute read
DOUGLAS FIR REDWOOD o nd FIR PLYWOOD
o Sfuds, Boords
. Dimension Lumbcr
. Plonks, Timbers
. Roilrood Ties r lndustriol Cunings
Soulhern
Februory Construction Expenditures Amount to !$3.6 Billion
The value of total new construction put-in-place in February, 1961 amorlnted to $3.6 billion, according to preliminary estimates of the Bureau of the Census, U.S. Depart- ment of Commerce. This amount was 6 percent less than in January 1961, compared to a normal seasonal decline of 5 percent.betryeel January and February. Spending for new construction in February 196l was 1 percent lesi than in February 1960.
The effects of unusual weather conditions, particularly during the last few months, are reflected only in smail part in these estimates of construction activity.
Private Construction
Total new private construction expenditures in February amounted to $2.6 billion. This amount was 5 percent less than in January, compared to a normal seasonal decline o! f percent between January and February. The February, 1961 amount was 6 percent less than in February 1960.
Spending for construction of private nonfarm residential buildings in February, L96l amounted to 91.3 billion, 8 percent less than in January, 1961 compared to a normal seasonal decline of 6 percent between January and February. The level of expenditures in February, 196l was 12 percent under the level in February, 19ffi.
Public Construction
-Total new public construction expenditures in February 1961 aqounted to $1.0 billion, T percent less than in January 1961. The decrease between lanuary 1961 and Februarv 1961 was less than the normal ..".or*1 decline of 8 perceni for tl-rat period. Spending for public construction in Feb- ruary 1961 was 13 percent above expenditures in February 1960.
First Two Months of 1961 (Cumulative)
Spending for total new construction in the first two months of 1961 amounted to $7.38 billion, slightly less than the $7.43 billion spent in the comparable period of 1960. Comparative estimates for the same two-month periods show: private construction expenditures declined 5 percent, from $5.6 billion in the first two months of 1960 to $5.3 billion in the corresponding months of 1961 ; public construction expenditures increased 14 percent, from $1.8 billion in 1960 to $2.1 billion in 1961.
Reroil lumber Inventories Show Slight Goin
Retail lumber stocks on December 31, 1960, total an estimated 4,629,000,M board feet, one percent above a month earlier, and two percent above the year end of 1959, according to the National Retail Lumber Dealers Association.
The board foot volume of Retail lumber sales in December showed a 23 percent drop from November, and a 19 percent decline from December 1959. For all of 1960, according to NRLDA, retail lumber sales of reporting yards lagged ten percent behind their 1959 volume.
Meanwhile, the \Vood Office Furniture Institute reported their members would show 1960 sales "in excess of 8 percent over 1959 volurne." Pointing out the dramatic growth of its industry, the Institute noted that 1956 sales showed a 10.8 percent rise; 1957, up 19.7 percent; 1958, up 29.9 percent; and 1959, up 8.3 percent.
Based on available statistics, total 1960 industry sales were estimated to be $85.5 million.
lntroducing lee Krcrmer
Many of you will recognize Lee Kramer of E-Z-Ghde Sliding Door Frame Company, 10942 East Schmidt Road, El Monte, California. Lee is a member of Los Angeles Hoo-Hoo Club #2 and after five years as sales manager for E-Z-Glide he acquired sole ownership last April. Lee advises that two of the original employees of E-Z-Glide are now in key positions, namely, Mrs. Bea Wilson, office manager, and Edward Lutkemeyer, assistant general manager. The first E-ZGlide sliding door frame rolled off the assembly line in Alhambra, California, in 1947, and since that date the firm moved to El Monte rvhere their facili- ties now encompass over one-half an acre.

Lee was born in McAllen. Texas. and resided in the Midwest through his school days. He served five years in the U.S. Army during World War II, most of that time as an undercover agent in the Military Intelligence Service and special agent in charge of the Mississippi fielcl offrce. He and his wife, Jerene, moved to California in 1945 and built their home in Temple City. Prior to entering the building and vvoodworking field, Lee returned to his pre-war occupation and managed \A/oolworth stores in the Los Angeles area followed by four years of employment as executive director for Community Chest and United Fund