THE CALIFOR}.IIA LUMBERMERCHANT

W. T. BI.ACtr

Howlrumber Lrooks

Portlancl, Oregon, April 14-Douglas fir lumber production for the first thirteen weeks of 1949 has fallen well behind output for the same period in 1948, according to H. V. Simpson, executive vice president, West Coast Lumbermen's Association. He said the first quarter cut of 1,905,601,000 board feet is 517.172,000 board feet short of the volume produced by western Washington and Oregon sawmills for first quarter of 1948.

I-ogging camps in the area, hampered by which liept many of them closed for nearly now in normal operation, Simpson advised.

Lumber shipn-rents from the Douglas fir continued to show improvement since the a severe winter two months, are mills in March winter lows and were up 20 million feet over February' February also sholved a similar increase in shipments over January'

"The one bright spot in the lumber picture nationally," Simpson said, "has been the increasing demand by consumers for utility and economy grades of Douglas fir lumber. Intelligent buying of the right grade for the right use is aiding West Coast mills in their forest conservation drive' Industry is recoverinC 25% more logs from every acre today than ever before and much of these lower grade logs produce economy and utility grades. Consumer acceptance of these highly useful grades of lumber will insure continued improved forest practices and better conservation out here."

The weekly average of West Coast Lumber production in March was 169,304,000 board feet or 109.6% of the 19431948 average. Orders averaged 175,928,000 board feet; Ship- ments 164,655,000 board feet. Weekly averages for February 'r.r'ere: Production 143,098,000 board feet. (92.6/o of the 19431948 average). Orders 160,695,000 board feet; Shipments 138,47 4,000 board feet.

Thirteen weeks of 1949 cumulative production 1,905,601,' 000 board feet; thirteen weeks of 1948, 2,452,773,000 boarcl feet; thirteen weeks of 1947,2,073,220,000 bd. ft.

Orders for thirteen weeks of 1949 break-down as follows: Rail, 1,386,121,000 board feet. Truck 77,056,000 board feet. Domestic Cargo, 323,565,000 board feet. Export 75,006,000 board feet. Local 218,237,000 board feet.

The Industry's unfilled order file stood at 649,629,000 t>oard feet at the end of March. Gross stocks at 979,186,000 board feet.

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