THE CALIFOR}.IIA LUMBERMERCHANT

ANGELES 14, CALIFORNIA, MAY 15, lg4g Advertisins Bales

How lrumber Lrooks

Portlar-rd, Oregon, May l2-Lumber shipments from West Coast sawmills were the largest during April of any month so far this year, said H. V. Simpson, executive vice president of West Coast Lumbermen's Association. He said April shipments averaged 176,272,000 board feet weekly, rvhich topped production for the same month by nearlv 5 million feet.

Lumber production for the first 17 rveeks of 1949 in the West Coast region is lagging well behind output for the same period in 1948, Simpson said. Douglas fir sawmills have produced 2,590,693,000 board feet during 1949 compared to 3,142,229,000 board feet in 1948.

Simpson said that logging carnps are now back to normal operations after an extra long winter shutdown due to deep snor.v and severe weather,

"N{embers of the West Coast Lumbermen's Associatior.r have stepped up their nation-rvide consumer advertising and promotion campaign," Simpson said, "and are stressing lumber's superiority as a building material." He said lumber producers were tying in their promotion drive with retail lumber dealers and distributors, to help them in their marketing problems.

The rveekly averag'e of West Coast lumber production in April was 171,153,000 board feet or ll1.8% of the 19431948 average. Orders averaged 166,052,000 board feet; shipments 176,272,000 board feet. Weekly averages for Marcl-r 'ivere: Production 169,304,000 feet, (109.6/o of the 1943-1948 average). Orders 175,928,000 board feet. Shipments 164,655.000 board feet.

Seventeen rveeks of 1949 cumulative production, 2,SgO,693,000 board feet; seventeen weeks of 1948, 3,102,229,N0 board feet; seventeen rveeks of 1947, 2,74l,ZgO,M board feet.

Orders for seventeen weeks of 1949 breakdown as follows: Rail I,797,257,000 board feet; Truck IIS,ZZZ,UJD board feet;Domestic Cargo 419,573,000 board feet;Export 87,068,000 board feet; Local n9,951,000 boarcl feet.

The industry's unfilled order file stood at 585.169.000 board feet at the end of April. Gross stocks at 981,190,@0 board feet.

The Western Pine Association for the rveek ended April 23, 109 mills reporting, gave orders as 68,892,000 feet, ship-

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