THE CALIFOR}-IIA LUMBERMERCHANT

W. T. BTACK

How Lrumber lrooks

Portland, Oregon, June 12.-Lumber orders in the Douglas fir region for the frrst 22 weeks of 1947 were great- 'er than those for a similar period during any peacetime year since 1930, H. V. Simpson, executive vice president of the West Cbast Lumbernren's Association. announced today.

Orders for the 1947 per\od totalled 3,071,898,000 board feet, an increase ol 541,778,W0 feet ovgr the total for the first 22 weeks of. 1946. Production also continued high, reaching 2,902,401,00O feet for the 2Z-week period in 1947 as against 2,61I,583,0W for 1946.

Average weekly production during I\fay was 134,416,000 board feet, Simpson said, a slight drop from Aprills rveekly average of 134,631,000.

, "The fact that high production is coupled with a continuing high volume of orders indicates a healthy condition in the industry," Simpson said. "So long as this balance exists, lumber's payrolls can maintain their contribution to the economic welfare of the region."

Weekly average of orders during May was 127,887,Om board feet; -shipments, 134,928,W. Weekly averages for April were orders, 130,591,000 b.f.; shipments, 135,156,000 b.{.

Orders for the first 22 weeks of. 1947 break down as folowls: rail, I,925,802,000; domestic cargo, 355,217,000; ex- port, 505,816,000; local, 285,063,000. The industry's unfilled order file stood at 595,474,000 b.f. at the end of May; gross stocks at 382,974,N0. mills. reporting, gave 89,320.,000 feet, and orders at the end of

The Western Pine Association for the week ended June 28,93 mills reporting, gave orders as 71,703,000 feet; shipments, 57,969,000.feet, and production 63,701,000 feet. Or-' ders on hand at the end of the week totaled 165,366,000 feet.

The Southern Pine Association for the week ended 21. 79 units (109 mills) reporting, gave orders as 14,321,000 feet, shipments 15,203,0@ feet, and procluction 17,h7,N0 feet. Orders on hand at the end of the r.veek totaled 60.602.000 feet.

The West Coast Lumbermen's Association for the week ended June 21, 139 mills reporting, gave orders as 86,382,000 fe6t, shipments 86,309,000 feet, and production 92,7l7,O0O feet. Unfilled orders at the end of the week totaled 485,351,000 feet.

For the 'iveek ended June 28, 140 orders as 81,719,000 feet, shipments production 89,075,000 feet. Unfilled the week totaled 477.000.000 feet.