THE CALIFORNIA LUMBER MERCHANT J*k

Dionne, Publisher

ANGELES 14, CALIFORNIA, JULY t5, 1957

How Lumber Looks

The report of second quarter, 1957, production and shipments of western pine region lumber products and estimate of probable third quarter, 1957, shipments, released by W. E. Griffee, assistant secretary-manager of the Western Pine Association, says:

Production of lumber in the western pine region during the second quarter of this year is estimated at 2039 million board feet, 10.4/o below the second quarter of last year. Shipments of 2061 million feet were down 6.4/o from the second quarter of 1956.

Latest figures on residential construction are mildly encouraging. Privately financed housing starts in May were at the seasonally adjusted annual rate of 990,000 units, the best rate so far this vear but still well below the 1,146,000 unit rate of May tq56. tlo sharp upturn is expected but any significant change, when it does come, should be for the better. The percentage of available vacant housing has been shrinking in recent months, indicating a need for more homes.

W&ile there are yet surplus stocks of some items in the lumber induqtry, particularly at the mills, the present low price level has been fairly stable for the past eight or nine months so most relailers and millwork plants must have their stocks pretty well in line by now. In the monttr-s ahead they should buy as much lumber as they sell or use.

Wetcome

In this issue, we welcome these new advertisers into the family of California Lumber "Merchant-isers":

City of Los Angeles Develops New Spon Tobles

Pleasccnt Hill Yqrd Stcrges DJ-Y Ccrnivcl lor $600

Wholesole Lumbermen Hold 65th Annuql

Rounds-Rockport Opens New Mill Oflices

Pcnk Arnold to Heqd Kiwonis Internqtionql ....

Ncrtionql Plywood Distributors Moves to Portlond . ...

L. A. Hoo-Hoo Elect Deqler Hcrry Boqnd

"He Thinks We're Overselling"-An Editoriql

Tremendous Remodeling Mcrket Described

Hull Bros. O,pens SelfService Depcrtment

Northern Hoo-Hoo Aid Boy Scouts Project

The A.DVERTISERS INDEX will be lound on Pcse 64

Green fir, dry fir and western pine species all contributed to the decline reported in Crow's Lumber Price Index in the period ending June 28. Green hemlock dimension is the "Cinderella" of today's market, which some important eastern areas favor because of its price. Plywood sheathing is still firm. Log prices remained steady in western Oregon, with reduced demand for Douglas fir and unsettled labor situation keeping log-buying at a minimum; here, too, demand was heavy for green hemlock dimension.

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Lumber shipments of 489 mills reporting to the National Lumber Manufacturers Assn. in the week ended June 22 were 3.3Vo below production, while new orders were 0.3/o above. For the year to date, new orders hit 1.4% above production Shipments of. L33,029,616 feet climbed 16.2/o above production of. 1t4,45t,439 feet at 164 mills reporting tb the West Coast Lumbermen's Assn. in the week ending Irtne 29. Orders were 5.6/o under pr'oduction The weekly average of wes.t coast lumber production in June was 183,747,000 b,f., reported Harris E. Smith, WCLA secretary, in his monthly report'for the Douglas fir region; orders averaged 181,882,000 and shipments averaged 197,095,000 b.f. Fir plywood orders fell ll.3Vo below prodirction of ll3,75Z,W feet in the week ending lune 29, reported the Douglas Fir Plywood Assn., but were nearly N/o hisher than the corresponding 1956 week, while production was 3l-7Vo higher than the like 1956 week.