THE CALIFOR}IIA LUMBERMERCHANT

How Lrumber Lrooks

Portland, Oregon., July 12,1946"-The weekly average of West Coast lumber production in June (4 weeks) was I24)96,W board feet, or 85.3 per cent of. 1942-L945 average, according to the West Coast Lumbermen's Association in its monthly survey of the industry. Orders averaged 114,192,000 b.f.; shipments I22,541,W. Weekly averages for May were: Production 12I,628,N0 b.f. (84.0 per cent of the 1942-1945 average),; orders 119,476,ffi; shipments, tzI,327,W0.

Twenty-six weeks f.or 1946, cumulative production 3,055,162,ffi b.f.; 26 weeks, 1945, 3,62L,892,00O; 26 weeks, 1944, 4,121,469,000..

Orders for 26 weeks of 1946 break down as follows; Rail. 1,945,090,000 b.f.; domestic,cargo, 4B3,169,000; export, 186,4O8,000 ; local, 37 4,339,000.

The industry's unfilled order file stood at 559,227,000 b.f. at the end of June; gross stocks at 378,664,ffi0.

Production of West Coast lumber increased 2l million feet per week in June over May or approxiniately averaging slightly more than 124 million feet weekly production. This small increase in production in all probability can be attributed to an improved log supply coupled with more favorable weather conditions. Weekly orders for Douglas fir, West Coast hemlock, and other West Coast species averaged 114 million feet, or a drop of approximately-5 million feet per week over orders booked in May. Undoubtedly this decrease in orders was due to changes in OPA price regulations that went into efiect in June.

Shortages in log and labor supplies coupled with uncertainties whether OPA ceiling prices and regulations would be extended after the expiration of the law on June 30th were all factors that hindered full-scale production and the hesitancy of the West Coast lumber industry to accept a greater volume of new business under the existing circumstances. Lumber shipments showed a slight increase in June over the previous month, averaging l22rf million feet per week. Unfilled lumber orders in the Douglas fir region declined about 4O million feet weekly during the past month but are still nearly twice as high as unshipped orders in normal times.

The Western Pine Association for the week ended July 13,93 mills reporting, gave orders as 47,777,ffiO feet, shipments 47,442,000 feet, and production 57,357,ffiO feet. Orders on hand at the end of the rveek totaled 248,639,0W feet.

Thb Southern Pine Association for the week ended July 6, 75 units (98 mills) reporting, gave orders as 13,653,000 feet, shipments 10,834,000 feet, and production l2,l27,ON feet. Orders on hand at the end of the week totaled 78,613,000 feet.

The West Coast Lumbermen's Association for the week ended July 13, 138 mills reporting, gave orders as 71,905,000 feet, shipments 50,633,000 feet, and production 51,098,000 feet. Unfilled orders on hand at the end of the week totaled 475,541,000 feet.

Redwood Mills Resuming Operations

San Francisco, July 2S.-Redwood lumber mills in Northern California are resuming operations after a six months' strike shutdown which resulted in an estimated loss of 175 to 200 million board feet.

Mill operators have broken off all negotiations with the union over the closed shop issue. Three of the mills afiected have reopened. The Pacific Lumber Company is running three rigs; Union Lumber Company two rigs, and Rockport Redwood Co. one rig. Northern Redwood Lumber Co., Arcata Redwood Co., and Caspar Lumber Co. are getting ready to operate. Some of the mills will be unable to resume immediately because of lack of logs.

Wage increases of 20 cents an hour are being paid returning workers, plus the additional increases in the various skilled jobs. IJnder the new rates, pay starts at $l.02rl an hour.

California Redwood production during 19,16 fell to 43,241,0@ board feet for the five months ended May 31, compared to 176,781,ffi board feet for the like 1945 period, according to Forest Service estimates. Production of all lumber species in the region is estimated at 95,376,000 board feet against 265,611,W feet a year ago.

Offers To Purchcse OP & E Rcilrocrd

Booth-Kelly Lumber Co., Eugene, Ore., has made an offer to purchase the Oregon Pacific & Eastern Railroad, operating between Cottage Grove and Disston, Ore., according to George T. Gerlinger, Portland, w'ho represents some 200 stockholders of the rail line.

Plywood Distributors Elect Officerg

The -ltlational Plywood Distributors Association, Inc., held its annual meeting at the Olympic Hotel, Seattle, July 10, 11 and 12.

New officers for the. ensuing year were elected. They are:

President-Louis G. Riecke, Tulane Hardwood Lumber Co., New Orleans, La.

Vice President-.George E. Voorhees, Milwaukee Plywood Company, Milwaukee,'Wis.

Secretary-Kenneth J. Shipp, California Builders Supply Co., Oakland, Calif.

TreasurerE. J.- Davis, Davis Plywood Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio.

Ccrncdian Lumber To Go Up l0 Per Cent

Ottawa, July 18.-A price board official said today Canadian manufacturers soon will impose a 10 per cent increase on lumber products sold to United States customers to compensate for price differentials caused by revaluation of the Canadian dollar.

Canadian lumber shippers had been taking a loss since the Canadian dollar was put on a par with the United States dollar, and the 10 per cent adjustment would restore prices to their former level, he said.

Bcck from Northern Trip

C. M. Cooper, W. E. Cooper Lumber Co., Los Angeles; spent ten days calling on the mills in Northern California and Oregon.