THE CALIFOR}.IIA LUMBERMERCHANT

How Lrumber Lrooks

Seattle, Washington, Sept 15, 194.t--The rveekll' ar.erage of \.\rest Coast lumber production in August (5 n'eeks) u'as 157,151,000 board feet, or 99.4 per cent of 1910-1943 average, according to the West Coast Lumbermen's Association in its monthly srlrvey of the industry. Orders averaged 188,212,Ufi b.f.; shipments 153,206,00O. Weekly averages for July were: Production, 730,322,0m bi. (82.5 per cent of the 1940-1943 average) ; orders, 130,455,000; shipments, 134,924,0W.

Thirty-five weeks for 1944, cumulative production 5,428,510,000 b.f.; 35 weeks, 1943, 5,256,825,000; 35 rveeks, 1942, 5,948,747,Un.

Orders for 35 weeks oI 1944 break dorvn as follorvs: rail, 4,507,884,000 b.f.; domestic cargo, 646,362,000; export, 139,180,000 ; local, 521,457,m.

The industry's unfilled order file stoocl at 1,075,06S,m0 b.f. at the end of August; gross stocks at 449,434,Cfli0.

August production lifts the West Coast lumber industry back to the level of June. Second feattlre of the current industry situation is that over-all military requirements appear to have passed the peak ancl dropped slightly, although still having first call on the major part of West Coast pro- duction. In meeting this continuing demand the stiffest problem that confronts the industry is log supply for the coming r,r'inter. The critical shortage of heavy duty tires is taking trucks off the log hauls of Washington and Oregon. Tl.re majority of log producers throughout the region are affected.

The West Coast lumber industry has experienced its first month of the drastic overall control designed by the War I'roduction Board to protect lumber supplies for ottr whole \\,'ar economy, in which lumber needs for transportation, housing, ltox and crating, and food production are hardly less vital than direct military recluirements. Despite the serious restrictions imposed by the new control on everyday uses of lumber, the industry is taking it in stride as part of the obligation of war.

The question of possible relaxation in lumber controls when Germany is knocked out of the war will shortly be considered by the War Production Board. The critical nature of lumber is likely to hold back its release from military requirements longer than may be the case with most war rnaterials, but the inclustry still anticipates that a greater margin of free markets will become possible.

The Western Pine Association for the week ended Septeml>er 9, 104 mills reporting, gave orders as 82,108,000 feet, shiprnents 70,576,000 feet, and production 75,368,000 feet. C)rders on hand at the end of the rveek totaled 392,252,UJO feet.

The Southern Pine Association for the week ended Septemlrer 16,92 units (145 mills) reporting, gave orders as 18,171,000 feet, shipments 19,213,000 feet, and production

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