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SlidingDoor Frame Co.

U.5. Lumber Produclion In July

Wqs 2,5O9,OOO,OOO Boord Feet

National production of lumber totaled 2,509,000,000 board feet during July L961, according to estimates of the National Lumber Manufacturers Association. July lumber production was 13 per cent below June 1961 and seven per cent less than in July 1960.

Total shipments by lumber manufacturers in July were

Wholesqle Only

off eleven per cent from the preceding month and were one per cent below July a yeai ago. New orders received by themills during July 1961 decreased eight per cent fiom June and three p-er cent from the corresponding month in 1960.

For the first seven months of 1961, an estimated national production of 18,227,@0,000 board feet of lumber was 13 pef cent less than in the corresponding 196O period. Shipments of lumber to date in 1961 were ofi eight per cent from 1960, and new orders u'ere down five per cent.

DuringJuly 196I, shipments of softwood lumber were three pei ceni above the 2,128,000,000 board feet of production, while new orders were four per cent greater than the softwood outout. For hardwoods in Tulv 1961, production was estimated to be 381,000,000 boar<i feet, with-shipments six per cent more than the output and new orders one Per cent above production.

Total unfilled orders for lumber at the end of July were three per cent above year-ago levels. Gross mill stocks of lumbei on July 31, 1961, totaled 7,559,000,000 board feet, two per cent less than at the end of July 1960.

Increcrsed Soles qnd Eqrnings Promised U.S. Plywood Holders

Improved sales and earnings was the outlook ofiered to United States Plywood Corporation stockholders at their annual meeting in New York on September 21.

"We expect our total sales volume w;,ll approach the $300 million mark," said board chairman S. W. Antoville, who presided over the session held atop company headquarters in the Weldwood Building off Fifth Avenue on West 44th St.

Improved general economic conditions, expectation of easier mortgage financing-in the home improvement areaandgreatei emphasis on quality building materials .as "houslng becomes more and more a discretionary item with people, iather than a necessity" were cited as reasons for his optimism.

Foi its first fiscal quarter, terminating July 31, U. S. Plywood reported $72 million sales, and earnings_.of 96 cents a share as compared with 83 cents a year earlier.

Mr. Antoville informed the meeting that the upward trend had carried over into August to produce an all-time company record for one month of $26 million sales.

A hint as to how the company is accomplishing its objectives was included in the remarks of Gene C. Brewer, president.

"Greater emphasis," he said, "is being directed at producing and marketing specialty items-whether plywood or othermaterials-that come closer to the end user's requirements."

Eighty-five per cent of the huge building materials firm's research efforts are being concentrated in the product development area. he added. As examples he pointed to the upgrading of fir plywood with a line of exterior sidings the company brought to market a few seasons ago, and which have showed a steady and substantial sales increase despite the relatively soft new housing market.

Although individual housing has been one of the company's primary outlets, the firm is not overlooking predictions that a larger percentage of new housing.construction over the next decade will be in the multiple unit category.

"Our Glasweld, an exterior asbestos mineral panel offering the architect a wide range of permat-reni colors, is moving very well in the low-rise apartment market," he said.

Mr. Brer,ver also discussed an experimental application of the firm's products in a luxury resort project at Lake Tahoe, Nevada. He also announced the completion of plans to erect an eastern facilitv of the comDanv's Weldwood Structures Division, formeily Berkeley Piy#ood Company, Inc.. in New Jersey.

"Here we are looking particularly at the farm building market that has been estimated in excess of $700 million a year, as well as the production of component, prefabricated parts for light commercial construction," he explained.

Stockholders expressed their confidence by returning all officers and directors to their posts, and added Raymond T. Heilpern, corporation general counsel and secretary, to the board.