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R. A. Colgoil, *fr,, R"ports on Lrumber Productionrrr Present and Prospective

By R. A. COLGAN, In. Executive Vice President Nationcl Lumber Mcnulcrc'turers Associcrtion Wcshingilon" D. C,

In the l.{ation's Capitol, as was true last year, the consensus of opinion is that the lumber industry has again done a bang up production job. Although final statistics are not now available, it is expected that more than 38 billion board feet of lumber will be produced. For the third quarter of 194& production was higher than during the same three mnoths in any of the past thirty years.

Production in most grades and sizes has been sufficient to meet the demand of the nation's builders, who have also had a record year. The building of more than one million new housing units has supplied a ready market for all lumber produced.

This outstanding accomplishment was achieved, in most part, without the help of government control, allocation or regulation. For that we may be thankful.

Now, two years since the lifting of controls and regulations, the building industry has reached full stride. Every month has seen additional production records ,set. Despite the hue and cry of a certain elemgnt of the riation's conservationists, there were ample trees in the lorest from which the necessary lumber for the eridless and varied jobs was produced.

The industry's Tree Faim Program has continued to expand. Now, twenty-five participating states have l,SD tree farms covering 16,151,830 acres. The cooperation of the land owners who are participating in the endeavor is a renewed guarantee that ed'ucation of the timber holders in the most economic methods of harvesting tree.,crops will assure the nation of a continuing abundance of fcjrests. These abundant forests, will in turn, -providQ a willirrg industry the raw materials with rvhich to supply the nation's builders. i

The many organizations vitally interested in problems confronting the lumber industry held successful meetings in many cities of the nation. At these gatherings, leaders in the various divisions of America's oldest industry laid plans to overcome the obstacles u'hich must be removed, if we are to continue meeting the increased demand for wood products.

The overall picture f.or 1949 is good. There is the reassurance of a constantly impfoving supply of raw materials and a continuing high demand for our finished products. America and the world needs lumber. We, as an industry, face a real challenge to supply that need, and supply it with the best possible product that can be manufactured. ;

Those of us who might be perturbed, as a result of the general election, will do well to realize that despite the political allegiance of the majority of members of the new Congrels, many of them represent an economic viewpoint which has much in common with our own. For this reason it behooves us to continue to cooperate with these leaders for the principles cif a sound economic system based upon free enterprise and individual initiative. This change in the political allianie of the majority members of Congress would indicate an increased amount of public housing. Those of us who do not believe that "Public Housing" is the answer to the nation's "shortages," must never-the-less accept the challenge for furnishing the increased wood products that will be necessary for any socialistic method housing which may be authorized.

The effects of the European Recovery Program and an accelerated National Defense are just beginning to affect the industry. Additional acceleration can be expected from both of these programs. This will, in turn, aglin increase the demand for products of the lumber industry. The increased need for lumber, providing that we do not again turn to the totalitarian methods of regulation and price control, will remain at the present level in most cases. This may not.be trug in the instance of the less desirable giades, whose production will be increased proportionately as the demand for select lumber is met.

Our'1948 output again proved our contention that the industry could maintain production at a pace equal to demand, once it had the opportunity to perform without

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tY|ERRY C1|RI$TlY|AS T(| Y(|U

E. K. W(|(|D TUMBER C(l.

GENERAT OFFfCES: 727 Kanncdy Srrocf,Ooktond

LQS ANCETES Or;.. & yordr: t7t0 S.Atoncdo sr.-JE 3llr

OAK1AND Yordr & Whqrvo: 727 Kcnncdy SI.-KE4.8/466

PORT1AND Mill Solcr Ofilccz 827 Tcrmtnot Solo Btdg.

SAW MlLlS: Rorburg, Orcaon o Rccdrport, Orcgon

T HAS been said that sentiment and business can not go well together. \Ve sincercly believe they can! Believing so, we thank our many lumber dealer friends for patronage giveq usi . . . and af.the same time express our hope that this holiday season will open a year of prosp eity and accomplishment for every one oI you.

R. A. Colgan, Jr., Reports

(Continued from Page 12) the hamstringing which accompanies government regulation and control.

The challenge of a continuing lumber supply has been met rvithout any danger to the future supply of standing timber. The trend is entirely in the direction of an increasing growth and larger supply. Due to the expected demand for increased production in the year to come, this is a heartening sign. l\faximum effort will be necessary on the part of the lumber industry to continue the record lumber stocks, adequate to meet the steadily increasing demands made upon us. Only an act of God or' the olrstacles of government control rvill prevent onr srtccessfttl acceptance of 'the challenge.

Dmre Davis Appointed Deputy Stcte Sncrk

E. G. "Dave" Davis, Rounds Trading Company, San Francisco, has been appointed Deputy State Snark for Northern California by Snark of the lJniverse Roy Stanton, Los Angeles.

Dave has been active in Hoo-Hoo affairs for a long time, and was one of the prime movers in rejuvenating San Francisco Hoo-Hoo Club No. 9, and was first president of the San Francisco Lumbermen's Club, sponsored by Hoo-Hoo Club No. 9. He is also a past vicegerent Snark of the San Francisco district'

Los Angeles Hoo-Hoo Christmqs Party And GolI Tourncrment December 17

The Los Angeles Hoo Hoo Club will hold its aunual Christmas party and golf tournament Friday, December' 17, at the Oakmont Country Club, Glendale' 'fhe golfers will tee off at 12:19 p.m. Prizes to bc arvarded include the Roy E. Stanton, George E. Ream ancl The California Lumber Merchant trophies. Prizes will also be awarded to the rn'inners in the special events. The Christmas party will be held in the Club House in the evening. The dining room will be decorated in the usual holiday atmosphere, including a beautiful Christmas tree. Dinner will be served at 7:19 p.m., followed by a fine entertainment and the award of prizes to the winners in the golf tournament.

President Bill Ream and his committee are arranging a fine program, and a big turnout is expected. Send in your reservations early.

Plywood Plcnrt Stqrts Nov. First

A huge new plywood plant started turning out sheets on November first. It is that of the Eureka Plywood Company, at Eureka, C,alifornia, which is a branch of M & M Woodworking Company, of Portland, Oregon. The new plant is all housed in one tremendous building that measures 800 feet long by 160 feet wide, all under one roof. The blocks enter at one end of the great plant, and the finished product comes out at the shipping dock on the far end, 800 feet distant. Elmer Hall is general manager and Paul E. Freydig is the logging operator.

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