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Yarde, Doc&s and Terminal Facilitiee 2000 Evans n{venue, San Francisco 24 VAlencia 4-4I)O easing of the producer-customer delivery tug-o-war. which has been their No. I sales problem.

Shipments of White Fir, top priority wood on the industry's promotion schedule for 1948, jumped an indicated L2.7 per cent in the first nine months-against 7.2 per cent for all species combin'ed. Consumer reaction from throughoqt the nation has made it apparent that, when properly manufactured, White Fir is equal to most other soft woods for a majority of construction uses. Hbretofore only light- ly regarded by millmen and buyers alike, White Fir in the years ahead promises to become a major segment in the staple line of Western Pine lumber products.

Greater availability of trained young men is enabling the industry, through its association, to enlarge the scope and numbers of its field force from a wartime virtual nonexistence. Representatives have been sent into California and New England during the year and in 1949 field services will probably be expanded into the lake states and Washington, D. C.

The Tree Farm program made a surprising vault upward during 19,4. Forty-five new farms totaling 113,104 acres were certified by the Association. Washington led the list both in numbers and acreage with 18 new units covering 6I,720 acres. Sixteen new units in California totaled 20,702 acres. fdaho produced seven more f.or 23,215 acres, Montana listed three for 20f7 acres, and one 5460 acre unit was certified in Oregon. The additions gave the six-year-old program a total of. I75 Tree Farms covering 2,694,447 acres and pointed up a snowballing trend in the thinking of Western Pine operators toward permanent sustained yield operations.

REDVOOD DOUGLAS FIR

Outcome of the November elections has muddied the outlook for 1949. Although housing requirements, despite some 950,000 unit completions expected for the year, are far from filled, any action of the 81st congress toward re-impostion of government controls could appreciably alter what up to November 2nd appeared would be an unobstructed year of good business. Continued failure of the Veterans Administration to approve the allowable % pet cent boost in GI loan interest rates will make it virtually impossible for veterans to take advantage of their GI bill of rights (4 per cent money is rapidly drying up) and thus may take a portion of the vets out of the market. That condition, however, may offset itself by enlarging tlle market for rental properties.

The chronic threat of war apparently will keep the Marshall plan and rearmament program spending going at full tilt which directly and indirectly will operate to maintain this year's heavy lumber demand. Trade reports indicate that 1949's No. I housing problems will center on the low income groups. If, from either private industry or public housing proponents, a solution is found, it may take up a slack in high income housing where the saturation point, according to the trade press, seems to be approaching.

Generally, the industry outlook f.or 1949 is more vague than if the country's voters had gone the other way and it probably won't be determined until early spring after a congressional heading is taken and the 1949 building year more fullv assessed.