The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-03-15
SaysLumber
Business Is
Encouraging
National Association Shows
Increase in Shipments
Over Last Year.
INDUSTRY STILL
NOT MAKING MONEY

The present trend in the lumber
business is rather encouraging" SAID
Walter Neils, manager of the J. Neils
Lumber company of this city, in re-
spouse to an inquiry Tuesday Mr.
Neils is director of the Western Pine
Manufacturers association and of the
National Lumber Manufacturers associ-
alton and takes a lively interest in the
affairs Of both associations.
This improvement is shown in the
volume of business enjoyed by the
Western Pine association during the
past few weeks, which shows a slight
increase. | can say there has been a
substantial increase as far as our own
business is concerned" said Mr.. Neils.
"A few statistics will help to give one
picture of the present trend toward
business improvement continued Mr..
Neils. Production by the member mills
of the Western Pine association up to
March 3, 1888, was IS million feet. This
year up to the same date it had been a
little over 200 million feet Orders in
this association last year were 1873 mil
lion feet while this year orders in the
same period have climbed to 292 mil
lion feet However, Western Pine peo-
pie seem to be experiencing an i'm
provement in business that is not be-
ing enjoyed to the same extent by the
saWmills on the west coast Several
factors there seem to be holding them
back at the present time.
Taking the nation as a whole this
same improvement is manifested" said
Mr.. Neils. I'm the first seven weeks of
this year, shipments by the National
Lum BIER Manufacturers association
crossed 1,125, 900 900 feet while last year
shipments In the same seven weeks
We're 802,000,OO0 feet. That is an in
crease of 323, 900 900 feet in the seven
weeks, which is very satisfactory in
crease under present conditions
The public should bear in mind,
however, that the lumber industry as
whole is still not making money"
stated Neils. This is due to the TACT
that we have not been able to advance
the price of lumber in the same proper
ton as our production costs have in
creased due to higher wage rates and
shorter hours. Nevertheless I am hearth
ly in favor Of the new arrangement
whereby the industry is operating I'M
der code authority Abuses In the in
dustry are being corrected and eventu-
ally ! expect to see an important M
provement in the industry as whole
because of code control Certain influ-
ences in the industry have forced wages
down to starvation basis within GER
tain sections and thereby have been
enabled to undersell their competitors
in the open market This unwholesome
condition is being eliminated by the
CODE
The Libby sawmill is being operated |
on As hour week basis divided be-
tween two crews. The box factory went !
onto two shift basis Monday night |
while the planer is being operated !,
sufficiently to take care Of all orders |
At present the Libby company is en-
ploying 403 men. This is not much of
an increase in number of men over a
year ago, stated Mr.. Neils as it was
the policy of the Neils company to |
rotate the available work among their
men and thus give all Of them some
work, but improvement in the industry
is being reflected in that the men are
working longer hours at present.