Evening star., 1935-12-21
LUMBER OUTPUT
HIGHEST SINCE 81
1886 Expected to Be Best
Year in Industry
Since 1929

Lumber production in the United
States in 1885 will total approximately
l7l5 billion feet, the largest in the last
four years, the National Lumber Man
ufacturers' Association announced
today.
The approximate production Of the
year was greater than In 1884, 1888
and 1882. In 1884 production of lum-
ber totaleo l512 billion feet, while IA
billion feet were produced in 1888. and
10 billion feet, the depression low, in
1882 The association stated that 81
billion feet is normal production"
During the last quarter of 1885 soft
wood lumber production was approxi-
mately 90 per cent greater than in
the last quarter of last year, and con-
sumption during the last quarter was
approximately 20 per cent above that
of the corresponding period last year.
Residential Building Gains.
Residential building, which is the
largest factor in lumber consumption,
was, in floor space contracted for,
nearly 21a times that of 1884 during
the last part of 1885 and is expected
next year to be double that of 1885,
which would make it the largest year
since 1929 Such an increase in resi-
dence building, If other factors show
similar gain, would signify an increase
of lumber production in 1886 to around
Is to SO billion feet, or about equal
to the 1880 lumber output. The in
dustrial demand for lumber has been
gaining rapidly and all the signs point
to an approximation of industrial con-
sumption next year equal to that of
1881 and perhaps to 1880. Employ
ment has been slowly gaining during
the last part of 1885 and with present
tendencies should begin to approx
mate in 1886 at least the "normalcy"
of 1901. These forecasts will be
somewhat affected by the results of
increased imports of lumber under
the new Canadian-American trade
agreement, which will become effective
In January.
Resumption of normal production
by the lumber and timber products in
dustries (sawmills and logging opera
tons, which is the most important in
the forest products group will be
noticeably advantageous in some 80
States in which the forest industries
are important. The lumber and timber
products industry was in 1929 the
leading one in 10 States in respect of
the number of wage earners: it led in
nine States in amount of wages, and
In six States in the value of products.
Despite the exceptional effects of the
depression upon it, it is still the lead
ing industry in eight States and the
second in five States, the number Of
wage earners being the criterion. In
the State of Washington, in 1888, the
lumber industry employed As per cent
of all the wage earners: in Oregon,
48 per cent; in Mississippi. Al per
cent; Idaho, AZ; Arkansas, SO; Lou
Esiana, 27, and New Mexico, IS.
The forest products industries Gn-
Guiding lumber and its manufacturers
Is fifth in number of wage earners in
q national count of Is general indus
trial groups; seventh in pay rolls, and
ninth in total value of products. 1t
is exceeded normally in the number of
wage earners only by the food, tex
tiles, machinery, iron and steel groups.
Up to 70 years ago the Northeastern
States led in lumber production; in the
80s and 90s the Lakes States took
the lead; at the turn of the century the
South was in the van, and now lead
ership is conceded to the Far Western
States. Washington and Oregon have
been the leading lumber producing
States since 1920. with Louisiana, Mis-
sissippi and California not far behind.
California is now third on the list
Southern pine is the leading species in
point of production; then come Doug
las fir, PonderoSa pine, oak, and white
pine. Of the hardwoods. gum ranks
next to oak and maple is third.
1t is estimated that nearly so per
cent of all lumber goes into building
and construction. Boxes and crates
require about Is to 16 per cent; the
railways directly use to per cent,
and exports absorb about 7 per cent,
leaving somewhere around II per cent
for the fabricating industries. Lumber
is the major material used in residence
building; approximately 80 per cent
of the residence structures of the
United States are at least lumber
framed.