Lumber review

Title

Lumber review

Creator

Fischer, Arthur F.

Language

English

Year

1936

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

36 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL March, 1936 LUMBER REVIEW By ARTHUR F. FISCHER Director, Bureau of Forestry tober and November The Philippine timber trade with Japan has again returned to nor mal. There were during the month under review shipped to that country 8,129,776 board feet com pared with 5,415,752 board feet for November, or an increase of 50%. Thus the slack in the trade noted during Ocwas merely temporary as mentioned in our last review. Lumber and timber exports to the United States in December registered an increase of 13% compared with the previous month. Prices were steady. Reports from the above market indicate a distinctly optimistic tone prevailing in the American lumber industry. A greater building activity is expected during 1936 and jii anticipation of a brisker trade as a result thereof lumber yards are trying to stock up. The Philippine producers should, it seems, take advantage of the present favorable lumber situation in the United States to push the sales A FEROX PROCESS TREATED ; INSULATING BOARD TO MAKE ' HOMES LIVABLE IN THE TROPICS : Stops 80°/<> of heat from galvanized iron i Norton $ Harrison Co. i MANILA ! of their product in this market. The Philippine Mahogany Manufacturers’ Import Association in the United States has done a great deal in the way of advertising Philippine woods and otherwise working for the interests of the indus try, but no doubt much more could and should be done if all the mills in the islands could give the necessary financial support. Largely through the efforts of the said Association and its legal counsel, a number of important and reputable associations in the United States, such as the Association of Southern Furniture Manufactu rers, are giving their assistance in various ways particularly in connection with the mahogany case, which is still pending decision. The activity of the Chinese market last No vember was maintained during December, which is significant taking into account the fact that the consumption of the above market from month to month is usually very irregular. The total shipments to China during the month under review was 1,793,520 board feet, most of them were in the form of logs, as against only 384,144 board feet for the corresponding period in 1934, or an increase of 367%. The trade with Great Britain and that of British Africa were likewise comparatively active during December. Inquiries from new sources have been received from the latter country about the available supply and qualities of Philippine woods. It is said that house builders in South Africa are looking for better building material than what can locally be sup plied. The Philippine product would no doubt fill this need satisfactorily if properly advertised. The local markets are beginning to show their usual seasonal activity. Lumber deliveries from the mills exceeded production by 48%. The stock remaining at the end of December totalled 33,616,735 board feet as compared with 39,380,043 board feet at the end of the previous month, or a reduction of 14%. Mill production for the month under review also registered a decrease of 35%. Thus statisti cally, at least, the present local lumber situation seems favorable for a good market during the coming building season. Holbrook at Ft. Santiago Major General Lucius R. Holbrook command ing the Philippine department is heralded an excellent choice for this period of transition for the U. S. army in the Islands. Major General C. E. Kilbourne who filled in during the brief period between Parker's departure from Manila and Holbrook’s assumption of command, is famed as a coast-defense man of the first calibre. General Frank Parker, in the 2 years he was here, gave the department as active an admin istration in time of profound peace as it ever had. He will be rated one of the founders of aviation in the Philippines; following the danger ous pioneer flights he made, more than 100 landing fields have come into existence widely scattered throughout the provinces. He was in great personal danger on his Davao flight, where his plane cracked up in a forced landing; also on the more successful flight with ViceGovernor Ralston Hayden to the Batanes, north of Luzon, where the crossing was hundreds of miles across the turbulent Pacific, and the planes had to search for valleys big enough to afford landing. IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL

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