Published In the Interest of Ha-Tdwood Lumber, America.n Ha.rdwood Forests, Wood Veneer Industry. Ha.rdwood Flooring, NEV 

 HaLrdvrood Interior Flrtish, Wood ClAefnicai.Is. Sa.>v Mill a^nd Wood\vorklng Mai.cKirvery. BOT 



Vol. XXVI. 



CHICAGO. APRIL 25. 1908. 



No. 1. 



Published on the 10th and 25th o[ each month hy 



THE HARDWOOD COMPANY 



HENRY H. GIBSON. Ed.ior. EDGAR H. DEFEBAUGH. M.n.gtr. 



7th Floor, Ellsworth Bldg.. 355 Dearborn St.. Chicago, 111., U.S.A. 



Telephone Harrison 4960 



REPRESENTATIVES 



Philadelphw ... Jacob Hollzmm, 916 Rolhschlld Buildioe 



TERMS OF ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION 

 In the United States, Canada, Philippine Island, and Mexico $2.00 



In all other countries in Universal Postal Union 3.00 



Subscriptions are payable in advance, and in default of written orders to the 

 contrary are continued at our option. 



Entered as second class matter May 26, 1902, at the Postoflice at Chicago. 

 111. under act of March 3, 1879. 



Coming Association Meetings. 



HANDLE MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION. 

 The Handle Manufacturers' Association of America will 

 hold its regular semiannual meeting at the Gait House, 

 Louisville, Ky., Wednesday, May 20. 



SOUTHERN CYPRESS MANUFACTURERS' 

 ASSOCIATION. 

 The fourth annual meeting of this organization will con- 

 vene at New Greunewald Hotel, New Orleans, Wednesday 

 and Thursday, May 20 and 21, at 10:00 a. m. 



NATIONAL HARDWOOD LUMBER ASSOCIATION. 



The annual meeting of the National Hardwood Lumbei 

 Association will be held at Milwaukee, Thursday and Friday, 

 June 11 and 12. 



NATIONAL LUMBER MANUFACTURERS' 

 ASSOCIATION. 



On Jiine 16, 17 and 18 the National Lumber Manufac- 

 turers' Association will convene for its annual meeting at 

 Minneapolis, Minn. 



General Market Conditions. 



^ While general hardwood conditions are not exatftly featureless 

 C.thoy approach that point. Handtoiiiouth buying prevails in all 

 """quarters, save that certain large and financially strong jobbers, 

 2^figuring that hardwood lumber is better property than money, are 

 T)uying very heavily. They are practically speculating on the 

 ^market, believing that with coflfparatively short stocks lumber 

 ^[Will command much higher prftfes before the year is over. There 



is a renaissance of railroad buying in some quarters, although it 

 has not yet reached the West to any extent. On the whole, the 

 country over, the market may be considered a little stronger, and 

 there is a little increase in the volume of sales. However, whole- 

 sale consumers are still chary and are generally buying only for 

 immediate requirements. 



The hardwood flooring trade remains in very fair shape, the 

 aggregate of repair orders taken in combination with the office 

 and public building work going on, seeming to keep this branch 

 of the industry fairly well occupied. 



Veneers and panels are showing only a moderate demand, and 

 prices are ranging lower than they should. The same may be 

 said of the handle industry, and there is apparently less than half 

 the normal demand. 



The foreign woods business is suffering with the domestic 

 product and although the call is only moderate, prices are fairly 

 well maintained. 



As to domestic woods, the air is full of rumors of cut prices, 

 but traced to their source it is found that few of the large 

 operators are making any concessions. What cutting is being 

 done, is by small manufacturers and jobbers of little financial 

 worth, who have been obliged to make sales in order to meet 

 current obligations. 



On the whole the market is in very fair shape and thirty days' 

 normal trade will greatly enhance values. The average manu- 

 facturer looks on the situation from an optimistic viewpoint, 

 believing his stock of lumber in pile is a mighty good asset, and 

 lir ]iroposi's to keep it until he can secure his price. 



• The Maple Flooring Situation. 



As compared with the trade of a year ago the maple flooring busi- 

 ness cannot be counted brisk, although all the manufacturers of the 

 better class have been able to operate on two-thirds to full time thus 

 far during the year. Orders are becoming more plentiful and un- 

 doubtedly production will be considerably increased in the near 

 future. The use of maple flooring is steadily broadening, and the 

 product is constantly gaining friends. It is undeniably one of the 

 best materials for the purpose on the market, and its ability to re- 

 sist wear and rough usage is increasing its popularity for all pur- 

 poses, particularly for public and ofiice buildings, stores, warehouses 

 and factories. 



The manufacture of maple flooring has reached a point of per- 

 fection where it may be called a science, and about the only argu- 

 ment that can be used against the material is that, through bad 

 handling and neglect after floors are laid, it often becomes grimy, 

 a condition w^hich materially injures its appearance. If users of it 

 could be persuaded into an avoidance of the mop and slop-bucket 

 in cleaning the floors, and would substitute therefor any of the ap- 

 proved floor finishes, or even so simple a compound as equal parts of 

 turpentine, sweet oil and vinegar, thoroughly mixed, applying with 

 cheesecloth rags, a^ter the floor is swept, they would have a sur- 

 face that would be clean, light and beautiful in appearance for many 

 years. Manufacturers are certainly doing their part to make a very 

 desirable flooring, but up to this time very few users have given the 

 material just treatment after it has been laid. 



