HARDWOOD RECORD 



lack of snap in trading. Values have, as a rule, 

 held steady : quartered oak still remains scarce 

 and high : poplar, ones and twos, keeps firm — 

 in fact, all the better grades are steady ; in the 

 lower grades there is some fluctuation. 



Baltimore. 



There has been no pronounced change in the 

 hardwood trade during the past fortnight. Sup- 

 plies at the mills are reported small, and plants 

 are being operated only on part time and some 

 are shut down altogether. Yet offerings seem 

 to be quite liberal, with no snap in the in- 

 quiry, so that the range of values is easy. Such 

 manufacturers as have visited this market in 

 the last two weeks are unanimous in reporting 

 business generally as without spirit and quota- 

 tions low. 



One of the most troublesome features, of 

 course, is the state of the foreign business, wWch 

 suffers by reason of the heavy accumulations of 

 stocks, that have forced prices to so low a point 

 as to put it out of the question to continue for- 

 warding. The closing of the foreign market 

 naturally leaves much more lumber to be taken 

 care of at home. There are some indications of 

 improvement, however. Some of the large con- 

 sumers are apparently getting ready to augment 

 their purchases : railroad improvements are be- 

 ing taken up once more, and provision is being 

 made for additions to rolling stock. The furni- 

 ture manufacturers seem to be purchasing more 

 liberally, and the needs of the yardmen are un- 

 mistakably greater, though the retailers .still ad- 

 here to the policy of filling only their immediate 

 wants. Stocks in the hands of the yardmen 

 are as a rule depleted, and any quickening in 

 the requirements of the consumers must tend to 

 bring out a number of orders. Poplar is still 

 without spirit and the range of prices is easy. 

 The needs of the box manufacturers are very 

 moderate, and other consumers are in a similar 

 position. Till? foreign business in poplar, like 

 th.'if in oak plunks, suffers frnm e^icessive ship- 

 ments, anil the low range of valm-s aliro:\d keeps 



Pittsturg. 



In some respects Pittsburg lumbermen are en- 

 couraged over the outlook. In other ways the 

 market has apparently gone back a little from 

 the point where it stood two weeks ago. So 

 tar as inquiry is concerned, it is manifestly bet- 

 ter, hut when there is roiKiilcnil tli.> actual 

 amount of business placul liiil niiinnr im- 

 provement is seen. Duriim iL- |:i-: i.i.i weeks 

 there has 1.. en ipiitf :in anivi^ rail in ^.nj!,' quar- 

 ters for I, i i , im, beech, cherry and 

 poplar. M "ids have been wanted 

 by furnii , country plants which 

 manufactii: i. .. ;..r. . ur less extensive scale 

 carriages, iniplemeuLs. etc. Salesmen who have 

 been out on the road since April 10 have been 

 doing more business with these concerns and 

 prices have not been cut as much as a few 

 weeks ago. 



The demand for poplar has been better than 

 could he experted under existing conditions. 

 Poplar prices are well held. Stocks are yet 

 large, hut they are in strong hands for the 

 most part. The oak trade has slid back since 

 April 1 and prices have weakened. In the past 

 week, however, there have heen indications of a 

 stronger market and wholesalers believe they 

 will hare little trouble in maintaining list after 

 this date. For timbers and ties there is a bet- 

 ter call than any time this spring. 



The industrial situation is so disappointing 

 as to afford little nlief in the lumber busi- 

 ness. While pr.i^ ■ "I is very slow, 

 and meanwhile . rurtailing its 

 expenses to the "Perations, so 

 far as Onatir I', . i iied, are prac- 

 1. '-l-till. Spi-iiii; is far enough 

 pretty definitely what is In 

 and it must be admitted that 

 111 I is anything but favorable. This 

 miaiis little activity in yard buying. 



Buffalo. 



Hardwood dealers give a less hopeful report 

 of the situation than a month ago. as they are 

 afraid that the consumption of hardwood lum- 

 ber, especially in certain manufacturing lines, 

 is not as large as the sales of the rough lumber 

 have been. Still furniture and other factories 

 that consume such lumber are reported to be 

 doing well and look for a fair season at least. 

 It will be some time before this apparent con- 

 flict of opinion can be reconciled. If it ever is. 

 Then there is a third side to the question : Some 

 good business men say that it would not he a 

 good thing for the country to resume big sales 

 now. They say that to rush hack to the active 

 business of the past three or four years would 

 be to return to the dangerous condition that 

 precipitated this breakdown, which would be 

 the height of foolishness. 



"I have been in active business thirty years," 

 said a leading manufacturer the other day, "and 

 I have passed through these depressions before. 

 I am willing to wait a little now. It would 

 be Just the worst thing possible now to go out 

 and insist on doing a business such as we were 

 doing a year ago. Let us rest a little. It will 

 do us all and the country good." 



There is a good demand for poplar and quar- 

 tered oak ; maple is moving ; elm and basswood 

 are doing something, and only plain oak, birch 

 and chestnut are slow. Cherry and the other 

 high-priced woods sell fairly well. White ash 

 is quiet, but black is more active. 



Cleveland. 



Two or three months ago it was thought that 

 the business lull was but temporary, but now 

 lumbermen are beginning to believe that the out- 

 look points to a slack year. Not until after the 

 presidential election is a boom looked for, and 

 then the end of the season will have arrived. 

 Next spring, however, good times are confidently 

 expected. 



Poplar continues to hold the top place In 

 demand just now. Prices are quite firm, with 

 the demand and supply fair. Quartered oak 

 shows more strength than for some weeks and 

 is now selling around $S0. Plain oak is a little 

 better than it was a month ago and is moving 

 at from $45 to $7,0. Ash is quiet at from .?48 

 to SGo, according to condition. Hickory Is very 

 dull, there being almost no market for it. 



Mahogany Is also quiet. It is selling from 

 15% to 16% cents a foot. Circassian walnut 

 continues to hold Its price of 45 cents a foot, 

 though rough grades can be secured as low as 

 15 cents. 



Some price cutting has been apparent during 

 the past month, hut it is hoped that the hard- 

 wood industry at least will be spared much em- 

 barrassment on this account. Most of the in- 

 dustries using hardwoods in this city and lo- 

 cality are running on short time at present. 

 The call for flooring and interior finish Is bright- 

 ening up with the advance of the building sea- 

 son. 



Columbus. 



The market has shown but little improvement 

 the past two weeks. There is some activity In 

 the demand from manufacturing establishments, 

 but the improvement is not as noticeable as 

 was anticipated. Prices are fairly firm under 

 the circumstances and the prospects for the 

 future are still considered good. On every hand 

 are heard reports of depleted stocks, which Is 

 taken as an indication that there must be more 

 lively buying In the near future. 



Poplar is strong and prices are unchanged. 

 Oaks are in fair demand and the quotations on 

 quartered are firm. The lower grades are weak. 

 There is some demand for ash, hickory and 

 elm. 



Indianapolis. 

 The local hardwood market has shown some 

 improvement during the last two weeks, a good 

 proportion of Inquiries being followed by orders. 

 Manufacturers are showing a strong disposition 

 to hold up prices. 



This season has developed a good deal of big 

 building and Indiana concerns have also been 

 successful in obtaining some substantial con- 

 tracts for buildings outside of the state. 



Furniture factories are now running steadily 

 with a good supply of orders ahead. They are 

 beginning to place some orders for material, and 

 on the whole the hardwood situation is more 

 encouraging than it has been for some time. 



Milwaukee. 



A better tone is found in the Milwaukee hard- 

 wood trade, and improvement that is gradual 

 but steady is noted. The mills and factories in 

 the city have been buying more heavily the last 

 few weeks. Stocks at the factories are becom- 

 ing low, and this is taken as a good sign by 

 hardwood dealers. The active building season 

 is affecting trade, and many orders for future 

 delivery are being placed. The call for interior 

 finishing lumber is especially strong and inquiries 

 in this line are plentiful. 



Little change is to be noted in prices, al- 

 though it is evident that a more even schedule 

 is being maintained -and there is less cutting 

 among the dealers. 



There Is an increased demand for quartered 

 oak and the call for plain oak and birch is grow- 

 ing. Birch has been at rather a low stage, but 

 a healthy improvement is now taking place. The 

 supply in most cases is not heavy. Poplar is 

 holding up well and the demand is heavier than 

 a few weeks ago. While orders for maple floor- 

 ing are larger and more frequent, the greatest 

 demand is looked for a little later. Basswood 

 is holding its own, owing to the limited supply, 

 and the same is true of hickory. The general 

 industrial outlook In the city is much improved, 

 money is becoming plentiful and collections in 

 the lumber field are now quite satisfactory. 



Bristol. 



Continued improvement is noted In the hard- 

 wood situation in this section and lumbermen 

 are more optimistic than they have been for sev- 

 eral months. There is steady improvement in 

 all stocks and prices show a slight upward tend- 

 enc.v. Many mills have lately resumed and it 

 is estimated that fully 75 per cent of them are 

 running to their fullest capacity. There Is a 

 fair volume of business being done, especially 

 by the lumbermen who are hustling for business. 

 They generally realize that there Is a certain 

 amount to be done, and all are anxious to get 

 their share of what is going. The yards are 

 pretty generally well stocked, though they do 

 not contain as much lumber as they did in 

 March, when shipments were much lighter. 



Cincinnati. 



Ii 1, i.iiiii- (luring the month of April were 

 I 1 .\ than the previous month, and 



I the list showed improvement. 



'ill! ill III! fir iioplar Is still urgent, and some 

 sains rif the choice grades are l>eing made as 

 high as ?35, while the lower grades are selling 

 nt .?2o to $35. Stocks of poplar arc generally 

 low. Another Item that has shown vast im- 

 provement is quartered oak. Tlie building cl- 

 mcnt Is purchasing a great deal of that wood, 

 as well as furniture manufacturers. Plain white 

 nak is not as urgently requested as quartered 

 white and red, but some sales are being recorded 

 at good prices. The demand for walnut, hickory, 

 chestnut and mahogany is more urgent than last 

 month, and the general impression is that every 

 item has seen Its lowest price level. Lumber 

 dealers are sanguine of an improvement during 

 the month of May, and conditions seem to point 

 that way. 



St. Louis. 



There has been quite a noticeable Increase in 

 the volume of hardwood business that has been 

 done recently. It is increasing, too, all the time, 

 although it is not quite as large as it should be. 

 With the building season at hand, buying is 

 more noticeable, but the amount Is not nearly as 



