HARDWOOD RECORD 



ber the advance in prices during tlie past thirty 

 days has been anywhere from $1 to $3 per thou- 

 sand feet. The splendid crop outlook, and the 

 bright prospect in commercial and manufac- 

 turing business, have had the effect of inspiring 

 general confidence. 



There is a decided picking up in building 

 activities. New enterprises have started up in 

 various parts of this state, and a large numbei 

 ef old concerns are greatly enlarging their fa- 

 Prominent lumbermen interviewed express the 

 belief that this fall and winter, and especiall, 

 the coming spring, will witness one of the most 

 active periods in the history of the industry in 

 this state. There is not such an accumulation of 

 stocks as was the case some months ago. In- 

 quiries and orders are pouring in more freely 

 and, on the whole, the lumber business is greatly 

 improved. 



The furniture manufacturers ot this state re- 

 port for July the best business they have had 

 this year ; equally encouraging reports come 

 from other lines. It is the consensus ot opinion 

 that the improvement shown during the past few 

 weeks is of a permanent nature, and hardwood 

 lumbermen ot the Carolinas are making prepara- 



for 



— — - LOUISVILLE ^-^— 



Louisville, the second largest producing hard- 

 wood market, shows quite an improvement as 

 to increased number of orders and volume of 

 money received for business done during the 

 month of July. Some manufacturers report 

 almost as much business in July this year as 

 during the same month of 1907, which, of 

 course, indicates that the local condition has im- 

 proved. Other manufacturers report that June 

 exceeded May in volume of business, and July 

 evidenced a greater number of orders since the 

 thunder cloud came up in October last. 



Louisville is particularly well adapted to 

 take care of flU-in orders, inasmuch as its 

 stocks comprise hardwoods in all thicknesses, of 

 regular lengths, and with its sawmill facilities 

 it is in a position to cater to specialties in hard- 

 wood, and is a splendid stock depot for manufac- 

 turers using hardwood lumber. With the rail 

 facilities in and out of Louisville no consumer 

 of hardwoods can afford to neglect visiting 

 Louisville when in need of anything from ma- 

 hogany to gum, including all kinds of oak, both 

 quartered and plain, and mahogany veneers and 

 panels. A look-in at any of the yards Indicates 

 that the hardwood lumbermen of Louisville be- 

 lieve in the future and that their stocks will 

 be dry and in condition to ship at any time. 



One manufacturer, in talking of future busi- 

 ness, said : "If my bank account was large 

 enough I would buy all the white oak I could 

 find, for I believe it is good property. It will 

 be worth more every day from now on." 



Everything is not rosy, however, at the Gate- 

 way to the South. Some hardwood men report 

 business quiet, although they are not discour- 

 aged, as they have had increased business every 

 month during the year, not as compared to the 

 abnormal conditions of last year, but when 

 considered with normal conditions of former 

 years. 



MINNEAPOLIS 



There is a stronger feeling among the whole- 

 sale dealers of the Twin Cities, due to a re- 

 sumption of buying operations by some of the 

 largest consumers, who have been practically out 

 of the market for some months. Some ot the 

 railroads are getting into the game, buying 

 car material and also ties and timbers. The 

 movement of oak is better all along, including 

 Blanks and flooring, and some fair sized orders 

 have been placed for factory stock. An advance 

 In oak prices has been scored here, amounting 

 to $1 to ?2 a thousand. Birch is the most plen- 

 tiful article in northern hardwood. Stocks of It 



are lighter than last year, but owing to the 

 small demand, prices have not been stiff, and are 

 still rather weak. The fall trade is expected 

 to reduce birch supplies to a low point, and 

 large concerns having capital to put into it are 

 loading up with stock, expecting to realize on 

 an advance. Basswood is selling well for the 

 volume in sight, which is small, and prices are 

 stronger than ever, being as high as at any 

 time in the history of the business here. Other 

 northern woods are about out of the market, 

 and northern oak is a hard thing to find, out- 

 side of one or two stocks. 



Factory buyers are still working on a hand-to- 

 mouth principle, but their plants are running 

 about as usual and their needs will mean a good 

 hardwood trade. Sash and door factories are 

 taking an increasing amount of oak and birch, 

 and have all the special work in hardwood that 

 they can handle in the limited time allowed. 



The manufacturers in this vicinity report a 

 general improvement in business, and an increase 

 in both inquiries and orders received. For 

 the past few months there have been many in- 

 quiries that proved to be not for stock wanted 

 but simply for investigating the conditions, 

 prices, etc. This, of course, makes it difficult to 

 gauge business, but a sure indication is the 

 orders that are being received by manufacturers 

 of this vicinity. 



High-grade poplar, quartered oak and bass- 

 wood are mostly sought now, with prices firm. 

 There is also quite an increase in the bills for 

 plain oak and chestnut lumber. It has been 

 reported that one manufacturer of this city re- 

 ceived a large order for low-grade poplar. It is 

 the general opinion now that prices are rock 

 bottom, and consumers wanting to supply their 

 needs must do so quickly, or pay advanced 

 prices. Manufacturers of this vicinity are much 

 encouraged over the present outlook, and are 

 confident that it will be only a few weeks be- 

 fore conditions will be very satisfactory. 



NORFOLK 



this 



The condition of the hardwood m 

 city shows some signs of improvement, insofar 

 as regards the foreign demands. The percent- 

 age of shipments made on consignment seems to 

 have grown less, and although the recapitula- 

 tion of exportations for the month of July is 

 not yet available it will, undoubtedly, show that 

 less of this disastrous trading was indulged in 

 throughout that month. Prices with manufac- 

 turers and wholesalers in this section seem to 

 be holding even with the tide, and if there is 

 anything to be said regarding the scale it might 

 be stated that it exhibits signs of strengthening. 

 The demand from the consumers in Bremen, 

 Hamburg, Rotterdam and Liverpool calling for 

 hardwoods, while, as stated, showing signs of 

 improvement as contrasted with the past three 

 weeks, also predicates a healthy fall business 

 at more profitable prices. 



Some of the dealers here state that domestic 

 business has not been as dull as they had ex- 

 pected, and the number of those reporting im- 

 proved conditions in their own operations is 

 sufficiently large to warrant the above being a 

 fair commentary. Cypress and cedar shingles 

 are experiencing a strong domestic demand. On 

 the local market values are off, but the demand 

 for most of the hardwoods is fairly active. 



TOLEDO 



Like every other line of business the hard- 

 wood trade has suffered during the financial 

 stringency of the past few months and has not 

 yet wholly recovered. Building has picked up 

 wonderfully in the past few weeks, the class 

 of structures being of a higher class than those 

 of the past few months. In the past week or 



two there has been a marked improvement in 

 hardwoods, especially flooring. The demand for 

 quartered oak has been improving steadily. In 

 the effort to adjust prices on oak last year plain 

 oak went up to such a height that very little 

 quartered oak was put out, the mills finding it 

 more profitable to saw plain. This year prices 

 have been equalized and quartered oak is again 

 strong. 



Birch is fairly strong. Cherry is rarely called 

 for, and I's and 2's can now be bought at quite 

 low figures. Cedar is fairly strong and consid- 

 erable quantities are being used in the manu- 

 facture of pails, tree tubs, churns and the like. 

 Ash, which showed some inflation last season, 

 is again down to its normal price. 



Local dealers in hardwoods are in fair shape 

 so far as stocks are concerned. Dealers seem 

 optimistic as to the future, predicting a good 

 business for the end of the season. 



LIVERPOOL 



The turn of the half year has brought brighter 

 prospects and, contrary to general expectations,, 

 the trade of this part seems to be fast resuming 

 its proper course. There is no doubt that trade 

 is still far from good, but the volume is die 

 tinctly stronger and, now that a turn for the 

 better has come, we hope for its continuance. 

 The lower import during the first fortnight in 

 July has helped things considerably and, no 

 doubt, the next few months will see higher prices 

 all around. Shippers are strongly advised not 

 to think of raising their quotations, as this 

 would be very harmful. Oak planks of all 

 kinds are held in large quantities and are sell- 

 ing at very low prices, but boards are not 

 finding quite such a low level. Hickory logs 

 of good quality are badly wanted, and the stock 

 of prime whitewood Is also low. There Is 

 plenty of Inferior wood knocking around, which 

 will only bring very low prices. The mahogany 

 sales are scheduled to be held soon, and, in view 

 of the better conditions ruling, the wood should 

 bring much higher values. Much wood was 

 sold at extremely low figures at last sale, and 

 it is thought that it will be a long time be- 

 fore so many bargains are again secured. Canary 

 whitewood logs and lumber should not be ship- 

 ped. Ash planks and logs are weak, but 3-inch 

 and up Is and 2s and large logs of good, hard, 

 .white quality should bring good prices. The 

 smaller second growth wood and lower grade 

 boards and planks are almost unsalable at any 



Rough and Dressed 



SOUTHERN HARDWOODS 



M. A. HAYWARD 



1021 Saving and Trust Bldg., Columbus, O. 



