flaMwolRociM 



Published In the Interest of Ha.rdwood Lumber, Amerlc&n Ha.rdwood Forests, Wood Veneer Industry. Ha.rdwood Flooring, 

 Ha.rdwood Interior Finish, Wood Chemlca.ls, Sa.w Mill a.nd Woodworking Ma.chlnery. 



Vol. XXVI. 



CHICAGO. AUGUST 25. 1908. 



No. 9 



Published on the 10th and 25th of i 



nth by 



THE HARDWOOD COMPANY 



HENRY H. GIBSON. Editor. EDGAR H. DEFEBAUGH. M.a.aer. 



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



Telephone Harrison 4960 

 REPRESENTATIVES 



Phil.dclph,. Jacob Holum.o, 916 Rothschild Buildim 



Pittsburg H. A, L.n.. 906 W.b«sb Building 



Central Territory . . F. M. Clutter. 35S Dearborn St.. Chicago 



TERMS OF ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION 



In the United States. Canada, Philippine Islands and Mexico . . $2.00 



Ir> all other countries in Universal Postal Union 3.00 



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



optK 



of Marrh 3. 1879. 



May 26. 1902. at the Postoffi, 



Chicago. 



ceived five da.ys In ai.dva.nce of 



General Market Conditions. 



There is a manifest unanimity in the nearly fifty reports from 

 Hardwood Eecord market reporters located in practically every 

 hardwood trade center of the United States received for this issue. 

 They all say that improved conditions prevail, that inquiries are 

 numerous, and actual trading is fast bringing the hardwood business 

 back to normal conditions. It has been the most active fortnight 

 in hardwood sales and purchases that has been witnessed for nearly 

 a year. 



The volume of business, which manifestly will increase as the sea- 

 son advances, is not confined to the good end of standard hardwoods, 

 but there is a large movement of both common and cull lumber. Box 

 and shook manufacturers are taking on large quantities of stock, not 

 in anticipation of orders to be received, but for orders actually in 

 hand. Some manufacturers are reporting that their sales are up to 

 their fuU capacity to make shipments. Quarter-sawed oak and poplar 

 are still the leaders in acti%-ity, but plain oak is a good second. The 

 movement of all southern woods is fair to good. Business in maple, 

 birch and basswood is stronger than it has been for many months, 

 and with the comparatively short stocks of these varieties in first 

 hands, shipments will soon be up to green lumber. 



Trading in mahogany and other foreign woods, and in cherry and 

 walnut, is showing a marked increase, indicative of the demands of 

 the high-class furniture trade. Most of the furniture factories have 

 now started up on full time and they are showing very little ac- 

 cumulation of stock in their warehouses. There is every reason to 

 believe that there will be a good demand from this source all through 

 the remainder of the year. Manufacturers of hardwood doors and 

 interior finish are generally busy, as there is a large amount of 

 building going on in the Middle West, notably so in Chicago. 



Investors are apparently taking advantage of a low range of values 

 and are putting their money into permanent improvements on vacant 

 real estate. There is still a wide disparity in values from different 

 producing sections. In some eases there is an almost unbelievable 



variation in asking prices, but it is believed that the market will 

 settle down to an even scale before very long. 



Both oak and maple flooring factories are reasonably busy and 

 most of them are running on full time. The specifications for hard- 

 wood flooring seem to be increasing month by month, and of necessity 

 the call for softwood floors must be lessening. 



The veneer and panel people have had a renaissance of good 

 orders during the last month, and additional machines are being 

 started up to supply the demand. These people are very much 

 encouraged over the outlook and look for the year to close strong. 



The handle trade is still a good deal demoralized. The smaller 

 manufacturers, and some of the larger ones, are apparently out for 

 business regardless of profit. The situation is not at all alluring 

 for this line of trade, and will not be until manufacturers are con- 

 tent to let the demand catch up with the supply and ask a living 

 price for their goods. 



With the increasing volume of lumber trade and the general 

 shortage and broken condition of stocks, it is safe to prophesy 

 that the hardwood market will achieve added strength as the 

 months go by, and that the year will close with very firm values. 



Wood Preservation Progress in Favor. 



Processes of timber preservation have entirely altered the face of 

 many problems in the lumber industry. When this idea was first intro- 

 duced into the United States, manufacturers were naturally loath to 

 take the matter up in its experimental stage, even though if prop- 

 erly handled, it gave promise of decreasing the cost of labor and of 

 supplies to the consumer, by enabling him to greatly prolong the 

 life of the stock purchased ; moreover, the process promised assist- 

 ance to enthusiasts on the forestry question, iaasmueh as it would 

 tend to lessen the demand upon timber products to a considerable 

 extent if once perfected and popularized. 



Today, however, this experimental stage has been passed, and 

 wood preservation treatments are now carried on successfully and at 

 the same time kept within the bounds of economy. Repeated ex- 

 periments and investigations on the part of government experts and 

 others have determined to a nicety the particular kinds of treat- 

 ment adaptable to the various species of wood; the variations neces- 

 sary when the wood is to be put to certain specified uses; and, above 

 all, time enough has elapsed since these investigations were put 

 under way to determine definitely the percentage of gain in dura- 

 bility possessed by woods thus treated and tried out for a given 

 number of years, as compared with others of the same character 

 tested under like conditions, but without previous preparation. 



Several worthy results have become apparent since this process 

 of wood preservation has become a matter of practical rather than 

 conjectural usefulness. A new and constantly widening market has 

 been created for many varieties of timber not formerly considered 

 commercial factors; certain large consumers are gradually breaking 

 away from their prejudice and determination not to purchase or 

 even consider any except the few well-known timbers which long 

 usage and tradition have set aside as the only available ones for 

 their purposes — with the result that lesser-known, cheaper and more 

 easily obtainable woods are being substituted; and not only are 

 results as good, but in many cases they are better. However, the 

 one great desideratum which buyers of all commodities constantly 

 seek — the lessening of annual outlay, is attained; and once these 



