HARDWOOD RECORD 



the larger consumers are again in the market 

 and greater interest is being sliown all along 

 the line. Many of the mills have found it ex- 

 pedient to Increase their output, and the small 

 ■stocks at production points as well as along the 

 railroads ready for shipment should encQurage 

 the placing of orders against possible shortage. 

 The export situation is practically unchanged, 

 the accumulations abroad, combined with the 

 restricted withdrawals, serving to keep prices at 

 figures which leave little or no profit and which 

 are not infrequently productive of losses. The 

 shipping on consignment is discouraged more 

 than ever by those presumably In a position to 

 inform themselves on all phases of the foreign 

 trade as likely to cause disaster, and the dullness 

 in business generally does not furnish ground for 

 the expectation of an early improvement. While 

 the forwardings are .somewhat arrested, the quan- 

 tity of lumber sent abroad is still much larger 

 than it should be to end the demoralization that 

 has prevailed. In proportion, however, as the 

 domestic demand increases, stocks will be kept 

 on this side of the Atlantic, and the foreign 

 movement correspondingly lessened, which will 

 do more toward the restoration of acceptable 

 conditions than anything else. 



CHARLOTTE 



There has been unmistakable improvcnieut In 

 the hardwood situation In North Carolina. Not 

 since the first of the year has there been a 

 period of greater activity than during the past 

 two weeks or a time when business showed more 

 healthy signs. The effects of the panic are fast 

 dying out. as is indicated by the steady Increase 

 in demand for goods and the constant picking 

 up in market quotations. Quartered oak. ash. 

 poplar and other grades have greatly improved 

 in prices, and manufacturers are finding hooks 

 filled with orders. Building operations were 

 never being pushed with greater vigor than just 

 now In this section. The correspondent of the 

 II.vimwooD Record visited several of the largest 

 hardwood manufactories of this city and learned 

 irom them that business just now is better than 

 it has been before this year, with still brighter 

 promise of fall trade. Something like $1,000,000 

 worth of new buildings have been commenced In 

 Charlotte since .January 1. and all the factories 

 are busy with orders for goods. The large hard- 

 wood concern of J. H. Wearn, manufacturers of 

 office fixtures, tables, interior finish, etc.. reports 

 the best business it has ever had. The Carolina 

 Manufacturing Company, extensive manufacturers 

 of interior finish, sash, doors, blinds, office 

 fixtures, etc., reports that Us mills are now run- 

 ning full time. Mr. Fore of this company stated 

 business has improved at least fifty per cent 

 within the past sixty days, and that never In Its 

 history has the company booked so many large 

 orders. The story Is the same with the rest of 

 the concerns in this city and In this section. 

 During the month of September dozens of cotton 

 mills in the South that had been closed down 

 resumed operations, thus indicating the Improve- 

 ment in other leading industries in this section. 

 The railroads report greatly increased freight 

 traffic and a great diminution of the idle cars 

 that a few months ago lined the sidings. With 

 the promise of bumper crops business has taken 

 on a decidedly active tone, and no Industry re- 

 fiecls the general improvement more than the 

 lumber business, as none suffered more severely 

 I'nim the panic. 



this port, is finding the European market easier 

 and more remunerative than was the case dur- 

 ing July and August, there being an easing up 

 of the congestion which was reported and an 

 improvement in the demand. With the pine 

 dealers of this port trade has improved wonder- 

 fully with their foreign connections, and al- 

 though the improvement is not so noteworthy 

 with the hardwood fraternity, it is, at the same 

 time, sufficient to warrant comment. 



The steamer Gutrune cleared from this port 

 last week with a large general cargo, a good 

 sized portion of which consisted of hardwood 

 lumber and hardwood logs. The demand locally 

 for hardwood fiooring and other hardwood stocks, 

 such as used in the making of desks, etc.. Is 

 steadily improving, and it is thought that do- 

 mestic trade is making long strides in the direc- 

 tion of normal business conditions. Oak and 

 gum are being shipped in larger quantities 

 just at present than are the other specie woods. 

 Poplar and cypress are experiencing an excep- 

 tionally gootj demand, and have also felt the 

 effect of tills demand in the shape of better 

 prices. The demand for walnut, hickory, red 

 oak and ash is light and there Is being little 

 marketed. The exceedingly heavy rains which 

 have recently visited this section and North 

 Carolina have bad a deterrent effect on the 

 shipping of all kinds of lumber and hardwoixl 

 material has come in for Its full share. Cypress 

 shingles, such as are manufactured by the John 

 L. Koper Lumber Company, are being sold In 

 large quantities and at values which are on an 

 ascending sr.ile 



CLEVELAND 



Business remains at about the same volume 

 as two weeks ago. according to prominent hard- 

 wood dealers of this city. The demand con- 

 tinues very fair, but It cannot be .said to be 

 much greater than during August. Healers are 

 very hopeful, however, that the demand will 

 continue well on Into the winter before in any 

 way diminishing. Several big concerns which 

 use hardwood quite extensively have resumed 

 full working hours recently. Orders from this 

 source of business arc reported as being good. 

 Some lines of building material arc also good, 

 notably maple flooring. Quartered oak seems 

 to have the call, however, with plain oak 

 second. Chestnut Is moving good, but there Is 

 no demand for hickory and the other rarer hard- 

 woods. 



COLUMBUS 



All good jjiad..-. ..f luujl"i- are advancing in 

 this market ami the lower grades show some 

 weakness. The hardwoods promise to attract 

 more attention from this on. becouse the build- 

 ing permits show that new buildings to I)e 

 erected this fall will call mostly for the better 

 grades of lumber and that but few cheap struc- 

 tures are contemplated. The oaks are on the 

 upgrade and the better class of poplar holds 

 steady and shows no tendency to decline. The 

 market for chestnut is strong and the demand 

 fairly active. Oak flooring is active and stocks 

 arc decidedly light. The best factor in the sit- 

 uation Is that stocks of nearly all kinds of lum- 

 ber are light and It Is believed that the ten- 

 dency of the market will be upward from this 

 on. The condition of the market is regarded 

 as verv satisfactory for this time of the year. 



this month will be the best of the year in 

 the hardwood situation. The box manufac- 

 turers are still buying a great deal of the 

 lower grades of poplar and are also using 

 some cypress where a cheap lot can be se- 

 cured. However the prices are being held up 

 very well on cypress and they are forced to 

 pay higher prices than some weeks ago. Every 

 item in the hardwood list has been held up 

 well during the past weeks, and some deal- 

 ers are asking higher prices on choice grades 

 of poplar and quartered oak. The latter item 

 developed added strength during the past two 

 months and also plain white oak has gained 

 materially during that period. The demand 

 for woods from the furniture element lias 

 been very light, and they seem to be buying 

 only what their urgent needs necessitate. 

 However, tliey are soon expected to get into 

 the market for larger quantities of lujnber 

 and then all hardwood lumber dealers will be 

 jubilant. The output of mahogany has been 

 about 75 per cent of that of last year, and 

 despite that fact prices have not been re- 

 duced, but seem to be holding up more stiffly 

 now than ever. Building material Is in good. 

 dem:ind with luiccs very firm. 



I CINCINNATI I 



Inquiries for hardwoods continue to in- 

 crease, and imidentally orders are becoming 

 more frequent than for some weeks past. The 

 movement of wood during the past two weeks 

 showed a healthy improvement over any other 

 two weeks of the year, and a great many of 

 the local dealers here are of the opinion that 



TOLEDO 



provement In business during the past few weeks. 

 Factories are Increasing their consumption con- 

 siderabl.v, especially the furniture, chair and 

 vehicle plants. There has also been a better- 

 ment In the situation so far as building opera- 

 tions are concerned. There arc numerous struc- 

 tures now under way which will consume con- 

 siderable hardwood, a thing which scarcely 

 happened during the early part of the season. 

 Oak has been quite active. Several cargoes of 

 oak timber which were gathered up in the sur- 

 rounding territory recently cleared from this 

 port, destined for Liverpool. The better grades 

 of poplar have been In good demand and have 

 held very Arm, but there are some weak spots 

 among the cheaper grades. No. 1 common and 

 selects are now selling around $35 to $38. There 

 Is a good supply of poplar here, although there 

 Is no overstocking. Much of the hardwood trade 

 done by the local retailers has been on the basis 

 of wagonload lots irom the local wholesale yards, 

 the retailers preferring not to buV heavily under 

 existing conditions, when they can purchase In 

 small lots almost as cheaply and thus avoid 

 tying up working capital to no advantage. The 

 l>ox plants arc ruDuIng in good shape and are 

 proving good customers. Basswood Is very 

 scarce and hard to get. as well as some lines of' 



INDIANAPOLIS 



steady with a good demand for all lines, es- 

 pecially in oak. Building operations continue 

 brisk and a good business is anticipated from 

 now on. as manufacturing plants are operating 

 on about normal conditions. 



There has been little change in prices dur- 

 ing the last month and no decided advance 

 is expected for a few weeks. Owing to the 

 long drought and the threatened destruction 

 of the corn and other growing crops, condi- 

 tions throughout the state are a bit unsettled 

 at the present time. 



Retailers are not hesitating to restock their 

 yards, however, and the wholesalers and com- 

 mission men repiiit that business is gooil with 



eVANSVILLB 



The hardwood market of this district remolns 

 about the same; however, taken as a whole, the 

 month of September will show uji belter ilian 



