6o 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



cutting, particularly on plain oak, is still in 

 evidence and weakens the market in other 

 lines as well. There is a healthy call for quar- 

 tered oak. Poplar is quite firm, but most of the 

 other hardwoods are rather quiet, with the ex- 

 ception of maple flooring which continues active. 

 The volume of business is somewhat larger 

 than a month ago, and the general tone is 

 considerably more satisfactory. As soon as the 

 banks begin to make loans it is hoped that 

 things will boom again. Until that time, bow- 

 ever, the lumber industry in Cleveland is bowl- 

 ing along under reefed sails, content in know- 

 ing that it is breaking even. 



has shown considerable stiftenlng and there are 

 prospects that elm is soon to advance. Demand 

 for hard maple is steadily increasing and prices 

 are advancing somewhat. The poplar trade is 

 holding its own and because of the fact that 

 stocks are not large dealers are of the opinion 

 that prices will be maintained. 



I BRISTOL Y 



COLUMBUS 



The lumber situation in Columbus is decidedly 

 quiet, but there is a steadier undertone to the 

 market and the outlook shows slight improve- 

 ment. During the month of June dealers will 

 make an effort to reduce stocks so as to be in a 

 better position to take inventory in the month 

 ■of July. In some lines values hold steady, while 

 in others considerable weakness is evident. In 

 many cases the price paid for lumber is governed 

 by the need of money on the part of the seller. 

 If the dealer needs money badly he is liable to 

 sell at any price he can get, but if such is not 

 the case he may hold out for the regular market 

 price. From present indications the low point of 

 the market has been touched and Columbus deal- 

 ers are not anticipating any further declines of 

 Importance. 



Stocks are generally very low, and of the oaks 

 there is little to be had. Gum firsts and seconds 

 are held mostly at $32 and some sales have 

 been made as low as .$2T. The asking price on 

 No. 1 common red is $23.50 and some sales have 

 been made as low as $20.50. The real market 

 for Cottonwood is $33 for firsts and seconds, end 

 It has been offered as low as $30. Quartered 

 oak is very firm and there is but little In the 

 market. Xo. 1 common rough is quoted at $4S 

 to $50 and firsts and seconds at $72 to $75, 

 Poplar is receiving the most attention of the 

 hardwoods and the price ranges from $25 to 

 ^60. Manufacturers and jobbers predict a better 

 market in the fall and most of them are opti- 

 mistic regarding the tuture. 



While some say the situation in this section 

 is far from satisfactory, others Insist that it is 

 not as bad as it might be, and there seems to be 

 considerable stock moving. One thing is certain, 

 those who get business are compelled to go out 

 and hustle for it. One prominent Bristol lum- 

 berman stated this week that be would be sat- 

 isfied if trade conditions remained as they are 

 now the remainder of the year, as he is able to 

 produce a fair volume of stock and market it, 

 on a narrow margin, however. It is the con- 

 sensus of opinion that there will be a gradual 

 Improvement in the demand for hardwoods 

 through the summer and fail, though few espect 

 to see any great amount of business done until 

 after the presidential election. 



Exporters say that the heavy consignments of 

 American lumbermen to their foreign customers 

 has injured the markets abroad, and that condi- 

 tions there are unsatisfactory, though the out- 

 look is hopeful. 



INDIANAPOLIS 



The market has stiffened considerably duruig 

 the last few days. Dealers who held off as long 

 as possible, almost to the point of exhausted 

 stocks, have been forced to place orders. Local 

 lumbermen are more optimistic than they have 

 been for several months, for the spring trade 

 has exceeded their expectations. Many look for 

 an advance in prices soon. 



Building operations are exceeding the record 

 made last year and the factories are placing 

 ordirs quite Ireely. Conditions are now almost 

 on :i normal basis and prospects are that the 

 vcliiMir nf bnsinoss will continue to increase. 



MILWAUKEE 



crop conditions, as well as other satisfactory 

 elements, give great encouragement as to the 

 future. According to reports received here logs 

 brought in from the woods some time ago are the 

 only timbers being sawed, as the wet weather 

 has caused logging to be suspended almost en- 

 tirely. For several weeks work has been sus- 

 pended in the woods and it has been almost 

 impossible to bring in any logs. From present 

 indications these conditions are likely to last for 

 some time to come. 



There is a scarcity of quartered oat and it is 

 in excellent demand. There has been an im- 

 provement in plain oak conditions also and there 

 is a ready sale for the better grades. Ash is 

 also having a good sale and the quantity on 

 hand is limited. There is also a ready sale for 

 poplar. In fact, this wood has been in such 

 good demand and has been such a good seller 

 that common is scarce. There is a decided 

 weakness in gum and cottonwood and compara- 

 tively little is being sold, except to large con- 

 sumers. These have acquired a good stock. 

 Whenever there is a bargain in this item it is 

 taken up quickly. Cypress conditions show little 

 change. Buying is limited, although there Is 

 enough of this wood being sold to stop con- 

 cessions, or rather the concessions that were 

 formerly asked. 



CINCINNATI 



The actual amount of business transacted here 

 during the month of May was not as good as 

 was generally anticipated, but still showed a 

 slight increase over the month previous, and 

 were it not for the inclement weather of the 

 earlier part of the month the volume of busi- 

 ness would have showed a decided increase. For 

 fully two weeks ail building operations were de- 

 la.ved, which put a check on the demand for 

 building material. But now the weather is much 

 better and the demand is much brisker. 



Poplar still leads in this market, while the 

 demand tor all grades of oak has shown vast 

 improvement and is running poplar a close 

 second. Bed gum, sap gum and cottonwood were 

 features of the trade the past few weeks. The 

 veneer trade has also showed slight improvement. 

 Such woods as mahogany, walnut and oak have 

 netted a small increase in sales, which was due 

 to purchases by the furniture dealers. Dealers 

 here expect that this month will be the best so 

 far this year, that is, with favorable weather 

 conditions. 



EVANSVILLE 



A feeling of confidence exists among dealers 

 here. Several orders of note were placed by 

 leading plants the past week." There Is a tend- 

 ency among the manufacturing plants, however, 

 to be reticent .ibout placing orders, and it Is felt 

 that the improvement is due largely to the great 

 amount of building going on in and about the 

 city. 



The market is firm and prices in general are 

 advancing. Oak remains unchanged, with an 

 excellent demand for the plain variety. Quarter- 

 sawed oak does not find so ready a call in this 

 market. Hickory is strong as usual and thu 

 supply is never equal to the demand. There is 

 mile market lor ash. and prices in this wood 

 remain about the same. The basswood market 



NASHVILLE 



The local market, in spite of the fact that 

 conditions are not as satisfactory as they were 

 this time last year, is quite active, especially 

 on certain woods, notably quartered oak. This 

 wood right now Is as high as it ever was, and 

 the tendency is still upward. This wood, in spite 

 of conditions that have existed In the no distant 

 past; has never gone oft one bit. There are no 

 quartered oak strips to be found on the market ; 

 this commodity is most useful for hardwood 

 flooring. Plain oak is a trifle dull. Poplar Is 

 quoted as only fair. Ash is dull and hickory is 

 little better. Some grades of chestnut are In 

 demand, such as sound wormy, used largely for 

 coflSns. The local building trade is good, but 

 the wholesale feature is not so good. Business 

 for May was considerably better than that for 

 April, but at that it is 40 per cent only of 

 what it was this time last year. 



MEMPHIS 



A distinct improvement in the market for 

 hardwood lumber has been noted by nearly all 

 the manufacturers and dealers here this week. 

 Inquiries have been coming In more freely and 

 in a great many cases inquiries have been made 

 tor stock to be "delivered later in the year. Con- 

 siderable lumber has been shipped out the past 

 two weeks and orders arc lieing taken for de- 

 livery during the balance of the year. I'rices 

 are holding up well, there being few indications 

 of concessions being made from the market 

 prices. Most of the inquiries being received are 

 for quartered oak, red and white ; both these 

 woods being in good demand. Very little plain 

 oak Is moving In this market, as the price on 

 this wood does not Justify local manufacturers 

 taking orders for this class of stock, however, 

 the market for this wood will Imnrove as soon 

 as the surplus stock is disposed of which is 

 coming in from other sources. 



Optimism prevails among the hardwood lum- 

 bermen of St. Louis as to the future, althougn 

 just now trade is rather quiet. The excellent 



The demand for hardwood lumber Is Improv- 

 ing to some extent and the volume of business 

 i>'-lowly increasing, but the price situation Is 

 ii.,t -;!iisf\ctory. as some Items have been forced 

 1 V lompctition from other' points to a low level, 

 ,vrn as compared with that which prevailed 

 some time ago. One of the Items that has suf- 

 fered materially In this respect is lower grade 

 cottonwood. Some of the trade here are trying 

 to hold their prices and are refusing to meet 

 the views of buyers, who claim to be able to 

 operate to better advantage at other points. For 

 a long while low grade cottonwood displayed a 

 steady undertone, but the box situation has be- 

 come" somewhat unsatisfactory, and this Is re- 

 flected in both cottonwood and gum. The price 

 at which log run cottonwood and gum are ob- 

 taiaable is comparatively low and this, together 

 with competition from other materials entering 

 in:o box manufacture and the rather less sat- 

 isfactory condlllon among box manufacturers, 

 is perhaps largely responsible for the recent 

 easiness In both kinds of lumber. 



The strongest feature of the list Is quartered 

 oak. The demand for this Is not so large, but 

 offerings are small, with the result that holders 

 are able to secure their own terms where they 

 iiavo anything to offer. Plain oak In the higher 

 grades, too, Is selling quite well, but the. lower 

 grades arc not in much demand and prices are 

 comparatively low. The movement In ash Is 

 somewhat disappointing and no great activity la 

 expected in this until more of the car plants and 



