HARDWOOD RECORD 



other industries using it are being operated on 

 fuller time. The supply of ash in the higher 

 grades, however, is not burdensome, and it is 

 not being forced on the market. The higher 

 grades of cottonwood and gum are in but mod- 

 «rate request. There is some movement in cy- 

 press at prices that have recently prevailed, 

 but the demand for this is not active at all. 

 There is no great amount of poplar offered for 

 sale here and prices on this lumber are well 

 maintained largely because of this fact. The ex- 

 port demand is very limited and advices received 

 by prominent local exporters have created the 

 belief that there will be no particularly active 

 demand from that direction until the consigned 

 stocks have been materially reduced. Some of 

 the foreign correspondents of local firms advise 

 that there is no use to make firm offers under 

 present conditions, as there is so little prospect 

 of any business being put through on satisfac- 

 tory terms. Production is being kept within 

 very moderate" bounds and the disposition is 

 rather to decrease than to increase the cut of 

 the mills in this territory. The feeling is that 

 there will be an improved demand in the near 

 future and this is one of the reasons manufac- 

 turers prefer to pursue a conservative course 

 with regard to the operation of their mills. If 

 improved demand should soon develop it would 

 afford an opportunity of disposing of present 

 holdings to better advantage, and those who own 

 lumber prefer to take their chances on keeping 

 their prices up on what they have than to pro- 

 duce more lumber and dispose of their present 

 stock on the present rather unsatisfactory mar- 

 ket. 



^EW ORLBA\S 



New Orleans exporters are somewhat discour- 

 aged over the export situation existing through- 

 out this section and in the absence of the 

 ICuropean demand are able to do practically 

 nothing. They have done little during the last 

 two or three months and do not expect con- 

 ditions to change any until after the summer 

 has gone. At the present time there is no 

 Antwerp demand for lumber and there is nothing 

 being sold on the Rhine. In addition to this 

 the London situation is declared to be unsatis- 

 factory, advices to local brokers from their 

 London houses stating that the big lumber sheds 

 on the London wharves are crowded with con- 

 signment stuff for which there is little or no 

 demand. Holland is still somewhat active in the 

 market after sawn timber, one IS'ew Orleans 

 bouse shipping a cargo through Port Arthur this 

 week. All in all exports are in unsatisfactory 

 shape with no indications of an early change for 

 the better. Hardwood mills of this section are 

 following in the footsteps of other mills in cur- 

 tailing. A fair domestic demand is said to be 

 helping them a trifle. 



Activity in the building industry of Louisiana 

 has been responsible for a fair demand on in- 

 terior woodwork and there Is a good market at 

 present for that character of stuff. Attractive 

 residences for which considerable Interior finish 

 of hardwood are required are being erected in 

 various parts of the city, and this has stimu- 

 lated in a large measure the demand for hard- 

 wood products. As a result of this building 

 activity at present the demand is better than it 



With stocks generally low, lumbermen are 

 looking for higher prices in a few mouths, and 

 they are not putting forth an> -|r.,i;i; ^tT lis 

 to move their stock at the prc^. n ■ i:, i i.- 

 are a few kinds of lumber ili.i i in- 



up well in price and demand. •■-! i > i 'iiis 



true of poplar, basswood. and i|viinir sawed 

 white oak. There Is no question In the minds 

 of the lumbermen of this vicinity but that 

 prices muiit Increase from now on. and It is 



also very true that prices and markets have 

 passed through a change which was little ex- 

 pected when the financial stringency came on. 



With several mills in this vicinity the saw- 

 ing season will soon be closed. The supply of 

 logs not being as large this year as last, they 

 will be unable to operate as late in the season 

 as they did last year. The supplies received 

 from the Big Sandy river and its tributaries 

 are not w'orth mentioning at this time, and as 

 there is no sign of any activity for new logs 

 the mills will close earlier than usual. 



CHARLOTTE 



One of the best indications that the effects 

 of the recent panic are about spent is the 

 tact that lumber mills that were forced to 

 close down during the period of stringency are 

 resuming operations. During the past fortnight 

 several large concerns have started up work, 

 after a suspension of several months, and sev- 

 eral large new companies have secured charters. 

 which further shows the general confidence in 

 the early return of normal activities in lumber 

 circles. 



Hardwood dealers report inquiries more fre- 

 quent, and orders coming in more satisfactorily 

 than for some time. During the past two weeks 

 weather conditions have been favorable to wood 

 work and the time has been well spent. On 

 the whole, conditions are taken to be decidedly 

 more encouraging than at any other period this 

 year. Prices on various grades of hardwoods 

 are improved. There are scarcely ever a 

 time when more buildings were under way in 

 this state than now. This fact is perhaps due 

 to the cheapness of labor, and the ease witli 

 which It may be secured, and also to the 

 readiness with which railroads are now han- 

 dling business. All of this means much to 

 lumbermen and as a consequence a tone of op- 

 timism marks the comments of all lumbermen 

 interviewed. 



MINNEAPOLIS 



The demand from retail yards in the North- 

 west continues to be very light. The yards are 

 mostly run very low on hardwood stock, but are 

 disinclined to buy except where necessary. As 

 soon as the retail demand becomes more active. 

 hardwood dealers expect a lively call for yard 

 stock, with rush orders accompanying most of 

 the letters. City trade continues to be fairly 

 good, coming not so much from furniture men 

 as from the sash and door and interior finish 

 people. The building demand is nearly equal to 

 last year, and flooring is a strong feature of the 

 market. Birch is the largest seller, and there 

 is every reason to believe that at the present rate 

 of business birch will be good property. The 

 new stock Is lighter than last year, and demand 

 will soon clean up the old lumber. Oak Is not so 

 active, but northern stocks are extremely light 

 and the offerings from the South are not so 

 heavy as they were. Basswood has been a good 

 seller and the price Is stiff. On the whole, the 

 hardwood situation in this section Is stronger 

 than for any other branch of the lumber busi- 

 ness. Prices all along the line are very fair, 

 and advances on birch and basswood may be 

 expected before fall. 



TOLEDO 



It is the general opinion here that in the near 

 future there will be a decided improvement In 

 trade conditions. A slight Increase in activity 

 is already noted, and as a consequence some 

 heavier orders are being placed. Manufacturing 

 plants are doing a good business and are taking 

 fair cargoes to supply their needs. In the build- 

 ing lines there is also some increase in the vol- 

 ume of business and a better class of structures 

 are under way than those of the early season. 



Architects report that they are busy on contem- 

 plated work which will materialize a little later, 

 and which will require considerable hardwood in 

 their construction. 



All the better grades of poplar are holding 

 firm and show no disposition to decrease In 

 value. Some common stuff has been reported as 

 selling at a slight reduction, but the decline is 

 not general. Oak holds up well, as does ash, 

 chestnut and hickory. A fair business is being 

 done in all these lines, but not rushing. The 

 receipts of lumber have been somewhat Increased 

 recently and shipments are prompt. 



Trade still remains in a very depressed con- 

 dition and prices of most lumber has come con- 

 siderably lower, mainly under the influence of 

 large consignment parcels which have been 

 arriving. Several parcels of hickory logs have 

 been sold at very low prices, but the quality of 

 the wood landing has been very inferior and is 

 no real guide as to true values ruling. Good 

 wood will still bring good prices and shippers 

 are advised to send good wood to this market ; 

 but inferior wood Is not wanted and will only 

 bring poor prices. Ash logs and planks are also 

 very weak, especially the small second growth 

 wood, which should on no account be shipped 

 here without definite orders. It is well for 

 shippers to accept the best offers they can get, 

 as it is felt values will be lower later in the 

 season. The larger first growth wood Is not so 

 firm as when last reported, but large quantities 

 have come forward and have been sold at easier 

 prices. Poplar is considerably lower, as Is also 

 oak of all descriptions. Coflln and wagon oak 

 planks have been sold at extremely low prices, 

 as have also satin walnut and similar woods of 

 that description. Mahogany has been firmer 

 slightly, mainly owing to some good buying on 

 behalf of some of our British railway com- 

 panies. We do not hold very strong views as 

 to the future firmness of this market and, in 

 fact, think values will be lower later on In the 

 year. 



POPLAR 



Rough and Dressed 



SOUTHERN HARDWOODS 

 M. A. HAYWARD 



1021 Saving and Trust Bldg., Columbus. O. 



CORRESPONDENCE SOLICITED 



When you have anrthlng to oell, or wish to 

 purchase anything la the way of 



HARDWOOD LUMBER 



CR033 TIES OB PILIMQ 



Norval Osburn, Seaman. Ohio 



