THE HARDWOOD RECORD. 



25 



to the amount of lumber manufactured and 

 on hand and the market price. So long 

 as they see any piles in their yards, they 

 are content, not realizing the constant 

 drain and pull on stock nor the changing 

 of prices. No, they, being liberal toward 

 others, think the same courtesies will, or 

 may be, extended to them. In other 

 words, having been a steady customer of 

 a manufacturer of lumber for years the 

 box man thinks he will be received when- 

 ever in need of stocks with open arms and 

 let in on the ground floor as to prices. 



Now, then, whosoever is laboring imder 

 such an impression or idea is suffering from 

 an illusion, and the sooner he, or they, if 

 you please, disabuses the mind of such 

 an idea, the better and more profitable for 

 them. All that is needed to prove this is 

 for the unbeliever to take a trip into the 

 once so densely wooded forest sections 

 where formerly the eye in its travels would 

 behold naught but timber on timber, for 

 miles and miles. What does he see now? 

 A barren country, cleaned of every vestige 

 of a tree, and the eye can only discern in 

 the remotest distance from the road on 

 which he travels a fringe of a timber belt. 



It is gene; it has departed. Nature can- 

 not produce trees as fast as the ax fells 

 them, so there is — there must be — a time 

 coming when the last log will find Its way 

 to the saw mill, and if the cut is keeping 

 pace with the demand of the present day. 

 It will require only a score of years to 

 fulfill the prophecy. 



Where, in years gone by, you could find 

 at short notice any grade or kind of lum- 

 ber needed, and sellers willing to barter, or 

 consider an offer for a batch, you will find 

 a far different proposition staring you in 

 the face now, for lumber in those sections 

 is king, and don't you forget it. 



The manufacturer knows the situatiou 

 better than the buyer. He knows that 

 stocks are limited; that the demand ex- 

 ceeds the output; so, if he has any stock 

 not already sold in advance, he simply 

 offers it at a price suitable to his interest, 

 and if you do not want it, all right, he 

 knows it won't be long before someone 

 else drops along, ready and eager to close 

 on his proposition. 



The question arises. What are we, the 



manufacturers of packing boxes, to do? 

 We can see only two ways out of it. One 

 is to get prices for our product in accord- 

 ance with going prices for lumber and 

 make the most and best out of the situa- 

 tion. Our customers, as a rule, are clear- 

 headed, far-seeing business men, and they 

 can be educated and convinced that with 

 the prices lumber demands and readily re- 

 ceives, boxes must follow in the rise. 



The other way is to turn our eyes to the 

 South and use such lumber as we find to 

 be profitable for our line. The price on 

 white pine is bound to stay and may ad- 

 vance. Basswood is scarce, and constantly 

 on the jump. Why? The demand con- 

 trols it. Our customers are loth to be- 

 lieve that basswood has advanced fully 

 100 per cent in the past five years, and 

 still it is true. Pine is on the same line, 

 and may still advance. We simply have 

 to watch our interests to our satisfaction 

 and abide by results. 



We have heard remarks made in recent 

 days that an overproduction of lumber is 

 likely to exist; that prices will go down 

 on the strength of the prospect that we 

 are facing a panic. So, in order to satisfy 

 ourselves as to the possible accuracy of 

 such rumors, we took an extended trip 

 ♦hrough the lumlier districts, and have 

 made up our mind, from personal observa- 

 tions, that there is no ground nor reason 

 for such a prophecy to come true in the 

 near future. 



Why? In the first place, stocks are, in 

 comparison with former years, below the 

 mark as to quantity. Cuts are light, be- 

 cause of high prices on stumpage and 

 scarcity of timber. Secondly, the lumber 

 producers are confident that good times 

 are here to remain for awhile, and, even 

 if a little spatter or flurry should occur, 

 they are all fairly well-to-do financially, 

 and feel the utmost confidence, yes, even 

 more, the certainty, that there is nothing 

 which they carry that will deteriorate and 

 depreciate in value on account of old age. 

 We are of the opinion that, as we said 

 before, lumber is king. Times have 

 changed. In former years the manufac- 

 turer of lumber took his grip and started 

 out on a tour of offering his product. Now 

 it is the other fellow who does the walk- 

 in — and that means us — the buyer. 



CHARLES KAYSER. 



Milwaukee, Wis. 



Would You 



And LiKe 



Like More Steam? 



To Pay Less For It? 



THE PERFECTION nOLLOW BLAST CRATE 



is what you warn. U has a forced drafi IfKe 

 a blacksiDjih storge, aoU bumsanyihiDg you 

 puioniL Weisawdusi. grceo or frozen chips, 

 tdginjjs or rclust ol any kind, have a fuel 

 value OQ ihis grate equal 10 dry wood on com 

 mon bars. Save the wood, whjch youcansell. 

 arid burn ihe njbbish you can neither sell not 

 give away. Vou get more sleam, and you 

 save raonev Lei us tell jou what the Per 

 lection IS tjoing. and why n is bt-tier, State 

 size ot your giaies and get our pnce. Sold 

 OQ 30 days* inal : guaranteed to the limit. 

 Better Write «t Once 



MILLER OIL (S^ SUPPLY COMPANY 



Indianapolis, Indiaxia 



in AiKu/ and SecontS'Hana lUotKlu/ortcing antt SatM/'Mill AtacHtM0rp 



LUMBER WANTED 



For shipment during 1803— 



1-INCH SOFT ELM Lumber. Siiilatjlc for Coffin 

 Stock. Seasoned at least 60 days. 



AlsoWHITE .\SH SCANTLiNG. cut 3K =£ 4Ji x 

 14 ft. full, for shipment as soon as cut. 



Cash. F. O. H. cars at .shlppiiig points. 



For specifications, etc., address JAS. GORDON, 

 300 Forest Ave., West Detroit, Mich. 



Empire Lumber Co., 



CHICAQO. 



WANTPn ( chkrrv, oak, cypress, 



"*""=" "(OEORQI A FINE 

 Or anything: you have for sale In hardwoods. 



THE 



CrlttiiMM LDier Co. 



MANUFACTURERS 



Oak, Ash, 

 Cypress 

 and Gum 



MILLS: r 



BARLB, ARK. 



OFFICE : 

 336-337 SclmlUr Building. 



MEMPHIS, TENN. 



A 



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C. L. LOCK WOOD, Gen'l Passenger Agent, 

 Grand Rapids, Mich. 



