HARDWOOD RECORD 



47 



.^ PITTSBURGH y. 



Hardwood matters here are in first-class shape. About the only thins 

 that has caused any prospective let-up in demand Just now is the fear 

 of a general firemen's strike on the eastern railroads which will very 

 seriously cripple everything in the industrial and manufacturing lines. 

 So far as the manufacturing trade is concerned, hardwood-using concerns 

 are taking much more hardwood than they did last January. Their 

 requisitions are very much larger and their buying nerve is apparently !> 

 good deal better. The tendency in all lines of hardwood is toward higher 

 prices. Everybody follows their stock quickly. Even yards are begin- 

 ning to get pretty tasty in their demands for prompt shipments, for those 

 retailers which supply manufacturing and industrial trade on a small 

 scale are pushed to it hard to get lumber on short notice for their cus- 

 tomers. The building outlook seems to be much better than last year. 

 All around hardwood men are feeling good and if they can get the lumber 

 have no fear at ali about selling it. 



"< BOSTON y- 



There has been no abatement in the strength of the hardwood lumber 

 market ; in fact, prices in some cases are held with even more firmness 

 than they have been. Taking the demand as a whole, it is very satis- 

 factory. The large manufacturing consumers of hardwood lumber have 

 been very busy. Furniture manufacturers have also been busy. There is 

 considerable veneering being used and the outlook is that the demand for 

 veneers will become still more active. All reports from manufacturing 

 centers indicate small stocks of dry lumber. According to reports 

 received here, many manufacturers have been handicapped by being unable 

 to get laborers this winter. 



There is a strong demand for plain oak and prices are very firm. If a 

 buyer really insists upon prompt shipment he is often obliged to pay a 

 slight advance over the general asking prices. Quartered oak is also 

 very firmly held. There is a go d demand for black walnut. This wood 

 has been in small offering for some time and prices are noticeably higher, 

 especially for walnut of good thickness. Demand for ash and birch has 

 ruled rather quiet, but prices are well held. 



=-< BALTIMORE y 



No weakness has developed in the hardwood trade during the fortnight. 

 Quotations are either very firm or a further upward movement is taking 

 place. l"his, at least, is the case with regard to oak, which wood has 

 shown additional strength in the last week or two. As the millmen are 

 getting plenty of inquiries they naturally feel that the business will stand 

 another raise, and many of them are marking up their figures, muclr to 

 the uneasiness of the wholesalers, who maintain that they find it in- 

 creasingly difficult to place stocks on the basis of the higher prices. 

 If the quotations get up too high, the yards manifest a tendency to hold 

 off and to provide only for immediate necessities. This, according to 

 wholesalers, is already being done. The objection is also raised that when 

 prices reach a certain level, the consumer will turn to substitutes, and in 

 support of this assertion the present situation with respect to yellow pop- 

 lar is pointed to. There was a time when yellow poplar had a most 

 receptive market, but since the range of prices has been soaring, buyers 

 turn to other, cheaper woods, which may not be so desirable for various 

 purposes, but are none the less made to fill the bill. The noticeable im- 

 provement in extra wide poplar continues and with all other divisions of 

 the hardwood business in good shape, the members of the trade have 

 ample reason to feel satisfied. 



There are increasing indications that trans-Atlantic steamship rates 

 may not keep up to the notch set in the contracts which exporters were 

 asked to sign last December. Some of the current rates offered are five 

 and six cents below those which the steamship agents were willing to 

 quote at the beginning of the year, though, of course, the contract rates 

 are still lower than the current rates offered. Talk about the possibility 

 of an ocean rate war is more definite, and the exporters are disposed to 

 hold back in the hope that they may benefit. Meanwhile the foreign 

 buyers complain that prices here are too high for the • foreign trade, 

 and that there will be material curtailment if ihe quotations are adhered 

 to. In view of the brisk domestic demand for all woods, however, 

 there is little or no prospect that figures will be reduced. Chestnut is 

 very firm, even sound wormy moving in such quantities that the mills are 

 unable to accumulate stocks. Ash is in much the same position, and 

 all other items on the list are very active. The open winter is aiding 

 production, but evidently so far without any progress toward a making 

 up of the shortage in stocks which developed a year ago. 



=-< COLUMBUS y 



Despite the fact that winter is usually a dull period, the hardwood 

 trade in Columbus and central Ohio has been very active during the past 

 fortnight The demand from yards and factories has been good and 

 the movement has been very satisfactory. Prices have ruled firm iii 

 every variety and grade and recent advances have been made in several 

 Items One of the best phases of the trade is the fact that both yards 

 and factories appear to realize that high quotations have come to stay 

 and, as a result, they are buying more freely now. Yard stocks are 



light and retailers arc buying for the spring building ru.sh. Factory 

 stocks are also light. 



There is a good movement of the lower grades. Dry stocks are light 

 in every section and In some oases almost any reasonable price can be 

 asked for stocks. Automobile concerns are now good buyers and the same 

 is true of factories making vehicles and implemenls. Kurnilure factories 

 are expected to be In the market soon, as the shows are about over. 



Quartered oak is firm and the demand Is good, I'laln oak is one of the 

 strongest points in the market and both white and red are moving well. 

 Poplar is also moving well. There Is also a gooil demand for ash, bass- 

 wood and chestnut. Prices arc firm. 



=•< CINCINNATI y 



Recent reports show busimss to be in a vi ly lualthy condition. Inqui- 

 ries have been numerous and cover practically all of the hardwoods. 

 Prices are high on all Items and apparently there Is no chance for 

 cheaper lumber. While there Is quite a little stock on sticks at the 

 present time, and present weather conditions are favorable In many pro- 

 ducing points, manufacturers find little difficulty In placing slock at 

 attractive prices. Whether or not there is a revisit of high watiT in 

 the South this spring, liardwoods will be scarce, and should <*onslderable 

 high water handicap tlie production for thirty days or more, there will 

 be a greater shortage this year than last. Factories in this territory are 

 all busy and there is nothing on the horizon at this time in indicate a 

 dull period. 



Tile movement of plain oak is unquestionably the heaviest and all 



THREE STATES LUMBER COMPANY 



^ Manufacturers el ' * S ' 



I ^ SOUTHERN HARDWOODS 

 LCoHonwood and Red Cum Specialties 



f MAIN OFFICE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE '^ 



;(MeMMM0M@MMMMM3Jt!JB]c!I0M0ia®MMMMMSMSISISiaiai0rai3l@® 



CINCINNATI 



JHardwoodlVlanufacturers and Jobbers! 



KIUIN DRIED OAK 



AIND OTHER HARDWOODS 



are one of our many "specialties" which are 

 so satisfactory to others. Why not you? 



Might pay you to get in 

 touch with us. It has others 



THE M. B. FARRIN LUMBER CO. 



Richey, Halsted & Quick 



HIGH GRADE SOUTHERN LUMBER 



E. C. BRADLEY LUMBER CO. 



HIGH GRADE WEST VIRGINA HARDWOODS 



GOERKE BUII.DING 



Johns, Mowbray, Nelson Company 



OAK, ASH, POPLAR & CHESTNUT 



GTM .\M) COTTONWOOIJ 



C. CRANE & CO. 



MANUFACTURERS HARDWOOD LUMBER 



1739 E.\.STEKN .WENTE 



CONASAUGA LUMBER CO. 



MANUFACTURERS HARDWOOD AND PINE 



rOlIRTH N.VTION.M, n.\NK BlULDINO 



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