HARD WOOD RECORD 



53 



toward wood again, and consequently toward the use of poplar. If this 

 turns out to be the case, there ought to be another boom in poplar such 

 as happened a few years ago. The demand for ash is so great that the 

 supply is altogether insufficient to take care of the wants of consumers. 

 Car-builders particularly are buying it in quantity, and many customers 

 are asking that shipments be made green from the saw. The outlook is 

 for continued good trade. Everybody in the business world seems to 

 have forgotten about March 4, and the belief here is that the change 

 of administration will be accompanied by little or no uneasiness on the 

 part of business at large. 



=-< ST. LOUIS >-- 



A very good trade condition is reported by the St. Louis hardwood 

 dealers although the severe winter weather of the past several days has 

 prevented the volume of business that was expected. In spite of this, 

 however, the demand is most satisfactory. Oak and ash head the list as 

 to demand, with Cottonwood, gum and cypress following very closely. 

 Poplar. Xo. 1 common and better grades, is not being called for very 

 freely. Other items are in fair demand. Reports from the producing 

 territory in the South continue to be most discouraging as to conditions. 

 There has been much rain, which has prevented logging and if the present 

 weather continues for any length of time, the cut tor the first half of the 

 year will fall much below the requirements. Dry lumber is exceedingly 

 scarce at the mills, and this is most encouraging to the local dealers 

 who have nice stocks on hand, as it will greatly enhance the values. As 

 to cypress, there is a seasonable degree of activity being shown and 

 prices are remaining steady and firm. St. Louis distributors are well 

 pleased with the amount of business they are doing and the outlook. 

 The demand from the northern territory is expected to increase as soon 

 as the weather becomes more pleasant. Orders for factory stock are 

 reported as most satisfactory. 



=■< MILWAUKEE y. 



The unusually favorable weather in Wisconsin is proving an important 

 factor in the hardwood business. Active building operations are under 

 way, not only in Milwaukee, but all over the state. Farmers have been 

 making the most of their opportunity to catch up with much dela.ved 

 building, while there is also much activity in the smaller cities and 

 towns about the state. 



The shortage of stocks at the northern mills, especially in upper grade 

 dry stocks, is causing considerable inconvenience. Wholesalers are forced 

 to continually postpone delivery on orders. Stocks in the birch and ma- 

 ple line are particularly low and prices have made several gains during 

 the past few weeks. Basswood. ash and elm are in good request, with 

 stocks not especially large. Reports from the northern mills say that it 

 is some time since stocks have been so low. and most of the concerns are 

 behind on orders. The supply of plain and quarter-sawed oak is light and 

 everything in No. 1 and No. 2 inch plain oak is absorbed as soon as it 

 is ready to ship. Reports of flood damage in the South have sent prices 

 up again. 



All the local manufacturing plants, including the sash and door con- 

 cerns, interior woodwork plants and the furniture factories, are placing 

 some fairly good orders. Stocks on hand at most of these plants are 

 light, and it is only fair to suppose that they will be forced to buy 

 rather freely from now on, that they may be in readiness for the spring 

 rush that now seems inevital:)Ie. 



=-< GLASGOW y- 



The continuation of the carters' strike is responsible for business being 

 decidedl.v quiet in the west of Scotland during the past fortnight, but 

 once it is over, there should be a return of the active conditions existing 

 of late. Many of the large works have been compelled to close down, 

 through inability to get supplies. Some wood is being delivered, but this 

 is applicable only to deliveries out of town. In these cases it is passible 

 to get wagons alongside the quay and loaded. 



The imports of birch logs so far this season have been disposed of, and 

 the demand still continues active. Birch planks are also in good request, 

 but until the present, arrivals have been few. Imports of wagon oak 

 planks, which have been on a fairly liberal scale recently, are being 

 readily absorbed, showing a continuance of the good condition of this 

 branch. The steady movement in mahogany, oak, canarywood and gum 

 is still maintained, and the consignments now about due should do well. 



The shipbuilding industry is still largely responsible for the movement 

 in evidence, and extensive demands are certain to emanate from this 

 source tor a considerable time to come yet, so much so that it is already 

 being prophesied that another record year's output will eventuate, pro- 

 vided no serious lalwr troubles interfere. The prosperity of shipbuilding 

 on the Clyde has been most phenomenal, and it is gratifying to think that 

 the Cl.vde has surpassed all records in shipbuilding and marine general. 

 The report show the output of the Clyde district equal to that of the 

 whole north of England put together, exceeding that of Germany, and 

 almost double that of the United States. / 



Quebec shippers have now put in their annual appearance in quest 

 of contract business, but very little business has resulted. Some of the 

 larger buyers have still quite a quantity of last season's import, so 

 that there is little likelihood to contract at the current level of values. 



Mahogany 



In Veneers and Lumber 



That is Mahogany 



^ Right now we can offer to the discrim- 

 inating buyer a comprehensive stock of as 

 fine Mahogany Veneers as have ever been 

 produced. 



^ These Veneers are made from both 

 Cuban and African wood; were cut from 

 the pick of the choicest logs obtainable, 

 and show a remarkable variet}- of figure 

 of the most alluring character. 



^ In Circassian Walnut we can oft'er an 

 equally attractive line of veneers, in fact, 

 such a line of Circassian in character of 

 wood, figure and manufacture as has 

 never been equaled. 



^ In solid Cuban wood, largely four- 

 quarter in thickness, we have a limited 

 stock of exceptional character. 



^ At this time the Willey IMahogany and 

 Circassian holdings in lumber and veneers 

 are by far the best that can be shown in 

 the United States. 



^ Intending purchasers of any kind of 

 Foreign or Domestic figured woods and 

 veneers are cordially invited to visit the 

 Willey mills, and veneer and lumber ware- 

 houses, on Robey Street near Blue Island 

 Avenue. 



^ Ready access can be had to the plant by 

 taking a Blue Island Avenue car at the 

 postoffice on Dearborn Street and alight- 

 ing at Robey Street. 



C. L. WILLEY, Chicago 



Largest Mahogany Veneer and Lumber Producing Plant in 

 the World 



