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Published in ihe Interest of the American Hardwood Forests, the Products thereof, and Logging, Saw 

 Mill and Wood-working Machinery, on the 10th and 25th of each Month, by 



THE HARDWOOD COMPANY 



Henry H. Gibson, President 

 Burdis Anderson, Sec'y and Treas. 



Entire Seventh Floor Ellsworth Building 

 537 So. Dearborn Street, CHICAGO 



Vol. XXXV CHICAGO, DECEMBER 10, 1912 No. 4 



General Market Conditions 



The usual holiday slacking in business is but slightly perceptible 

 in the various hardwood centers throughout the country although in 

 a few instances reports come in that this condition is showing 

 itself. Oustide of this feature, however, there is practically no alter- 

 ation in the hardwood situation during the last two weeks. Reports 

 state that there is some little easing up in the car situation excciJt at 

 sucli soutliern points as are materially affected by cotton niovemeuts. 

 It is expected that the crest of the demand for cars by planters will 

 have been passed by the first of the year, after which time lumbermen 

 will have less difficulty in obtaining rolling stock. Throughout the 

 rest of the hardwood territory of the United States, while cars are 

 difficult to get, there is but little actual hardship experienced except 

 perhaps in some sections in Michigan where the sugar beet industry 

 has grown to such enormous proportions that the movement of the 

 crop at this time seriously strains the facilities of roads in that sec- 

 tion. It is estimated that the sugar beet industry in Saginaw valley 

 exceeds by far the proportions of the old white pine business in that 

 territory when it was at its greatest. 



Unusually fair weather has distinctly favored the lumber industry, 

 particularly the sawmill end. Eeport, however, comes from the Mis- 

 sissippi Delta country of extremely heavy rains which have pre- 

 vailed there for several days. Continuance of this condition will un- 

 doubtedly seriously affect the operations of the mills in the delta 

 territory. Such condition is to be regretted as the hardwood mills 

 of the country now have all they can do to fill in the present scarcity 

 of hardwood stock. 



A month ago some members of the trade were predicting that be- 

 fore the first of the year there would be considerable accumulation 

 in some sections, of dry hardwood, but there seems to be absolutely 

 no tendency up to date to check the movement which in some instances 

 has compelled the shipment of stock green from the saw. In fact, 

 this is not at all an uncommon occurrence at present. 



Export conditions at New Orleans are not entirely satisfactory, the 

 month of 'November showing a decrease over October. Shipments 

 during November, however, are greater than during November, 1911. 

 It is anticipated that the movement to foreign ports will be light 

 during the remainder of the year owing to the ocean freight rate 



situation. The report from Baltim'ore, however, is more favorable. 

 Export conditions have been excellent, shipping conditions being con- 

 siderably improved. Cargoes of excessive proportions have been sent 

 from Baltimore but an unusually strong market on the other side has 

 taken all that has been oft'ered without any trace of breaking or sur- 

 plus. Buyers in fact are actually meeting the exporters ' jirices which 

 liave gone up owing to increased rates on ocean tonnage. 



The usual relative position is being maintained in the various 

 woods, with a continued strengthening on quartered oak. The mahog- 

 any situation continues to be strong with high prices and scarcity of 

 stock. Wide poplar, while still not strong, is being taken up in a 

 little better shape than formerly. The automobile people seem to be 

 getting back into the poplar market satisfactorily. 



Undoubtedly the modern style of office building construction calling 

 for polished marble corridors in place of wood trim has had some 

 little effect on the hardwood demand. However, this has been offset 

 by increased popularity of hardwood interior work in dwellings. A 

 seasonable condition of trade maintains in the various consuming 

 lines. In the East active competition has been a serious factor in 

 determining sales methods on various lines of wood manufactures. 

 As a result price competition has made itself felt, which in turn has 

 created more or less of an indisposition on the part of buyers to tie 

 up any great sums in hardwood stock. This, however, is not a 

 serious condition but purely local and one which undoubtedly will not 

 prevail for any length of time. 



Keports emanating from different hardwood sources show a de- 

 cidedly optimistic feeling regarding winter and coming spring 

 business. There should be no break in the situation for a good 

 many months to come. 



A Regrettable Occurrence 



It cannot be denied that the Forest Service has vast possibUities, 

 and that it has actually accomplished a world of good both to the 

 country at largo and to the lumber trade. Occasionally, however, its 

 methods are open to criticism. One of the latest publications emanat- 

 ing from the Forest Service at Washington is particularly to be re- 

 gretted by the lumber trade. For two years the Service has been 

 working on the compilation of a bulletin reviewing the last thirty 



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