May 10, 1919 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



45 



while sash and door men report a steady improvement in their out-of-town 

 trade. Taken as a whole the outlook Is one of encouragement, and business 

 In almost every line is better than it was at this time last year, 



LOUISVILLE 



It business were any better in the hardwood market than It is today 

 some of the manufacturers would have considerable trouble in supplying 

 material on demand. Everything is moving, and while production is in- 

 creasing somewhat as a result of better roads, better log supplies, and 

 fair weather, still tlie amount of lumber on sticks ready for shipment is 

 much lower than normal. It is claimed that stocks on hand represent 

 only about sixty per cent of the normal amount carried by most mills. 

 Veneer nmnufacturers are especially busy, and report an increased de- 

 mand for interior paneling, trim, ,etc. The furniture trade is buying 

 much better than it was, and there is also an increased demand from the 

 flooring manufacturers. Musical instrument manufacturers are buying 

 nicely, and the auto trade is still buying a fair percentage. Export busi- 

 ness is improving very slowly due to shortage of bottoms. Quartered and 

 plain oak are good in all grades and thicknesses. Ash is in the same gen- 

 eral demand. Elm is moving well, and chestnut for core stock is in better 

 movement. Poplar is good in all grades and thicknesses, while the de- 

 mand for red gum is heavy, especially in the better grades. Low-grade 

 gum is not so active due to lack of box demand. Walnut is selling much 

 better since the furniture trade became active, even No. 2 common being 

 In demand. Mahogany is moving well in dimension, veneers and full 

 lengths. Prices are strong and showing no Inclination toward lower 

 levels. 



BEAUMONT 



With the exception of.low grade oak there has been a general strength- 

 ening of the hardwood market In the Beaumont district, and sales are fre- 

 quently being made at a figure in advance of what has been termed the 

 market. 



The general improvement found white oak a minus quantity, and very 

 little gum to be found in the country. White oak has been in that condi- 

 tion for some time, due to the activity of the exporters, but the absence 

 of a supply of gum was a surprise to some of the wholesalers themselves. 

 They could not fill the orders received and a number struck gum from 

 their lists. The demand for 2-inch red oak has been very strong, in fact 

 red oak is being forced to not only fill its own particular field, but also 

 to sub for white oak. Sap gum is moving freely, while ash and hickory 

 are very much on tlie active list. 



Furniture men are the most active buyers throughout this district, but 

 they were a little late in coming into the market. For several months 

 hardwood men have been forced to hunt up a market for tbeir output, and 

 in this manner iiiuoh material, ordinarily u-sed by fumituro manufacturers, 

 went into other channels. When the furniture men did get in position to 

 reenter the market they found dry stocks a negligible quantity and many 

 items not to be had at all. This condition will force a general advance 

 in all grades. Those who held onto their meager stocks in the face of 

 practically no ilem.-md are congratulating themselves on their business 

 foresight. 



Weather conditiuus have not improved to a point where mill men expect 

 to get back to normal conditions. Some of them despair of ever getting 

 the same results they were accustomed to before the war, and high wages 

 at the ship yards broke up their trained crews. Some of the men have 

 filtered back, while others have entered other lines of endeavor, and it will 

 take some time to get the new crews trained to a point where they can do 

 efficient work. 



Building activity is gmdually uctting back to normal here, permits for 

 April passing thf .f;iO(t.OoO mark for the first time since last July, when 

 government restrictions began to pinch down. At that time permits 

 exceeding $20(i,(ioo were being issued monthly and they gradually declined 

 until they totaled only .1;25.000 in February of the present year. Building 

 projects now < n li;ind call for a better class of structures, with a freer 

 use of hardwomls. Several instances have been recorded where the builder, 

 after considering the high price of yellow pine and the scarcity of long 

 leaf, decided to go a little stronger while at it and used hardwoods more 

 freely. 



MILWAUKEE 



A tendency anmng large consumers of hardwood lumber and various 

 classes of semi-finished or finished material to make purchases ahead is 

 a notable development in the trade during the last week. There seems to 

 be less hesitancy about making commitments, and buying in general seems 

 to be losing the "hand-to-mouth" appearance it has had for some time. 



With the general recognition of the fact that it is folly to look forward 

 to a decline in prices, because the trend of developments is such as to 

 require further advances, it is becojuing easier to do business. Sellers 

 who were inclined to shade prices in order to facilitate the movement of 

 stocks have ceased this practice. Buyers realize that greatly advanced 

 costs of production from woods to iudustry must be reflected in higher 

 costs and they are not holding out for concessions to the same extent as 

 before. In fact, the growing possibilities of an acute shortage of hard- 

 woods during the coming six months or year is making a decided impres- 

 sion all around. 



WE WANT TO SELL 

 For QUICK SHIPMENT 



100 M' 6/4" No. 1 Com. & Btr Birch 



50 M' 6/4" No. 2 Com. Birch 



50 M' 6/4" No. 3 Com. Birch 

 lOOM' 6/4" No. I Com. & Btr. Hard Maple 

 (6" & wider) 



50 M' 6/4" No. 3 Com. Hard Maple 

 1 00 M' 8/4" No. 2 Com. & Btr. Hard Maple 



Send us your inquiries for 

 NORTHERN HARDWOODS and HEMLOCK 



Wheeler -Timlin Lumber Co. 



WAUSAU, WISCONSIN 



WE MANUFACTURE bandsawed, plain and quarter sawed 



WHITE and RED OAK and YELLOW POPLAR 



We make a specialty of Oak and Hickory Imple- 

 ment, Wagon and Vehicle Stock in the rough 

 Your Inquiries Solicited 



ARUNGTON LUMBER CO., Arlington, Kentucky 



Wistar, Underhill & Nixon 



PHILADELPHIA. PENNSYLVANIA 



Manufacturers of CYPRESS and GUM 



QUALITY is remem- 

 bered long after price 

 is forgotten. When desir- 

 ing quality write us. 



A Few Dry Items Now Ready 



1 car 4/4 No. 1 Com. & Bet. Red Gum 



1 car 4/4 FAS Sap Gum 6" & wider 



1 car 5/4 FAS Plain Red Oak 



1 car 5/4 FAS Qrtd. Red Oak 



1 car 4/4 FAS Qrtd. Red Oak, 10" & w. 



1 car 4/4 FAS Qrtd. Sycamore 



J. V. Stimson & Co. 



OWENSBORO KENTUCKY 



ATISFACTORY 

 ERVICE 



