September 25, 1919 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



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are generally short of stocks, and with a fairly good car supply here the 

 yards are able to make deliveries on short notice. 



Prices remain strong. If any decline occurs it does not amount to 

 much, and lumbermen are unable to see how the market can have a break 

 while mill stocks remain short. The leading woods in demand are re- 

 ported to be oak, maple, cypress and ash, with not much stock to be had 

 in some grades. Maple and oak flooring are scarce and in good demand. 



Building permits in Buffalo have fallen off this month, both in number 

 and total casts, after a period of great activity. The August permits 

 were the most numerous of any month on record here, being 787. They 

 will no doubt fall much below this for September. 



PITTSBURGH 



Hardwood demand is excellent. Prices are very firm. The total of 

 luinliiT being sold is somewhat larger than in early summer and prices are 

 prubably 10 per cent higher all along the line. In some woods a big jump 

 in quotations has l)een made. The largest demand at present is from the 

 industrial trade. Mining business has slumped off badly this summer, but 

 just now there is a little increase in inquiry for low and medium-grade 

 stock for this purpose. In building, some towns outside the Pittsburgh 

 district are doing fairly well. Right in Pittsburgh it is a case of clear 

 luck. Some retailers have run into a lot of business that pays them big 

 while others are hunting for wagonload sales. 



BALTIMORE 



Conditions in the hardwood trade continue satisfactory as far as the 

 domestic situation is concerned. WTien it comes to the export business, 

 there is a somewhat different story to tell. Between the reports that the 

 foreign markets have become demoralized because of the great rush of 

 lumber sent over in recent months, and others which are to the effect 

 that large stocks are going over on firm orders there is a wide difference ; 

 but the fact remains that the early expectation of heavy requirements 

 with the signing of the armistice caused many shippers to forward lumber 

 in such quantities as to bring on serious congestion, which is naturally 

 being taken advantage of to depress prices. Many steamers are lying out 

 in the streams at British ports unable to get to wharves, while the latter 

 are crowded with goods of all kinds, making it very difficult to land 

 lumber. In the face of this state of affairs, the warnings given to ex- 

 porters not to ship on consignment ai'C at least timely and should be 

 heeded. Some members of the trade entertain apprehension that the 

 chock upon the foreign movement will cause such an accumulation at 



home as to l)ring on an unfavorable reaction. But such fears appear to 

 be groundless, for the market thus far has been able to absorb the output 

 of the mills very readily, and there is as yet no halt to the rise in the 

 quotations on at least some of the grades. And it is also to be said that 

 the exporters get very attractive prices on the special classifications that 

 are called for on the other side of the Atlantic and that are shipped under 

 contract. It is the consignment business that must be distinctly dis- 

 couraged. As stated, the domestic demand seems sufficient to take up all 

 of the lumber that is turned out at margins which must be regarded as 

 liberal. The mills have not yet reached a point somewhere near their 

 old productiveness. The supply of labor is more plentiful than it was, 

 but for its efficiency little can be said, and some time is likely to elapse 

 before the producers gpt back to their former status. Meanwhile, there 

 is every prospect that the home requirements will continue to expand,. 

 activities that call for the use of hardwoods being augmented or newly 

 inaugurated. Feeling in the trade, therefore, is hopeful, with the market 

 decidedly buoyant. Here and there, however, some lowering of quotations 

 is to be noted. As for flooring and other dressed stock, they are higher 

 than ever, without any indication (if an early decline. 



COLUMBUS 



Demand for all grades and varieties of hardwoods is strong in central 

 Ohio territory. Buying is about equally distributed between retailers and 

 manufacturing concerns. There is a general shortage of stocks which Is 

 causing a strong market in every locality. It is still an upward market 

 and is expected to continue that way for some little time at least. 



Retail stocks are not large, although some have been buying rather 

 heavily and have accumulated some extra stocks. But with building 

 operations continuing active this state of affairs is not bad for the future 

 of the trade. Retailers in the rural sections are especially active in plac- 

 ing orders as rural construction work is quite active. Building in the 

 cities and towns is also good, especially dwellings and apartments. 



Factories making boxes, furniture and implements are still in the mar- 

 ket and there is a tendency to buy more than is needed for current warts. 

 Shortage of railroad cars is holding up shipments to a certain extent and 

 some inconvenience is caused. Mill workers are also buying actively. 



Prices are extremely hijih and there is no tendency to reduce them under 

 existing conditions. Demand for both quartered and plain sawed oak is 

 good. Poplar is moving well, especially the higher grades. There is a 

 good demand for Chestnut and basswood. Other hardwoods continue 

 firm. 



