54 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



October 10. 1919 



The CHICAGO 



APPROVED PORTABLE 



Watchman's 

 Clock 



with its special Waltham movement, its lock 

 stations and its superior quality throughout, is 

 especially desirable for mills and factories and 

 for either in-door or out-door patrol. 



ii'rite for booklet 



CHICAGO WATCHMAN'S CLOCK WORKS 



No. 9 Church Street, NEW YORK 

 1S26 So. Wabash Ave., CHICAGO 



BLISS-COOK OAK CO. 



BLISSVILLE, ARKANSAS 



MANUFACTURERS 



Oak Mouldings, Casing, Base and Interior 

 Trim. Also Dixie Brand Oak Flooring. 



As Well As 



OAK, ASH and GUM LUMBER 



Can (urnisk anything in Oak, air dried 

 or kiln dried, rough or dressed 



MIXED ORDERS OUR SPECIALTY 



VESTAL LUMBER 

 & MFG. COMPANY 



INCORPORATED 



Soft Textured Oak 



Poplar 



Black Walnut 



Tenn. Red Cedar 



KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE 



BAND MILLS AT VESTAL 



A SUBURB OF KNOXVILLE 



FONDE, KY. 



hardwood market, and the majority of dealers believe that the price limit 

 has been reached. However, no one in the trade seems to think that a 

 break in the market is probable. All look for a continuation of the 

 excellent business enjoyed during the past season, and point to the fact 

 that the heavy users of hardwoods are bending every effort to make head- 

 way on the large number of orders which they now have on hand and 

 which, It is believed, will not be gotten out much before the next six 

 months. Due to the scarcity of stocks, furniture factories, cabinet 

 makers and builders of automobile bodies have many back orders on hand, 

 and full time operations with a limited amount of stocks has made huge 

 inroads into the reserve of these concerns. A somewhat freer movement 

 in stocks developed during the last two weeks, but with the car situation 

 staring us in the face, it Is not known how soon supplies will be cur- 

 tailed again. 



Both suburban and city contractors are busy with the new building 

 projects daily being formed, and their activities create an almost unlim- 

 ited demand for lumber. Weather conditions throughout September and 

 so far into October have been ideal for building, and work In most parts 

 of the city and outlying districts is rapidly going forward. The housing 

 problem is far from being met, and another campaign for home building 

 will be started again next spring. 



To care for the increase in business which the opening of next year's 

 building season will bring many lumber companies in the city are enlarg- 

 ing their facilities. 



MEMPHIS 



There has been an excellent run of Inquiries for hardwood lumber at 

 Memphis and throughout the valley territory during the past ten days, 

 and, according to members of the trade, the market Is in somewhat 

 stronger position, from a price standpoint, than it was during the middle 

 of September. Buyers appeared to gain the Idea a short time ago that 

 large production at the mills would result in the accumulation of hard- 

 wood lumber and in lower prices. If the mills had been able to run on 

 full time. It Is probable that there would have been an Increase In mill 

 holdings. But, owing to the car shortage which prevailed during the 

 greater portion of that month, It was Impossible for the mills to produce 

 anything like normal quantities of lumber. Daily production did not 

 exceed, if indeed It actually equalled, the quantity shipped each day. Con- 

 firmation of this statement is found in the fact that stocks did not more 

 than hold their own during September. Some manufacturers report actual 

 loss in stocks. Thus offerings have not Increased and buyers, realizing 

 that prices would probably hold, if not actually advance, have been plac- 

 ing orders with greater eagerness during the past few days. 



All hardwoods are in demand and it is reported that the lower grades 

 are showing increasing activity and strength. These were comparatively 

 slow for a long time, but they are now moving very well and at quite satis- 

 factory prices. The higher grades of plain and quartered oak, both red 

 and white, are firm, with demand quite good. Gum Is moving well In the 

 higher grades and Is likewise showing greater activity in the lower. 

 Cypress is reported a shade easier in some quarters, but this wood Is show- 

 ing a better tone during the past few days. Ash Is exceptionally strong 

 at the maximum prices for the year, and those who produce this wood are 

 predicting still higher prices on account of the cost of production and 

 the scarcity of timber. Stocks are light for the reason that almost every- 

 thing produced is taken green from the saw. The same applies to hickory, 

 which is commanding exceptionally good prices and which is In very 

 urgent demand. Elm is a ready seller and there Is no complaint among 

 hardwood interests over any item on the list. 



It is estimated that production is approximately 80 per cent of nor- 

 mal. This is about the basis on which the majority of mills are operat- 

 ing. They would be operating on a larger scale if they were able to secure 

 all the cars required for handling logs. Logs are offering In somewhat 

 larger volume, but it is impossible to saw them until they are delivered 

 to the mills and delivery cannot be effected on a 100 per cent basis for 

 the reason that the car supply Is not anywhere near full. The Southern 

 Hardwood Traffic Association reports a shortage for the entire southern 

 hardwood field. It says that there has recently been some Improvement, 

 but that there is a notable scarcity of logging cars on the Frisco, the 

 Missouri Pacific, the Rock Island, the Texas & Pacific, the Vlcksburg, 

 Shreveport & Pacific, the Southern Railway, the Southern Railway in 

 Mississippi and the Frisco System. It admits that the number of cars 

 is larger now than a short time ago for handling logs, but says that out- 

 bound shipments are being restricted on account of scarcity of box cars 

 and other equipment in which lumber and forest products are being 

 handled. 



The labor situation is becoming rather more acute at the mills because 

 of the enormous demand of the planters for cotton picking. This is slow- 

 ing down the cutting and hauling of logs, and this is taking place at a 

 time when the quantity of timber ready for delivery to the mills Is 

 sharply below normal. Efforts are being made every day to increase 

 output, but these are meeting with only partial success for the reason 

 that the car shortage is still rather acute and for the additional reason 

 that tbe supply of timber ready for delivery to tne mills Is so much below 

 what it should be at this time. 



Most of the demand is coming from American consumers, with furniture 

 manufacturers leading. Manufacturers of agricultural Implements, wagons, 

 vehicles, pianos, automobiles and other products, however, are actively In 

 the market, while wholesalers continue to be particularly aggressive. 



