3° 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



The C. & N. U'. Railway Company, which 

 is using a large number of white oak ties in 

 repairing its lines in northern Wisconsin and 

 Michigim, has a new preservative process. The 

 company has a plant at Escanalja with a 

 capacity for treating 1,000,000 ties per year. 

 There .ire three cylindrical retorts. A trahi 

 carrying about 360 ties is run into a retort 

 and steam is injected to open the pores of the 

 timber. Following this a vacuum i.s drawn 

 to extract the moisture. A solution contain- 

 ing four percent of chloride of zinc is then 

 injected. This is drawn oft and a solution 

 containing tannin and glue is injected, also 

 under pressure. This latter solution pre- 

 vents the chloride from leaking out. About 

 lialf a pound of pure cliloride is put into each 

 cubic foot of timber. This prevents decay 

 and doubles the life of oak. The cost of 

 treatment is about 15 cents per tie, 



James Moore & Sons are building a factory 

 in Marinette for the manufacture of the 

 iiaymond Log Roller, There is a great de- 

 mand for the loader, which can also be used 

 10 pick up timber out of the water. 



Ashland. 



K. W. Houghton of Chicago, vice president 

 of the Kenova Poplar Manufacturing Com- 

 pany, visited the plant here last week. 



M. A. Hayward of the Kenova Poplar Man- 

 ufacturing Company has returned from a trip 

 to Ford. Ky., in the interests of business. 



C. L. Ritter of the C. L. Ritter Lumber 

 Company, Huntington. W. Va., visited Ash- 

 land mills recently. 



The Kentucky Timber Warehouse Company, 

 of which John M. Craynor is president, has 

 lately opened an Ashland office in the Gay- 

 lord block; This company handles cross ties, 

 switch ties, tanbark, staves and oil and 

 whiskey barrel timber. 



The W, H, IJawkins Lumber Company re- 

 ports a marked increase in the demand for 

 first and seconds and thick common poi)lar. 

 Tliick common seems to have the call now 

 and this company is fortunate in having a 

 good stock in all thicknesses from % to 

 lfi-4. It also reports a good demand for 

 firsts and seconds and No, 1 common quar- 

 tcred-sawed poplar, 



J, Q. Barker of the Kanawha Hardw'ood 

 Company of Charleston, W. Va., was in the 

 city I;ist week on business. 



J. W. Kitchen just returned from Mahan, 

 ^V, Va., where he was looking after the in- 

 terests of the J, W, Mahan Lumber Company 

 during the absence of Mr. Watson, general 

 manager. He reports trade very satisfactory 

 and mill running overtime to keep pace with 

 heavy demands, 



R, H, Vansant. president of Vansant. 

 Kitchen & Co., is preparing to spend a 

 month at Hot Springs, Ark, E, L. Sauls- 

 berry, northern salesman for this company, 

 has come in after a very successful business 

 trip of three weeks. 



Hardwood Market. 



(By HARDWOOD RECORD Exclusive Market BeporterB.) 



Chicago. 

 Nearly every dealer in Chicago reports a 

 very satisfactory state of trade. The local 

 hardwood situation is in better shape than 

 it has been any time during the year. 

 Everyone is encouraged to believe that the 

 .strong market conditions will prevail all the 

 jest of the season. 



Boston. 



Rather favornble reports as to the condition 

 of business in hardwood circles are received. 

 The remarkable fall weather has helijed busi- 

 ness to a large extent. Complaint is heard over 

 the shortase of cars which has caused great de- 

 lay in shipment, with no relief pioinised. The 

 <lemand is not active from the yards, which while 

 not carrying large stocks take on new supplies 

 In moderate quantities. The general manufactur- 

 ing trade and furniture manufacturers are busy 

 getting out novelties for the holiday trade as 

 well as regular work. As with the yards the 

 demand Is confined almost wholly to immediate 

 v.ants. 



There has been no change in the plain oak 

 situation. Locally the demand has not been us 

 active as from other centers. Dealers having a 

 New York trade reiiort a good volume of busl- 

 ncsti. One-inch ones and twos continue to be 

 (juoted at ?49 to $02. and business is reported 

 on this basis. Quartered oak, 1-inch, ones and 

 twos, has been moving, but the demand lacks 

 that snap that goes to make up an active mar- 

 ket. The market averages about |78. Ash has 

 been In very good demand. I'rices rule firm and 

 because of the comparatively small stocks higher 

 prices are thought not unlikely. Krown ash, 

 1-incb ones and twos, is firmly held at SoO. Inch 

 white ash is held at ¥40 to .<;47. Cniesl- 

 nut has developed activity of late. Walnut and 

 cherry have ntfacted but a very moderate 

 amount of business during the past two weeks, 

 near maple flooring. 2yi-lnch, Is In moderate 

 demand. It Is quoted at J.59, hut wholesalers 

 •Ind It difficult to get this price In some In- 

 stances, 



Whltewood Is firm but the demand Is not 

 reported as ncllve. The yard,s are buying ns 



llicy need supplies, but arc uul speculating. 

 Quotations of 1-inch, ones anil twos, vary, rang- 

 ing from !f43 to .f50. The cypress siluatiun 

 shows no change worthy of note. One-inch, 

 ones and twos, Is still quoted at $45.50, but it 

 is said that some are selling at less than this. 

 Yards have but very small stocks and state that 

 it is hard to get deliveries. There is a good 

 demand for squares, but offerings are very small. 



New York. 



The local hardwood situation shows steady 

 improvement, although the volume of business 

 oftercd the yards has not as yet been as large 

 as was hoped for. There has nevertheless been 

 a good movement of stock in both branches of 

 the trade, and prices conlinue tii*m with no in- 

 clination on the part of holders to crowd the 

 nuuket. While many yards arc carrying a good 

 slock 01 hardwoods for this season of the year, 

 the wholesale market is not flushed on any kind 

 of stock ; but on the other hand, several of the 

 best houses hero have not only disjjoscd of all 

 their available hardwoods but are now devoting 

 their attention to piu'chaslng at mill points tor 

 nc.\t year's supplies. In this connection buyers 

 report conditions very strong at mill points with 

 every indication that It is going to be scant 

 picking for the majority of the trade to keep 

 enough stock In hand to be ready for the spring 

 demantl. 



The furniture, piano and general manut'ac- 

 turlng trades are busy getting ready for boll- 

 day trade and buying Is reported free in those 

 directions. The building trades are also fairly 

 acllve buyers, as many of llic buildings slarted 

 In the summer are nearing comiiletlon and arc 

 ready for har<Iwood trim, etc, 'i'he local sltua- 

 llon Is very satisfactory, and Indications point 

 (o a continuance througlKint the winter monllis. 

 Plain oak, ash and bircli conlinue to have 

 flrst call with stock short In many sections. 

 Poplar Is steady In both price and demand, and 

 maple has also shown considerable Improvement 

 of late. There seems to be ample quartered oak 

 for current wants, but ofTerlngs of cliestniil are 

 somewhat In cxcchs of the present demand. 



Baltimore. 



The luudwoud situation here is practically 

 without change. No decline has de\eloped in 

 llic demand for stocks, and the mills are well 

 supplied with orders. The only menace to sat- 

 isfactory trade conditions at present is the car 

 shortage which grows daily more acute. Exten- 

 sive additions to rolling stock have been made by 

 the railroads, but they seem no nearer a solution 

 of the problem. Delivery is being made on 

 some of these contracts, but meauwblle the 

 freight offerings are accumulating so that the 

 increase in the number of cars does not appear 

 to be felt. This state of affairs affects particu- 

 larly the hardwoods which depend largely on 

 land tran.sportation. Cars arc now furnished 

 with a measure of promptness, but the outlook 

 is very disquieting, esiJeciaily since some roads 

 have placed an embargo on lumber and oilier 

 freight. As the inquiry remains exceedingly 

 active, the growing inability of the railroads to 

 move stocks promptly may force up the price of 

 lumber to still higher figures. No apparent 

 progress has been made toward increasing the ac- 

 cumulations, and there is at present no prospect 

 that any advance will be made. This means a 

 continuance of high values, especially for good 

 dry oak of the better grades, which is eagerly 

 sought. 



Stiimpage Is in demand, and hardwood firms 

 that are in a position to do so are engaging in 

 manufacturing, in order to insure an adequate 

 supply of lumber. Ash is close behind oak in 

 point of inquiry, finding a ready market both 

 here and out of tovm. Chestnut, hickory and 

 other woods are moving in large volume. The 

 popularity of m.ahogany for interior work and 

 store fixtures is still one of the notable develop- 

 ments in the trade. Poplar is moving but slowly, 

 althou.eh values remain fairly easy. Api>arently 

 the trade has been weaned away from it. and 

 only important concessions will bring it ttack 

 into the old channels. 



The export business leaves mucli to l>e de- 

 sired, no material improvement in the way of 

 heavier buying having been noted in some weeks. 

 Quotations here are so high that stocks can not 

 be delivered abroad except at a sharp advance 

 over last year's figures, and foreign consumers 

 are holding out for concessions. 



Pittsbtirg. 



Indications point to slightl.v easier condi- 

 tions in the hardwood market. There must 

 be excepted, of course, the car shortage, 

 which has been confined to a few of the Balti- 

 more & Ohio lines, but has now spread over 

 practically all the Pennsylvania lines and into 

 the Northwest and the South. During the past 

 week a few firms liave become disgusted with 

 their attempts by telephone, letter and wire to 

 get cars and have .sent representatives to head- 

 quarters or to points where they needed cars 

 v\orst to urge the matter in no uncertain 

 terms. It is the general opinion that little 

 relief is to be expected till after the grain 

 and cotton are inoved. 



Stocks of hardwoods are in general some- 

 what larger. Many firms are well stocked at 

 their mills and are eagerly awaiting a chance 

 to ship orders that have been on their books 

 for months. The inquiry is active, although 

 not so pronounced as a few weeks ago. The 

 building season is nearing a close which de- 

 stroys the demand for finishing lumber. There 

 is also a falling oft In the call for railroad 

 bridge timbers owing to the .same cause. 

 However, manufactories are taking more hard- 

 wood than a month ago and want the very 

 best. Local retailers are buying only for 

 Immedl.tte needs and show no disposition to 

 stock up for winter. Wholesalers predict that 

 the.v will ,'-eo the folly of this course In the 

 spring when higher prices .are prevalent. 



Prices arc In general well maintained. Sev- 

 eral woods have advanced In price since Oc- 

 tober 1, and the new prices are being well 

 held. There Is no sign of a weakening on any 



