flaMwol RocoM 



Published In ihe Interest oT Hardwood Lumber, American Hardvirood Foreata, Wood Veneer Indualry, Hardwood FloortnK, 

 Hardwood Interior Finish, Wood Chemicals, Saw Mill and WoodworKInK Machinery. 



Vol. XXI. 



CHICAGO. DECEMBER 25. 1905. 



No. 5. 



PuI.I.sImmI on (l.r Kill. .„kI 25|Ii ..r .-mil in.mlli hy 



THE HARDWOOD C O M r* A N Y 



HENKY II. (JlBSUN, l'ri-Hi<l.-.>l 



I KANK W. Tu|-|'l,i:, .Se(:-'rri!n». 



OFFICES 

 Sixlh Floor Ellsworth Bld«., 355 Dearborn Si., Chicago. III., U.S.A. 



1 (■li;|jlioncu: I 111 



I ium Aui<,iimiic r)fir)!) 



TERMS OF ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION 



In iIm; UniU:(J StiilcH, Conrxla, Philippine iHlund.s and Mfrxico . , .$2.00 



In nil oilier countries in UniverHol PoHlul Union ..... .'1.00 



SubHcriplionH urc pftyuljle in odvoncc, and in dcluull of written orderti to tlic 

 controry arc continued at our option. 



The entire ronlenlH of thin puhlitwition are covered l>y llie (^I'lieral cc^py- 

 ri|{ht, and articlen muNt n(it he reprinted without K[)eciul peririiHHion. 

 Entered at Chicaj(o PoHlofTice aa Second ("hiMS Matter. 



Advertising copy must be received five daya in advance of 

 publication dale. Advertising rates on application. 



Annual oi Hardwood Manufacturers' Asso- 

 ciation. 



The fourth annual meeting of the Hardwood 

 Manufacturers' Association of the United States 

 will bo held at the Gait House, Louisville, Ky., 

 on Tuesda.y and Wednesday, .Ian. 16 and 17. 



This will bo the most important meeting ever 

 held by this association, and should insure the 

 attendance of not only over.y member of the or- 

 (<anization, but of every manufacturer of hard- 

 woods in the country, even though he is not a 

 member of the association. 



The program of the meeting, which will be 

 published in the Hardwood Record of .January 

 10, is said to comprise many features of great 

 moment to hardwood producers. 



General Market Conditions. 



The year ISiO.'J liiiK iDuiKird out as a |>liciiiiiiiiiial one iu hardvvooJ 

 Itiitibcr UiBtory. Values have shown a gciieral accretion since very, 

 early in the year and today a high standard obtains which in many 

 instances constitutes high water mark in lumber prices. The trade 

 at the close of the year is remaritable in that it shows a very much 

 larger volume than is usual at this season. The holiday season which 

 ordinarily militates against a large volume of business, has not re- 

 sulted in any apparent diminution ol' orders. The close of the yttar 

 usually sees both jobbers and wholesale consumers getting in the 

 odds and ends of their earlier purchaHcs, and closing their books. 

 The present December, however, from all indications will doubtless 

 show up as one of the largest buying and receiving months of the 

 year, a record not equaled since December, 1902. 



In the general hardwood producing Hcction of I'lf s-it'I' Hk- 



weather conditions that have prevailed nearly all the year have 

 seriously militated against a largo output. Again the yellow fever 

 calamity which befell tho 8outh some months ago also tended to 

 dcrrtjasc production. While the total is largo, it is not nearly up 

 III tlic standard that it would have been, in view of the large demand, 

 |j;iil (lifl'crcnt conditions prevailed. 



The year has emphasized tho serious shortage that prtivails in oak 

 ■<1iiirjpag<!. In spite of the most persistent cll'orts on tho part of 

 liioducetH, but n modicum of the quantity of oak lumber has been 

 jModuced that the consuming market would have absorbed had it 

 been obtainable. It is probable that never again will oak lumber 

 be in surplus supply. Kvcry oak timber area is today under eon- 

 nibution, and from this time forward tho cut must needs ,be a 

 diininishing jjroposition. Ifence it is that oak, notably plain, in both 

 white and red varietii'S, is the strongest seller in the market, and the 

 last month has showed an accretion in value at points of consump- 

 tion varying from $3 to I.") a thousand. 



Rod gum, which is a wood of rather extensive growth over a con- 

 siderable southern area, has exhibited .a broadening consumption 

 during the year which is marvelous. New uses seem to have been 

 discovered daily for this wood. Hitherto there has been very little 

 money made in the manufacture of red gum lumber. With the in- 

 cre;!.si)ig appreciation in which the wood is held, the broadening 

 demand and the natural accretion in price, it is fair to presume that 

 from this time forward the production of red gum will be one of the 

 best features of the hardwood trade. It is fully anticipated that 

 the price of firsts and seconds and sap gum will be advanced by the 

 chief producers from pi to $.3 a thousand within a few days. 



Tho fairly strong trade which has prevailed in the higher grades 

 of poplar and i-ottonwood all the year, has lately been augmented by 

 a markedly increased demand for common and cull. It has only been 

 during tho last month that full list has been secured for the coarse 

 end of either wood. The call for this portion of the log output is 

 now so strong that the manifest shortage of the woods will surely 

 hold prices very firm for some time to come. Several of the larger 

 [(roiUiccrs have recently been able to advance their prices on firsts 

 and seconds and still maintain a good volume of business. 



All the minor southern hardwoods are in very short supply and 

 the calls for ash, chestnut and hickory are much beyond the ability 

 of producers to cover. 



Northern hardwoods have been and arc now doing remarkably well 

 with very few exceptionn. Black ash is practically out of the market. 

 The value and demand for basswood have strengthened materially 

 during tiie past few months and the big surplus of midsummer is now 

 a minus quantity. Grey elm, although not in superabundant supjdy, 

 has not attained the just relative value to which the high qualities of 

 the wood entitle it, but with the manifest necessity of its utilization 

 to take the place of other woods that are short, it is safe to presume 

 that iDcttcr prici~< will be realized and a stronger demand forth- 

 coming. 



Inch hard maple in all grades is closely sold up to dry stock. 

 However, there still remains in either first hands or in the possession 

 of jobbers somewhat of a surplus of thick maple, ranging from 2 

 to 5 inches in thickness. The surplus is not sufficient to menace val- 

 ues very seriously, as it is fully expected that the early spring trade 

 ivill deiin it lip. ft is to be hoped that Michijian producers will not 



