flaMwoM RoM 



Published In the Interest of Hardwood Lumber, American Hardwood Forests, Wood Veneer Industry, Hardwood Flooring, 

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



Vol. XXI. 



Chicago; February lo, i906. 



No. 8. 



Published on the 10th and 25th of each month ty 



THE HARDWOOD COMPANY 



Henry H, Gibson, President 



Frank W. TUTTLE. Sec-Treas. 



OFFICES 

 Sixth Floor Ellsworth BIdg., 355 Dearborn St., Chicago, III., U.S.A. 



Telephones: Harrison 4960 Automatic 5659 



TERMS OF ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION 

 In the United States, Canada, Philippine Islands and Mexico . . $2.00 



In all other countries in Universal Postal Union ..... 3.00 

 Subscriptions are payable in advance, and in default of written orders to the 

 contrary are continued at our option. 



The entire contents of this publication are covered by the general copy- 

 right, and articles must not be reprinted without special permission. 

 Entered at Chicago Postoffice as Second Class Matter. 



AdTertisIng copy raust be receiTed five days in advance of 

 publication date. Advertising rates on application. 



COMING ASSOCIATION MEETINGS. 



Veneer and Panel Manufacturers. 



A special meeting of the National Veneer and 

 Panel Manufacturers' Association will be held at the 

 Auditorium Hotel, Chicago, Wednesday, February 14. 



Hardwood Dimension Association. 



A meeting of the Hardwood Dimension Association 

 and all others interested in the production of hardwood 

 dimension will be held at the Grand Hotel, Cincinnati, 

 Wednesday and Thursday, February 21 and 22. The 

 first session will commence at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. 

 This will be a meeting of vast moment to everyone in- 

 terested in hardwood dimension production, and repre- 

 sentatives of a majority of houses interested in this 

 branch of the hardwood industry will be present and 

 participate. 



National Wholesale Lumber Dealers. 



The fourteenth annual meeting of the National 

 Wholesale Lumber Dealers' Association will take place 

 at Willard's Hotel, Washington, D. C, on Wednesday 

 and Thursday, March 7 and 8. 



National Hardwood Association. 



The ninth annual convention of the National Hard- 

 wood Lumber Association will be held at the Gayoso 

 Hotel, Memphis, on Thursday and Friday, Mays and 4. 



General Market Conditions. 



The volume of business and prices obtained for hardwoods still 

 remain in a remarkably satisfactory condition. In several woods the 

 demand is in excess of the supply. At the producing end there are 

 no indications of getting out stock in quantities that will mean a 

 surplus in any item for the year 1906. Thus far, weather conditions 

 prevailing both north and south have not contributed to a large 

 input of logs. Again, a good many operators are practicing con- 

 servatism in this respect, partially on account of high labor cost 

 and partially with the idea of conserving their timber supply. 



In northern woods it has been found that the good end of bass- 

 wood is remarkably short and that the reflected higher values of 

 poplar and Cottonwood, which are strongly competitive woods, have 

 contributed to strengthening values materially. The good end of 

 birch is also short and prices are advancing. The inroads that the 

 flooring makers have made on inch maple are also resulting in a 

 particularly stiff price being asked for this wood. Gray elm is 

 doing decidedly better, and even thick maple, which was in a decided 

 surplus, is meeting with a fair demand. 



Oak is still the leader in the hardwood producing sections of the 

 Middle South, and plain-sawed in both white and red is finding eager 

 buyers every time it is offered. The future of quarter-sawed oak is 

 somewhat conjectural, owing to the tremendous inroads that quarter- 

 sawed veneers and panel stock are making in the furniture, interior 

 finish and door trade. The caU is limited on quarter-sawed stock, 

 except of extreme widths and extra high quality, and while prices 

 are fairly well maintained the volume of business is comparatively 

 light. Eed gum, poplar and cottonwood are all doing well, and 

 there is a manifest scarcity of the better grades. 



The minor southern hardwoods are closely picked up, and the 

 shortage in hickory amounts to a dearth. Chestnut of all varieties 

 is scarce and ranging high. 



Notwithstanding the advanced values, not only in hardwood lumber 

 l)ut in the soft woods, steel and all other building materials, plans 

 for many new large structures and permits for their erection are 

 going forward in nearly all the commercial centers, and it would 

 seem that, for at least the first six months of the year, there would 

 Be a very heavy demand for every variety of hardwood. The high 

 price of oak seems to have again diverted the attention of architects 

 to mahogany, black walnut and cherry, which have been neglected 

 except for special uses for some years. The trade in all three of 

 these woods is manifestly better, with increased values. The foreign 

 demand, notably for walnut, has shown a considerable spurt during 

 the last few weeks and the wood is in request both in Great Britain 

 and on the Continent. 



The furniture buying season has closed with large sales and the 

 demand for hardwoods from this source will be in increased volume. 



The veneer people are all enjoying an excellent demand, and calls 

 are particularly strong for made-up panels. 



The Incursion o! Veneers. 



Unquestionably the increase of appreciation in which veeners are 

 held is militating materially against the consumption of several of 

 the high-class American hardwoods. This is notably true of quarter 

 sawed oak and birch. It is surprising to see the way the furniture 

 trade as well as the door makers are taking up the idea of three or 



