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

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



Vol. XXI. 



CHICAGO, MARCH 10, 1906. 



No. 10. 



PublisheH on the 10th and 25th o[ each month by 



THE HARDWOOD COMPANY 



Henry H. Gibson, President 



Frank W. Tuttle, Sec-Treas. 



OFFICES 

 Sixth Floor Ellsworth Bldg., 355 Dearborn St Chicago, 111., 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 

 Suoscriptions are payable in advance, and in default oE 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. 



Advertising copy must be received five days in advance of 

 publication date. Advertising rates on application. 



COMING ASSOCIATION MEETINGS. 



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, May 3 and 4. 



Special Meeting Wisconsin Association. 



A special spring meeting of the Wisconsin Hard- 

 wood Lumbermen's Association will be held at Marsh- 

 field, Wis., on Tuesday, March 27, at 2:30 p. m. 



General Market Conditions. 



The hardwood market situation is still marked by very strong- 

 buying. In general, however, this feature does not extend to con- 

 tracts for future delivery, but is for lumber that can be secured 

 either immediately or within a period of a few weeks. There are 

 exceptions to this situation, notably in Michigan and Wisconsin, 

 where large quantities of maple, basswood and birch have been sold 

 for delivery throughout the season. 



In general, jobbers, retailers and manufacturers are buying freely 

 for immediate wants, but they are practicing conservatism and not 

 making purchases for remote periods. There seems to be a general 

 sentiment among all classes of the buying trade that values on a 

 good many hardwoods have reached the maximum figure and that 

 they are taking but little chance in avoiding advance purchases by 

 reason of increa.sed prices. 



Plain oak in both red and white still remains the strongest feature 

 in the market, and prices have advanced to actual list in practically 

 all the consuming territory. An offering of common and better oak 

 nowadays is rarely heard of at less than full list price. Chestnut 

 follows, notably in the East, a strong second to oak. Quarter-sawed 



oak is in somewhat better demand than it has been for a long time, 

 but the consumption is conspicuously light, owing to the competition 

 of veneers and made-up panels. 



The entire rajige of northern woods are in good call at slightly 

 increased prices, while a large portion of the minor southern hard- 

 woods are pretty well cleaned out of the market. This is notably 

 true of white ash and hickory. 



There seems to be a constantly increasing call for both red and 

 tupelo gum. Methods of manufacturing these woods are constantly 

 being improved, and they are now coming on the market in very 

 satisfactory shape. Both woods are being used for an infinity of 

 purposes where other kinds of lumber were formerly employed, and 

 generally consumers are well satisfied with their experiments. The 

 adaptability of both these varieties of gum to such a great number 

 of purposes is steadily broadening the field of distribution. 



Poplar and Cottonwood are still in demand close up to green stock, 

 and there is a tendency toward slightly advanced prices, rather than 

 the contrary. 



The high price demanded for the higher qualities of American hard- 

 woods, both at home and abroad, and the relatively low price of 

 mahogany seems to be stimulating the demand for this wood. At 

 this time more mahogany is going into consumption in the car, house 

 finishing and furniture trade than ever before in the history of the 

 business. The high appreciation in which black walnut is held, par- 

 ticularly in the German markets, together with the high prices of 

 other woods of inferior character, is helping the foreign demand very 

 materially, and the general trade in the wood is good. Save for 

 the manufacture of specialties comparatively little black walnut goes 

 into consumption in this country, owing, oftentimes, to the impres- 

 sion that there are no considerable sources of supply remaining. 

 This idea is a false one, since well tow'ard forty million feet of black 

 walnut was produced in the United States during the past fiscal year. 

 Cherry is another of the high-class woods that is gaining in apprecia- 

 tion for many purposes, along with its gradual extinction. The 

 demand is steady and the price is ranging high. 



There is a constantly increasing output of both sawed and rotary 

 cut veneers and laminated woodwork to keep pace with the demand 

 for these materials. Veneer men generally are learning that they 

 have been figuring too close on the cost of their products, and are 

 now attempting to establish a somewhat higher range of values. It 

 is undeniable that the range of veneer values has not kept pace with 

 hardwood prices, and higher prices for this line of goods will un- 

 doubtedly of necessity prevail. 



The hardwood flooring plants are all busy and the .January advance 

 made on maple flooring is being well maintained. Even at present 

 prices most buyers regard maple flooring as the cheapest material in 

 the market, quality considered. Prices of oak flooring are gradually 

 crawling up, in sympathy with the advancing prices of oak lumber. 



On the whole the hardwood situation is very strong, without a 

 cloud in the horizon that would indicate any pos.sibility of lower 

 prices or decreased demand. 



The Forester's Change of Front. 



An analysis of logical forestry movements was embodied in an 

 address delivered by George P. Craig of Philadelphia, chairman of 

 the forestry committee of the National Wholesale Lumber Dealers' 

 Association, at its annual meeting in Washington last week. This 

 paper will be found in the report of the proceedings of this con- 



