March 25. 1917 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



43 



Ernest Bolles Putnam, prominent in Eau Claire, Wis., Chicago, juid St. 

 Paul, Minn., lumbering and banlsing circles, died recently at Sea Breeze, 

 Fla., of cancer of the tliroat. He is survived by a widow and three children. 

 f- 



The Hardwood Market 



-< CHICAGO >• 



Car stoppages, shortages, interruptions and other conditions affecting the 

 shipment of lumber, the raw material from which it is made, and the 

 products into which it is made, are still a constant source, and in fact the 

 primary source, of worry to those whose livelihood is linlied with the 

 products of the forest. Chicago being so great a railway center and so 

 immense a distributing and consuming point for hardwoods, still feels the 

 situation acutely, but the trade is feeling immeasurable relief at the 

 elimination of the strilie hazard. Conditions have been serious and vital 

 enough as they were, but with those prospects they seemed almost hopeless. 

 Still, every bit of attention and concentration must be given to the matter 

 of transportation and this end of the business is receiving primary effort. 



The sales end continued with more or less variation in its immediate 

 development and outlook, but with the outstanding condition very favorable. 

 As to present prices, favorable changes, and future development, the sim- 

 plest and most truthful way of stating the relative positions of the various 

 woods is to include practically all of the list and say that they are moving 

 well as there are few woods which are suffering any appreciable interrup- 

 tion. The long drawn out winter has had Its effect on building, but this 

 to a considerable extent has been overcome by the active buying by every 

 branch of the consuming trade, and the whole situation averages up very 

 satisfactorily. 



=< BUFFALO >■ = 



The demand for hardwoods Is on a fairly active scale, though stocks are 

 becoming depleted as the result of the slow movement from the mills. A 

 big lot of stocli has been ordered for the local wholesale yards and some of 

 it is ali-eady on the way, but its arrival is being held up in a most discour- 

 aging way. A lacli of cars and an inability of the railroads to get cars 

 moved promptly from the local yards are also sources of much annoyance. 

 There seems to be little improvement over the conditions of several weeks 

 ago. Prices are naturally holding firm, with stocks so difficult to deliver. 



Maple is still in persistent demand, and stocks have been dwindling con- 

 siderably. A large supply is en route to the local yards right along, and 

 shipments are made about as fast as the stock arrives. Oak is about hold- 

 ing its own. Some thicknesses are becoming limited in supply in the 

 East. Other woods much called for are birch, ash and cypress. The 

 building trade has not been active so far this year and does not start off as 

 well this month as a year ago. Speculative building is expected to be 

 light this spring. 



Some of the wholesalers think they see a better outlook for the move- 

 ment of lumber by railroad. It appears that it has been given about the 

 last place on the list of necessaries. Cooperage stock, for instance, was not 

 carried at all for some weeks. A shipper from the Southwest now finds 

 that the Nickel Plate and Pere Marquette are prepared to ship lumber and 

 the southern mills appear to be notified of the situation, for they are again 

 sending out stock lists. The market here is handicapped on account of 

 nothing coming in in some lines. They can sell lumber freely, but they 

 cannot promise it in less than four months, which means that the buyer 

 will take orders from somebody else it he can find anything in this vicinity. 

 He has to pay more on that account, but he is willing to do it. 



A leading wholesaler here has lately dropped the New York City terri- 

 tory entirely, because he could get so little lumber delivered there. He 

 says that he has taken up territory in the center of New York and Penn- 

 sylvania and finds he can do much more there than he could further East. 

 Practically all the eastern territory is very short of lumber. 



=-< PITTSBURGH y. 



Hardwood men are enthusiastic about demand and prices, but very 

 discouraged about the supply of cars. It is no trouble'to sell hardwood 

 of any kind. Automobile buyers are taking large quantities at big prices. 

 The furniture trade is an active buyer. The manufacturers and hard- 

 wood users are getting into the market and buying all they can see with- 

 out regard to price. Railroad demand is exceptionally heavy, especially 

 for long timbers and construction lumber. Yard trade is going along very 

 nicely and bids fair to be larger than for a long time. 



-< BOSTON >■ = 



Apart from the adverse transportation conditions which apply especially 

 hard to New England territory, the market here shows a strong inclination 

 toward increased values; this advance which has been noted for some time 

 In northern hardwoods applies at present also to oak and other southern 

 and western stock. The action of many producers in co-operation to sup- 

 port the policy of adequate marketing system seems to contribute to a firm 

 situation with respect to prices and purchasing. 



YOU AANT WIDE STOCK--WE HAVE IT 



Payson Smith Lumber Co 



MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. 



5 cars lYz" No. 3 Common 

 1 car ZYz" No. 1 Common 

 and better 



rractic-illy all of this stock is thoroughly dry and ready for 

 immediate shipment. 



We have ready for 

 immediate shipment 

 the following: 



BIRCH 



3 cars V/z" FAS 



3 cars 2" FAS 



3 cars 1" No. 1 Common 



3 cars 1" FAS 



1 car 1"4" FAS 



3 cars 1" No. 2 Common 



3 cars 1" No. 3 Common 



BLACK ASH 



SOFT ELM 



1" 



No. 2 Common 

 and better 

 5 cars 1" No. 3 Common 



SOFT MAPLE 



2 cars 1" No. 2 Common 

 and better 



PAYSON 



SMITH 

 LUMBER Co. 



Minneapolis, Minn. 



Chicago Office: 

 1665 Old Colony Building 



6 ears 1" 



No. 2 Common 

 and better 



One special lot of three cars 

 1" No 2 Common & Better, not 

 very wide or long, but will 

 make price accordingly. 



SEE HOW WE CARE FOR 



Payson Smith Lumber Co. 



MINNEAPOLIS. MINN. 



The following stock is in excellent 

 condition, ready for immediate shipment 



4/4 No. 3 Elm & Ash 24,000 



5/4 No. 3 Elm & Ash 35,000 



6/4 No. 3 Elm & Ash 74,000 



8/4 No. 3 Elm & Ash 3,000 



4/4 No. 1 & Btr. Birch 51,000 



4/4 No. 2 Birch 250,000 



4/4 No. 3 Birch 202,000 



S/4 No. 3 Birch 28,000 



4/4 No. 3 Basswood 25,000 



6/4 No. 3 Birch 8,000 



4/4 No. 3 Maple 1,000,000 



5/4 No. 3 Maple 387,000 



Ideal 



Hardwood 



Sawmill 



An putting In plU awry month 

 two and on«-half million feet of 

 oholoost Northern Michigan Hardwoods 



Stack Lumber Company 



Masonville, Michigan 



All Three of Us Will Be BeneGted if You Mention HARDWOOD RECORD 



