Marcli 25, 1917 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



47 



Demand continues excellent for practically all classes of hardwood lum- 

 ber. Gum is perhaps the most active item, all_ grade*;— eont-i*lt*red. -The" 

 higher grades are passing readily into consiimption and there is no denying 

 that the market shows an exceptionally strong tone so far as the lower 

 grades are concerned. The box manufacturers are enjoying an unprece- 

 dented demand for their output and. owing to the scarcity of cottonwood 

 In the lower grades, they are using an unusually high percentage of gum. 

 Cottonwood, too. is eagerly wanted and, so far as can be ascertained, there 

 are comparatively few lots available in the open market. This is the view 

 expressed b.v box manufacturers and they are in position to know because 

 they are after stock all the while. There is rather more demand reported 

 for oak and altogether the hardwood market presents a pretty strong front 

 at the moment. There is a notably good call for ash in thick stock while 

 elm and hickory are passing into consumption at a quite satisfactory rate 

 and on a good price basis. Traffic problems and the scarcity of logs, as 

 well as the scarcity of cars, are fruitful sources of complaint among hard- 

 wood lumber interests of the Soutli but there is no disposition anywhere 

 to kick regarding the extent of demand or the status of prices. 



=-< LOUISVILLE >= 



Louisville hardwood operators report a steady demand tbr all items in 

 the hardwood list, and in fact are being forced to turn down some orders 

 (or lines which are short. It is claimed that there are a tremendous number 

 of orders on the books for lumber to be shipped into the East, but that 

 these orders are being held pending an opening in the embargo regulations 

 placed by the eastern carriers. The recent strike agitation made it impos- 

 sible to get shipments out of the city tor a period of three days, but on 

 Monday, March 19, the carriers again began receiving. Veneer mills are 

 especially busy, reporting a flne demand for walnut, oak and mahogany 

 veneers. Manufacturers of cheap veneers are also busy at this time, and 

 are preparing for a big berry crate demand in the spring. In hardwoods 

 there has been no let up in the demand for the better grades of gum, poplar, 

 oak, ash and cottonwood. Poplar siding and boxboards are moving extremely 

 well, and cottonwood can hardly be supplied. Cherry and chestnut are 

 selling off the saw. Ash and hickory are in big call from wagon and 

 automobile manufacturers, elm also moving freely to auto factories. Clear 

 poplar and quartered oak are moving to furniture factories, while plain oak 

 is being bought readily by the flooring plants, all of which are busy at this 

 writing. Local lumbermen state tliat the volume of business handled is 

 being held down considerably by the car shortage and embargo situation, 

 and that new records would be made on shipments this spring if traffic 

 conditions were anything like normal. 



-•<. ST. LOUIS > 



Hardwood conditions are satisfactory and the general outlook is most 

 encouraging. ^Yith the coming of pleasant weather, there will no doubt be 

 quite a revival in trade. The only drawback is the car shortage. There 

 is a good demand for all items on hardwood list and prices are satisfactory 

 to the distributors. Most of the leading items are becoming stronger and 

 in some instances, are advancing. This is particularly true as to the 

 higher grades which are in urgent demand. The leading 6>'t. Louis distribu- 

 tors are pretty well supplied with stocks but some of them are badly 

 broken and this condition will continue until the car situation becomes 

 better and shipments from the mills can come in. Choice grades of plain 

 white oak are best in demand. There is also a satisfactory call for quar- 

 tered stock. The request for ash is improving. Gum and poplar are being 

 called for quite freely. High-grade poplar for box purposes is selling well. 

 Cypress conditions are satisfactory. The distributors here are having a 

 good trade and would be pretty well pleased were it not for the scarcity of 

 cars. This affects shipments more than it does receipts. Most of the 

 demand is for factory stock consumption and yard stock. 



=-< MILWAUKEE >•- 



The settlement of the railroad strike has removed a prospective handicap 

 of the most serious nature to northern hardwood producers, but another 

 handicap, that of acute car shortage and traffic congestion, continues to 

 have its effect upon both supply and demand. No improvement has been 

 noted in recent days ; in fact conditions are believed to be even more 

 stringent than before. Mill operators complain less about the shortage of 

 rolling stock to get log supplies than they do about the lack of cars for 

 getting lumber out of the millyards to industries, yards and other purchasers 

 who need stocks badly. Manufacturers of hardwood products seem to be 

 able to move finished goods more readily than they receive raw material, 

 and this has resulted in a curtailmeut of operations at some points. At 

 others, such steps have been made necessary by the overcrowded condition 

 of warehouses, due to the slow outgoing movement. 



The work in the woods is slowly drawing to a close as spring approaches 

 and the snow is disappearing. Many camps already have been closed for 

 the season, but others are taking advantage of every opportunity to provide 

 log stocks which will enable mills to maintain record productions as soon 

 as the logs can be moved to the mills. Reports as to the size of the cut are 

 conflicting, some sections reporting a large increase over previous seasons, 

 and others a sharp reduction from earlier estimates, due to unfavorable 

 conditions. However, the estimates generally were for an increased cut 

 and a fair balance is maintained in spite of the failure to meet expectations. 



Walnut 



Of Character and Color 



Manufactured at Kansas City, U. S. A. 



Large Stock of All Grades and Thickness 



Thirty-five years' experience 



IN WALNUT ONLY 



Prompt Shipment, and 

 Guaranteed Inspection 



FRANK PURCELL 



515 Dwight Building, KANSAS CITY, MO. 



You Can See Logs Like These 

 on Our Yard Any Day 



STIMSON VENEER AND LUMBER 



COMPANY, INC. 



p. O. Box 1015 



Memphis, Tenn. 



MANUFACTURERS 



Hardwood Lumber, Rotary Cat 

 Veneers, Rotary Cat Gum Faces, 

 Cross Banding and Cores. 



All Thr«« of U* WUl Be Benefited if You Mention HARDWOOD RECORD 



