40 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



April 10, 1917 



"L-B QUALITY 



— Kraetzer Cured — 



GUM LUMBER 

 OAK LUMBER 

 OAK FLOORING 



(The Famous Forked-Leaf Brand) 



Southern Yellow Pine Unexcelled for Crating. 



We have 115,000,000 feet in pile.. 

 Accurately Manufactured, Carefully Graded, Priced Right 



Long-Bell Lumber Company 



R. A. Long Building 



Kansas City, Mo. 



Oak Maple 



Chestnut 



Manufacturers and Dealers 



in 



West Virginia and Southern 



HARDWOODS 



The Atlas Lumber & Mfg. Co. 



Union Trust Building, CINCINNATI, OHIO 



OUR SPECIALTY 



SI. Francis Basin Red Gum 



WE MANUFACTURE 



Southern Hardwoods 



Gum, Oak and Ash — 

 J. H. Bonner & Sons 



Mill 

 JONQUIL, ARK. 



Sales Office 



1323 Bank of Commerce BIdg. 



MEMPHIS, Tf:NN. 



BLISS-COOK OAK GO. 



BLISSVILLE, ARK. 



MAJOJPACTUKKBS 



Oak Mouldings, Casing, Base and Interior 

 Trim. Also Dixie Brand Oak Flooring. 



As Well As 



OAK, ASH and GUM LUMBER 



Can furnish »nythinf in 0»lc, tir dried 



or kiln dried, routb or dressed 



MIXBD ORDEBiS OUR SPECIALTY 



of danger of a nation-wide strike on the railroads, to be sure, and the 

 efforts of the committee of railroad men named by the southern lines to 

 act as a kind of clearing house for shipments have also had a good re- 

 sult ; but all trouble is not over, and more or less embarrassment is caused 

 by delays in the movement of stocks. Cars are slow in arriving. In many 

 instances the scarcity of cars constitutes a formidable handicap upon 

 operations. The war cloud will serve to check purchases, partly, because 

 the new developments In the international situation leave the hardwood 

 men in a state of uncertainty as to the effect of the moves to be made, 

 and, secondly, for the reason that the almost inevitable tendency will be 

 to still further narrow the supply of labor, already not at all plentiful. 

 There is the diversion of men to bring the army and navy up to the 

 strength desired ; but more than this, the extra demand for workers by 

 establishments that produce war supplies of all kinds. This diversion may 

 be expected to cut seriously into the labor market, and cause a still further 

 inflation in wages and in values of various kinds, thus augmenting the 

 cost of lumber production and making necessary a revision of prices. Of 

 course, it has been estimated that the war excitement and the activities 

 stimulated by war preparations would release large sums of money and 

 create a measure of prosperity that would be reflected in the hardwood 

 trade ; but it may also restrict many operations outside the range of 

 military needs and bring a reaction. At any rate, the apparent intent of 

 the government to limit war profits and raise immense sums by means of 

 income taxes and other dues has already caused an element of doubt to 

 creep into the minds of business men generally, and may well bring on a 

 revision of calculations downward. 



Until now, the hardwood men have fared quite well, and it has been 

 largely a question of ability to meet the wants of the buyers. The quota- 

 tions have become firmer or have shown advances, and an air of hopeful 

 expectancy has pervaded the trade. The export trade remains very quiet, 

 with the outlook unpromising, although according to information from 

 some quarters, the rules regarding imports into the United Kingdom are 

 interprfted liberally as to softwoods. 



=-< COLUMBUS >- 



The hardwood trade In Columbus and central Ohio territory has ruled 

 firm in every particular during the past fortnight. Buying has been active 

 and the volume of business is restricted only by the shortage of cars and 

 railroad congestion, which delay deliveries to a large extent. The tone 

 of the market is generally good and prospects are considered bright in 

 every locality. 



Buying is about equally divided between retailers and factories. Con- 

 cerns making furniture and boxes are good customers and the same is true 

 of vehicle and implement factories. Retail stocks are not large and deal- 

 ers generally are making strenuous efforts to replenish their supplies. Pros- 

 pects for building operations are rather bright, both in Columbus and 

 surrounding cities and towns. Building consists largely of small busi- 

 ness blocks, apartments and dwellings. 



The worst feature of the trade at this time Is the inability to make 

 prompt shipments. As a result mill stocks are large and thousands of 

 feet await movement to northern markets. Embargoes on many railroads 

 have still further hampered the movement of lumber cargoes. The situ- 

 ation, however, is easing up some and shipments are now arriving in bet- 

 ter shape. Collections are fairly good under the circumstances. 



Plain and quartered oak stocks are in good demand. Poplar Is in good 

 demand and prices are higher. Chestnut continues strong in every par- 

 ticular. Basswood is moving well and the same is true of ash. Other 

 hardwoods rule firm. 



=-< CINCINNATI >. 



It Is a buyers' market, the city being full of agents with large orders to 

 place and every effort is being made to obtain stocks and fultill require- 

 ments of the consuming plants for the usual heavy spring and early sum- 

 mer drain, but the buyers agree almost unanimously that it is very diffi- 

 cult to place orders with any assurance of quick delivery or in the amount 

 desired. The car situation, while considerably better than a couple weeks 

 ago, is still a perplexing problem and holds back many shipments. Where 

 cars are available in many items it Is almost impossible to find sufficient 

 stocks to make up any good sized orders. The production at the mills 

 and consequent shipment still remain far behind' the orders in sight, the 

 order file steadily mounting, with little likelihood of being cut down in the 

 immediate future. Values are being held up In a firm manner, and as 

 long as the demand continues to keep so far ahead of deliveries, the pres- 

 ent high level will not be disturbed. There are numerous cases of good 

 premiums being ottered and paid in order to accelerate delivery. 



For a while there was something of an easing up in the call from the 

 consuming sources, but the demand quickly revived, the general opinion 

 tieing that the short spell of slack orders was due more to the consumers 

 believing the situation hopeless as far as deliveries were concerned than 

 to any real let-up in the demand. Reports received here Indicate the 

 winter cut was satisfactory, and a steady movement of northern woods 

 will result when the shipping facilities are adequate. In the South the 

 logging operations have been materially affected by labor shortage, lack of 

 cars and bad weather, although stocks are accumulating In the mill yards 

 because no means can be found of shipping fast enough. 



AD Tkree o« U. WUI B«. BeneBled if You MenUon HARDWOOD RECORD 



