50 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



m;>5c^t>s^^>v^<i^i'Mraaig.\i)5tim^ 



The Hardwood Market 



CHICAGO 



Ver.v little iim be seeu in the Chicago market 

 that would indicate any material change duiiris 

 tlie last fortnight. Ucports from individuals 

 var.v widely as to their individual business. There 

 continues to he an eneo\irasing number of in- 

 quiries from railroad buyers, most of wliicli seem- 

 to be (or actual wants rather than as mere feel- 

 ers. Interior finish, which has been a strong 

 feature for some time, continues to talie a fair 

 volume of stock. The activity of planins mills 

 and similar plants indicates activity in the fin- 

 ishing end of the building trade. Tiic local floor- 

 ing business is in a correspondingly better con- 

 dition. 



The general market continues blotchy, with 

 occasional large orders for different lines. The 

 box people liave placed a few orders of unusual 

 proportions, while one of Chicago's piano houses 

 has just taken over a large stock of poplar. 



Local prices indicate an absence of any pan- 

 icky feeling, such cutting as is done being scat- 

 tered and individual. On the whole, the volume 

 of consumption continues to be very well main- 

 tained, being made up of a large aggregate of 

 small orders and a scattering of larger ones. 



NEW YORK 



The hardwood markt-l, cuiisiileriug the general 

 business situation, continues in good shape. Buy- 

 ing Is still largely of the hand-to-mouth order. 

 but the relation between supply and demand in 

 good grade lumber seems s-ufficiently close to 

 keep prices steady and fairly satisfactory. There 

 is almost a total absence of the usual fall buy- 

 ing in large lots, but the supplies in the hands 

 of the yard dealers as well as the local manufac- 

 turing trade are so much below normal tliat there 

 Is almost a continuous buying, which keeps the 

 wholesale market active. Some improvement is 

 noted in inquiries and the general feeling pre- 

 vails that in the aggregate there is going to be 

 a fair fall trade, but In small quantities. Low- 

 grade slock is more plentiful and not in as strong 

 a position as good grade lumber. The export 

 market is reported in very fair shape and con- 

 siderable business is being booked. The hardwood 

 flooring market is in fair condition. 



BUFFALO 



A better movement of hardwoods became evi- 

 dent last month and there was an absence of the 

 complaint of dullness at almost all yards. Trade 

 was not as brisk as dealers expected and a good 

 deal of effort was required to keep lumber mov- 

 ing, but there was more satisfaction in the gen- 

 eral status of business. Some complaint was 

 made that the car movement was slow, but most 

 dealers said they had not had much trouble in 

 this way. 



I'lain oak continues one of the chief stocks 

 wanted and there is a good demand, compara- 

 tively, for maple and birch, especially (he upper 

 grades, in poplar the better grades are moving 

 fairly well, while the lower grades are Inclined 

 fo drag. Ash, chestnut and elm are among the 

 woods in which there is a moderately good de- 

 mand. Prices of hardwoods show little change 

 an<l are firm. 



PHILADELPHIA 



The hardwood slltintlun the last fortnight re- 

 mains without significant change. Trade con- 

 tlnoes fair but admittedly a more effort la neces- 



sary to book sales. A slight wavering in prices 

 in one or two lines, especially in the lower grades, 

 is noticeable, but on the whole values have been 

 well sustained. In some lines yard stocks show 

 a fair increase, but in the desirable building woods 

 there is a mariied dc^pletion. Buyers, who have 

 .iust returned from the different lumber camps 

 report that there is no overplus stock in standard 

 lumber of any kind and no indication of any de- 

 sire to force the_ market. The i)rcsent condition 

 of the hardwood lumi)er business, although not 

 up to expectations for the fall opening, is in 

 many particulars encouraging, and the general 

 opinion is that if not a large increase, a steady 

 reasonable advance in trading may be counted 

 upon for the near future. The railroad situation 

 during the last fortnight has not changed. Equip- 

 ment departments continue active, but as to ex- 

 tension work nothing may be looked for before 

 spring. 



PITTSBURG 



Hardwood business is fairly satisfactory and 

 is standing the strain of long-continued dullness 

 very well. In certain lines trade is considerably 

 improved. White oak is a splendid seller and it 

 is hard to get enough long sticks to go around. 

 Furniture demand is a little better, for the com- 

 panies are gradually beginning to take on stock 

 to flu up gaps at their plants. Salesmen report 

 that the implement and vehicle factories are 

 increasing their purchases and seem willing to 

 pay good prices for A No. 1 lumber. Yard trade 

 shows improvement but not enough to cause en- 

 thusiasm among the wholesalers. Most hardwood 

 concerns are running their plants at nearly full 

 capacity, which looks as if stocks were, as re- 

 ported, pretty low in good lumber. 



BOSTON 



There has been very little life to the demand 

 for hardwood lumber in this market this month. 

 Some dealers who go outside of New England 

 for part of their business state that they have 

 done more away from home than nearby. The 

 unsettled condition of prices of the last two or 

 three months has had much to do with keeping 

 demand down close to actual wants. With a 

 weakness in values few dealers are willing to 

 anticipate wants as they feel they have nothing 

 to lose by waiting and everything to gain. The 

 middleman is more or less disturbed because 

 manufacturers of hardwood lumber are making 

 offerings direct to their customers at prices, if 

 not the same as made them by the manufacturer 

 so near to them as to leave an unsafe margin to 

 the wholesaler. There has been more of this 

 direct offering this season than ever l)efore. ac- 

 cording to several leading dealers. The tendency 

 of buyers is to keep their purchases down and to 

 shop around. Considerable lumber has been of- 

 fered at low prices. While the quality may not 

 be up to the standard in all cases the buyers who 

 have taken in such lots do not admit to salesmen 

 that thej' have not received what they expected. 

 (Juarlered and plain oak are reported as easy. 

 Birch and maple are fairly well held but there Is 

 no activity to demand. 



BALTIMORE 



The preponderance of rei)orI« r-oncernlng tlie 

 hardwofMl trade are still to the effect that quict 

 prevails and Ihat the yards are holding back with 

 purchases. Determined effort Is required to get 

 orders and salesmen arc not having an easy time. 



I.ut the movement compares favorably with the 

 volume of business of tlic corresponding periods 

 • if other years. The big consumers continue to 

 defer purchases, the railroads and other large 

 ' nrporations pursuing the policy to make as good 

 a showing in expenditures as possible. This 

 liolicy, however, can he carried only to a certain 

 point, and it is to be questioned whether this 

 point has not already Iieen reached or even 

 passed. Domestic business in hardwoods is quiet 

 but a marked revival in interest is being reported 

 in the export trade. Apparently stocks abroad 

 have been so reduced as to make extensive re- 

 plenishing necessary or at least desirable. Evi- 

 dently the assortments are no longer large enough 

 to meet the wants of the requirements abroad, 

 and a disposition exists to offer better prices 

 as well as to show greater liberality in the inter- 

 pretation of the inspection rules. For the present 

 the foreign prospects are distinctly better than 

 the home indications, and it looks now as if the 

 balance of the year would be productive of a 

 I airly active movement to foreign ports. The 

 (luotations, however, even at home, are about 

 holding their own. Math the exception of wide 

 high grade poplar, which is lower than the con- 

 ditions of supply would seem to justify, and 

 sound wormy chestnut, which continues to be 

 tlie weakest item on the list, there is no marked 

 letting down in the range of values. Common 

 poplar is moving in sufliclent quantities to avert 

 i-ongestion. as also is common oak. In some 

 divisions of the list almost a scarcity prevails, 

 I bough it is also to be said that the competition 

 for stocks at points of production is less active 

 than it was during a part of the year, and that 

 an easy tone prevails. 



COLUMBUS 



Trade continues active, considering the late- 

 ness of the sea.son. Up to the present the weather 

 has been very favorable and building operations 

 have continued active. This has helped the mar- 

 ket. Traveling salesmen report .short stock in 

 every section and the policy followed by retailers 

 is to buy only what is needed for immediate 

 wants. There is no <lisposition to stock up and 

 there is a feeling of uncertainty. Trices have 

 been well maintained, excepting in the lower 

 grades of poplar where a slight reduction has 

 been made. There is no disposition among manu- 

 facturers or jobbers to rush business by cutting 

 quotations and this has aided in keeping things 

 going. Dry stocks In the hands of the mill 

 owners'are low. There is a fair movement In the 

 lower grades although the best demand is stilt 

 for the better grades. Demand from manufac- 

 turing establishments is steady but not large and 

 there appears to be no disposition to Increase 

 stocks. The policy Is the same as with the deal- 

 ers,' to buy only what is needed. Automobile 

 factories are not iHiylug the wide sizes of poplar. 

 There Is a good demand for oak flooring and the 

 dllllculty is to secure sufliclent dry stock for 

 prompt shipment. Collections are reported as 

 fair. Quartered oak Is In fair demand. There 

 is a good demand for i>laln oak. Poplar Is selling 

 satisfactorily. Chestnut Is selling well. Ash Is 

 slow. There is a fair demand for basswood. 



INDIANAPOLIS 



The hardwooil lumber sitiuition has not 

 changed greatly In the last two weeks. Con- 

 tinued rains throughout this state have continued 

 to interfere somewhat with business. However, 

 there lia-^ been a fair vohiiue tjf business and the 

 ^itiMitlon Is not at all discouraging. The amount 

 of business Is said to c(unpare favorably with 

 Ihat of this timi' last year. Trices continue 

 steady, with no Indications of a break, and some 

 good contracts are In sight. Building operations 

 are as good, conslilerlng the weather, and manu- 

 facturing iilants using hardwoods are said to bfr 

 showing adrlltlonal activity. 



