46 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



hai-dwood loi- lautuiy iiadc is ovoii moi-u scarce 

 than it was in tlie fall and a very little increase 

 in demand would send the price up. What is 

 still more encouraging is the fact that medium 

 and low-grade hardwood in some lines is be- 

 coming scarce. Reports from the eastern mar- 

 ket indicate a much better condition than at 

 any time for three months. Wholesalers here 

 believe that there is a chance for a very firm 

 hardwood market at least the first six months 

 of 1912. 



BOSTON 



More or less of a waiting market is reported 

 by dealers in Boston, but an improvement is ex- 

 pected before the end of this month. Already 

 some very fair sized inquiries have been re- 

 ceived, which will result in orders. Manufac- 

 turing consumers are fairly busy. Chair makers 

 and piano manufacturers have in most cases 

 been fairly busy. Dealers state that the yard 

 trade has held up well considering the fact 

 that few are ready to buy in anticipation of 

 their wants. Prices of the better grades of 

 hardwoods are very well held with the exception 

 of quartered oak. Lower prices are quoted for 

 this than some buyers have been able to get 

 stock at. The export demand is fair, but for- 

 eign buyers are not willing to pay the prices 

 asked for the selection they demand. 



BALTIMORE 



The new year has begun in a fairly satis- 

 factory manner, orders coming in with consid- 

 erable freedom, althongh for only such stocks 

 as must be secured without de]a.v. 



The inquiry from aliroad keeps up, and much 

 interest is being shown by foreign buyers. The 

 better grades of [loplar. especially No. 1 com- 

 mon, are in good demand, and some large orders 

 have been taken recently, while the movement 

 holds out every prospect of continuance. Oak 

 also is called for by the foreign trade, prices 

 ofTered constituting an advance over the figures 

 that prevailed a short time ago. Buyers are 

 manifesting a tendency toward greater liberality 

 in the matter of inspection. All other woods 

 shipped in large quantities are sought with 

 more or less eagerness abroad. 



The domestic movement is relatively quiet, but 

 this is expected at this season of the year and 

 does not in the least affect the range of prices. 

 All the advantages gained prior to the holidays 

 are retained, and when the normal trade sets 

 In. it will Tjc on the basis of the increased 

 values, with a (air prospect of a further rise in 

 the quotations. Large buyers, such as the rail- 

 roads, are considered in line for increased busi- 

 ness, and a very favorable view of ^hc future is 

 taken iiv all members of the trade. 



COLUMBUS 



Despite the holiday period whi'U trade is 

 usually quiet, business has been fair during the 

 past fortilltfht. Demand for most grades of 

 hardwoods has been good and prices have ruled 

 firm in every iiarllcuiar. A slight strengthening 

 In oak and chestnut has been noted, with no 

 disposition to shaile quotations In the least. 

 Owing to the inventory period stocks are excep- 

 tionally light and will have to be replenished 

 soon. Orders are being placed for Immediate 

 delivery and a good feeling Is shown In every 

 branch of the trade. Dry stocks In the hands 

 of mill owners and Jobbers are light and indi- 

 cations arc that prices will be advanced In tbe 

 near future. 



CI.\CI.\.\A Tl 



no material chau^e, though tlie usual New 

 Year's spirit of optimism is on tap, and predic- 

 tions are made of a good year's business. There 

 is a steady improvement in the sale of oak in 

 common and better grades, which is meeting 

 with the approval .of the consuming manufac- 

 turers. The movement of oak continues the 

 leading feature of the market, with only a fair 

 demand for top grades. Inquiries for highly 

 figured, quarter-sawed oak are very light, the 

 liulk of quartered oak offered Ix^lng narrow. Plain 

 white oak Is In fair demand. The principal 

 transactions, however, in both quartered and 

 ])lain oak, are in red, and red and white mixed. 

 Heavy oak timbers and car stock continue to 

 be in good demand at the mills. 



Chestnut Is in light request for the top grades, 

 and for long ones and twos. Poplar is meet- 

 ing with a fair demand for the mauufacturers' 

 grades. A slow but steady Improvement Is noted 

 In Inquiries tor wide, clear jMplar. the automo- 

 \n\c trade agalu evincing interest. However, 

 prices remain low. Ash, both red and brown. 

 In manufacturers' grades. Is moving fairly well, 

 and heavy, white ash is in good inquiry. Hick- 

 ory is steady, with a fair demand from the 

 wheel and shaft Industries. Hickory boards are 

 scarce with some inquiry. Eed gum is meet- 

 ing with a fair call for ones and tn-os ; saps 

 and common dry stock is very scarce, w-ith good 

 inquiries. Basswocd is In only fair request, 

 t'ottonwood is light for tbe top grades, with a 

 good movement of low-grades. The demand for 

 birch in both rod and white Is good. JIahogany 

 is in very good call and Is steadily improving, 

 the furniture industry being the better buyers. 

 Mahogany flitches for veneers are In good de- 

 mand. 



The buying for the foreign trade continues to 

 tie very fair, with u good inquiry for oak boards. 

 White ash is In good Inquiry for the export 

 trade. Red gum Is In fair demand. American 

 walnut continues steady with a good movement 

 to the coast. Hickor.v and cherry are receiv- 

 ing attention from foreign buyers. 



Cypress is in light demand for millwork stock. 

 Heavy tank stock is receiving fair attention, 

 orders, however, are principally confined to small 

 lots. 



TOLEDO 



Generally six^iking the hardwood market Is 

 very quiet, although there Is activity along cer- 

 tain lines. Chief among the latter Is the stave 

 market, which has come to the front during the 

 past sixty days. Dry hardwoods apijear to be 

 scarce, some local concerns reporting that 

 almost everything in sight has been cleaned up 

 at the mills. Railway companies are making 

 numerous inquiries for oak. It is expected that 

 iliey will prove good customers early in the 

 spring. 



\'ery little change is noted in poplar, the high- 

 gnide material being in fair demand at good 

 l>rices ; lower grades are erratic and various 

 lirlces are quoted. There has been some demand 

 for hardwoods thus far but building business is 

 light on account of cold weather which makes 

 outdoor work almost itnposslble. Manufaduring 

 concerns have been operating very lightly and 

 .lust now many plants are closed down for an- 

 nual invi'ntorles and repairs. Hardwood prices 

 have been well malntaln:'d and there Is no Indi- 

 cation of weakness. Local stocks are well filled, 

 and there Is d disposition on the part of own- 

 ers to keep Ihera up to the highest point of 

 worTflng efiiclency. Dealers are still inlying as 

 (hey have an opporlunity. 



INDIANAPOLIS 



Business for the year mil kept fair to the 

 <nd and the opening of the new year witnessed 



Hardwood interests nqiort tliat liuslness Is 

 extremely dull at this time. This Is due to the 

 fact that many concerns using hardwoods are 

 more or less Inactive and also lo tlie extreme 

 cold wcniber. The vnluine f»f liiisiness Is siild to 



l>e less thau it was during the correspondiug 

 period of IVtll. There has been no recent change 

 in iiriccs, however. Hardwood men say they 

 look forward to a good business when there Is 

 a resumption of activity among manufacturing 

 plants and the convention season is overl 



NASHVILLE 



The outlook for the new year is considered 

 very favorable. It being expected that the volume 

 of trade will open up soon to a lllieral extent. 

 The almost universally low conditions of stocks 

 in the hands of the consumers and retailers is 

 one reason for the expected activity. The gen- 

 eral attitude of the trade now Is one of wait- 

 ing for the developments which are confidently 

 expected in the near future. The lessened de- 

 mands for the past year were met by curtailed 

 production and It Is felt the general condition 

 of the hardwood trade Is excellent. For the 

 past two weelvs business has naturally been 

 somewhat quiet due to the holidays and the 

 shutting down of some of the plants for neces- 

 sary repairs. 



Plain oak and poplar are leading in present 

 demands, wide poplar showing an especially 

 good call. Gum and cottonw'ood are moving 

 well ; chestnut, ash and maple are in good call, 

 and quartered oak has shown additional strength. 

 There have been good receipts of logs in the 

 Nashville market with tbe high tide of the 

 Cumberland river which enabled the loggers in 

 the upper river country to float their rafts to 

 this market. Good shipments have also been 

 received by boat. Prices have remained steady. 



KNOXVILLB 



The first week in January has found all the 

 lumbermen In this city unusually actlvi' filling 

 orders for the new year. Dry stocks are un- 

 usually scarce in this vicinity, which leads to 

 a stiffening tendency In the price and a better 

 outlook toward larger profits to the wholesale 

 lumberman In the near future. Local lumber- 

 mi-n feel confident that the new- year has stored 

 up for them sc*tue good prospects judging by the 

 first week and future orders already booked. 

 Collections are very good and all together pros- 

 pects for 1912 look very bright. 



Plain and quartered oak leads in this market, 

 with poplar and ash a close second. Basswood 

 is coming to the front .ludging from tlie numer- 

 ous inquiries and the demand for chestnut In 

 .-ill grades Is steady. 



BRISTOL 



liristol luiul)ermcu report lliat trade is start- 

 ing off fairly well with the new year. Trade 

 was much better during November and Decem- 

 ber than for some time and wliile .lanuary as a 

 rule Is not an exceiitlonal uiontli, a good record 

 will be made and It Is thought that trade will 

 pick up right along. The mills are In good 

 shaiie for logs but yard stocks are not as large 

 as they have TTeen. 



MEMPHIS 



The di'uiand feu- bardwond lomlier, wliUi' quiet 

 at Hie moment owing to the taking of slock. Is 

 regarded as satisfactory and the belief is ex- 

 pressed here that (or a few months at least, n 

 more satisfactory business is In store than for 

 some time. There is some disposition to place 

 orders further ahead and this Is In striking con- 

 trast with the policy which consumers have for 

 some lime followed of buying only for Imme- 

 diate delivery. The supply of hardwood lumber 

 In the South at the monieni In sliliqilng dry Is 

 not particularly large. rnfavorMl>le weather 



