HARDWOOD RECORD 



BOSTON 



A little belter feeling is developing in the 

 hardwood market. Larger orders have been re- 

 ceived and buyers in general appear to be mak- 

 ing more inquiries. A few good sized contracts 

 for lumber to be delivered during the next few 

 months have been booked. Prices arc steadier 

 than they have been and buyers are beginning 

 to feel that as the spring trade is near at 

 hand values will be held with more firmness. 

 Consuming manufacturers are fairly busy and 

 in some instances there is considerable activity. 

 There is a very good call for veneers. Quar- 

 tered oak is still In rather quiet demand :>•■•' 

 prices are not as tirm as some would like to 

 see them. Plain oak has been attracting a 

 larger amount of business during the past two 

 weeks. Maple has been selling in a very fair 

 way. Cypress has been selling moderately, with 

 prices steady. The lower grades of whitewood 

 are in good call but ones and twos are inclined 

 to move slowly. 



BALTIMORE 



Developments of the past two weeks in the 

 hardwood trade have not been of a striking char 

 acter. but the tendeucy in the direction of a 

 more active demand and higher prices has never- 

 theless been unmistakable. Many yardmen still 

 adhere to the belief that when the weather be- 

 comes settled and mills are able to run without 

 interruption, turning a larger volume of stocks 

 into the markets, quotations will sag. However, 

 from the fact that the trade has gone short for 

 several months, some time will necessarily be re- 

 quired for the supply to catch up with this 

 shortage. The apprehension also, that the big 

 coal strike in Great Britain will paralyze busi- 

 ness to such an extent as to cheek the demand 

 for lumber is not shared by any of the English- 

 men who have visited Baltimore recently. They 

 are practically unanimous in the belief that the 

 strike will prove short-lived, and that there will 

 be no considerable interference with the foreign 

 movement of lumber. However, exporters are 

 troubled greatly over the scarcity of opportuni- 

 ties for getting shipments aboard steamers. Ves- 

 sels all along the Atlantic coast are apparently 

 discriminating against lumber in favor of more 

 desirable freight, and forwardings are much de- 

 layed. As long as the strike lasts, of course, this 

 will not make so much difference, but with the 

 check once removed, inquiries for lumber are 

 likely to become urgent. The feeling with regard 

 to the market is indicaled with sufficient clear- 

 ness by the fact that oak planks are higher In 

 price than they have ever been. The domestic 

 demand is slowly expanding and a busy year is 

 looked for. The range of prices has not under- 

 gone a decided change. Extra wide poplar is 

 perhaps the onl.v kind of lumber which shows no 

 recovery, being still much below the figures 

 which, in the opinion ' of the niaiitifaclurers. 

 should prevail. 



COLUMBUS 



Although the weather is still unfavorable for 

 an active trade in hardwoods there is considerable 

 activity .shown In certain localities, and the tone 

 of the market la good. Stocks in the hands of 

 dealers are not large, and the same is true of 

 stocks in the hands of mill owners. In fact there 

 Is a marked scarcity In stocks of the lower grades, 

 and unusual strength Is shown In quotations. On 

 the whole prices are firm and have a tendency to 

 advance. Indications are bright for active build- 

 ing operations Just as soon as the weather breaks, 

 and this will undoubtedly stimulate trade. Some 

 trouble has been experienced Id getting prompt 

 shipments because of the demoralized condition 

 of railroad traffic In certain localities. This Is 



especially true through northern Ohic] and .Michi- 

 gan. Collections are fair. 



Quartered oak is in good demand. I'lain oak 

 is selling well. Chestnut is strong and there Is a 

 good demand for the lower grades. Ash is moving 

 better and other hardwoods are unchanged. 



CINCINNATI 



Notwithstanding adviH'se weather coiidilions 

 since the opening of the year, there has been a 

 fair average volume of business transacted. As 

 was to be expected business lias commenced to 

 slow down, as the result of the extraordinary 

 poor business done by the salesmen of tlie fur- 

 niture industry in their February trip. Kvery 

 where the same frozen-up condition was found 

 to exist, and as a consequence orders received 

 were excessively light. This has caused tnori' 

 conservative buying by consuming manufactui- 

 ers. A careful study of the activities of the 

 market, however, show that the stocks of good, 

 dry oak, in manufacturers' grades, both (luar- 

 ter-sawel and plain, are not excessive. There is 

 more firmness to prices, though no advances 

 are asked. Inquiries for highly figured white 

 oak are light. Most of the quarter-sawed oak 

 available is narrow, and sales are mainly in 

 mixed red and white. I'lain oak is reci'iving 

 very fair attention, with some inquiries for plain 

 white in special lengths. Heavy grades of oak 

 continue in good demand. 



Chestnut is active for the top grades, willi 

 prices strong. There is a fair movenu'Ul of 

 rough and heavy stock. Sound wormy chi'stuut 

 of good widths, practically free from defects 

 ■ otiier than worm holes, is in demand by man- 

 ufacturers of built-up stock, and top prices are 

 paid by consumers for chestnut of this grade. 

 There is plenty of low-grade seund wmniy to 

 be had, but prices are low. 



Poplar is meeting with a fair vnlume of trade 

 in the manufacturers' grades. Wide poplar is 

 slow, with but light inquiry. There is a fair 

 movement of box boards. Ited gum is in fair 

 demand for ones and twos. There are many 

 inquiries for saps and comnron, which are rather 

 scarce in good dry stock. Birch is in fair re- 

 quest for both red aiid white, with stocks re- 

 ported not over abundant. The outlook for 

 mahogany is rosy, Cuban, Honduras. African 

 and Mexican being in good demand. 



American walnut is in very fair movement 

 to the foreign trade. Foreign buyers are fairly 

 active buying oak boards and wliiti' ash. with a 

 fair movement of red gum and hickory. 



Cypress continues to grow stronger, and the 

 spring trade promises to be excellent. Prices 

 ;ire firm, with a slight advance on some grades. 



TOLEDO 



The local hardwood market has shown consid- 

 erable life recently. Quarter-sawed oak is about 

 the only Item that Is dragging. Plain oak is in 

 good demand, the hulk of the business loming 

 from manufacturing plants. Boxing grades of 

 red gum and cottonwood are scarce with a per- 

 sistent demand. Hlgh-gratle cottonwood and red 

 gum for domestic use are plentiful at unclinnged 

 prices. The lighter export business in these 

 materials resulting from Increased ocean steam- 

 ship tariffs has Increased the supply for home 

 consumption. Hickory Is very scarce, and local 

 concerns report the demand the strongest for 

 years, most of the business coming from vehicle. 

 wheel concerns. Toledo yards are well stocked 

 and lines are complete. Local dealers are buyln;; 

 from time to time In an effort to malnt.'iin thi> 

 present high working elllclency of yards. Indi- 

 cations iioint to a heavy demanil for hardwood 

 flooring anil Interior llnlsh within the next few 

 weeks. On the whole the condition Is highly sal 

 Isfnctory and few complaints are heard, asblr 

 from bi'lated shipments. 



INDIANAPOLIS 



Tbere are signs of renewiug activity in tlii> local 

 hardwood market. A large number of inquiries 

 are coming in witli prospects that some substantial 

 orders will follow shortly. The prospects for a. 

 good spring trade, equal at least to that of last 

 spring, are said to be excellent. Vehicle and au- 

 tomobile manufacturers, as well as other manu- 

 facturers using hardwoods, are looking forward to 

 a normal run this year. Prices continue compara- 

 tively steady, wiili no indications of a decline. 



EVANSVILLE 



The loi'al hardwood market has shown a little 

 more activity during the past fortnight. Build- 

 ing has not revived to any extent, owing to bad 

 weather conditions which still exist, although by 

 the latter part of the present month several large 

 contracts will be started ahd building in general 

 will pick up. Logs are still scarce. While local 

 yards have plenty of lumber to take care of pres- 

 ent trade, stocks are not as heavy as they were 

 two months ago, and with business gradually in- 

 creasing they will be decreased even more. Plain 

 oak is in excellent demand and scarce. Quar- 

 tered oak continues to improve gradually. Poplar 

 in the lower grades, especially No. 2 B common, 

 is in fair demand. Ones and twos walnut is im- 

 proving, and stocks are short on this item. 



MEMPHIS 



The demand for hardwood lumber here is quite 

 satisfactory. Practically every lumberman ad- 

 mits that business is good, and that the outlook 

 is more favorable than it has been for a number 

 of months. There is no large stock of dry lum- 

 ber, which is something of a handicap. The short- 

 age of cars and the inability to make prompt 

 deliveries also tend to militate against lumber 

 interests. The fact remains, however, that buy- 

 ers are in the market, and that there is a good 

 demand for the greater portion of the lumber 

 offered for sale. There is a jiarticularly gotid 

 call for plain oak in all grades. Quartered oak is 

 in more active request than a short time ago. 

 The supply of quartered white oak in the lower 

 grades is not particularly large, and the move- 

 ment of this is relativel.v better than in the 

 upper grades. Bed gum is in active demand at 

 fair prices. Sap gum is in better request and 

 prices are firmer. The lower grades of gum are 

 in belter demand than they have been at any time 

 since the improvement in thesi' began to manifest 

 itself, and prices are also better than heretofore. 

 There is a very active demand for the lower 

 grad(*s of cottonwood hut the supply is restricted 

 and the volume of business Is therefore light. 

 The box business Is good and is largely respoii 

 sible for the better showing in cottonwood and 

 gum in the lower grades. There is a fairly ac- 

 tive demand for ash in thin stock, Intt the best 

 seller Is stock 1 VL- inches and thicker, nimenslon 

 stock is also in good rtM^uest. .\ctivity in cypress 

 is confined chielly to the lower grades but there 

 is a growing inquiry therefor and lumbermen 

 here who make a specially of handling this wood 

 believe that tbere is a period of very much greater 

 a<'tlvlty .1uBt ahead of this lumber. This view Is 



THREE STATES LUMBER CO. 



Manulacturars of 



SOUTHERN HARDWOODS 

 Cottonwood and Red Gum 



SPECIALTIES 

 Main Oftloa, Mamphla, Tenn. 



