flfflWoMRocoM 



Published in ihe Interest of the American Hardwood Forests, the Products thereof, and Logging, Saw 

 Mill and Wood-working Machinery, on the 1 0th and 25th of each Month, by 



THE HARDWOOD COMPANY 



Henry H. Gibson, President 

 Burdis Anderson, Sec*y and Treas. 



Entire Seventh Floor Ellsworth Building 

 537 So. Dearborn Street. CHICAGO 



Vol. XXXIII 



CHICAGO, APRIL 10, 1912 



LIBR>I 



NEW Y 



:, BOTAM 



QAKOi 



No. 12 



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General Market Conditions 



Owing to flood conditions which have caused practically total 

 suspension of both lumber manufacturing and shipping througliout 

 the entire Mississippi valley, which comprises the region developing 

 perhaps fifty per cent of the hardwood output of the country, the 

 situation is having the effect of interrupting a very healthy demand 

 and transferring it, when possible, to other sources of supply. From 

 the present outlook it will be fully thirty days before lumber manu- 

 facturing and shipments can be resumed in southern Illinois, western 

 Kentucky and Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and south- 

 eastern Missouri. Owners of stock in this region now are accepting 

 orders only on the basis of shipments when the flood subsides and 

 transportation assumes its normal trend. Some manufacturers pre- 

 sume to believe that the suspension in manufacturing will have such 

 an effect towards advancing prices as to absorb the cost of the present 

 calamity, but it is doubtful if all the damage can be reclaimed from 

 this source. 



The lower Mississippi valley has not been the only serious sufferer 

 from bad weather conditions, as there has been an incessant rain 

 throughout mountain districts for months, and as a result the log- 

 ging operations have been reduced to a minimum. 



Secretary Doster of the Hardwood Manufacturers' Association says 

 there is a decided increase in demand for No. 1 common and better 

 chestnut of various thicknesses, and there is a strong inquiry for 

 shipments containing fifty per cent or more of fourteen and sixteen 

 feet lengths. No. 1 common chestnut has commanded as high as 

 thirty-six dollars f. o. b. Ohio river points; firsts and seconds, 

 fifty-two dollars, while shorter and regular length stock is quoted at 

 two and three dollars less. Five-quarter and six-quarter stock com- 

 mands a premium of three dollars a thousand over inch. Nearly all 

 chestnut producers allege that their stock is low and that the de- 

 mand is exceptionally good. 



Concerning plain oak Secretary Doster alleges there has never 

 been such a demand for this class of material as at the present time, 

 and that most of the stock in first hands is sold up to green lumber. 

 There is a tremendous reversal of form in low-grade hardwoods, which 



are being much sought by both the furniture and box factory interests. 



Manufacturers of gum and Cottonwood report \'try low stocks, and 

 present sales that will clean up all the dry lumber they will have for 

 some months to come. 



In the northern hardwood producing sections heavy snows have 

 contributed to failure in getting out as large a quantity of logs as 

 was anticipated, and while the majority of mills have been running 

 on full time, there isn't a sufficient stock of logs ahead of them to 

 run nearly the full season. 



Manufacturers, notably lake port shippers, have generally marketed 

 their stocks in advance, and there is undeniably a marked shortage of 

 all northern hardwoods in first hands. Several important jobbers, 

 who purchased very generously in the North during the last few 

 months, state that sales made up-to-date will practically clean up all 

 their purchases. 



In hardwoods there is undeniably an excellent demand from nearly 

 all sources, and many jobbers are hesitating to accept orders that 

 they would have been glad to have taken sixty days ago, as they fear 

 an inability to make purchases to fulfill contracts. There is a good 

 deal of exchange trade between jobbers to balance uj) assortments. 



There seems to be a constantly increasing demand for nearly all 

 varieties of hardwood with the advent of good spring weather. It is 

 not thought likely the prevalent carpenters ' strike in Chicago will be 

 a matter of long duration or will seriously interfere with hardwood 

 consumption in house building. 



Not as much activity is noted in the furniture trade as was antici- 

 pated, but it is hoped this business will improve with the advancing 

 season. 



There still seems to be a surplus of oak and maple flooring in manu- 

 facturers ' hands, and prices are ranging altogether too low to guaran- 

 tee a reasonable manufacturing' profit. 



The veneer and panel trade is fair in volume, but prices on these 

 commodities are also ranging very much lower than they should. 



The increased demand for good wood for the furniture and interior 

 finish trade is being reflected in the mahogany and other imported 

 wood industry. There is an increased call for mahogany, rosewood 



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