HARDWOOD RECORD 



53 



now on. W. D. Harper. Milwaukee, building inspector, is confident that 

 another new high record will be established this season. Wholesalers 

 report that exceptionally good orders are coming in from most of the retail 

 yards about the state. Formers have been carrying on considerable fall 

 building this year and dealers are endeavoring to get their stocks up 

 in shape. 



Northern hardwoods are holding especially firm and there is no indi- 

 cation that price concessions are to be expected. Stocks of southern hard- 

 woods seem to be somewhat larger and there is more competition for 

 orders in this line. Plain and quartered oak are in fair demand, although 

 some buyers seem to feel that lower prices may be expected later. 

 Reports from the northern lumber companies are to the effect that stocks 

 at the mills are light. Dealers seem to feel that they may have trouble 

 later on in replenishing their stocks and this is tending to keep prices up 

 to the present mark. Stocks of birch and maple are far from being large 

 at most points, while the demand for No. 1 and No. 2 common birch and 

 for two-inch maple is increasing. 



=-< GLASGOW y- 



For some time back the conditions in the timber trade in Glasgow and 

 the west of Scotland have been rather slow. Selling has been uneventful. 

 In most cases merchants have been toppling over one another in an effort 

 to make small sales, which naturallj" has the effect of lowering prices. 

 However, considering the somewhat unsatisfactory demand existing, with 

 few exceptions prices are exceedingly firm, and it would occasion no sur- 

 prise to see an advance similar to that which occurred this time last year. 

 The future of the freight market tends to go up but assuming present 

 rates are maintained any alteration in the i^rice of timber is more likely 

 to be upward than downward. Shipbuilding inquiries are not so numerous 

 now although a few small orders have transpired during the past few 

 days. 



Sales from the recent arrivals have been more in evidence and storing 

 is not being resorted to in so great a measure as recently, sellers pre- 

 ferring to ease prices a little rather than store. This has been done in 

 a great many cases because once goods are stored it is found that with 

 store rent and other handling charges added it is difficult to bring out 

 cost. The bulk of the arrivals from Baltimore and Newport News has 

 comprised railway oak against contracts, very few consignment parcel'^ 

 being in evidence. Several parcels of Gaboon mahogany and pitch pin-^ 

 have come in recently and have sold well. 



A part cargo of Siberian pine arrived recently and is reported to b.^ 

 sold. The qualities of the various grades arc very good, particularly r:o 

 in the case of the "crown" or best grade. This wood is taking the place 

 of Quebec yellow pine and seems to he finding favor. 



The pitch pine market is looking firmer than for some time past in 

 sympathy with advancing f. g. b. prices and the higher freights quoted 

 from the Gulf ports. 



During the past month deckloads of Riga spruce have arrived and df^- 

 liveries from the quays are proceeding briskly. Prices rule firm and un 

 drop is anticipated so long as the supply is kept in moderate compass. 

 Canadian spruce, as far as cargoes ore concerned, seems to be now almost 

 a thing of the past and hence Rigas are being used to a larger extent 

 than formerly. 



=■< LIVERPOOL y. 



The hardwood market here seems In a very peculiar state. Most of 

 the trade consumers seem to hare a fixed opinion iu their minds that the 

 trade boom here is at an end, and some confirmations of this come in the 

 August Board of Trade returns. How much of this is temporarily caused 

 by the Balkan war is one of the problems most difficult to solve. All that 

 is known is that for the moment no one stems inclined to buy. which, or 

 course, is the immediate matter of importance as far as the lumber market 

 is concerned. This position, in face of the advancini freight market. 

 makes the hardwood market most difficult to calculate. Some of the 

 lumbermen are inclined to be pessimistic and they cannot see how ship- 

 ments are froing to be profitable with the advancing freights and a 

 probability of diminishing value. Their strong advice to shippers is on 

 no account to send in consignments without advance orders, as iu the 

 present lack of confidence existing among the traders, they cannot hope 

 for favorable reception. 



The mahogany position shares the general outlook. As long as the trade 

 boom in this country lasted and the supply kept on. the low price kept on 

 the high side. Now things might easily change if trade does permanently 

 fall away. .4dvice to buyers on the other side is to play the waiting 

 game. It is thought the price will not go any higher and the market 

 might very easily suBfer a substantial slump. 



Ash and hickory are perhaps a little better in value, but both markets 

 want rest, and immediate shipments are not advised: Ash lumber has been 

 selling well, and there are some signs that values will now go down 

 again. 



Gum lumber is very weak and shipments have been far too heavy. 

 Round oak is also a weak spot, and prices of wagon oak planks are not 

 all good : in fact, it is thought that the wagon oak market is in a very 

 bad state, but no improvement can be predicted for some months to come. 

 Birch and maple have been selling well, but shipments are not recom- 

 mended without orders. Quartered oak orders can be readily secured at 

 full values for the regular sizes of prime grades. 



EXCEPTIONAL 



MAHOGANY, CIRCASSIAN WAL- 

 NUT AND QUARTERED OAK 



VENEERS 



If a good veneer cutter can manufacture fair 

 quality veneers with antiquated machinery, what 

 can he do when given the latest and most efficient 

 equipment? 



The Answer 



is to be found in any of the stock produced at our 

 new mill, which is the last word in modern equip- 

 inent. 



We have selected the finest logs on the mar- 

 ket, our men are experienced and capable, the 

 product speaks for itself. 



See our samples and get prices. 



Visit Our Plant 



Any time you are in Chicago and want to see 

 the most modern veneer plant in existence today, 

 we will be glad to show you through our plant. 



Fred W. Black Lumber Co. 



2245 S. Fortieth Ave. Chicago, 111. 



You Know Something 



About the Land of 



Last Supply 



You know, of course, that the nearest source 

 of adequate lumber supply are the forests of 

 the west, the inter-mountain pines and the fir, 

 spruce, cedar and hemlock of the Pacific Coast. 



In a broad sense, we are at the beginning of an 

 era of 



Competitive Demand 

 for Western Timber 



Mills of the South are exhausting their supply and 



are seeking new locations. 



Timber is disappearing from the market, but not so rapidly 



n^)W as it will on a constantly increasing scale during the 



next decade. Ever.v tract taken off the market decreases 



the suppl.v and increases the desirability and value of those 



remaining. 



The best go first. Investigate now. 



James D. Lacey & Co. 



Timber Land Factors 



Chicago, III., 1750 McCormick Building 



Portland, Ore., 1104 Spalding Building 



Seattle, Wash., 1009 White Building 



