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

 Mill and Wood- Working Machinery, on the lOlh and 25th of each Month, by 



THE HARDWOOD COMPANY 



Henry H. Gibson, Editor and Manager 

 Edwin W. Meeker\^ 

 Hu Maxwell J 



>-Associate Editors 



Entire Seventh Floor Ellsworth Building 

 537 So. Dearborn Street, CHICAGO 

 Telephones: Harrison 8086-8087-8088 



LIBN 



NEW 



eoTAr 



Vol. XXXVI CHICAGO, MAY 25, 1913 No. 3 



Review and Outlook 



General Market Conditions 



A SLIGHT BUT UNMISTAKABLE EASING of demand has 

 marked the course of trade during the last week or so, not 

 that buyers are showing fear of business conditions, but as a gen- 

 eral thing they are exhibiting a considerable degree of caution. 

 Without doubt local influences have had a bearing on this condi- 

 tion to a degree, but it is unquestionably true that this sentiment 

 has been the result of the advice of bankers and other business 

 men with their fingers on the pulse of business which has cautioned 

 the business world against proceeding at a too rapid pace. Indi- 

 cation of this is seen in the almost universal tendency to observe a 

 strict policy as to credits. Very few chances are taken on ques- 

 tionable trade, most sellers o:^ forest products being better satis- 

 fied to lose a sale and feel safe rather than to market a block of 

 stock to a customer of whom they are not absolutely certain. A 

 peculiar financial situation has placed numerous concerns of un- 

 questioned stability in situations which are embarrassing to say 

 the least. 



It is nowhere conceded that there is any indication of a panicky 

 state and, in fact, a rather remarkable feature of the situation is 

 the absolutely unbreaking conformity to the price levels for hard- 

 woods, which have prevailed for several weeks. In fact, there is still 

 noted a tendency in some items toward a further upward trend' 

 and there is reasonable assurance that there will be no falling off 

 in values. 



Northern hardwood stocks are coming in in good quantities, but 

 owing to the great rush to fill orders, considerable quantities of it 

 are being shipped in a none too dry condition, resulting in immedi- 

 ate kiln-drying. Extremely favorable weather conditions in the 

 South have enabled southern manufacturers to make considerable 

 headway in lessening the gap between supply and demand. Some 

 lumber is accumulating at mill points, although very little of it is 

 unsold. 



The export trade is in about the same condition it has been of 

 late weeks, with the exception that there is perhaps a slightly in- 

 creased tendency to shipments on consignment. 



On the whole, the building situation is very favorable throughout 

 the country, although local conditions in some centers involving 

 strikes, etc., have somewhat retarded the progress of structural 

 work. 



The factory trades in nearly all lines are seemingly active, although 

 their actual buying is more or less retarded by the desire to wait 

 for more favorable prices. Car shops are doing a steady business, 

 but are not rushed. The implement trade is one of the best features 

 of the whole consuming element. 



Changes in Hardwood Grades 



IT IS AN OPEN SECRET that a considerable element of the 

 i members of the National Hardwood Lumber Association has a 

 proposition before the grading rules committee of that organiza- 

 tion for a change in the rules on many varieties of lumber, which 

 will come before that body at its annual meeting to be held June 

 5 and 6. 



There is another quite important element of the association 

 which is out with a protest against these proposed changes in 

 grading rules. The outcome of the matter is conjectural. 



Past and Present 



THE COVER PICTURE on the current number of Hardwood 

 Record is from a photograph taken by the editor about ten 

 years ago. It may not be familiar to most readers at first sight, but 

 the name will call up recollections and perhaps quicken the imagina- 

 tion. It represents a characteristic pose of "Devil Anse" Hat- 

 field, whose name was prominent some years ago in the famous 

 Hatfield-McCoy feud which was staged in the southwest corner of 

 West Virginia, and the adjacent region of Kentucky, which are 

 here separated by Tug fork of Big Sandy river. 



The original feud as related by Mr. Hatfield started over ' ' an 

 argument over a passel of hogs." Both clans were of large num- 

 bers and the killings that ensued over this trivial cause, a decade 

 or more ago, were numerous. For a long time there has been no 

 outbreak between the McCoys and Hatfields, and Anson Hatfield 

 declares he is through with all feuds so long as he lives. 



Mr. Hatfield lives in an humble cabin "at the head of the 

 creek," fifteen miles from Devon, W. Va., on the line of the Nor- 

 folk and Western railroad, and nowadays indulges in hunting, 

 fishing and agricultural pursuits. Although well along in years, 

 Mr. Hatfield, in spite of a slight tinge of gray in hair and beard, 

 can pass for a man of forty-five years. He is highly regarded by 

 his neighbors in the entire West Virginia district; is of a kindly 

 disposition, and is a welcome guest throughout the entire region. 



Strange to say, the sobriquet by which he is known was not 

 acquired in feudist enterprises, but was the name he gained by 

 his intrepidity while a boy in the service of the Confederate 

 army. 



The Hatfields were pioneers in the Tug river region of West 

 Virginia, and they have seen the country develop from its wild and 

 almost barbarous state to one of civilization. "Devil Anse" has 

 lived to see his sons and nephews grow to manhood and become 

 substantial citizens, and today one of his nephews is governor of 

 West Virginia. 



In the days of the feud the small river which separates the states 



