HARDWOOD RECORD 



57 



great building boom has created a big demand for liardwoods and a member 

 of a local firm recently said : "The hardwood business is not a market ; 

 it is a riot." 



The Brownlee Lumljer Company, recently incorporated, took over the 

 business of the Brownlee-Kelly Company, Mr. Kelly retiring from active 

 business temporarily. The president, general manager and practically 

 sole owner of the concern is William E. Brownlee. whose father founded 

 the business forty-three years ago. Horace A. Ross, a well known and 

 popular lumberman, has joined the Brownlee forces as secretary, treasurer 

 and sales manager. The company operates large yards in the River Rouge 

 (South Detroit) district and is an extensive handler of hardwoods in cargo 

 lots from lake shipping points, llr. Brownlee made a business trip 

 through the lumbering districts of northern Michigan last week and de- 

 clares that the cuts made last winter were entirely satisfactory and that 

 the mills are doing their utmost to get their stock on the market. 



The new plant of the Birdsoye Veneer Company at Escanaba is one of 

 the largest in that section of Xlichigan. The company has logs enough 

 in its yards to allow the plant to run three months and others already 

 contracted for are on the way. 



Edw. W. Leech will hereafter deal exclusively in hardwoods at whole- 

 sale and will not handle lumber at retail. The company will maintain its 

 present ofiices and yards at Seventeenth street and Warren avenue. 



The Hardwood Market 



-< CHICAGO >• 



The Chicago trade gave itself over pretty fully last week to plans for 

 the entertainment of visitors during the convention of the National Hard- 

 wood Lumber Association held on Thursday and Friday, and to carrying 

 out these plans after the delegates had arrived. For this reason trade 

 during the latter part of the week, at least, was more or less demoralized. 

 It is evident, however, that very little change has been noted during the 

 last two weeks locally. It is perhaps true that the laxity in demand 

 apparent two weeks ago was slightly accentuated since that time. In yel- 

 low pine there is noted a slight tendency to transit shipments, although it 

 had been hoped by the yellow pine contingent that the transit shipments 

 immediately following the floods had taken care of that feature. So far 

 this condition has not spread to the hardwood trade. The apparent dull- 

 ness of the market is unquestionably for the most part merely a season- 

 able proposition, and has not so far resulted in any panic of price cutting. 

 In fact, the consistent holding of prices continues to be the remarkable 

 feature of the hardwood trade in spite of apparent falling off in de- 

 mand. No great amount of dry stocks are yet coming in from northern 

 points, nor is there likely to be any flooding of the local market with 

 stocks from Michigan and Wisconsin. Probably the present laxity will 

 continue during the early part of the summer and until the local con- 

 suming trade feels itself in position where it can buy for fall purposes. 



=-< NEW YORK y- 



In a comparative sense the New York hardwood market may be said to 

 be favorable. Taken up in Its various phases it is noted that demand in 

 some stocks has fallen off ; prices continue high and firm, and stocks in 

 general at mill points are scarce and well held. The opinion prevails 

 that mill conditions are such as to preclude any bad breaks in values, 

 and in the wholesale trade there is no reason for making forced sales at 

 price concessions. Most of the buying is for immediate needs but this 

 is not unsatisfactory under present conditions of supply. That the de- 

 mand will increase is unquestioned and it is better to be prepared when 

 that time comes then make concessions now simply to increase sales. 

 Oak. ash and maple continue in best call with ash possibly in the lead. 

 Some complaint of a scarcity of thick stock is heard. The list in general 

 is well held on high values and improvement is looked for shortly in the 

 market as a whole. 



=-< BUFFALO y 



The hardwood dealers are getting a fair amount of business, but buy- 

 ing is more or less of a hand-to-mouth character and in the opinion of 

 many is likely to be so for the remainder of the month. Labor troubles 

 and the taritE are assigned as the reasons for slowing up in ordering. 

 Yet business is not much under the average at any .yard, while some deal- 

 ers say they are doing about as much today as they were a year ago. 

 Certain industries are curtailing, but others are ordering about as usual 



Plain oak continues to be in the lead in activity as well as in price 

 strength. There seems to be a continued heavy demand right along as- 

 compared with the amount of stock available. Mills have not been able 

 to ship as much dry stock as desired. Brown ash is another wood much 

 wanted and maple is also in good demand. While most mill prices are 

 very stiff on these woods, some dealers are reporting that they have been 

 getting more offers of stock than usual and that the lumber is obtain 

 able at less money. Lake hardwoods have not begun to arrive in much 

 volume as vet. 



^ Fitzgibbons & Krebs Patent Ele- 

 vated Traveling Derrick propels itself 

 on 28-ft. gauge track. 



^ No guy wires. 



f[ Write to O. M. Krebs, Mallory 

 Branch, Memphis, Tenn., or to P. F. 

 Fitzgibbons, Chattanooga, Tenn., for 

 pamphlet fully illustrating and explain- 

 ing the derrick. 



^ Also ask for list of users. 



