THE HARDWOOD RECORD. 



23 



kept ill the soiitliern country and are pay- 

 ing tlie prices aslced by tlie inaiiut'acturers. 

 Considerable lias been said on this sub- 

 ject in the St. Louis correspondence, but 

 so much thought is lieing given to it by 

 the St. Louis dealer-s — more than to any 

 other phase of the situation— that it de- 

 mands attention. There is also consider- 

 able local talk at the marked advances in 

 mill prices during the past month or more. 

 At that end of the line the change in the 

 direction of higher values has been more 

 rapid than in this northern country, and 

 it has resulted in placing the wholesalers 

 en a basis of closer margins than prevailed 

 a month ago. It is a peculiar condition 

 that the selling prices of the wholesale 

 yards to the northern factories have ad- 

 vanced very little, despite the fact that 

 lumber is so scarce that many orders are 

 turned down, and this has led to the local 

 belief that iwices must soon show a 

 change. The dealers admit that it is not 

 the competition with other markets that 

 has brought about this condition, but that 

 it is purelj- a lack of concerted local action 

 and harmony. 



As the furniture people are buying more 

 heavily than at last report, and as the 

 crop conditions are entirely satisfactory to 

 those who base their purchases upon the 

 probable conditions in the agi'icultural 

 country, there is a greater amount of 

 lumber changing hands than at any time 

 thus far this year. The reports coming in 

 also show that a greater amount is also 

 going into actual consumption. The local 

 factories are also easy buyers of about 

 anything that comes their way, and they 

 are especially anxious to buy dry stock, 

 which, of cour.se, is almost impossible to 

 find. As has been intimated in the fore- 

 going, the volume of business is only lim- 

 ited by the stocks and it is apparent this 

 early in the game that there will be much 

 more business this fall than can be taken 

 care of. 



NEW YORK. 



It is only by comparison that one can 

 truly appreciate the condition of a mar- 

 ket, and, judged by the conditions which 

 usually prevail at this season of the year, 

 the hardwood market of the metropolis 

 is one with which little fault can honestly 

 be found. 

 As a rule, during ,Tuly and August the 

 ' experienced lumber dealer does not look 

 for any large volume of sales. This does 

 not refer to hardwoods alone, but to all 

 lumber. To slim sales there is usually 

 added the annoyance, indeed, the loss, of 

 sagging prices. 



This year the conditions during July 

 and August, as far as the hardwood con- 

 ditions are concerned, have been excep- 

 tions to the rule. Not only have prices 

 not dropped, but if anything, they are 

 something better now than they were 

 on the first of July, while the demand for 



almost everything on the list can truly 

 be denominated as excellent. 



The reason for the good prices, how- 

 ever, is not to be found alone in the call. 

 It is due to the fact that the better 

 grades of hardwood are scarce, and sup- 

 plies generally are light. Those who keep 

 in close touch with the trade know, too, 

 that the mill men throughout the hard- 

 wood section understand the situation 

 fully, and that they have not been fright- 

 ened by the bluff which the buyers usu- 

 ally advance at this season. 



On the contrary, they are holding up 

 prices, knowing that hardwood lumber is 

 mighty scarce and that it is decidedly 

 good property to be in possession of, the 

 demand insuring a ready sale when the 

 lumber is ready to be shipped. 



Quartered oak is particularly firm. In- 

 diana stock of the very best grade is sell- 

 ing at $G5 for 1-inch, while 114-inch brings 

 practically $70. For southern quartered 

 oak some .$2 or $3 less is being obtained. 



Plain oak is very stiff and active in this 

 market. The regular figure is ?40, al- 

 though some dealers claim they are getting 

 $42.50. 



As for poplar, its strength seems excel- 

 lent. For firsts and seconds, 8 to 18 inches, 

 $41 to $42 is obtained, 8 and up, $43 and 

 $44. and 1%, lli, and 2 inch, $44 to $45; 

 saps are quoted at .?33. common at $31, and 

 culls bring $20 to .$21. 



Ash is rather quiet, but for mahogany 

 the demand is very good, stock being sold 

 ahead of the saws at fall figures. 



Chestnut is quoted at $38 to $40 for firsts 

 and seconds, $2S to $30 for sound wormy, 

 $18 to $20 for culls, and thick, $40 to .|42. 



EVANSVILLE. 



Evansville, Ind. 



The hardwood trade is gootl in this mar- 

 ket from every standpoint, except that the 

 mills cannot fill their orders' as quickly 

 as they wish. Tlie outside dealers are 

 flocking here ^\^th hopes of securing some- 

 thing for the fall trade before prices again 

 advance. 



Some buyers are free to say that they 

 don't believe the manufacturers can main- 

 tain prices, but their actions don't agree 

 with their expressions'. TJiey want lum- 

 ber too badly and are willing to pay the 

 prices asked. In reality they are afraid 

 prices ^vill again be advanced before they 

 can get into the game. 



NASHVILLE. 

 Nashville, Tenn., August 10. 

 There are no changes of special moment 

 noticeable on the Nashville market. The 

 usual midsummer dullness failed to ma- 

 terialize, and all the local dealers are as 

 busy as they can be. Orders are plentiful 

 and prices are advancing slowly but surely 

 on most every kind of wood and on every 

 grade and thickness. Quartered white 

 oak, m both firsts and seconds, and com- 

 mon, is especially fiiTn and active, and 



prices have advanced $1 per thousand on 

 common within the last few weeks. Dry 

 poplar is almost unobtainable. The de- 

 mand for hickory and ash is also improv- 

 ing, and chestnut is still holding its own. 



MEMPHIS. 



Midsummer finds little change in the 

 lumber market here. The nominal dull- 

 ness is absent. Those engaged in the 

 trade, abandoning vacations, are at their 

 place of business. The mills are running 

 better than the state of the Wolf Rivei- 

 has previously allowed them to run at this 

 season. Poplar, ash, quartered white oak, 

 gum, Cottonwood and within the last few 

 weeks even quartered red oak— at firm 

 prices— are in good movement. The manu- ■ 

 facturers here do not expect any change 

 of prices. " 



LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND. 



John H. Burreil & Co., wood brokers, 

 Liverpool, England, in their wood circular 

 of August, state: 



BIRCH.-The import has been about 

 equally divided between logs and plank- 

 the stock of the latter is, however still* 

 too heavy. 



ASH LOGS.-There has been no im- 

 provement in the market, which continues 

 to be oversupplied. 



ASH LUMKER.-Planks and boards 

 have aiTived vei-y sparingly, but there is 

 a fair demand for the former, if of prime 

 quality and good specification. 



BLACK WALNUT LOGS.-Prime lar-'S 

 logs continue in strong request at good 

 prices, but no improvement can be re- 

 corded in the market for logs of medium 

 size and quality, while small and inferior 

 vs'ood rules very low. , 



BLACK AVALNUT LUJIBERr-The 

 stock is still too heavy, .ind owing to the 

 dull demand values remain unusually de- 

 pressed. 



CHESTNUT LOGS.-There has been no 

 import, and but little inquiry. 



ELM LOGS'.— No change to report 

 HICKORY LOGS'.— The demand as 

 usual at this season of the year, is quiet 

 OAK BOARDS.-The market for both 

 plain and quartered boards is dull. 



OAK LOGS.— The demand has not .vet 

 recovered, either for round wood or coifiu 

 logs, and prices are easy. 



OAK PLANKS (COFFIN).— The slack- 

 ness in demand recently noted has contin- 

 ued, and supplies should be carefully re- 

 stricted for the next six weeks. 



OAK PLANKS (WAGON).— The arrivals 

 have been very heavy, and new inquiries 

 from the wagon-building centers are at 

 present scarce. Values are somewhat 

 weaker. 



POPLAR LOGS.— Prime hewn logs of 

 large sizes are in fair request. 



POPLAR LUJIBER.-Prime quality 

 boards of good specification, both planed 

 .-nd uiiplaned, are in good demand, but 

 the su]iply is scarce, owing to the prices 

 asked by shippers. 



SATIN WALNUT LOGS.-The demand 

 is very limited. 



SATIN WALNUT LUMBER.-There is 

 but little doing. 



The ICaul & Hall Lumber Company of 

 St. M'arys, Pa., have qualified to do busi- 

 ness in Ohio, with headquarters' in Colum- 

 bus. 



