56 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



July ^o, 1922 



Manufacturers 

 of 



Stimson's 



HARDWOOD 

 LUMBER 



Annual Output: 50 Million Feet 



J. V. Stimson 



Huntingburg, Ind. 



Stimson Veneer & Lumber Co, 



Memphis, Tenn 



J. V. Stimson Hardwood Co. 



Memphis, Tenn., and Helena, Ark. 



STRABLE 

 Lumber & Salt Company 



SAGINAW, MICHIGAN 



Manujacturers 

 Hardwood Lumber, Maple Flooring 



ALL GRADES AND THICKNESSES 



MODERN DRYKILNS AND PLANING MILL 



Insist upon 



Wolverine Maple Flooring 



"Best by Test" 



The sign to foiimv Maple, Birch, Basswood, Elm, Beech 



The Tegge Lumber Co^ 



High Grade 



Northern and Southern 



Hardwoods and Mahogany 



Specialties 



OAK, MAPLE, CYPRESS, POPLAR 

 Milwaukee,, Wisconsin 



Increased industrial demand lias resulted in better demand from the box 

 factories for low grades. The expected rush of business from the furni- 

 ture trade is slow in materializing, but the implement wagon and auto 

 lines are somewhat better. Some of the local companies' reports indicate 

 tliat production is about equal to shipments, others showing a little gain 

 in stocks, and some reporting a steady decline in stock since the first of 

 the year, as a result of orders being larger than production. Unless the rail 

 and coal strikes slow up industry, the general outlook is said to be quite 

 favorable for a good summer and early fall business. However, the big 

 strikes are making for unrest, but so far no uneasiness to speak of that 

 would affect general buying. 



Prices are quite Arm in hardwoods with a good demand for poplar, 

 oak and mahogany and walnut except in the thicker grades. 



NEW ORLEANS 



The hardwood market for the New Orleans territory is now undergoing 

 its usual midsummer stages of quietness and comparative inactivity. The 

 export movement has shown scarcely, if any, falling off during the dull 

 July-August season, so far, but there has been a temporary noticeable 

 letup in the domestic market. The coal and the railroad strike have made 

 their effects felt hereabouts rather keenly within the past fortnight, but 

 the coal operators are already sending their inquiries back into the market 

 in huge quantity and indications are that they will again be taking goodly 

 supplies of the commoner grades ere long. It seems, too, that not a few 

 (if the buyers have procrastinated about placing their orders on account 

 of the railroad strike. Another and more obvious effect of the last-named 

 strike has been, too, the rendering rather uncertain of the railways them- 

 selves as purchasers of hardwood stocks for their general program of im- 

 provement and equipment. 



The export movement from the port of New Orleans has been handi- 

 capped considerably latterly by the fact that much of the rolling stock 

 is in poor condition and because of the further fact of the policy of the 

 big trunk lines entering the port to decline to turn over to the New Orleans 

 I'ublic Belt Railway tor delivery to shipside any such cars, but persisting 

 in holding them on the outskirts of the city until the repairs are effected. 

 This situation has developed to that extent that some of the exporters are 

 liaving to serve notice to their customers to account for the delay. 



The mills throughout the great Southwest are beginning to swing back 

 into action slowly but steadily with the prospect that practically all of 

 them will be going again in full blast by the early fall when business is 

 generally expected to receive a big boost. 



Prices remain tenaciously firm, though there is now going on an appar- 

 ently concerted attempt on the part of the buyers to yank them down 

 considerably. As a rule, however, the manufacturers are standing by their 

 guns and are refusing to grow weak in the knees. The box manufacturers 

 are back in the market and thus the superfluity of lower grades is being 

 gradually cleared off again. Manufacturers of agricultural implements and 

 furniture makers are buying sharply. Stock of the uppers is none too 

 plentiful and rather badly broken. 



MILWAUKEE 



Many of the mills supplying hardwoods to the Milwaukee market have 

 broken stocks, wholesalers and jobbers at this city report. Price levels 

 are stronger, and hardwoods have not shown the slightest tendency to 

 soften. The freight rate reductions have had little effect on the movement 

 of lumber, the railroad strike quelling all enthusiastic movement. Fol- 

 lowing on the heels of the threatened announcement of a strike of the 

 railroad craftsmen and maintenance of way workers, buyers hurried into 

 the hardwood markets and purchased rather heavily. Now that the situ- 

 ation has lagged on, the big bulk of purchasing with one eye on strike 

 developments has passed, and trade has slumped. All buyers who were 

 compi'lled to fill necessity orders have purchased ahead and now inquiries 

 are fitful and trade has slackened. Many buyers despair of receiving ship- 

 ments, and time and movement queries always accompany orders and 

 inquiries. 



The railroad strike alone cannot be held responsible for the slight 

 slackening of trade for the seasonal dullness that follows the burst of 

 the spring building boom has set in. The quiet period this year Is not as 

 marked as in former seasons because of the presence of furniture manufac- 

 turers and automobile body makers In the market, who help to offset the 

 construction lumber setback. A large amount of hardwoods are moving. 

 They are wanted mostly for Interior finish to complete houses started in 

 the spring. A healthy movement In the lower grade hardwoods to indus- 

 tries who are showing signs of awakening has helped to spread a steadying 

 uud.'Mone and better feeling In the local market. 



Ehn, ash and maple are in demand for automobile body makers. West 

 coast fir is perhaps the biggest sellers in the local lumber market with 

 hemlock following for a good second choice. No. 1 and No. 2 boards are 

 showing improved movement during the past few weeks. Oak and maple 

 flooring sales are mounting, and the box trade Is displaying signs of life. 

 Tlip market, in general, despite the current labor difl3cultles affecting lum- 

 ber transportation, Is In a better condition now than it was at this period 

 last year. 



