August 2r,. 1022 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



53 



thermore. production has been affected in the South by car shortage and 

 ;ni excess of rain, and in the North by insufiBcient labor. The transporta- 

 tion difficulties will not have an unfavorable effect upon the level of 

 values, tending, on the contrary, to force up the figures. But when it 

 comes to the volume of business, that is another matter, and the deficiency 

 now recorded may not be made up for some time. It seems likely that with 

 the embargoes removed, there will be a rush to get stocks, more or 

 less depletion having taken place. A large quantity of lumber will b' 

 absorbed before the assortments are brought up to their previous fullness, 

 with an adequate selection in all grades. There is also the expansion in 

 the export trade to be taken into account. Buyers on the other side art' 

 far mor* disposod to take up Aniprican hardwoods than was the case not 

 so long ai^o, and thpro is i'\-> ry indiratinii that extensive quantities of 

 lumber will he taken care of in this way. Altogether, the outlook is to 

 Uf regarded as very encouraging. 



COLUMBUS 



Trade in hardwoods in Central Ohio has been rather brisk during the 

 past fortnight. Buying on the part of retailers is still the best feature 

 but on the other hand there is a gradual increase in orders from factories 

 making boxes, implements, automobiles and musical instruments. Casket 

 manufacturers are also good purchasers. Railroads are showing a ten- 

 dency to enter the market at the present time and more active buying 

 from that source is anticipated in a short time. Prices are rather firm 

 all along the line and the tendency of the market is upwards. There 

 is now less cutting to force trade. Reports show that the higher grades 

 of oak, chestnut and poplar are rather scarce and this has the effect 

 of switching the demand to the medium and lower grades. Dry stocks 

 are not plentiful in any section. Shipments are coming out promptly as 

 a rule but some delay is occasioned in certain localities by a shortage of 



the spring. The fact is that with all the bad features that the rail situa- 

 tion has brought, there has come a really good demand from some sources 

 of the hardwood market and prospects of a better demand from others. 

 Shipments from producing points in the South and West Virginia during 

 the past two weeks were worse than during any other period since the 

 shopmen's strike. As a result of this condition, many distributors were 

 forced to pass up orders, while others are experiencing considerable diffi- 

 culty in filling orders contracted for sometime ago. The industrial demand 

 is about as good as could be expected under prevailing conditions. The 

 furniture and automobile manufacturers are the best customers, although 

 the railroads, box, coffin and implement manufacturers have placed several 

 large orders. There is a general good demand in this market for rough 

 oak. sap gum, quartered sap and poplar, with the stress on sap gum. With 

 the settlement of the coal strike, dealers look forward for some business 

 from this industry for mine timbers. The building industry is buying its 

 share of hardwoods, although some construction work is being held up 

 because of the inability of the builders to get building materials in any 

 large quantities. Buyers placing orders now want immediate shipment 

 and this is working a hardship on the trade. The export trade is very 

 quiet. What business is being accepted now is on condition that it require 

 as prompt shipment as the railroads will permit. 



CLEVELAND 



According to latest reports, the hardwood market is not only proving 

 strong as dealers predicted last month, but has shown a tendency to 

 become even firmer. 



Flooring is in good demand, due to building activities, and the auto- 

 mobile industry, and furniture men are also creating a big market for 

 hardwood. 



Dealers claim that the price of hardwood has remained firm for the last 

 few weeks. 



CINCINNA TJ 



The Cincinnati hardwood marl;et is virtually at a standstill at the 

 present time, due to the traffic tie-up which is stopping nearly all movement 

 from the South. This hindrance comes Just at a time when demand and 

 inquiry have picked up wonderfully, especially for finish, which is badly 

 needed in the building industry to complete homes which were started in 



INDIANAPOLIS 



With the settlement of the coal strike and the assurance that the wood- 

 working industries of Indiana will have sufficient coal to operate at will, 

 the distributors of hardwoods believe the fall season will be one of the 

 best in the history of the state. Many of the industrials were hard hit 

 because of the coal strike and the resultant shortage. It was necessary 



