Published lr\ the Interest of Ha.rdwood Lumber, Annerica.n HaLrdwood Forests, Wood Veneer Industry. H&rdwood Flooring, 

 HaLrdwood Interior Flrtlsh, Wood CKen\lca.Is, Sslw Mill a.nd Woodworking MaLcKlnery. 



Vol. XXXI. 



CHICAGO, MARCH 10, 1911. 



No. 10. 



Published on the 1 0th and 23lh of each month by 



THE HARDWOOD COMPANY 



HENRY H. GIBSOX, President 



LOUIS L. JACQUES, Sec'y and Treas. 



Sixth Floor, Ellsworth Bldg., 355 Dearborn Street, Chicago, III. 



Telephones Harrison 8086-8087-8088 



REPRESENTATIVES 



Eastern Territory - - Jacob Holtzman, 5254 Larchwood Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 



Northern Territory ... E. W, Meeker, 355 Dearborn St., Chicaso, 111. 



TERMS OF ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION 



In the United Slates, Canada. Philippine Islands and Mexico , $2.00 

 In all other countries in Universal Postal Union .... 3.00 



Subscriptions are payable in advance, and in default of written orders (o 

 the contrary are continued at our option. 



Entered as second-class matter May 26, 1902, at the Posloffice at Chi- 

 cago, 111., under act of March 3, 1879. 



Advertising copy must be received five days in advance of 

 publication date. Advertising rates on application. 



Coming Association Meetings 



NATIONAL LUMBER MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIA- 

 TION 

 The ninth annual meeting of this association will be 

 held at Chicago on Wednesday and Thursday, May 24 

 and 25. 

 EDWARD HINES, LEONARD BRONSON, 



President. Manager. 



General Market Conditions 



Reports from the chief consuming centers of the United States 

 indicate a decided increase in inquiries during the last fortnight, 

 and a substantial gain in actual sales of hardwoods. On the whole, 

 there seems to be a fair volume of business, the only unsatisfactory 

 condition existing being that prices on some items of stock in various 

 quarters are being shaded considerably, with little or no excuse for 

 such action. This situation is doubtless brought about by the neces- 

 , sity of sundry holders of stock who feel that they must realize from 

 immediate sales. There is no gainsaying the fact that hardwood 

 lumber in first hands is in remarkably short supply, and that even 

 thirty days' normal trade will exhaust the stock of dry lumber. 



There is absolutely no reason for sacrificing values at this time, 

 and it is unfortunate that anyone is attempting to force sales by 

 tutting the price. However, there are some items of stock which are 

 being held not only very firm, but with a decided advancing tendency. 

 This situation lies notably with northern maple and birch. There has 

 been a wonderfully increased demand for both these woods during 

 the last three months, with a marked shortage of stock, which would 

 indicate that these varieties of lumber would command three to 

 five dollars advance during the next few months. 



Bed gum is holding its own well, but there is apparently no 

 increase in price. . 



Quarter-sawed oak is being shaded in some quarters, which looks 

 like an unnecessary sacrifice of a most desirable variety of lumber. 



The furniture trade still continues to buy from hand to mouth, 

 simply making enough purchases to keep the plants going. This is 

 the tendency of the entire consuming trade — buying only for imme- 

 diate requirements. It goes without saying that stock in hands of 

 remanufacturers is lower than it has been in years. Concerns that 

 have ordinarily carried from one to five million feet of lumber are 

 now down to a very few cars. This situation is indicative of a 

 hesitancy over general commercial conditions. 



It is certain that a marked advance in lumber values would be a 

 stimulus to trade at the present time. Lowering values never have 

 acted as an impetus to sale and purchase. 



Business in the Middle West is in better shape than in the East, 

 but the eastern jobbers are optimistic in the belief that there will be 

 a good spring business. 



Flooring manufacturers report a fair demand, but not enough to 

 keep their plants fully occupied, and there is a growing accumulation 

 of both oak and maple flooring in the warehouses of the factories. 



Mahogany and other foreign wood trade remain normal with no 

 change in the situation either in quantity of sale or price. 



The business in both the carriage woodwork and handle lines is 

 slack and prices are ranging low. 



There is a fair demand for veneers and panels, with no marked 

 chauge in the range of values being obtained for this line of product. 



On the whole, there is nothing alarming in the situation, and there 

 is good evidence that the hardwood business will show a decided 

 improvement in both volume and prices as the spring advances. 



Unsatisfactory Inspection Methods 



As it is the province of the trade press to recite both news and 

 opinions pertaining to the lumber industry, it may be noted that at 

 the recent meeting of the National Wholesale Lumber Dealers' Asso- 

 ciation at Washington, a member of prominence, character and stand- 

 ing in the trade, during the debate on hardwood inspection affairs, 

 gave utterance to strictures on the present unsatisfactory situation 

 surrounding hardwood inspection that should cause a blush of shame 

 to mantle the cheek of every man connected with the trade. This 

 speaker came very near saying that under the present interpretation 

 and handling of hardwood inspection affairs, it was practically impos- 

 sible for a man to be engaged in the hardwood industry and be honest. 



Notwithstanding the fact that there were at least fifty hardwood 

 manufacturers and jobbers present when this discussion took place, 

 there was not even one who had the temerity to defend the present 

 hardwood inspection situation. 



At a recent meeting of the Michigan Hardwood Manufacturers' 

 Association, a foremost manufacturer gave a specific citation of the 

 irregular practices prevailing in the inspection and marketing of 

 hardwoods. No one present denied the allegations. 



Undeniably ninety per cent of hardwood manufacturers, jobbers 

 and wholesale consumers would welcome any movement which would 

 tend to the unification of hardwood inspection into a single system, 

 but in spite of this almost universal feeling there is a small dominant 

 element that resists any effort towards this result. 



The situation has grown to be a scandal in the trade and the sooner 

 it is remedied the better for the integrity, prosperity and well-being 

 of the industry. 



