?,4 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



October 10. 1U21 



iiulusti'y. Nearly nil the glass factories in this territory started up last 

 month and arc assured ot a steady run for at least a few months. A lot 

 of hardwood Unnber was sold to these concerns in September as a result. 

 Other big industries In this district are beginning to feel the impetus 

 of more Inlying. The Westinghouse secured a $7,000,000 contract last 

 weels and the Pressed Steel Car Company secured a contract which will 

 Involve several million dollars. The big steel companies also came in 

 for some nice business and are putting on larger forces. All these 

 industries, as a result, are beginning to permit the purchasing of more 

 lundier. The coal and' coke business is showing some improvement and 

 it is expected that there will be quite a market for lumber in the near 

 future. The automobile trade, also, shows a little improvement. Fur- 

 niture and implement manufacturers are reported to be very low on 

 good hardwood stock but their orders are still few and small. There has 

 been a dechlcd change for the better in the building outlook here since 

 Sept. 15 but it will be several months before hardwood wholesalers can 

 cash in on this movement to any extent. 



BOSTON 



Kemand 'continues rather uneven, unevenly distriliuted and unsatis- 

 factory. Some speak of a continued, though slight, improvement in 

 demand while others are inclined to be gloomy at the situation. Gen- 

 erally there seem to be slightly more inquiries, hut certainly business 

 is of the "here and there" type. The tone is not very strong. The 

 weakness in common grades continues and in the upper grades there 

 also continues to be a rather weak tone. Concessions are quite freely 

 made by some, and some ot these concessions are rather surprising. 

 There is probably as mucli improvement in the demand for finish as in 

 any line of the hardwoods. This is an encouraging factor but not of 

 great telling value to the trade, as it affects only from 12 to 20 per cent 

 of the trade here. The hulk ot the trade improvement is in the demand 

 of the hardwood yards and of the furniture people. Export trade has 

 not resumed here. Nor is there any improvement in the demand from 

 the railroads. Business with the chairmnkers remains very dull. The 

 piano people are buying just a little bit more. Prices here are showing 

 ranges of from $15 to $20. 



BALTIMORE 



desired and intending buyers show a disposition to hold out tor con- 

 cessions, a firm attitude on the part of the sellers often serves to bring 

 them around and results in the placing of orders. Of course the gains 

 made are small thus far and the recovery Is slow, but there is every 

 indication that the change for the better will continue and in a com- 

 paratively short time attain impressive proportions. Nothing like a big 

 boom is anticipated, and the mills are still holding down with their 

 production ; but the time when important additions to the available 

 stocks will be needed does not appear very far off now. Meanwhile, some 

 advances in the quotations arc being made, which naturally occasions a 

 degree of hesitancy. But it speaks well for the recovery which has 

 already taken place that consumers find they cannot wait for any possible 

 easing off. The hardwood business in the East seems to be rather better 

 than that in the West in that the products of the woodworking factories 

 And a readier market in the East than in the sections where the factories 

 are located. So far many of the users of hardwoods have been able to 

 draw upon past accumulations to take care of the wants that developed ; 

 but they are now stated to have reached the stage where the stocks In 

 hand no longer suffice. Buying from hand-to-mouth is still the rule ; 

 but a more liberal entering into commitments is being forced by the 

 dwindling supplies, and this replenishing of stocks is quite certain to 

 attain increasingly large proportions. Even the foreign usi'rs of .American 

 hardwoods have changed their views on the situation quite appreciably, 

 and no longer feel sure that the shippers will be obliged to meet their 

 terms. 



COLUMBUS 



Conditions in the hardwood trade are reported to show more marked 

 improvement than has been noted at any previous time since the begin- 

 ning of the depression. While the demand still leaves much to lie 



There is a decided improvement in the hardwood trade in Columbus 

 territory. While there has been an increase in business during August 

 and Septemlier, the past week has shown the greatest gain. Inquiries are 

 more numerous and one ot the best features is the fact that a large num- 

 ber of the in(|uiries are developing into orders. The tone in all sections 

 is much better and it is believed by lumbermen generally that the slump 

 is over. 



Trices are decidedly stronger although there are no marked advances 

 in the price list to record. But the wide spread which has characterized 

 quotations for some time is past and steadiness is developing. Quartered 

 oak is selling from $135 for firsts and seconds to $45 for No. 2 common 

 at the Ohio River. Plain oak, poplar and chestnut prices are also firmer. 



Factories are coming into the market better. This is especially true 

 of furniture and box concerns. Some orders are also being booked from 

 (Coiitimicd OH pnffe 51) 



