54 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



October 10. 1921 



CHICAGO' 



The World's Greatest Lumber 

 and Woodworking Center 



HeiwUvoods 



Kiln Dried AND Air Dried 



Office &Yards2349to24Z3 SoIoomis St. 



TELEPHONES 



CANAL laSO 



CANAL ia3l 



CANAL IIS 



Theo. Fathauer Co. 



Manufacturers & Dealers 



Hardwood Lumber 



YARDS AND MAIN OFFICE 

 1428 Cherry Ave. diversey 



TELEPHONE 



1824 



MILLS — HELENA, ARK. 



CLARENCE BOYLE 



INCOKPOHATKD 

 i:STABLISHED 1850 INCORPORATED 1913 



MANUFACTURERS 

 AND WHOLESALERS 



Southern Hardwoods 

 and Cypress 



1205 Lumber Exchange Buildinji 



BAND SAW MILLS 



\ni,DSVIU,E. I.A. ATI,ANT1C BEACH. FLA. MERIDHN. MISS 



to know just how Rerious the buyers are. It is exiiected that the balance 

 "f the year will see a continuation of hanil-to-uunith buying, at least 

 manufacturers expect nothing better. 



In reality, manufacturers have come to the conclusion that it is well 

 l<> forget about normal conditions of three or four years ago before the 

 war had njiset all precedents and reconcile themselves to the tact that 

 new standards have been set and they must establish a new normal. 

 Many of the hardwood men look for steadily improved conditions, although 

 they will be slow. Among this number is Rex Browne, manager of the 

 liardwood department of the Keaumont Lumber company and one of the 

 best posted hardwood men in the country. Mr. Browne entered the game 

 in Canada, and has operated practically all the way to the gulf coast. 



"The slow movement at the present time," said Mr. Browne, "can be 

 attributed hugely to frantic buying last year. Manufacturers .stocked 

 up on liigli priced stuft' and they are going to work this off before they 

 again get into the market further than to fill in from time to time as 

 their own stocks become broken. 



"Wholesale prices of all commodities, and this includes yellow pine, 



advai d during the past week. This does not mean that the gouging 



period is to come again, but shows that many commodities were forced 

 down below the cost of replacement and that they are now reaching 

 their proper level. Nothing could be more convincing that business has 

 reaeheil a stable liasis and what we have to produce will sell for what 

 it Is wortli and not be subject to the mercy of feverish conditions. There 

 is no reason why hardwood should not eventually fall into this category. 



"One trouble with hardwood has been high freight rates. There is a 

 big difference in the weight of hardwood and yellow pine, giving the 

 latter a better opportunity to come back quickly. Purchasing agents 

 ilo not seem to realize that if freight rates are reduced, the broadened 

 demaxid will take up the slack. 



"The increased demand for pine, of course, is brought about by the 

 building activity. Hardwood does not come in on this movement to a 

 great extent until it comes to furnishings. The same can be said of 

 hardwood flooring. The first demand comes when the foundation is 

 laid and tliat calls for yellow pine. Hardwood flooring and finishing 

 is the last thing used. Every new house means some new furniture, if 

 not complete furnishings, and this is where the hardwood man will benefit 

 most. L'nfortunately there is but one outlet for hardwood consumption. 



"Furniture is rather quiet at present and it may take some little time 

 for the building activity to, bring about a market change. There has 

 been an increase in railroad buying to a certain extent, but this movement 

 has not developed any great volume. 



"The demand from box factories is governed by wholesalers in markets 

 which require packages. Any increase in this demand can be traced to 

 a general improvement in business conditions. The agricultural imple- 

 ment and vehicle trade is one big outlet for hardwood which is dominated 

 l>y the crop condition. This is improving. Production continues at the 

 lowest level in the history of the industry. 



"Taken altogether the outlook is good. I don't mean there will be a 

 radical change for the better to-morrow or next day, but the market 

 should be gradually picking up. Present stock conditions are the result 

 of hardwood working back to its proper level. One thing is certain and 

 that is the day of the amateur mill has passed. There will be no more 

 peckerwood plants throughout the country. The outlook for hardwood 

 after we get through present unfortunate conditions is strong, g4>>d." 



TORONTO 



Allhough the lumber industry is slij^htly more active no great value of 

 business is being done. A lumberman with important interests in North- 

 ern Ontario states that his company proposes to operate actively in the 

 woods during the coming winter. When the depression came many cus- 

 tomers ceased buying and he had to look around for markets. In other 

 words he had to hustle. He wrote down his inventories and took his 

 losses. LHid then found a good market for his products in the United 

 States and Creat Britain. That market has kept him busy right along. 

 Operating costs in the woods are now much reduced, as men are plentiful 

 and much more efficient, and can be had at $26 to $32 and board, com- 

 ]iared with $70 and $75 last year. Reports received by the head office 

 nf the Imperial Bank in Toronto, from the branch managers recently, 

 have put some emphasis on the activity in lumber production. The Riordon 

 i'ompany is still cutting logs in the vicinity of Hawkosbury but their 

 operations may cease on account of low water. The mills at Kenora and 

 Thessalon are still operating, those at the latter being on a 12-hour 

 shift, with prospects of continuing until late in the fall. Some improve- 

 ment is reported in the demand for hardwood in various towns and 

 cities in the province owing to fall building and in the larger centres a 

 i^ood deal of construction in the way of new dwellings is going on, 

 although the volume is not sufficiently great to restore normal business 

 conditions in the trade. Retailers are only ordering such stocks as they 

 have immediate need for and there is little movement towards replenish- 

 ing stocks in the yards. With the wholesalers September was just an 

 average month and although inquiries have increased transactions have 

 been small in volume. Conditions in the wood working, furniture fac- 

 tories and other hardwood using plants has undergone a little change 

 for the better and a number of thorn that have been closed for some time 

 are now running, which should improve demand somewhat. 



