August -JO, iu:;i 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



51 



(Continued frum imiji' •<■') 

 shown the courtesy of n'rcivinfi these iiKiuii'lcs, hut the hcsi ihi'j ciiii ilo 

 is to groan. 



As a result of siih's for the past several wei^ks. eonslsting iilinost entirely 

 of upper grades, all of the mills \vhleh have heen operating llnil themselves 

 loaded down with lower grades for which there Is no demand. There have 

 been some few sales nnulc at the lowest t. o. I), price in .years. The 

 inabilit.v of the ndlls to dispose of this class of nniterial has discouraged 

 others from starting operations. They point out that the margin on upper 

 grades is low enough, ami if they are compelled to lieep thi- low grades in. 

 their yards they can't make costs. 



There has been an increase in the nnnilier of inquiries, Imt there has 

 been practically no change in tln' niindier of orders placed and they are 

 obviously for immediate shipment. In contrast to this generally discour- 

 aging situation, orders are exceeding production and this Is bound to have 

 a favorable reaction sooner or later. Mills that are down now have heen 

 closed long enough to insure this a permanent condition until there is a 

 revival in both |irice and demand. This Imjiroved condition must also 

 reach the lower grailes bcfon> Ihe situation will be satisfactory to manu- 

 facturers. 



Prospective lower freight rales have served to keep buyers out of the 

 market, and this has also had its effect upon thi> ndlls. This was par- 

 tially realized on August 19 when reductions In rates to Oklahoma, Kansas. 

 Nebraska and Iowa were announced. These reductions ranged from 2 

 per cent to l(i per cent, whicli will help southwestern mills that much in 

 competing with other sections. 



CLEVELAND 



Little change in tlii' hardwood situation can he noted in the last fort- 

 night in tliis nnirket. Something of a spurt has been given to interior 

 finish deniaml. including oak and maple llooring, in the last week or ten 

 days, inspired liy the nearing of completion of the housing that has been 

 built during the early part of the season. But big business still is almost 

 skin to the well known hen's teeth. Such hardwood disti'ibutors who 

 have been concentrating upon the manufacturing intlustries for outlet for 

 the better grades <]f nniterial, report that there is nothing to show Imme- 

 diate or extensive revival in that direction. The big bulk of business in 

 this connection must come from the automobile and allied industries, and 

 these advise that their active season is over for this year, and will with- 

 hold active material purchases ftir the time being. There seems to be 

 little question but what business could be done in this direction if hard- 

 wood distributors were able to cut prices considerably, but most members 

 of the trade in this nmrket assert that as far as present holdings are con- 

 cerned, and they are still fairly liberal, further cuts are not likely. Before 

 the active building season is over for this year it is expected that supplies 

 of hardwoods for interior trim will be quite absorbed, and with the incom- 

 ing of new material at prices which already appear to be lower at producing 

 points a probable readjustment of figures locally may be seen. In the 

 face of not too favorable conditions at the moment the market can be said 

 to be holding its own fairly well. 



BALTIMORE 



Conditions in the hardwood trade here show no decided changes either 

 for the better or for the worse. The business reflects the state of affairs 

 to be observed in many other activities, with signs of improvement visible 

 from time to time, always being followed by a relapse to the previous quiet. 

 When members of the trade think that the corner has actually been turned 

 something is apt to occur that will upset calculations and make one (eel 

 that little or nothing has been gained. The calls for hardwoods fluctuate, 

 orders coming in with a measure of freedom some days and slumping on 

 others. Furthermore, it looks as if each separate transaction is governed 

 by circumstances peculiar to itself and stands in no relation whatever 

 to what may have gone before. It is this that makes calculation so difli- 

 cult and leaves the producers not less than the dealers pretty much at sea. 

 A great deal depends upon the situation the buyer or the seller may find 

 himself in. If a buyer needs the money and must have it, he will natur- 

 ally entertain suggestions of concessions: but If, on the other hand, he has 

 no pressing financial requirements he is apt to turn down the price offered, 

 and, In some instances, get what he asks, while In others the deal may be 

 off, hut the seller still holds his lumber to try again. This is responsible 

 for the rather wide fluctuations that prevail in the trade and that make 

 price lists to a large extent useless. The feeling prevails, however, that 

 the worst is over and that at least the basic conditions, such as credits, 

 are more promising and are certain to bring out business of a satl.sfactory 

 character later. 



COLUMBUS 



Foster-Latimer Lumber Co. 



OFFER THE FOLLOWING 



. DRY HARDWOODS 



Ui-k'Ulur Whlth'i and Ix'iii:t!.s 

 S«FT YAM 



4/4" No. 2 & Bt'tlcr 12 montlifi dry 



r</4" No. 2 & BctUT 12 miMitlia dry 



ti/4" Xo. 2 & Beticr. larsely No. 1....12 raoiitlw iir>- 



S/4" No. 1 & BctUT S monthi dr>- 



10/4" No. 1 & Better 12 months dry 



12/4" No. 1 & Better •! moiitlw diy 



4/4" No. 8 12 months dry 



6/4" No. 8 10 months dry 



WIRE, PHONE OR WRITE FOR PRICES 



MAIN OFFICE AND MILLS 

 MELLEN, WISCONSIN 



A Few Bargains in Dry Hardwoods 



offered by 



Wheeler-Timlin Lumber Co. 



Regular Widths and Lengths 

 ROCK ELM 



1" (4 '4") No. 2 & Belter, 6 to 18 mos. dry 3 cars 



I' 2" (6/4) No. 2 & Better. 6 to 18 mos. dry 5 cars 



SOFT MAPLE 



1" No. 2 & Belter. 6 to 18 mos. dry 4 cars 



V/2" No. 2 & Seller. 6 to 18 mos. dry 1 car 



HARD MAPLE 



I's" No. 2 & Better, 6 lo 18 mos. dry 10 cars 



2V No. 2 & Belter, 6 to 18 mos. dry 4 cars 



3" No. 2 & Better, 4 mos. dry 4 cars 



I'i" No. 3, IS mos. dry 10 cars 



W'l- arc sawing at both \\'ittenberg and Dorchester mills atid 

 can get out s[iccial item.'* ^i Northern Hardwoods 



MAIN OFFICE, WAUSAU, WISCONSIN 



There is a fairly steady ilemand i"r liardwoods In Columbus and central 

 Ohio territory. This is shown by the steady run of business being booked 

 for dealers. Retailers are selling considerable stocks and are coming into 



VESTAL LUMBER 

 & MFG. COMPANY 



INCORPORATED 



Soft Textured Oak 



Poplar 



Black Walnut 



Tenn. Red Cedar 



KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE 



BAND MILLS AT VESTAL 



A SUBURB OF KNOXVILLE 



FONDE, KY. 



