December :j5, 1918 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



49 



light, and there isn't much stock on hand, relatively speaking, it is 

 believed that some consumers are making an effort to beat down prices by 

 playing one producer against another, through making everyone think 

 that the other fellow is cutting prices. Except for tlie fact that some con 

 sumers say prices are off there is not much actual indication of it. Some 

 prices are off slightly, but principally in woods for which there was a 

 heavy government demand, which left them flat when the demand slumped. 

 Government requirements are more specific than other requirements, and 

 carry a slightly higher market in some instances. In marketing such woods 

 for commercial purposes it is natural that a sligbtly lower market has to 

 be accepted, but on general commercial woods there is no real indication of 

 a lower market. 



There has been a fairly active demand for the better grades of poplar, 

 there also being a fair demand for quartered oak, while ash in straight 

 grades is fair. Beech is not in big demand at the present time. Walnut 

 is in big supply and light demand, due to heavy supplies of low grade on 

 the market. Veneers are more active than they have been and are showing 

 up to better advantage-. 



=-< NASHVILLE >= 



A little lull in trade precedes the holidays hut much contideuce pre- 

 vails in IftlO activities. Local business bodies are looking to the avail- 

 ability of the powder plant section at Hadley's Bend for manufacturing 

 and industrial possibilities later on, when its use for present purposes 

 becomes no longer essential. That is, such features as the electric plant, 

 power systems, trackage, etc.. would form very valuable industrial pos- 

 sibilities. 



--< BEAUMONT >-= 



-< MILWAUKEE >.- 



From the number of inquiries received, hardwood men expect a big in- 

 crease in shipments immediately after the first of the year for the re- 

 adjustment in northern factories will cause a demand for different stocks 

 from what they have on hand at the present time. 



That the demand has been slow and prices weak in southern hardwoods 

 for some time there is no denying, but stocks are also low and the big 

 demand which inquiries indicate will find little from which to draw. 

 Throughout the fall and up until the present time, the mills have been 

 handicapped by heavy rains and the influenza epidemic. This made it im- 

 possible for them to make headway, many being closed down entirely for 

 days at a time. >In view of these facts, hardwood men say that a stiffening 

 of prices is inevitable. 



The feature of the week has been the amount of inquiries from foreign 

 fi.rms, although not enough time has elapsed since the signing of the 

 armistice to allow some of them to figure out their wants and get the 

 information across. One Beaumont concern received an inquiry for 

 2,000,000 feet of plain oak, but was in position to take only part of it. 

 The size of this order is taken to indicate that foreign yards are bare 

 and everyone will be trying to get all they can before the general rush 

 comes. The inquiry mentioned came from a London concern. 



Labor conditions continue bad and mill men expect improvement to 

 come slowly. The lifting of the ban on essential industries has caused 

 some men to return to their former occupations, while relief through re- 

 turning soldiers is expected to be exceedingly slow. Some may not return 

 to the mills, while others will be retained in the service for many weeks 

 to come. 



Lumbermen who have been over the country, state that there is a 

 general demand among the business interests to have the railroads re- 

 turned to. private ownership. They state that this will bring about an 

 earlier rehabilitation of the lines and create a big demand the moment the 

 bill is signed. In fact the inquiries will be out the moment congress 

 assures the owners that such action will be taken. In addition to the 

 material needed for the "lines already in operation, the development of the 

 country since the war began has created a demand for some extensions 

 which the lines cannot overlook in their own interest. This will call for 

 still more construction material and cars to make them serviceable. 



Cars are plentfiul and shipments are prompt when stocks are at hand. 



Gradual relief of the shortage of labor for woods work in northern Wis- 

 consin makes it appear now that logging operations during the winter of 

 191S-1919 will be at least equal to those of last winter in respect to the 

 volume of Input. Some sections report that various companies are operat- 

 ing only a part of their usual number of logging camps, because not enough 

 men are available, but others say woods operations are in full swing with 

 complete quotas. The United States Employment Service is doing good 

 work in placing men released from essential war industries with the log- 

 ging and lumber concerns of the North. 



The impression prevails that hardwood logs will advance in price before 

 the end of the new logging season, and at least one firm in Northwestern 

 Wisconsin is now buying cut timber at last year's prices and guaranteeing 

 sellers against a possible advance. 



The weather in the logging districts has been rather mild during the last 

 two or three weeks, offsetting the advantage furnished late in November 

 and early in December by a fairly heavy snowfall. However, conditions 

 in the woods are regarded as favorable and only the shortage of labor will 

 limit the production of logs. 



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