Mar-h 25. 1919 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



43 



The Hardwood Market 



CHICAGO 



Tbe last week or two has seen the development of building in Chicago 

 to on encouraging extent. This is the outstanding feature of the local 

 market since the last issue, but the really big proportion of building work 

 actually planned and about to be started \s a distinctly encouraging sign. 

 Beyond this the interest in smaller building construction has revived some- 

 what, particularly in private dwelling work, although speculative builders 

 are still holding off and will probably do so until they are thoroughly 

 convinced that building materials will not be greatly lessened in price 

 for some time. 



Factory trade is still rather spotty, although the average aggregate of 

 buslnes.s placed by this class of consumers would total up to very satisfy- 

 ing proportions. There is a continual and gradual going back to contract 

 purchases, but for the most part buying is still confined to orders actually 

 necessitated by immediate requirements. 



TORONTO 



Reports from various parts of the province show that the building situa- 

 tion is growing stronger. The impression that there would be a general 

 decline in lumber prices is rapidly disappearing and reports, which have 

 been tabulated, show that the cut during 1918 was reduced from ten to 

 fifteen per cent from that of the previous year, which was by no means a 

 normal one. There has been a steady decline in the output of hardwoods 

 and softwood.? in the province, of about fifteen per cent each year since 

 the outbreak of the war. The coming season will witness a still further 

 falling off, owing to the conservative attitude on the part of the larger 

 companies and the scarcity of labor, which was in evidence in the early 

 fall months. The present mild winter has also materially interfered with 

 the getting out of a large cut. 



Throughout the East trade conditions are showing some improvement, 

 and there is considerable activity in the furniture factories. Many new 

 designs in cabinet goods, gramaphones, etc., are being turned out and 

 there is some talk of a period style being developed, to be known as 

 "Imperial," "Victory," "Liberty," or some other suitable name. 



On the government housing plans good progress is being made, and many 

 municipalities will take advantage of the loan and other facilities afforded. 

 There has been a fair movement of stocks in all grades. Inquiries are more 

 plentiful and lumbermen are looking for a steady trade, improving with 

 each succeeding month. Prices on the whole are holding firm. Birch is in 

 good demand, particularly in 4/4 and 5/4, but the supply is not large. 

 In S/4 there is a bigger quantity in sight. Northern Michigan firms have 

 been endeavoring to unload a certain amount of maple on the western 

 Ontario market and have shown a tendency to cut prices, which has 

 resulted in easier quotations on some lines. Four/four, 5/4 and 8/4 are 

 most active. Several cars of three-inch maple have been disposed of for 

 export to Europe, which will relieve things in regard to heavy stock. 



Flooring has been very quiet all along, but it Is expected with the 

 building revival there will be a better demand. Box lumber requirements 

 are very light. Some mills on the Georgian Bay have endeavored to force 

 the market by offering large blocks of pine box lumber at reduced rates, 

 quoting mill run pine shorts at $32. f. o. b. Toronto. 



BUFFALO 



Some increase in orders is reported at a number of the leading hard- 

 wood yards, but none of them is finding business at all brisk. In some 

 cases the owners say that scarcely no change has occurred from a month 

 ago, but others feel that the corner has been turned and that more busi- 

 ness is going to come in soon. Factories are busier and it is hoped that 

 soon the export situation will begin to show improvement. The general 

 trend of prices is toward steadiness, with some advances shown. 



The local wholesale yards have been looking over their stock sheets 

 lately and preparing a list of the lumber held here, which makes a goodly 

 array, particularly in the woods likely to be wanted this spring and sum- 

 mer. Among these are maple, plain oak, ash, chestnut, poplar, cypress, 

 baeswood, birch and elm. In some of these woods an unusually large and 

 well-selected assortment of dry lumber is shown and the entire holdings 

 are such as to merit attention and patronage. 



Quartered oak is showing a good deal of strength at present, the mill 

 stocks being low and a good deal of hunting being required sometimes to 

 find what is needed. Some sellers of gum report it to be holding up well 

 and to be in comparatively large demand in the furniture trade. Poplar is 

 strong and is selling better than a short time ago. Good cypress is bring- 

 ing stronger prices. 



Export demand for automobiles is improving, according to a local manu- 

 facturer, who says that returned soldiers of various countries are excellent 

 boosters of auto trucks, after seeing their performances on the battlefields. , 

 This manufacturer says that within sixty days he has received orders for 

 trucks to be shipped to China, Cuba, Japan, Argentina, Philippine Is- 

 lands, Denmark, Dutch East Indies, Africa and Brazil. A good increase 

 in the demand for trucks in this country is also reported. 



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