April 10, 1919 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



43 



The theory of most of the dealers is that the pressure of a long period 

 of meager supply, the tendency toward expansion and the efforts to force 

 employment will all lead to a recognition of the current values as normal 

 rather than former standards which it will consequently be useless to 

 expect to return. 



BALTIMORE 



The marljet for hardwoods has been rather uneventful in the main 

 during the last two weeljs. with the number of orders by no means large, 

 and a distinct tendency to hesitate in evidence. Buyers are not disposed 

 to place orders for stocks other than they have immediate use for. They 

 are entirely willing to pay the current figures tor what they may need, 

 but even moderate concessions will fail to bring out any anticipation of 

 wants. The general situation is apparently regarded as too uncertain 

 to encourage provision for future requirements, so that the sellers never 

 have very much business in sight. Possibly, also, the users of hardwoods 

 And themselves with larger stocks on hand than they expected when they 

 entered the market rather freely early in the year under the belief, perhaps, 

 that the revival, after the end of the war, would be far more rapid than it 

 has proved to be. Perhaps the deliberation shown is brought about by a 

 combination of causes, but there is evidently no room for doubt that a 

 material slowing up has occurred, with the sellers, among them the mills, 

 fairly contident and with the level of values maintained in a manner rather 

 at variance with the indifferent inquiry. No important recessions are to 

 be noted In any division of the trade. Neither can it be said that 

 advances have taken place. Expectations that the movement would be 

 downward have not so far been realized, and it is already shown that the 

 readjustment will be tar more gradual than many hardwood men have cal- 

 culated, making it unlikely that the process will be productive of real 

 unsettlement or disturbance. Stocks held in the yards here are adequate 

 for all needs likely to arise now, but information is also forthcoming from 

 the producers that the assortments at the mill.s do not exceed very mod- 

 erate proportions. The market is surprisingly free from pressure, with no 

 signs now that a decided change may be looked for in the near future. 

 The hopes of exporters, that they would presently be able to participate 

 extensively in the shipments abroad have not yet been realized, except to 

 a very limited extent, but even in this direction there are some signs that 

 the impediments which have so far held back the movement will be raised 

 and some progress toward a restoration of pre-war conditions made. 



COLUMBUS 



There is a decided improvement to the hardwood trade in central Ohio 

 territory. Buying is on a better scale and inquiries are much more numer- 

 ous. Every indication points to a better feeling in hardwood circles and 

 there is an expectancy of an increase in the volume of business in the 

 future. Everyone engaged in the business is very much encouraged over 

 the outlook. 



The best buying is done by implement, vehicle and furniture factories, 

 which are fairly busy and are in the market for hardwood stocks. 

 Box factories are also good purchasers. The policy followed by factories 

 is to buy for the immediate future only. Retailers are buying in limited 

 quantities. Retail stocks are fairly good and dealers generally are loath 

 to increase them under present conditions. 



Shipments are coming out promptly. Transit cars are not numerous 

 although a few are found on the market. Prices are generally firm at 

 the levels which have prevailed for some time. In fact there is a distinct 

 tendency to advance some of the quotations. Quartered and plain oak 

 are both in good demand. Considerable business in poplar is reported, 

 especially for the lower grades. Basswood and ash are moving well. 



CINCINNATI 



There is no perceptible change in the hardwood market. Inquiries for 

 hardwood continue to come in good volume though dealers report that 

 stocks on hand at all mills are lower than thirty days ago. Production 

 still remains below normal, but more favorable conditions are looked for 

 soon. Oak flooring is in better demand and prices on all quartered oak 

 have advanced. Buyers seem disposed to hold back in the hope that hard- 

 wood prices will come down, but according to dealers the general outlook 

 now indicates an increase in prices rather than a decrease. 



EVANSVILLE 



There has been some improvement in trade with the hardwood lumber 

 manufacturers of E"vansville and southern Indiana during the past two 

 weeks, and manufacturers believe that business will remain fairly good 

 during the entire year and that there will be no general reduction in prices. 

 Hardwood mills that have been closed part time during the past two months 

 owing to their inability to get Idgs are starting up again. While log prices 

 are high, the supply is better than it has been for some time. Manu- 

 facturers report a good many orders and inquiries and that most of the 

 orders received have been for immediate shipment. The demand for quar- 

 tered white oak and several other grades Is firm. Walnut is rather slow. 

 Maple and elm only are fair. Cottonwood Is being generally used by box 

 manufacturers. Quartered sycamore remains fairly good. Gum is In bet- 

 ter demand. Hickory has been scarce for several weeks and carriage manu- 

 facturers are having a hard time getting what they need. Collections are 

 good. There has been a general improvement in trade conditions In the 

 towns In the tri-state territory during the past month. Most of the large 



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I Plain & Qtd. Red & White [ 



OAK 



AND OTHER 

 HARDWOODS 



i Even Color 



MADE 



Soft Texture | 



RIGHT 



OAK FLOORING 



We have 35.000,000 feet dry stock— all of 

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= PROMPT SHIPMENTS = 



I The MOWBRAY [ 

 I & ROBINSON CO. I 



— (INOORFORATEO) — 



I CINCINNATI, OHIO | 



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5/8 LUMBER 



When you want 5/8 lumber remem- 

 ber that we specialize in this thick- 

 ness in all kinds of woods. This is 

 all sawed from the log — not resawed 

 — and shows good widths and 

 lengths. We offer the following for 

 prompt shipment: 



80,000 5/8 Is & 2s Plain White Oak 

 40,000 5 8 Selects Plain White Oak 

 50,000 5/8 No. 1 Com. Plain Wh. Oak 

 40,000 5/8 No. 2 Com. Plain Wh, Oak 

 90,000 5 8 Com. & Btr. Sap Gum 

 15,000 5 8 Com. & Better Red Gum 

 20,000 5 8 Is & 2s Poplar 

 90,000 5 8 No. 1 Common Poplar 

 90,000 5/8 No. 2 Common Poplar 



Write for Our Complete 

 List and Prices 



NORTH VERNON LUMBER CO. 



NORTH VERNON, IND. 



