58. 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



WA NT E D 



All Kinds of High-Grade 



HARDWOODS 



S. E. SLAYMAKER & CO. 



Repreflentingr 



WKST VIKGINIA SPRUCE LCMBEB CO., 



Cast, Weat Virginia. 



Fiftli Avenue BuIIdinKi 

 NEW YORK 



=-< ARKANSAS >■= 



Mutual Fire Insurance 



Best Indemnity at Lowest Net Cost 

 Can Be Obtained From 



The Lumber Mutual Fire Insurance Company, 

 The Lumbermen's Mutual Insurance Company, 



Boston, Mass. 

 Mansfield, Ohio. 



$126,000.00 



In Savings DIVIDENDS Returned 

 This Year to Policy Carriers of 



The Lumbermen's 

 Underwriting Alliance 



Possibly there is no good reason why 

 YOU were not among these beneficiaries. 

 If it is a matter of eligibility, and you 

 feel that your plant does not at present 

 comply with all requirements, confer 

 with us anyway. Let us see if it cannot 

 be brought up to an acceptable standard 

 at no greater cost than will be justified 

 by the prospective saving on insurance 

 rates. 



U. S. Epperson & Company 



Attorney and Manager 

 1101 R. A. LONG BLDG. KANSAS CITY 



Till' iiiaiHifiiftm-iTS nro laiiiy well pleased wiUi tlip present conditions 

 of the cenenil hardwood m.irl<et. Tlie Ijeautltui weatlier during tlie past 

 several weelis lias been very favorable to the timber men In the woods. 

 Good weather has not only been favorable to the lumbermen, but also to 

 the farmers, and they liave taken advantage of it for picking their cotton 

 and gathering their rice and other grain crops. The moving of these 

 staple products is placing more money in circulation, and the general con- 

 ditions have a tendency to strengthen the lumber market. There are some 

 complaints on account of the shortage of cars, but the condition Is not 

 nearly so unfavorable as has been experienced at this season in former 

 .vears. The present conditions indicate that a heavy spring trade will be 

 had, and every one is expecting a Arm market from now on, with gradual 

 advances. 



=^ MILWAUKEE >-= 



The continued activity in the building field all over Wisconsin has 

 resulted in the hardwood business holding up much better than is tisually 

 the case at this season of the year. Stocks are light in the hands of 

 retailers and the factory consamlng trade, so that the continued demand 

 from the building source naturally results in the placing of fairly good 

 orders. Buyers are inclined to take only enough to meet their present 

 wants, but these" orders, necessarily placed, are resulting in a total busi- 

 ness which is highly satisfactory. 



Building operations during the month of November amounted to 

 $1,711,300, as compared with a total building investment of $1,643,605 

 during the corresponding month a year ago. Up to December 1 the total 

 building investment amounted to $12,975,096, while during the corre- 

 sponding period in 1912 the investment reached the total of $14,646,592. 

 During 1912, however, permits were issued for one structure to cost 

 $2,200,000 and another to cost $1,600,000. Nearly $2,000,000 of this 

 gain has been made up and it the present favorable weather continues 

 this year's record will not be far behind that of 1912. 



Wholesale lumbermen are confident that increased activity In trade 

 may be expected soon after the opening of the new year. Retailers will 

 then be ready to place larger orders, in anticipation of the spring busi- 

 ness, while the factory interests will then have completed their annual 

 inventories and be in a position to order more freely. There is no denying 

 the fact that stocks arc light in most hands and that a shortage will be 

 experienced in most lines before the spring trade can be satisfied. 



The supply of northern hardwoods seems to be especially restricted 

 and it is in this line that the shortage of dry stocks will surely be ex- 

 perienced next spring. The supply of birch and maple seems to have been 

 concentrated in strong hands and predictions are being made that higher 

 prices in this line may be experienced later. Basswood is not so strong, 

 although most other lines are holding their own. The supply of southern 

 hardwoods seems to be larger with receipts increasing. Plain oak is in 

 leading demand. Prices are about holding their own, although buyers are 

 finding conditions a little more favorable for them than has been the case 

 in several months. 



Nothing in the nature of a car shortage has been experienced in Wis- 

 consin this year, due to the efforts of the state railroad commission and 

 to the watchfulness of the average shipper in aiding in the prompt handling 

 of cars. Wholesalers have been endeavoring to impress upon dealers the 

 fact that now is the time to place their orders for stock while there is a 

 plentiful supply of cars and before the railroads have their lines congested 

 and tlieir schedules displaced by possible storms. 



=-< LIVERPOOL y- 



Trade in Liverpool has been rather slack during the past month, 

 largely owing to the continued depression. Some of this has been caused 

 by the suspension of one of the largest firms of timber brokers. The 

 effect on the timber market, however, has not been extensive as there is 

 little stock coming to the market as a result. Nevertheless the effect 

 has been unsettling, and a very rosy view of the market cannot be held 

 out. Even such stock as prime ash, which as a rule sells so well, is 

 moving at lower figures. In fact buyers are rather uneasy at the heavy 

 stocks of ash held, and exporters are advised that on no account should 

 any shipments be made to this port without definite orders. Several car- 

 loads, which shippers have foolishly sent on consignments, have recently 

 been greatly sacrificed. 



The hickory market on the other band is better, and some recent ship- 

 ments have sold well. Good prices have been obtained also for some 

 stocks left over from last season, which were yarded because the price 

 offered was not equal to shippers' ideas. 



The mahogany market is noticeably weak. Prices showed a consider- 

 able depreciation at the last sales and there was a marked opinion in 

 favor of lower prices. Birch is a good spot owing to the shortage of 

 stock, though the present supply of dry wood is the cause of many com- 

 plaints. Without question the quality is not equal to the standard of a 

 few years ago. Maple is rather scarce but oak is very much overstocked. 

 One Liverpool firm reports that it has never seen oak in all grades in 

 such a weak state. There are more wagon oak planks in stock today than 

 has been the case for many years, and shippers should especially beware 

 'of consignment shipments. 



