HARDWOOD RECORD 



49 



Flaln oak is not making up so lar^e u part of the business as it diil 

 earlier in tiie year, nor are prices quite so strong. Quartered al)oiit 

 holds it own. Poplar is not showing much movement, as the supply Is 

 quite large. Brown ash Is selling fairly well, while birch and maple are 

 still among the leaders. Low-grade stocks arc not plentiful here and 

 bring fair prices. 



-< PHILADELPHIA >• 



As must vi ihe luiiil)er firms close liirir risoal y<'nr on December .'il, 

 stock-taking will soon be in order, and the buying of new material sus- 

 pended until after the closing up of the year's business. Whatever 

 trading there may be will be confined to actual reyulrements. Reports 

 coming in from all sides testify to a conservative trading as the keynote 

 of the situation, but despite the many national and local disturbances the 

 aggregate business is admittedly better than was feared, and it is believed 

 that when the balance sheet Is completed there will be less disappointment 

 than was anticipated considering the constantly multiplying financial and 

 commercial problems. Dilatory tactics in the manipulation of national 

 questions in Congress will, it is believed, prolong the present state of 

 affairs, but that business will right itself and confidence be wholly re- 

 stored Is believed to be a not remote consummation. The hardwood 

 market at mill ends is in good hands and prices are in the main well sus- 

 tained. In the buying market there has been some little shading due to 

 the anxiety of some of the smaller men to get business. Quartered oak 

 leads ; sound wormy chestnut, elm, ash, and maple are steady ; plain oak 

 easier ; poplar lirm. 



=■< PITTSBURGH y- 



The year 1013 is winding up with very good totals of business among 

 the hardwood firms. Indeed, it is probable that the total amount of hard- 

 wood sold this year by Pittsburgh concerns will be a little larger than in 

 1912. Most concerns are very well satisfied with the year's business. 

 There have been drawbacks, of course, but in the main hardwoods have 

 been so far in the lead of the average wood in the sales market that 

 hardwood wholesalers have little just cause for complaint. Prices of 

 hardwood have been a little soft in some lines the past few weeks. This 

 Is attributed to the inventory season, the lack of buying on the part of 

 the railroads and the general slowing down in industrial operations 

 throughout this district. All hardwood men here believe that the pros- 

 pects now for a good year's business in 1914 are better than they were a 

 year ago. 



-< BOSTON y- 



The general market for hardwood luinber has ruled rather quiet the 

 last few weeks, but this is generally the case at this season of the year. 

 Few buyers are willing during the latter part of December to make pur- 

 chases of any size unless they have an immediate outlet for the lumber 

 bought, as they plan to keep their stocks down to as low a point as pos- 

 sible during the stock-taking period. The demand for lumber during the 

 first week or two of January is also rather quiet as a rule, as buyers 

 wish to figure their stock sheets before placing orders. It is the con- 

 sensus of opinion that large buyers will find their stocks lower this year 

 than usual, as their buying has beeii restricted to small lots as a whole for 

 some time past. Prices of hardwoods are Just as firm excepting in cases 

 where some mill has a lot of lumber that it has been anxious to 

 tran.sfer to Some customer's books before the first of the year. There have 

 been fewer cases of this kind reported this year. Offerings as a whole are 

 not large. The call for quartered oak has ruled rather quiet and plain 

 oak has not .sold in large lots. Low-grade whitewood is in fair call. 

 Dealers in this market anticipate a good business after the turn of the 

 year. 



.-< BALTIMORE y 



With the approach of the end of tln' y.ai there is taking place a 

 gradual subsidence in the demand for hardwoods of all kinds, not because 

 any real weakening in the market has developed, but for the reason that 

 at this season the calls for stocks always lag, yards and consumers being 

 disposed to reduce their supplies as much as possible, in order that the 

 transfer to the new year may be at the lowest limit. The selling forces 

 are gradually being called in to spend the holidays at home, and the 

 attention is centered upon closing accounts and similar details rather 

 than upon supplementing selections. I'nder the circumstances, therefore. 

 It is perfectly natural that the movement should be characterized as quiet. 

 With this narrowing of the movement there has come also a lowering 

 of some of the quotations, and information received here is to the elTeci 

 that Nos. 1 and 2 oak has been offered in New York and other places at 

 concessions. Here and there a seller has larger stocks than he feels be 

 ought to carry, and he is thus iraijelled to hold out inducements in order 

 to effect a reduction. Chestnut is reported to be about holding its own, 

 with .some of the manufacturers asserting that they have made no reduc- 

 tions so far, but admitting also that the movement has been narrowed 

 and that a cut may be made. Sound wormy Is stated to be bringing 

 about the figures realized before the rise last spring, and to show up 

 quite well. The higher grades are stronger and in the main chestnut is 

 holding its own. Ash and other hardwoods are about slationary, witli 

 the Inquiry limited at this time, and the year ending in fair shape. The 

 lower grades of poplar are moving in moderate quantities only, but the 



Grant T. Stephenson 



Constructing Engineer 



Wood Distillation Plants for 

 Utilization of Wood Waste 



WELLS. MICHIGAN 



On the Following Stock We Will Make Special 

 Prices for Prompt Shipment: 



The Atlantic Lumber Co. 



70 Kilby Street, Boston, Mass. 



THE QUALITY OF YOUR 



VENEERS 



Your profits depend largely on econom- 

 ical procluction, and uniformly cut veneers 

 lessen the cost of production. 



Our employes are experienced, our 

 machinery modern, and we use the best 

 selected logs in Mahogany, Circassian 

 Walnut and Quartered Oak. 



Therefore, we will furnish you with ab- 

 solutely uniform and bone dry sliced or 

 sawed veneers that your men can handle 

 with a mininunn outlay of time and labor. 



This Means Money in Your Pocket 



We will welcome you to our plant 

 (which is so modern it's worth coming to 

 see) or we will send a representative with 

 samples, on request. 



Fred W. Black Lumber Co. 



2245 S. Crawford Ave. Chicago, 111. 



