56 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



WA N T E D 



All Kinds of High-Grade 



HARDWOODS 



S. E. SLAYMAKER & CO. 



Caai, Went Vlrgrinla. NEW YORK 



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. 



The Pennsylvania Lumbermen's Mutual Fire Insurance Company, 



Philadelphia, Pa. 



$141,000.00 



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' (listrll)utor.s of this lumber are feeling inucli encouraged over the out- 

 look, as It Is nearly time for big consumers of lumber to come Into the 

 market with their orders. This also applies to the retailer. There Is no 

 doubt that the distributors In this center will get plenty of business when 

 the weather conditions Improve. As the stocks here are in pretty good 

 shape, there Is a feeling of optimism prevailing all along the line. 



-•<, MILWAUKEE >-= 



The increased activity in the logging country of northern Wisconsin 

 and Michigan has resulted in a much better feeling in the hardwood 

 trade. While It is pretty well understood at this time that the log output 

 will not he so large as would have been the case had winter weather made 

 its appearance before February, yet the present favorable weather condi- 

 tions in the northern country arc allowing loggers and lumbermen to rush 

 their work with a vim. No difficulty is being experienced in getting the 

 accumulated logs to the sidings for shipment and many concerns which 

 liave not closed their logging camps are sending their sawyers back to 

 work. Several of the largest concerns in northern Wisconsin have their 

 ramp forces at work and will keep them cutting until the spring break-up. 

 I-.ogs are arriving at all the mills and many plants are being placed In 

 operation. 



Despite the feeling that the log output will be larger than was antici- 

 pated a few weeks ago, lumbermen are of the opinion that a genuine short- 

 age of dry hardwood stocks will be experienced before the rush of the 

 spring building season is over with. Stocks of northern woods, particularly 

 birch and maple, are unusually low, even at this early date. Basswood 

 stocks, especially in the lower grade stuff, are being reduced as a result 

 of the Increased activity of the box manufacturers. Offerings of south- 

 ern hardwood are somewhat in excess of demand just at the present time, 

 although this situation is believed to be only temporary. The demand for 

 both plain and quarter-sawed oak is showing considerable improvement, 

 while a better trade may be expected with the advance of the building 

 season. 



The leading factory consumers of hardwood are not in the market just 

 at the present time, although most of them are making inquiries, regarded 

 a.3 a favorable sign. Stocks In the hands of the factory trade are light 

 and it Is only a matter of time when these people will have to come into 

 the market. The fear of much higher prices will also be a factor In 

 bringing about early buying. 



Dealers about the state and in other territory tributary to Milwaukee 

 are placing some fairly good orders. Wholesalers have been endeavoring 

 to impress upon retailers the fact that now is the time to get in their 

 orders for spring stock while shipping facilities are favorable and before 

 hardwood prices make further advances. Salesmen say that stocks in 

 most retail yards are far from large. 



The building activity in Milwaukee is being well maintained and there 

 have been steady, consistent gains since the first of the year. During 

 the month of February there were 127 permits issued by Building In- 

 spector W. D. Harper for structures to cost .|578,3S2, while during the 

 corresponding month a year ago there were 119 permits granted, repre- 

 senting an investment of $518,836. During the last week of the month 

 there were 35 permits issued for buildings to cost $285,280, as compared 

 with an investment of only .fl47.700 during the same week a year ago. 



---^LIVERPOOLy- 



Business in Liverpool and vicinity has been exceedingly quiet and prices 

 ruling have been far from satisfactory. The trade is still suffering from 

 a surfeit of consignment deliveries. Prices ruling are very peculiar and 

 very little reliance can be placed on the figures heard. Stocks, on the 

 other hand, are rather smaller than were noticeable in our last report, but 

 in some lines things are in a very bad state. For example, there are over 

 1,000 logs of round hickory in first hands still unsold, and this in the 

 face of very heavy shipments coming forward by every ship. Naturally, 

 in face of this, buyers here are not inclined to purchase beyond their 

 immediate requirements. Three mahogany sales have been held recently 

 and as was expected, in view of the heavy stocks, poor prices only were 

 realized. Lumbermen state that they cannot indeed see any immediate 

 chance that this situation will be relieved; in fact, they see still lower 

 prices coming. Round ash logs are coming in freely and have on the whole 

 been placed satisfactorily, as the stock is not very heavy. Ash planks, 

 on the other hand, are exceedingly weak and some ridiculous prices have 

 l>oon named recently. Some con.signment parcels in weak hands have 

 changed hands at prices about half their proper values. Shippers should 

 on no account send any consignment parcels of ash to this market, as 

 slJpments would be very unprofitable. There is no chance of contracts 

 being made on a profitable basis for some months to come, as stocks are 

 v<:ry heavy and consumers are not very busy. The oak market is some- 

 what better, and some good movements have been made. Cabinet stocks 

 have recovered to some extent from the heavy consignments noted a few 

 months ago, while wagon stocks have moved quietly into consumption. 

 There are, however, large parcels of oak planks still unsold ; this is true 

 chiefly of stock of an inferior quality. Round oak logs are weak and there 

 is no sale at the moment. Birch is good and in view of the small stocks 

 gi.od values slvould be realized for the new shipments. Poplar values in 

 all grades are decidedly weak, while quartered oak is scarce and firm. 

 Cottonwood is slightly better, as is also gum lumber in wide specifications. 



