52 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



^' C'roKa!iaMi»}TOra!lil!^Mlai^3iTO^^^ 



TROUBLE? 



Are you having any lumber trouble? 



Does your oak warp, split, check or 

 honeycomb in the kiln? 



Does your gum stain, buckle, twist or 

 do the bucking broncho act? 



Do you have any difficulty with split 

 panels and defective glue joints? 



Do you have to dye, stain or refill your 

 lumber to get a imiform color? 



Do you have any reclaims on finished 

 goods from bad glue joints, finish or 

 other reasons? 



You can cure all your lumber troubles 

 by using 



eT'Cure 



^LUMBER 



TRADE MARK 



You don't have to buy Kraetzer-Cured 

 Lumber — you can produce it yourself 

 from air-dried, half-dry or green stock. 



Your lumber will then dry in your kilns 

 quick, straight and free of all defects. 



We will tell you where to buy Kraetzer- 

 Cured Lumber, if you ask us. 



We will tell you about the Kraetzer 

 Preparator, the use of which insures the 

 quick and accurate seasoning of lumber, 

 if you ask us. 



We will send you a new and interesting- 

 pamphlet involving the entire theory 

 and practice of steaming wood under 

 pressure, if you ask us. 



ASK US 



The Kraetzer Company 



537 S. Dearborn St., CHICAGO 



The Hardwood Market 



=-< CHICAGO >- 



CoiitiiiUuU quietness prevails in llie iueul market, iiarticiiliirly in tlie 

 factory trade. .Vs a general thing this quietness seems to be based on 

 actnal laek of orders on the part of furniture manufacturers and kindred 

 lines not finding themselves in particular need of any quantities of 

 lumber. Quite a little disappointment has been experienced by such 

 manufacturers in lack of development of orders for their products, but 

 for the most part they are expressing themselves as at least hopeful of 

 future developments within the next few months. As it Is, they are not 

 operating on full time as a general proposition and arc storing stocks on 

 their floors. This has resulted, in a great many instances, in the post- 

 poning of deliveries of lumber shipments which have been on the books 

 for several weeks. 



Th9 interior finish plants are not doing any more than they had ex- 

 pected to do, but are continuing in fair shape. There promises to be an 

 excellent opening up of building operations with tlie advent of warm 

 weather, which is making itself felt in Clncago, whirli will react probably 

 on the retail yards, through the interior finish plants, sash, door, and 

 blind houses and other similar institutions. 



The price situation continues on a fairly satisfactory basis with some 

 little increase in the general level, but nothing that would indicate resump- 

 tion of normal conditions, at least for a while to come. Generally speak- 

 ing, oak seems to be in very fair request, that is, quartered oak, although 

 plain oak is not in as good shape as had been desired or expected. Plain 

 oak prices, however, have not broken any further to speak of and it is 

 ratlier anticipated that in the course of a couple of months or so there 

 will be a stiffening tendency. 



There has been some slight improvement in the gum situation as a 

 general proposition, but it cannot be said that red gum is even approach- 

 ing a condition that is desired. Sap gum is in good shape for all lines 

 of work and continues to show a marked strengthening. 



Xorthern woods are doing fairly well and there is no apprehension felt 

 on this score as to prices because of the general condition of stock at 

 northern points, which is quite a little below what had been anticipated. 

 As a result, there will probably not be mor-- than enough stock to go 

 around on the regular run of orders. 



=-< NEW YORK y- 



While the lumber business in the greater city and nearby territory 

 cannot boast of a big improvement over the conditions last reported, it 

 is not without some bright spots and the downhearted talk of two weeks 

 ago is giving way to words of optimism In many quarters. The weather 

 has at last settled and outdoor work will be reasonably sure of fair 

 weather from now on. It is hoped that building operations will be 

 resumed with something like normal activity and from the volume of 

 inquiry noted there should be a good new work begun within the next 

 month or six weeks. As usual in times like the present the buyers are 

 not keen to take advantage of the low market and the bulk of the going 

 business is for prompt shipment, indicating that supplies in the hands 

 of manufacturers and yards are broken. This condition i.s not entirely 

 unfavorable for the wholesale market will benefit when buying becomes 

 more active and stocks are not so easy to obtain. It is reported that 

 the mills have no large surplus on hand, and any large amount of buying 

 will tend to advance the price. It seems to be the general opinion that 

 the last half of the current year will show up better than the first, the 

 reasons being the uncertainty In the business world generally, due to the 

 legislative program and the rate advance case. That an early settlement 

 of the rate case would do much to relieve the situation is generally con- 

 ceded, but it is a large question and should be thoroughly investigated 

 before reaching a decision in order that the final result will be fair to 

 all and thus be permanent. Constant litigation of this kind can only 

 work hardship to business which should be free to follow the natural 

 course of enterprise and energy. 



=< BUFFALO >•= 



The hardwood trade holds about steady, not much improvement hav- 

 iiii; been noticeable during the past two weeks. Before the month is out 

 wholesalers expect to see quite an improvement, but business so far has 

 been a little less active than had been hoped for. The weather has been 

 slow to warm up, so that the building demand has not started off actively 

 and most buyers- arc taking stock only in small lots. Not much change 

 has occurred in prices and there is room here for improvement. 



Plain oak is said to be offering at lower prices in some mill sections, 

 while elsewhere prices have been advanced. A good deal of this wood 

 has lieen offering at such low prices that dealers have had little trouble 

 in getting new stocks without paying advances. Chestnut is reported to 

 be a little easier. Maple holds up well at the same firm prices as for 

 some time. The trade in it compares favorably with that in other woods. 

 Birch is holding its own, while gum is very quiet. 



