Nnvfiulier 10. 1921 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



59 



So far as domestic consumers are concerned, it may be pointed out that 

 they are now buying with greater freedom than for more than a year, and 

 that many orders are being placed by phone and wire. This is true of 

 manufacturers of furniture, flooring, interior trim, automobiles, agricul- 

 tural implements, vehicles and other products. There does not appear 

 to Ik- any heavy forward delivery buying of hardwood lumber, but it is 

 <iuite apparent that consuming interests are doiug a much larger busi- 

 ness and that they are under the necessity of securing larger quantities of 

 lumber in order to keep their plants supplied. 



As a result of the heavier demand, stocks are decreasing and prices are 

 advancing. The latter are now at the highest point since the recent 

 upward tendency manifested itself. This is only another way of saying 

 that the market occupies a strong position. Furthermore, it may be 

 Hoted that there is a quite general expectation of still further enhance 

 nient in values. It is quite generally concetkMl that prices are already 

 $10 to $15 per thousand above the recent low, especially on PAS and No. 1 

 common, and that demand for these grades so far exceeds the supply avail- 

 able iu any stock that excellent foundation exists for belief in still higher 

 quotations. Demand for Nos. 2 and 3 common, as a general rule, has not 

 Increased anything like as much as in the case of FAS and No. 1 common, 

 but members of the trade say that No. 2 common, especially in i-otton 

 wood, plain red and white oak and plain red and sap gum, is moving In 

 larger volume and at somewhat better prices. And it Is pointed out in 

 rhis connection that the increasing scarcity of No. 1 common is prac- 

 rically certain to result in further expansion in demand for No. 2 common. 

 Some business is reported in No. 3 ccmimon. but it is quite generally held 

 that the movement of such low grade lumbt-r will probably remain compara- 

 tively small until freight rates thereon to consuming destinations have 

 been appreciably reduced. 



There is some talk here of a "runnway" market as a result of tin- 

 dimiuished supplies of the more desirable grades available and the pn(.r 

 prospects for production during the next few months. The demand for 

 hardwood lumber, which began to manifest itself a short time ago, revived 

 so late in the season that, when it appeared wise to resume manufacturinj: 

 operations, it was almost impossible to do so. Logging crews which had 

 been idle for practically a year had to be reassembled and reorganized, an<l 

 it was quickly realized that much time would be required for this. The 

 collapse of the market late last summer brought heavy losses to those 

 who had gotten out heavy quantities of logs for sale In the open market. 

 with the result that those usually engaged in this business have done 

 almost nothing in 1921. Now, with winter only a very short time away, 

 they frankly say they do not propose to start to getting out logs for sale 

 in the open market when they will have only a few weeks at best in which 

 to work. Thus there appears to be little hope from this source in the 

 direction of securing early preparjition of log supplies for southern mills. 



MILWAUKEE 



The last three to six weeks have brought developments favorable to the 

 hardwood industry in the North, which have placed an aspect of optimism 

 upon opinion respecting the immediate and distant future such as has not 

 iieen apparent In more than eighteen mouths. As the result of substantial 

 Improvement in the demand for hardwoods and lumber of other descriptions 

 as well, lumber manufacturers in Northern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan 

 have changed their early decision to reduce woods work as well as mill 

 operations to a minimum. In many instances logging will be on a nearly 

 normal scale. Mills throughout the North are being reopened in large 

 numbers. 



Opinion is divided in regard to the benefit to be derived from the reduc- 

 tion in freight rates on logs announced recently, effective in the Ontonagon 

 district of the Peninsula. In proportion to the entire industry, the quan 

 rity of logs coming out of this district into Northern Wisconsin is relatively 

 small. The judgment of several representative loggers is that unless gen 

 eral reductions are made, considerable discrimination is bound to result. 

 Dnder the new schedules, some Wisconsin mill owners pay more to haul 

 logs than those in the district affected by the rate cut are required to pay 

 for hauling logs twice the distance. 



Since the latter part of October railroad statistics show clearly that the 

 demand is increasing. In the final week last month, points on the Ashland 

 division of the Chicago & Northwestern shipped 329 cars of lumber, com- 

 pare<l with 217 cars in the same week in 1920. Some of this activity is. 

 of course^ attributable to the apprehension over the prospect of a railroad 

 strike, but since this was called off there has not been so sharp a drop in 

 shipments as would Indicate tluit this was the main reason for the recent 

 rush. 



Hardwood prices generally rule very firm and asking prices in many 

 Instances are higher, with the prospect considered good that lists will 

 undergo a material increase shortly. Sellers who some time ago were 

 inclined to accept almost any reasonable bid are no longer granting con 

 cessions. 



WE WANT TO SELL 



the following 



Dry Northern Michigan 



HARDWOODS 



BIRCH 



4/4 FAS 32,000' 



4/4 Selects 5,000 ' 



4/4 No. 1 Common 30,000' 



4/4 No. 1 Com. & Btr .. 30 000 ' 



4/4 No. 2 Common lOO.COO' 



5/4 FAS 15,C00' 



5/4 Selects 65.000 ' 



5/4 No. 1 Common 5.000 ' 



5/4 No. 2 Common ISO.OOfl' 



8/4 No. I Com. & Btr 11,000 ' 



SOFT ELM 



4/4 No. 2 Com. & Btr. 

 6/4 No. 1 Com. & Btr. 

 8/4 No. 2 Com. & Btr.. 



ASH 

 4/4 No. 2 Com. & Btr. 

 5 4 No. 1 Com. & Btr 



75,000 • 

 50.000 • 

 35,000 ' 



.100,000 

 . 25,000' 



HARD MAPLE 

 4/4 6" and widfr, 8' and longer 



No. 1 Com. & Btr 100. OOO 



5/4 No. I Com. & Btr 200 000' 



5 4 No. 2 Common 200 000' 



6 4 No. 1 Com. & Btr 70.000' 



6/4 No. 2 Common 150.000' 



8/4 No. 2 Com. & Btr 200 000' 

 10 4 No. 1 Com. & Btr 60.000' 

 12 4 No. I Com. & Blr 30,000' 



SOFT MAPLE 

 4 4 No. 2 Com. & Btr . ISO.OOO 

 6 4 No. 2 Com. & Btr . 14,000 



4 4 No. 1 Com. & Btr 100,000' 



BASSWOOD 



8/4 No. 1 Com. & Btr 80.000' 



4 4 No. 2 Common 20.000' 



HARD MAPLE FLOORING STOCK 

 FOR RAIL OR WATER SHIPMENT 



Band mills at 

 Chassell and Ontonagon, Michigan 



C. H.Worcester Co, 



NOT INCOBPOBATED 



19 So. La Salle Street, CHICAGO 



NEW ORLEANS 



With prices remaining firm, production picking up slightly but per 

 '•eptibly, the export business showing some signs of life, the general con- 

 Huming trade becoming resuscitated and the volume of inquiries ami 

 demands for the better grades In practically all kinds of stuff becoming 



A NAME that should be 

 ^~^ on your inquiry list for 

 hardwood lumber. 



American 



Column & Lumber 



Company 



Brunson Bldg. 



COLUMBUS, OHIO 



OAK & HARDWOOD 

 DIMENSION STOCK 



Manufacturer » 

 of 



West Virginia 



SOFT 



YELLOW 

 POPLAR 



PLAIN 

 WHITE 

 OAK 



PLAIN 



RED OAK 



QUARTERED 

 WHITE 

 OAK 



WHITE OAK 

 TIMBERS & 

 PLANK 



CHESTNUT 



BASSWOOD 



MAPLE 



HICKORY 



BEECH 



BUCKEYE 



BIRCH 



BUTTERNUT 



ASH 



CHERRY 



WALNUT 



SYCAMORE 



BLACK GUM 



HEMLOCK 



LOCUST 



