JanuiU-y 10. 1922 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



57 



hardwoods here at this time of year. Inventories claim the consumers' 

 attention and many salesmen relax. But the tone of the market is very 

 steady for firsts and seconds. There is strength also in No. 1 common. 

 Prices are the same as they have been the last fortnight or two. There is 

 practically no concession-offering to induce trade. While it cannot really 

 be said at this writing that trade along any line is much if any 

 improved, demand has not fallen off this fortnight, and quite a little 

 business is passing, although often in a small-order way, in stock for the 

 furniture makers, piano people and hardwood yards. But in the other 

 lines of consumption here just now chair making, auto body, agricultural 

 implement, etc., trade is just now very dull indeed. But wholesalers all 

 look upon this as temporary and predict that 1922 will be a fine year here 

 in the hardwoods trade. 



BALTIMORE 



The old year ended, as was to have been expected, with the hardwood 

 business in a state of pronounced quiet, many of the buyers having for 

 several weeks held dow'n with regard to the placing of orders. But this 

 indisposition to enter into new commitments is to be regarded as without 

 special significance, being an attitude always maintained at the termina 

 tion of a twelve-months' period and the beginning of a new one, and was 

 not allowed to weaken the general situation in any degree. Holders of 

 stocks refused to make concessions, realizing very well that this would 

 not result in an increase of orders and would mean merely cutting down 

 the returns. It is also to be said that the advent of the holidays, with 

 their temporary suspension of activities, appreciably narrowed the require- 

 ments in the way of lumber and enabled the buyers to defer entering into 

 new commitments, which they were eager enough to do as a means of lim- 

 iting their obligations at a time when attention was centered upon other 

 matters. The belief prevails, however, that with the new year once fairly 

 well started, hesitancy to place orders will be changed to readiness to 

 make provision for actual needs, and that the movement will be all the 

 broader for having suffered a delay. 



COLUMBUS 



The hardwood trade in central Ohio territory is ruling firm in all 

 respects. While buying was slow during the holiday period, when inven- 

 tories were taken, still prices were well maintained and there was no 

 cutting to force trade. The tone of the market is generally satisfactory, 

 and prospects for the future are believed to he good. 



Retail stocks are not large and as a result buying on the part of dealei-s 

 is expected towards the latter part of January. While business is not 

 expected to boom, a steady run of orders is anticipated. Factories mak- 

 ing boxes, implements, furniture and pianos are expecting good business 

 in 1922. Some demand from railroads is also expected in the near future. 

 Shipments are coming out promptly from most sections. There is a grow- 

 ing scarcity of the better grades, and this has the effect of switching the 

 demand to the medium and lower grades. 



Quartered and plain oak are both firm and are moving freely. There is 

 a fair demand for both chestnut and poplar. Basswood is in good demand 

 and box factories are buying rather actively. Other varieties are showing 

 some strength. 



CINCINNATI 



The volume of orders and inquiries has shown considerable improvement 

 since Christmas and everything indicates that the hardwood market is 

 gradually working into shape. Some traders said that business with them 

 between Christmas and New Year's was better than they anticipated, and 

 for that reason the trade is optimistic over the outlook for the future. 

 Prices are holding firm and upper grades are not as plentiful as they were 

 two months ago. Furniture manufacturers are looking on the bright side 

 of the trade picture and believe that their business will be greatly stimu- 

 lated by the furniture markets that will be given in various cities early 

 in the spring. At this time the furniture manufacturers nor any of the 

 other wood consuming industries are buying to any great extent. Many 

 of them at present are operating on a hand-to-mouth basis, but this prac- 

 tice will not be long continued. Retail stocks are not large in any section 

 and in many cases are badly broken. Dealers as a result are expected to 

 be good customers. Dry stocks in hardwoods, especially the higher grades, 

 are short and this is causing stability in quotations. Exporters say that 

 indications point to them enjoying a fairly good volume of business in 

 January. Many of them already are filling orders, but of no large conse- 

 quence. Inquiries are being received for lumber for shipment during 

 February, March and April, but there is comparatively little disposition 

 to accept these former engagements beyond February. Most of the 

 Inquiries coming in at this time are for Inventory purposes. Several 

 prominent lumbermen said that the hardwood business for 1921 was the 

 poorest in fifteen years. They contend that the temporary spurt in the fall 

 helped the trade, but did not last long enough for the dealers to get even. 



INDIANAPOLIS 



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While the retail trade is suffering from the usual mid-winter seasonal 

 slump, the industrial situation is a little brighter. The brightness is not 



We Offer Kiln Dried 



Lumber and an Efficient 



Kiln Drying Service 



A thoroughly modern kiln equipment at Owens- 

 boro enables us to make prompt shipment on 

 our own stock, thoroughly kiln dried and to offer 

 kiln drying service of proven efficiency for han- 

 dling either green or dry lumber. This service 

 is based on the same consei-vative care which 

 has always characterized our every department 

 from the log to the finished product. 



We offer quick shipment, either domestic or ex- 

 port, straight or mixed cars, all N. H. L. A. 

 grades in our soft texture oak ideal for good fur- 

 niture. We also have splendid walnut, a fine 

 stock of poplar, chestnut, gum, hickory, maple, 

 elm, Cottonwood, beech and quartered sycamore. 

 Thus practically every line of woodworking is 

 offered a thoroughly reliable source of entirely 

 dependable material. 



Try Stimson at Owensboro 

 the next time 



J. V. Stimson & Co. 



OWENSBORO, KENTUCKY 



