February 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



55 



activity and It is steady and well sustained. Perhaps the greatest bandi- 

 cap to the industry is in the matter of production which is severely cur- 

 tailed because of the seasonal inclemency of the weather and its conse- 

 quent handicap upon logging operations throughout the entire territory. 

 Few mills there are that find themselves aide to supply the necessary 

 timber for running their plants at full capacity, and this brings produc- 

 tion right down to the bone. The present denuind is not sufficiently great 

 to justify full capacity operations, but the manufacturers are anxious to 

 stock up their yards for the increased trade they anticipate for the early 

 spring. 



There is some encouragement fnund in the export movement, whicli 

 undoubtedly is more than holding its own. 



BEAUMONT 



While posted freight rate reductions run from $1 to $2, it has not 

 stimulated the hardwood market in this section and it is inclined to sag. 

 Production, however, is at such a low point that manufacturers consider 

 their position very strong, although this strength is yet to he developed. 



It is the general impression that the volume of business will increase 

 gradually, although the movement has not been that which has char- 

 acterized FebruaiTS of former years. Locally, hardwood men seem to be 

 well satisfied with the situation, notwithstanding the fact that the move- 

 ment has been small. 



In this immediate section the activity in building homes has had its 

 effect upon the local furniture market and both wholesale and retail 

 st(!res report a very active business. There is also a satisfactory move- 

 ment of pianos. 



MILWAUKEE 



It remains a difficult matter to get consumers of hardwoods past tlie 

 stage where they will buy only to cover their immediate needs, but there 

 is a great deal of comfort to be extracted from the fact that these needs 

 are now increasing, judging by the larger movement. Trade remains pe- 

 culiarly spotted in character and is very uneven, but the demand is so 

 well sustained that hardwooil lumber manufacturers in the North are get- 

 ting production I?ack to within striking distance of normal. It is notable 

 that in the last thirty days some large mills which have been idle since 

 last summer have been reopened. 



The tendency noted early in February as a continued influence from 

 January experience in the direction of softening of prices in spots seems 

 to be fairly well overcome. The soft spots apparently were due to the 

 eagerness- of some producers to move stocks promptly at a time when the 

 recent advance seemed to cause a holding off on buying in some quarters. 

 At present the list is quite well sustained in most particulars, with some 

 experts discerning a trend toward higher levels in thirty or sixty day.s, 

 when the demand is expected to become broader through the resumption 

 of the building movement and the manifestations of a permanent and 

 definite recovery of industry from the trough of the last twelve to eighteen 

 months. 



Furniture factories are doing considerable buying, although they arc 

 mostly picking up lots here and there and pressing hard for prices. Indus- 

 trial demands, especially for the poorer grades, such as box and crating 

 stock, is increasing slowly. Excelsior mills are feeling the beneficial influ- 

 ence of the better condition of industries, principally furniture. Musical 

 instrument industries are still operating on a minimum basis, but a pick-up 

 is looked for early in the spring. 



There seems to be no distinctly discouraging features in the present situ- 

 ation, such as checked optimism frequently all through last year. On the 

 other band, developments day by day lend a more hopeful feeling through- 

 out the hardwood industry in the North. 



TORONTO 



VESTAL LUMBER 

 & MFG. COMPANY 



INCORPORATED 



Soft Textured Oak 



Poplar 



Black Walnut 



Tenn. Red Cedar 



KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE 



BAND MILLS AT VESTAL 



A SUBURB OF KNOXVIIJJ; 



FONDE, KY., & DUFF, TENN. 



A fair volume of business is being done in the hardwood market, which 

 has undergone a distinct improvement during the past two weeks. The 

 chief inquiries are for birch and maple, but the upper grades are rather 

 scarce, and there is a wide margin in prices depending on the stock helil, 

 where located or how badly the inquirer needs certain thicknesses and 

 grades. There is a disposition on the part of those who have stocks on 

 hand to hang on, as there is an upward trend in values and the cut of 

 hardwoods this season is much below normal. However, the outlook is for 

 a considerable movement of hardwood in the near future, the belief being 

 baserl on the general impression that values have struck rock bottom, the 

 opening up of industrial activity and the low stocks in the hands of wood 

 working industrial plants. Led by the motor car body manufacturers, the 

 manufacturing consumers of hardwood are showing greater interest in the 

 hardwood market than for some months past. The furniture industry is 

 likely to buy more liberally in the coming months than at any time since 

 the end of the boom period. Furniture manufacturers are now producing 

 on a much more active basis than at any time during the past sixteen 

 months. Manufacturers generally are looking forward to a broadening of nAnIlll> Ruilfl Mlllc 

 markets and a gradual increase in demand for their products. When all I'WIHIIC UOUll lllllld 

 returns are In it will be shown that the cut in the bush this year will be 

 larger than at first reporte'' 



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Delta Hardwoods 



WHAT DO YOU WANT? 



SOME CONSUMERS OF HARDWOOD 

 LUMBER DO NOT GET VALUE FOR 

 THEIR MONEY. OFTTIMES IT IS BE- 

 CAUSE THEY DO NOT STUDY THE 

 SOURCE OF THEIR SUPPLY. AR- 

 KANSAS IS THE HOME OF THE BEST 

 HARDWOODS. OUR DOUBLE BAND 

 MILLS ARE LOCATED IN THE CEN- 

 TER OF THE BEST HARDWOOD PRO- 

 DUCING REGION OF THE STATE. IT 

 WILL PAY YOU TO INVESTIGATE. 



GET THE FACTS 

 NOW 



\„ 



r 



II 



The 



BREECE 



Manufacturing Co. 



Arkansas City, Ark. 



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