May 10, 1917 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



43 



what higher range of prices is inevitable if the transportation situation 

 with respect to the handling of !ogs to the mills does not substantially 

 improve. This factor is restricting production of gum and other hard- 

 woods. This reduced output is coming at a time when the call is 

 abnormally large. The lower grades of Cottonwood occupy a similar 

 ■position with respect to demand, supply, and prices. Offerings in the 

 open market are extremely light and this accounts for the fact that this 

 particular class of stock is selling at the highest prices ever known. 



There is some slowness reported in demand for the higher grades of 

 quartered red and white oak but a broadening demand is noted else- 

 where in the oak list, and members of the trade believe that the tendency 

 in this direction will continue. It is suggested that the building of the 

 mercantile fleet to be launched under the auspices of the federal shipping 

 board will prove a big stimulus to oak though no time is mentioned as 

 to when orders from that source may be expected. There is a steady 

 call for ash which is being used in the manufacture of military equip- 

 ment in this country and abroad, and the cypress market occupies a 

 healthy position. Hickory and elm are in excellent request and the 

 whole market is showing a strong tendency toward a higher level under 

 the abnormal transportation conditions and the bigness of demand for 

 southern hardwoods. 



=■< LOUISVILLE >. 



A decided improvement has been shown in freight movement during 

 the past two weeks, and local hardwood manufacturers, after being tied 

 hand and foot on shipments for several months, are beginning to ship 

 a fair percentage of their orders. The car .supply is not normal, but 

 enough cars are being received to bring lumber In from the South, and 

 make deliveries of orders which have been on the books for months. 

 Beech and maple continue to increase in demand and price. Southern 

 quartered oak is in good movement, and plain oak is better than it was 

 at any time in years. April was the best month in the history of the 

 business, some reports showing increased volume, and others an increase 

 in profits. Several of the operators are now making deliveries on orders 

 that they are sorry the.v ever booked, the orders being taken months 

 ago on a low market and held on account of embargoes or inability to 

 obtain cars in which to ship. The market has advanced considerably 

 since that time, and the stock could be sold with great ease at a better 

 price today. It is said that it will be only a short time until the mills 

 will be producing almost entirely to fill orders already booked, and in 

 the meantime the demand is so great that even low grades will be moved 

 out, as practically all the marketable lumber on hand is sold. Thick 

 stocks of such woods as ash, elm, hickory, oak and gum are in tremendous 

 demand, and can hardly be supplied, while poplar, Cottonwood and 

 cypress are very scarce. .411 grades of veneers continue to move freely. 



--<, ST. LOUIS > 



The hardwood situation is about as good as could be expected. Buyers 

 do not look for prices to go lower, so are making strenuous efforts to 

 get what stock they need. All hardwood users are particularly active 

 in their buying. The continued car shortage caused them to come into 

 the market, as they realized that they must buy quickly if they wished 

 their needs supplied. There is a particularly good demand for oak. 

 Stocks are low at most of the distributing points. Thick stock is in 

 particularly good demand. Plain oak has advanced considerably during 

 the past few weeks. Gum is holding its own, especially quartered and 

 2-inch stock. Cottonwood and poplar are selling well, with Cottonwood 

 somewhat scarce. A good call for low grade stock of all hardwoods is 

 reported. The box makers are buying very freely of this item. Ash is 

 in a healthy condition. Cypress distributors report an excellent demand 

 and buying comes from all sources of consumption, but the orders are 

 not large. It is hard to obtain some classes of stock. 



=-< MILWAUKEE >-= 



Lumber prices in Wisconsin remain the same and manufacturing 

 progress was given a stimulus in the recent federal decision to equip 

 for hostilities to a maximum degree. Manufacturing interests are enter- 

 ing a new era of prosperity. The needs of the government are enormous. 

 Milwaukee is receiving a large part of the contracts closed for lumber 

 and other commodities essential to the preparation for a campaign. 



The lumber business, more than any other trade, is responding tn 

 federal purchasing. Mills in every part of the land are being called 

 upon to produce goods for the building of the many wooden ships to be 

 pitted in a mercantile manner against the belligerent submarine. A 

 large amount of lumber will be required by the government in its ship- 

 building campaign. Besides this amount there is the big item of lumber 

 that will be needed in the Young Men's Christian Associations, and for 

 the construction of club houses lor soldiers at concentration camps. 

 Wisconsin manufacturers of lumber products are making big runs to 

 clear the way lor more orders that are sure to come. The usual require- 

 ments of business are in a large measure subordinated to the pressing 

 necessities of the United States government. 



Scarcity of raw materials is still the basis of considerable complaint, 

 but the big bugbear of the hardwood industry continues to be the 

 shortage of labor. 



A number of the Milwaukee lumber companies have increased the 

 wages of their employees from 10 to 15 per cent in the past two weeks 

 In order to maintain all their help to meet the unprecedented conditions. 



Swain-Roach Lbr. Co. 



SEYMOUR, IND. 



■We Manufacture 



Elm Ash 



Maple Walnut 



Gum Cherry 



Sycamore Chestnut, Etc. 



White Oak 

 Red Oak 

 Poplar 

 Hickory 



ff'e have for sale 1 car 3" FAS Poplar; 1 car ^'/j" No. 1 



Common Poplar; 1 car S-4 FAS Plain Red Oak, dry, 



and 2 cars 6-4 FAS Plain Red Oak, dry. 



At Tzt'o Band Mills 



STRAIGHT or MIXED CARLOADS 



PROMPT SHIPMENT 



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. 



The Indiana Lumbermen's Mutual Insurance Company, 



Indianapolis, Ind. 



The Central Manufacturers' Mutual Insurance Company, 



Van Wert, Ohio 



CINCINNATI 



Hardwood Manufacturers and Jobbers 



OHIO VENEER COMPANY 

 Manufacturers & Importers FOREIGN VENEERS 



2624-34 COLERAIN ATBNim 



C. CRANE & COMPANY 



Manufacturers of Hardwood Lunnber, Oak & Poplar especiidly 



Our location makes possible auick delivery of anything in timber and hardwood 



lumber 



The Tegge Lumber Col 



High Grade 



Northern and Southern 



Hardwoods and Mahogany 



Specialties 



OAK, MAPLE, CYPRESS, POPLAR 

 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 



AH Three of Us Wffl Be Benefited if You Mention HARDWOOD RECORD 



