May 



191T 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



43 



higher grades. A broader demand for oak, too. i.s uoted. This luniber 

 is moving well in the higher grades but the activity in firsts and seconds 

 is overshadowed by the unusual demand for Nos. 1, 2 and 3 common oak. 

 Ash is a ready seller in all grades and the same is true of hickory and 

 , elm. The car situation is dealt witb elsewhei'e in this issue of the 

 Hardwood IIecord. There is some gain in the number of cars available 

 for tlie handling of shipments of logs to the mills but there is virtually 

 no change for the better in the quantity of equipment available for 

 handling outbounil shipments of lumber. Every lumberman here and else- 

 where in the ilemphis territory is far behind on his shipments and is doing 

 ■everything in his power to secure cars. L.umber sells itself and the ques- 

 tion of delivery is the big problem. 



=-< LOUISVILLE >: 



A hardwood man in commontiug on the present situation recently said : 

 *'Every time I turn aroaod I find prioos have advanced another $2 a thou- 

 sand." This has almost heen true of the situation during the past few 

 weeks, and prices are contiiiuing to advance. The demand for all grades 

 of hardwood continues big in spite of the I'nct that the furniture factories 

 are not buying quite so heavily as they were. An increased demand is 

 shown for thick stock in gum, elm, oak. ash and hickory, 5/4 to S/4 stock 

 being in big demand. All of these woods are being used in truck and auto 

 building, and it is rumored that gum is being given ix tryout in gunstock 

 manufacturing, recent orders for 2-inch quartered sawed stock having been 

 placed. The holders of such orders are positive that the stock is to be used 

 for this purpose. The demand for poplar in all grades is excellent, and 

 in fact greater than the available supply just nuw. shipments from the 

 South having been slow due to car shortage and shortage of labor. Thick 

 poplar is moving better than for some time past. All grades of oak are 

 moving freely, although flooring factories are not as busy as they were, 

 and interior trim is not up to what had been expected. Building opera- 

 tions of aH kinds have shown more or less slump, but it is being felt less 

 in frame construction than in any other form. In fact, the retail yards 

 have been very busy, and have been buving freely. Mahogany and walnut 

 are two excellent bets .it this time and veneers of all kinds are in fair de- 

 mand. 



=-< ST. LOUIS > 



Hardwood conditioos show slight improvt-ment and tho prospects an^ 

 bright for a continued betterment. There is a stronger demand from all 

 sections, with difllioultios in getting prompt shipments from the mills 

 increasing. Prices on the better grades of hardwoods are advancing. 

 This'applies particularly to choice oak, high-grade gum. wide poplar boards, 

 and bone-dry ash. Box lumber is in particularly good request. Western 

 and southwestern retailers are much handicapped by the slowness in 

 getting shipments. Their stocks are running low and they see but little 

 chance to replenish them. Local distributors are busy filling orders. 

 Buyers anxious for immediate shipments go to the leading distributing 

 points for their supplies. A great many of the orders are hard to fill, 

 because of the broken concKtion of the stocks in the local yards and the 

 fear of the loc^ii ilistributors that they cannot replenish tnem. The car 

 situation is causing 7nuch worry. The hardwood yards are delayed in 

 filling orders because cars are not obtainable. 



Nearly all items are in demand. The request for all grades of gum. 

 including the lower grades, and also cottonwood are particularly strong. 

 There is a fairly active market for oak. Ash is much sought after. 

 Poplar is a good seller. There is a satisfactory call for cypress, but the 

 mills are handicapped by the scarcity of rolling stock. Stocks continue to 

 be of good proportions, although they are badly broken. The local yards 

 are getting a good many orders from the yards in Iowa, northern Illinois 

 and \A'isconsin. and also from the factories. Prices are steadily improving, 

 but thf ;hl\;inces are going up slowly. 



=-< MILWAUKEE >-= 



Hardwood and lumber prices are holding up well and the demand is keep- 

 ing at a height of production every industry essential to the lumbering 

 business. 



The constant fluctuation of the lumber market recently made it necessary 

 for Milwaukee retail and wholesiile dealers to advance the prices of mate- 

 rial. During May the average increase of lumber cost has been 10 per 

 cent, but, according to local dealers, another a^lvance of about 20 per cent 

 will take place should the prices continue to soar in all fields. The aver- 

 age increase amounts to about $5 per 1.000 feet, which means an increase 

 of from $2 to $10 on the various grades. 



Milwaukee dealers have announced their intention to leave lumber 

 prices alone as long as other conditions do not make a change imperative. 

 Talk of lumber prices decreasing is looked upon with a light laugh. With 

 the present demand at high pitch and prospects for still more development 

 in the utilization of lumber products, there is no chance to consider seri- 

 ously any decrease. 



The high prices prevailing in white pine is turning a great part of the 

 demand over to basswood. Maple is demanded in all thicknesses, and the 

 market in general is doing well. 



Concomitantly with the action of Milwaukee dealers in raising prices, 

 labor made a demand for an increase. The various concerns realized that 

 it would be necessary for the men to have more wages, due to the increased 

 cost of living, and the advance of 15 per cent was granted ungrudgingly. 



Walnut 



Of Character and Color 



Manufactured at Kansas City, U. S. A. 



Large Stock of All Grades and Thickness 



Thirty-five years' experience 



IN WALNUT ONLY 



Prompt Shipment, and 

 Guaranteed Inspection 



FRANK PURCELL 



515 Dwight Building. KANSAS CITY, MO. 



You Can See Logs Like These 

 on Our Yard Any Day 



STIMSON ^^^^ ^^ LUMBER 



COMPANY, INC. 



p. O. Box 1015 



Memphis, Tenn. 



MANUFACTURERS 



Hardwood Lumber, Rotary Cat 

 Veneers, Rotary Cut Gum Faces, 

 Cross Banding and Cores. 



All Three of U» WUI Be Benefited if You Mention HARDWOOD REf l/RD 



