June 10, 1917 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



43 



nient compared with tlie uoriual recjuirciiients of the manufacturers and 

 distributers of lumber and normal deliveries are therefore impossible. But 

 the improvement in the situation, even though modest, is resulting in a 

 greater volume of business than for some time and is helping lumber- 

 men out through relieving the congestion that has prevailed for so long 

 on their yards. 



Demand is quite as heavy as it has been during the past few weeks and 

 prices are. if anything, even firmer and, in some instances, substantially 

 higher. This is notably true of the higher grades of quartered red and 

 white oak. Some manufacturers report that they have raised their 

 prices quite substantially recently and that they are getting the higher 

 prices without difllculty. Somewhat higher quotations, too, are . being 

 sent out on firsts and seconds plain oak. As for the lower grades, de- 

 mand for these is excellent and the movement is quite substantial at 

 somewhat increased rates. The situation in gum shows no appreciable 

 change. Demand is good, prices are firm and the volume of business is 

 just as large as otEerings and the transportation situation will allow. The 

 lower grades of gum are moving freely into the hands of box manufac- 

 turers and the same is true of the lower grades of Cottonwood. Both are 

 commanding the highest prices -ever known and yet record prices are not 

 having any appreciable effect on the amount of business being done. The 

 box people are overwhelmed with orders at good prices and they are 

 taking all the cottonwood and gum they are able to find, especially in 

 dry stock. Ash is a good seller in all grades while a seasonable move- 

 ment is noted in the case of cypress, hickory and elm. 



There is still quite a shortage of production as compared with normal 

 and this fact, coupled with the large amount of lumber already sold but 

 still awaiting delivery, leads to the belief on the part of hardwood interests 

 that still higher prices are on the cards for the near future. In any event 

 there is no disposition on the part of owners of hardwood lumber to press 

 sales or to accept anything below ruling quotations. On the contrary, 

 there is a strong tendency in some quarters to withdraw offerings from 

 the market for prices which are expected to be practicable in the very 

 near future. The position of owners is one of unusual independence be- 

 cause of the known demand and because of the shortage of hardwood 

 lumber recognized on all sides. 



=E=-< LOUISVILLE y- 



The 1917 spring season has proven the greatest era of prosperity ever 

 known in local hardwood circles, and with the exception of car short- 

 age, embargoes and shortage of labor and fuel, everything has been in 

 satisfactory condition. The market has been strong and steadily advanc- 

 ing, the demand for all grades of hardwoods unprecedented, and selling 

 has been done on a tar lower cost than usual. Production has been 

 large, but at that has not been quite equal to the demand, with the result 

 that odds and ends have been cleaned up, and everything has been selling 

 from prime first and seconds to No. Z common. I>uring the past month 

 the demand from the building and furniture trades has slumped some- 

 what, but truck and wagon manufacturers, shipbuilders, and the govern- 

 ment have entered the market stronger than ever. There is a tremendous 

 demand for thick stocks of nearly all grades, most important being oak. 

 elm, ash, hickory and gum. Poplar, cottonwood and cypress have all been 

 active, and pine has been selling well considering the slump in building 

 activity. In the fancy woods, such as mahogany, walnut, maple and birch, 

 the demand has been exceedingly good, even No. 3 walnut selling readily. 

 Mahogany manufacturers have been behind on deliveries for some time, 

 and a good deal of plant enlarging has been under way in order to increase 

 manufacturing capacity. The veneer manuiacturers are still busy on old 

 orders and a sprinkling of new ones, but the demand for veneers has fallen 

 off slightly with the checking of furniture activity. Collections have 

 been a little slow due to slow deliveries and long delay in getting cars to 

 move the stock. Local dealers are opposed to handling much future order 

 business under existing conditions, feeling that with the market steadily 

 advancing, and the demand equal to production, there is no need to sell 

 stock before it is cut. 



^■< MILWAUKEE >- 



Hardwood men throughout Wisconsin can not help but feel optimistic. 

 for outside of difficulties experienced in getting sufficient quantities of 

 raw materials* to feed the woodworking machines, there is no trouble, for 

 orders somehow seem to take care of themselves. 



The furniture and interior finish lines are in big demand and industrial 

 plants producing the finished product are busy to the very doors. Lumber 

 interests, however, report that in the building line, business is com- 

 paratively dull. It is true that during one week building permits fell 

 below those of 1916 for the corresponding period, but according to leaders 

 in the lumber limelight that fact tells no authentic story regarding the 

 lumber situation, for during the week ending June 2 Milwaukee building 

 permits greatly outstripped those of the same week in 1916, and official 

 reports comparing building activities of May, this year, and May, last 

 year, disprove any arguments purporting to signify a definite falling off 

 of buildiug operations. 



Industrial plants in woodworking activity are prosperous and are sharing 

 with their employes in voluntary bonuses from time to time. Orders con- 

 tinue to come, and the hardwood market is booming. No definite features 

 are noticeable except an increased demand for walnut. 



Swain-Roach Lbr. Co. 



SEYMOUR, IND. 



We Manufacture 



White Oak Elm Ash 



Red Oak Maple Walnut 



Poplar Gum Cherry 



Hickory Sycamore Chestnut, Etc. 



IVe have for sale 1 car 3" FAS Poplar; 1 car Z^i" No. I 

 Common Poplar; 1 car 5-4 FAS Plain Red Oak, dry, 

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



At Tzvo Band Mills 



STRAIGHT or MIXED CARLOADS 



PROMPT SHIPMENT 



Mutual Fire Insurance 



Best Indemnity at Lowest Net Cost 

 Can Bo Obtained From 



The Lumber Mutual Fire Insurance Company, 

 Ths Lumbermen's Mutual Insurance Company 



Boston, Mass. 



Mansfield, Ohio. 



The Psnnsylvania Lumbermen's Mutual Fire Insurance Company, 



Philadelphia, Pa. 



The Indiana Lumbermen's Mutual Insurance Company, 



Indianapolis, Ind. 



ll The Central Manufacturers' Mutual Insurance Company, 



Van Wert, Ohl» 



CINCINNATI 



Hardwood Manufacturers and Jobbers 



OHIO VENEER COMPANY 

 Manufacturers & Importers FOREIGN VENEERS 



2624-34 CeLKRAIN ATBNDS 



C. CRANE & COMPANY 



Manufacturers of Hardwood Lumber, Oak & Poplar especially 



Our location makes possible luick delivery sf anything in timber and hardweed 



lumber 



The Tegge Lumber Co: 



High Grade 



Northern and Southern 



Hardwoods and Mahogany 



Specialties 



OAK, MAPLE, CYPRESS, POPLAR 

 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 



Bl 



AU Three of U* Will Be Benefited if You Mention HARDWOOD RECORD 



