July 10, 1917 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



45 



be — ;tliat the practical elimination of the foreign business no longer 

 cuts a figure. If there are anj" surpluses of stocks in any direction, 

 the difficulties of transportation stand in the way of their being diverted 

 to sections that have need for lumber, and hence almost a scarcity is 

 reported everywhere. Even though the high prices of materials of all 

 kinds have tended to interfere with construction work, the requirements 

 continue large or urgent. Much of the speculative building, which called 

 for chestnut has been deferred, while the kind for investment, erection of 

 homes for owners, goes on in fairly undiminished extent. This latter 

 class of structures involves generally the use of oak instead of the cheaper 

 wood, but in these days no wood is really cheap, the prices realized on the 

 former low priced stocks being higher than those tnat prevailed under 

 approximately normal conditions for oak and ash. Some members of the 

 trade feel apprehensive as to the outlook and are unwilling to make fore- 

 casts even for the near future. All go ahead from day to day, taking 

 advantage of the extraordinary margins of profit that are offered, but 

 uncertain as to what the morrow may bring forth. 



=-< COLUMBUS >= 



The hardwood trade in Ohio territory continues strong in every respect. 

 Buying during the past fortnight has been rather active and prices have 

 been well maintained. In fact the tone of the trade is very satisfactory 

 to producers and jobbers, and future prospects are bright. 



Buying on the part of factories is the best feature of the trade. Con- 

 cerns making boxes and implements are placing larger orders and the same 

 is true of vehicle and furniture factories. Most of the factory buying 

 however, is for immediate needs and there is no dispos:r:on to accumulate 

 stocks under present conditions. Automobile factories are also in the 

 market for various items. 



The retail trade is fairly active, although buyini,' for the immediate 

 future is noyv the general rule. Stocks are lair and some of the dealers 

 are somewhat oversupplied. Building operations are more active since 

 the Liberty Loan is off the minds of the people and banks are willing to 

 make loans. While there is very little speculative building, several 

 apartments and dwellings are being projected. There is also consider- 

 able factory building, especially additions. 



The car situation has improved to a large degree and shipments are 

 now coming out better. Dry stocks at the mills show a decrease as a 

 result of the better transportation facilities. Collections are good, as 

 money is generally easy. 



Quartered oak is strong, and there is a good demand for plain oak at 

 unchanged prices. Poplar is moving well and the lower grades are 

 specially strong. Ash, basswood, chestnut and other hardwoods rule 

 firm. 



=< CINCINNATI >•- 



A slight betterment in the car situation has had a salutary effect upon 

 the hardwood business in this section. The demand still is considerably in 

 advance of the supply, due as much to the car situation as the actual 

 shortage of stocks, but the general tone of the market is much better, 

 much of the sluggishness which so characterized the situation some weeks 

 ago having disappeared. Hardwood lumbermen here are practically 

 united in the opinion that with a little more leeway in shipping facilities, 

 the present market would be all that could be desired. There has been a 

 rather pronounced revival in business toward the seaboard through the 

 betterment in the car situation and the lifting of numerous embargoes 

 against lumber, and with this wedge, lumbermen are exerting all their 

 strength in bringing back conditions to as near normal as possible, 

 especially in view of the fact that the local market is governed to no 

 slight degree by conditions in the eastern markets. One of the most 

 encouraging features is the gradual opening up again of the building in- 

 dustry. Builders and contractors are finding it somewhat easier to get 

 supplies, and while prices still are high and in many cases going higher, 

 there has been considerably more activity noted in this industry during 

 the past couple weeks. The conservatism displayed by the individual 

 home builder, however, has not disappeared, and new subdivisions, wherein 

 the contractor gets his big business, are not flourishing. The war is 

 directly responsible for the local boom in the lower grades of gum and 

 other wood suitable for boxes and crating, the heavy demand coming from 

 the box manufacturers to meet the enormous call for immediate delivery 

 of boxes and crates suitable for ammunition. The vehicle and implement 

 manufacturers also are in the market for whatever suitable lumber can 

 be found, their demands being the heaviest for a long time. Oak, hickory 

 and elm are in heavy request. Ash is in heavy request, select stock 

 bring highest prices. Some advices state that ash is bringing at times 

 $50 at the mills. The millwork concerns are displaying more activity 

 than a while back, the call for sash, doors and blinds being considerably 

 heavier than a few weeks ago. The coopers are in the market a little 

 heavier than usual recently. 



•i CLEVELAND >- 



Some hardwood is scarce in the Cleveland market and some is plentiful, 

 but the prices of all are uniformly high. Oak and maple flooring continue 

 scarce and the price is tending upward. There is great demand for ash 

 and maple for automobile truck bodies. The anticipated military orders 

 have begun to put in an appearance. 



The outlook in the building trades seems to depend more on the lumber 



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. 



VOU WANT WIDE STCCK--WE HAVE IT 



Payson Smith Lumber Co 



MINNEAPOLIS. MINN 



8 cars 1 !/2" No. 3 Com. & Bet. 



3 cars 2" No. 2 & Bet. 



SOFT ELM 

 I car 1 !/2" No. 2 & Bet. 



1 car ' !/2 " No. 3 Com. 



HARD MAPLE 



2 cars 1" No. 2 & Bet. 



2 cars 1 " No. 3 Com. 



3 cars 2" No. 2 & Bet. 



Southern Stock 

 RED OAK 



2 cars 3/4 Com. & Bet. Plain 



I car 4/4 No. 2 & Bet. Plain 



WHITE OAK 

 1 car 2" No. 2 & Bet. Plain 



Payson Smith Lumber Co. 



MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. 



CHICAGO OFFICE 

 1665 Old Colony BIdg. J. C. Moffat, Rep. 



DETROIT OFFICE 

 Henry Clay Hotel. P. M. Youngblood, Rep. 



FOR QUICK 

 SHIPMENT 



Northern Stock 



BIRCH 



3 cars..l" Com. & Bet. Red 



2 cars I" No. 2 Com. 



6 cars, 



lYz" No. 1 Com. & Bet. 



BEAUTIFUL 



WC MCAN THE OAn NOT THC U*M 



PArSON-SMlTM LBR.-CO. 

 HINNKAPOU*. MINN. 



All Thr«« of Ui Wai Be Benefitea if You Mention HARDWOOD RECORD 



