October 10. 1017 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



43 



ceipts of hardwoods are uot up to their former proportions, though two or 

 three concerns have had a fairly large stock of lumber coming in this year 

 by lake. 



=-< PITTSBURGH >-= 



Hardwood men are not rushed with business — things are dragging hard. 

 The uncertainty in big business circles has upset the lumber market and 

 is making orders few and far between. Manufacturing concerns are fairly 

 well stocked up with lumber and as a rule are not buying on contracts for 

 next year. Business with the coal companies is not so good as before the 

 government fixed the price of .$2.00 per ton for stock at the mines. Yard 

 trade in hardwoods amounts to almost nothing. There is a feeling among 

 wholesalers that business will not improve much for about sixty or ninety- 

 days or until the great stocks of lumber shipped up from the South and 

 Southwest during the past few weeks have been exhausted. Prices on 

 hardwoods with the exception of oak are showing quite a little weakness, 

 but not in proportion to the falling off in prices of hemlock and the pines. 



=-< BOSTON y- 



A still iiirther falling off is uotcd in the demaiid for general hardwoods 

 in this territory, more especially in cabinet and finish stock. Values are 

 no stronger than they have been in this class of material, but the condi- 

 tions in other markets and the difficulty in getting lumber through serve 

 to offset the weak situation here. The quotations coming in from mills 

 vary widely, running up to what are regarded locally as unreasonable 

 figures. The policy of many of the shippers to offer at continually rising 

 prices is very disturbing to the trade, as the ultimate usage of the stock 

 is in non-essential and non-military products where prices cannot be 

 indefinitely advanced. In the cheaper hardwoods and construction lum- 

 ber there is still a good volume of business, but cutting in the New Eng- 

 land states has rapidly increased and is now supplying a much larger 

 percentage of these requirements than formerly. In many cases ship 

 builders' hardwood is contracted for within trucking distance of the 

 ways to avoid the uncertainty of rail delivery during construction, as 

 well as to get the advantage of prices relatively much cheaper than from 

 the usual western sources of such stock. 



=-< BALTIMORE >•- 



No important changes are noted in the hardwood trade. Members are 

 still couf routed with serious difflculties in making shipment, and their 

 troubles in regard to lack of cars and freight embargoes have thus far not 

 been abated to any marked extent. It is not easy to do business, though 

 in point of volume the movement is little contracted. It has been found 

 necessary to make many readjustments and changes in methods, and in 

 many instances shipments had to be diverted. The old lines hardly meet 

 the exigencies of the situation and modifications have had to be applied that 

 give the trade a materially different aspect when it comes to details. 

 Hardwood men have much business ahead. Orders come In all the time, 

 but neither the manufacturers nor the dealers are able to run along for a 

 time without further calls for delivery. Buyers are disposed to take care 

 of only the more«inimediate wants, the prospect being too uncertain to 

 encourage any latitude in this direction. It may be that prices will go 

 higher and that delay in placing orders will mean that the buyer must 

 pay more, but much uncertainty prevails as to this, and members of the 

 trade are not generally willing to tie themselves up for any considerable 

 time ahead. The practical effect of the war taxes upon business is a con- 

 sideration that makes for caution. The question has been closely studied, 

 and the prevailing opinion is that the new law will cut deep into the net 

 earnings of firms and corporations. Everyone, therefore, feels that it is 

 advisable to go slow for the present at least until the situation has been 

 somewhat clarified. Construction halts. The lack of labor is a greater 

 handicap than the high cost of materials. Great delays are unavoidable 

 and the expense of building Is increased far beyond anything that might 

 have been expected even some months ago. This has checked the inquiry 

 for hardwood stocks that go into the erection of buildings, the door manu- 

 facturers, and producers of trim having no extensive requirements to meet 

 as a consequence. In some other directions the movement keeps up very 

 well, though the local yards report quiet. Prices are little changed, and 

 the inquiry that prevails takes in practically the whole list of woods. 



=-< COLUMBUS >= 



The hardwood trade has been quite strong ; orders, especially from manu- 

 facturing plants, have been good and inquiries are numerous. Shipments 

 are coming out fairly well and prospects are for a good demand during the 

 fall and w^inter months. 



The retail trade is rather quiet. Stocks are fair and bu.ying is limited 

 to that which is absolutely needed. Rural dealers are the best customers. 

 Building operations have slowed down to a large extent. Collections are 

 fairly good. 



The factory demand is the best feature of the trade. Concerns engaged 

 in making furniture and boxes are good customers and the same is true of 

 vehicle and implement concerns. In fact, there is a disposition among fac- 

 tory purchasing agents to stock up on certain varieties of hardwoods. Ship- 

 ments are slow, as the railroad situation shows little improvement. Mill 

 stocks are not large. 



Plain and quartered oak is in good demand. Ash, basswood and chestnut 



Swain Roach Lumber Co. 



SEYMOUR, INDIANA 



We have the following dry stock ready for shipment: 



2 cars 12/4 Ists & 2nds Poplar 



2 cars 12/4 No. 1 Com. & Better Elm 



3 cars 8 4 No. 1 Com. & Better Kim 

 2 oars 4 4 No. 1 Com. & Better Elm 

 1 car 8/4 Nn. 1 Com. & Better Beech 

 1, car 4/4 No. 1 Com. Ash 



1 oar 5/8 No. 1 Com. Ash 



2 cars 4/4 Ists & 2nds Qtd. White Oak 



1 car 4/4 No. 1 Com. & Better Qtil. Red Oak 



Two Band Mills Prompt Shipment 



Mutual Fire Insurance 



Best Indemnity at Lowest Net Coit 

 Can Be Obtained From 



Th* 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, 



Indlanapella, Ind. 



The Central Manufacturers' Mutual Insurance Company, 



Van Wert, Ohio 



CINCINNATI 



Hardwood Manufacturers and Jobbers 



OHIO VENEER COMPANY 

 Manufacturers & Importers FOREIGN VENEERS 



Mtt-S* C«LBRAIN AYBNCK 



C. CRANE & COMPANY 



Manufacturers of Hardwood Lumber, Oak & Poplar especially 



Our location makes possible quick delivery of anythlni tn timber end hardwtvd 



lumber 



The Tegge Lumber Col 



High Grade 



Northern and Southern 



Hardwoods and Mahogany 



Specialties 



OAK, MAPLE, CYPRESS, POPLAR 

 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 



AU Three of Us WUI Be Benefited if You Mention HARDWOOD RECORD 



