Januiiry 25, 191S 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



55 



near future. Embargoes ou many railroads have bcld up shipments until 

 many lumbermen are at a loss as to what to do, 



Ketall stocks are only fair. Some city dealers having Talrly good stocks 

 arc not In the market for any large amounts. Rural dealers generally 

 have shorter stocks and are more anxious to accumulate n small sur- 

 plus. Semi-annual Inventories disclosed the fact that stocks arc lower 

 than was at first believed by jobbers. Collections are fairly good. 



Prices ore Ann. especially of poplar and chestnut. Poplar lower grades 

 are one of the best features. Both quartered and plain oak arc also strong 

 and the same Is true of basswood and ash. Other hardwoods arc un- 

 changed. 



=■< CLEVELAND >•- 



In spite of the fact that practically all building npenitions in the 

 levcland district are confined to munitions plants, or additions to build- 

 ings already erected, January shows a good lot of hardwood business 

 moving into regulation channels. The chief drawback to good outlet, 

 however, is the absence of small house construction, and of course, the 

 extremely cold and severe winter weather, which has brought most opera- 

 tions to a standstill anyway. Another good demand, for the cheaper 

 grades of hardwoods is seen in inquiries from box nuinufacturers who 

 are making shell cases and other packages for government needs. Be- 

 cause there is correspondingly less movement of lumber into consuming 

 channels, improvement in hardwood stocks Is noted since the first of the 

 year. Shipping conditions from the South and other producing centers. 

 however, have not improved, even with the governmental control, and 

 for this reason prices on practically all descriptions of hardwoods show 

 firmness with a tendency to advance, rather than react. Principal out- 

 let in the last fortnight is in maple and oak flooring, which are being 

 used in the commercial building operations. Firms that are willing to 

 take out of town contracts find a ready market for all descriptions of 

 hardwoods, but there does not seem to be much disposition to cultivate 

 this business, in the absence of the assurance that there will be more 

 liberal receipts. 



:-< INDIANAPOLIS > 



Bad weather and the federal fuel administration's order have been 

 the means of paralyzing the business of the hardwood industries in 

 Indianapolis and fhroughout central Indiana during the last two weeks. 

 The order of the fuel administration arrived just as the trade was re- 

 covering from the effects of the most severe blizzard that the state had 

 experienced since 1884, Low temperatures and a heavy snow practically 

 had stopped the operation of many industries. 



In view of the fuel administration's order coming at a time when lum- 

 ber Industries already were facing severe troubles, the trade feels for- 

 tunate that the order came when it did instead of at some future date. 

 Hardwood lumbermen said that the trade was caused much less embarrass- 

 ment than would have been caused at some subsequent time. 



The heavy snows and the extremely cold weather, something which 

 most Indiana lumbermen ate not accustomed to dealing with, had re- 

 sulted In the supply of logs becoming very low at a majority of the plants, 

 and added to this was the difficulty caused by the freezing over of water- 

 ways. Rail conditions also had been bad. and as a result many hardwood 

 manufacturers were not keeping their plants in operation when the fuel 

 administration's order was received. 



There has been no retail demand for hardwoods since the first of the 

 year and contractors and architects report that there is no estimating in 

 progress. No building work of an extensive nature is expected until late 

 in the spring. Rail conditions have interfered seriously with the opera- 

 tion of many of the larger consuming plants, and this branch of the In- 

 dustry has been displaying little interest in the market. 



War orders now form the chief demand. Many hardwood dealers re- 

 port that automobile manufacturers who have been buying heavily In this 

 territory arc reducing their estimates for their 1918 needs, because many 

 of these plants are taking on war orders for the manufacture of metal 

 automobile parts. This loss of business Is being more than covered, how- 

 ever, by orders from other sources. Many of the Indiana woodworking 

 plants arc receiving orders for airplane parts, motor truck bodies, and 

 well-made boxes for government use. Prices remain firm, the trade re- 

 porting little interest In quotations from customary consuming sources. 



=< EVANSVILLE >= 



Hardwood lumber manufacturers of southern Indiana, southern Illinois 

 and northern Kentucky have been handicapped by bad weather, car and 

 log shortage for several weeks. Mills in Evansvllle were closed for a 

 number of days because of heavy snows and the car shortage and In many 

 sections plants have been shut down because of Inability to get logs. 

 Both orders and inquiries are coming In satisfactorily and If the car 

 shortage question Is once adjusted the trade will be all right. With the 

 clearing up of the weather It Is believed there will be better l>uslness. 

 Collections are good. 



The demand for plain and quartered white oak Is better than a month 

 ago and the prices are tending upward. Manufacturers say they arc look- 

 ing for sharp advances on most of the better grades of lumber between 

 now and the first of March, The retail lumber business has been shot to 

 pieces for some time and sash and door men report a slackening up in 

 trade. Planing mills also report things rather dull, P.uilding operations 



The following stock is in excellent 

 condition, ready for immediate shipment 



5/4" No. 2 Cora, * litr. ASH 41,000' 



6/8" No, 2 Com, & Bit, BEECH 27.000' 



5/4" No, 2 Cum. & Btr. liKtXH 300,000' 



0/4" No, 2 Com, Si Hlr. BEECH 286,000' 



4/4" No, 2 Com, & Ittr. S<H-T ELiI 70,000' 



4/4" No, 3 Com. SOI'T ELM 30,000' 



3/4" No, 1 Com, A: Btr. HlllCH 84.P00' 



4/4" No, 1 Cora. & Mir. BIllCH 108J)00' 



6/4" No. 2 Com. & Blr. BlltCU 51^000' 



8/4" No. 2 Com & Bu. BIRCH 17.000' 



4/4" No. 3 Com. BlllCU 51,000' 



5/1" No, 3 Com. BIBCH 60,000' 



4/4" No. 1 Com. & BIT. MAPLE 48.000' 



4/4" No. 1 & So. 2 Com. MAl'LE 270,000' 



6/4" No, 2 Com, & Blr. MAl'LE 316,000' 



8/4" No, 2 Com, & Btr. .MAl'LE 10,000' 



10/4" .No. 2 Com. & Btr. MAl'LE 34.000' 



12/4" No. 2 Com. & Btr. MAPLE 58.000' 



5/4" No. 3 Com. ILVPLE 36.000' 



4/4" No. 2 Com. Sc Blr. SOFT MAPLE 130.000' 



IDEAL 



HARDWOOD 



SAWMILL 



Are putllns In pllt every month two and one-half 

 million leet ol cholceat Northera Michigan Hardwood! 



Stack Lumber Company 



Masonville, Michigan 



Walnut 



Of Character and Color 



Manufactared 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. 



All Thr«« of U. Will Be B-.nefiUd if You Mention HARDWOOD RECORD 



