February 10, 1918 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



55 



tiian Just now and koop It allvo at all. Wholesalers are so tliorouslily ills- 

 Kusti'd auil discouraged over the situation that they arc calling in their 

 men and ilevoting all their surplus energy to getting some movement of 

 lumber which has been ordered or perhaps started on the road. The new 

 year has opened up with a lair amount oC hardwood Inquiry. This comes 

 largely from the big manufacturing plants and industrial concerns which 

 are force<l to build to keep up with the unusual demand for their products. 

 The railroail inquiry is not very satisfactory. Retailers have not started 

 to buy. anil although their stocks are low, little Is expected from this 

 M)urce until spring business is duly started. 



-< BOSTON >.= 



Trade in this sootion is active in anything that can ho <lclivereil. and 

 local stocks are in demand at fancy prices. Quotations from mills are 

 also very high, althovigh many orders could bo placed in spite of the ask- 

 ing prices if it wore not for the inability to ship. As matters stand now, 

 incoming material is practically suspended. The present and future eflCect 

 of thi-; stoppage varies with the different classes of industry and, so far 

 as domestic or general usage is concerned, is approaching a stage of vital 

 ooru'iTn to the trade. 



-< BALTIMORE >- 



With cold weather of unprecedented severity and the ilcepest snow on 

 record, the lumber trade of this city and section has faced difflculties such 

 as have never before confronted it, and which alone woiild have sufficed 

 to narrow the movement greatly. Combined, as these conditions have been, 

 with a general freight embargo on railroads, with lack of cars, with 

 scarcity of labor and other drawbacks, the obstacles in the way of doing 

 business have proved almost unsurniountable, and the aggregate of trans- 

 actions has been held down to very small proportions. In a way, many 

 hardwood men are out of it. Here and there it has been possible to take 

 care of the wants of consumers by sending out lumber by auto truck, but 

 wherever this means of making delivery could not be utilized, the dealers 

 have been able to do practically nothing. While the hardwood business is 

 less affected by the possibility that the government may step in and com- 

 mandeer stocks needed to take care of private wants, the military author- 

 ities confining themselves largely to the soft woods, the blockade on the 

 railroads affects this division of the lumber trade as well as all others, 

 and the opportunities for making shipment are now greatly narrowed. 

 Local yards have been drawing upon their stocks in some volume, and 

 assortments are reducetf, with the prospect of making good such with- 

 drawals not at all promising; for the climatic conditions have affected the 

 mills I'ully as much as the dealers. Lumbering organizations have had to 

 suspend work either on account of deep snow or low temperatures, or both. 

 and the production has fallen to narrow limits. To what extent this enforced 

 idleness will result in the dispersal of organizations remains to be seen; 

 but all the indications point to a greatly lessened production for months 

 to come, so that it is likely to be difficult to take care of the actual wants 

 which ma,v develop. Under these circnmstnnres it is only natural that-the 

 range of prices on the orders filled should hn very high. In fact, the seller 

 able to make shipment can command virtually his own figures, many wants 

 being very urgent. In addition to the normal requirements low-grade 

 hardwoods are freely sought by the box makers, who are in the market 

 for anything that may serve their purposes. These box makers have many 

 orders in hand, and they Iiave had to contend with freight blockades on 

 railroads, with mills cut off from navigation by heavy ice in the bay and 

 river, so that vessels were unable to move, and with every other sort of 

 Impediment, and tliey are almost desperate in consequence of the lack of 

 rough lunilier. This has served to intensify the situation, so far as the 

 hardwood users are concerned, and for the present there is no prospect 

 of relief. Anything In the way of lumber is freely taken when there is 

 a chance of filling the order, and numerous consumers are brought almost 

 to a stop owing to the failure of supplies. 



=-< COLUMBUS > 



The hardwood trade in Ohio territory continues rather active. Taking 

 In account the fact that transportation facilities are congested, there is 

 more activity than might be expected. Buying is about equally divided 

 between dealers and manufacturing plants. Concerns making boxes and 

 Implements arc the best customers among factories, rurniture factories 

 are now coming into the market after rather successful shows. 



Retail stocks are only fair and In some sections reports show some 

 shortage, especially in certain Items. Some dealers are rather anxious 

 to increase their stocks In view of expected business after the winter breaks. 

 While building conditions are not very promising, it Is believed that there 

 will be considerable construction work along certain lines. Rural dealers 

 arc especially anxious to increase stocks. 



One of the worst features is the slow deliveries, which makes it a 

 difficult matter to transact business. It takes from one to two months to 

 get shipments through, that Is if the conditions are the most favorable. 

 Some dealers are loath to place orders without assurance of prompt trans- 

 portation service. Collections are generally good, as money continues easy. 



Quartered oak Is In good demand and prices at the Ohio river 'continue 

 unchanged from a fortnight ago. The same is true of plain oak stocks, 

 especially white oak. There Is a steady demand for chestnut. Poplar Is 

 moving well, especially the lower grades. Ash and basswood are unchanged. 



All Three of U* Will Be Benefited i( 



Oak Maple 



Chestnut 



ivianufacturers and Dealers 



— in — 



West Virginia and Southern 



HARDWOODS 



The Atlas Lumber & Mfg. Co. 



Union Trust Building, CINCINNATI, OHIO 



BUSS-COOK OAK GO. 



BLISSVILLE, ARKANSAS 



IVIANUFACTURERS 



Oak Mouldings, Casing, Base and Interior 

 Trim. Also Dixie Brand Oak Flooring. 



As Well As 



OAK. ASH and GUM LUMBER 



Can furnish anything in Oak, air dried 

 or kiln dried, rough or dressed 



MIXED ORDERS OUR SPECIALTY 



BIRCH 



We have a complete assortment of practically 



ALL GRADES & 

 THICKNESSES 



GOOD PLANING MILL FACILITIES 



Send us your inquiries 



Brown Land & Lumber Co. 



Rhinelander, Wis. 



IVlills: RHINELANDER 

 PARISH 



HELENA. ARK. 



UNIFORM QUALITY 



Our material all comes from the 

 Saline River District, which produces 

 the genuine Forked Leaf Oak. There- 

 fore an even color and te.xture is main- 



"FORKED LEAF" Brand 

 Oak Flooring 



We can ship mixed cars of "Forked 

 Leaf" Brand Oak Flooring and 

 Arkansas Shortleaf Pine. 



The Long-Bell Lumber Co. 



R. A. Long BIdg., KANSAS CITY, MO. 



You Mention HARDWOOD RECORD 



