Atarih Irt. ISlv 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



47 



art either eliiulnntetl or deferred for tlii' present; hence the hardwood 

 man must be constantly studying the sliuiitinn to ascertain where he Is 

 llUely to he able to place stocks. The prices nalized are on the whole good, 

 It being mainly a question of getting the lumber to take care of the busi- 

 ness that can be obtained, for such Is the Impairment of shipping facilities 

 that the necessities of the users of harilwoods are for the most part ahead 

 of their ability to get stocks. The mills are again In a position to take 

 op operations, with little or no Interference by the weather, but they find 

 such scarcity of labor that many of the plants arc unable to attain any- 

 thing like their normal capacity, so that the production Is not likely to 

 run far ahead of the ability of the country to absorb the output. The 

 scarcity of labor Is also one of the causes that go to Increase the cost of 

 manufacture beyond anything perhaps ever experienced by the mills : 

 consequently, there Is small prospect that the market will slump on those 

 dealers who have the courage to augment their holdings on the present 

 basis. There are no developments In the foreign trade that would tend 

 to give the situation a materially different aspect. 



=-< COLUMBUS >= 



The hardwood trade in ('..Uiinuus iiiritory has ruled firm during the 

 past fortnight. Buying Is not as active as would be the case If shipments 

 could be assureil. but there is a fair demand coming in from all sections 

 and prices are ruling strong. Indications point toward more active build- 

 ing operations than was expected several months ago, and that is giving 

 a more optimistic view to the situation. 



Buying on the part of factories is one of the best features. Concerns 

 making boxes and implements are in the market for stocks. Some buying 

 Is also done by furniture factories. Factories are generally buying for 

 Immediate consumption, as they are not inclined to accumulate stocks. 

 Some buying for delivery during April and May is reported. 



Railroad traffic is slightly improved, but is still far from normal. Em- 

 bargoes are still In force and congestion Is reported at many junction 

 points. Taking it all in all the warm weather has aided the railroads in 

 securing better movement of lumber, as well as other commodities. Col- 

 lections are not as good as formerly. 



Quartered oak Is strong and prices are unchanged from the previous 

 announcement. There is also a good demand for plain oak stocks at former 

 levels. Chestnut is strong and the same is true of poplar. Other hard- 

 woods are unchanged. 



:-< CLEVELAND >: 



Although marked improvement in outlet for practically all descriptions 

 of lumber is noted with the turn of the month and the advance ot more 

 springlike weather, there is not the improvement in hardwoods in this 

 market usually seen at this time of ,vear. One reason advanced by whole- 

 sale Interests is that dealers are still pretty well stocked up on all de- 

 scriptions, and the other is that the real outlet for hardwoods, principail.v 

 Interior finishing of uncompleted construction, is still too early. The long 

 and severe winter brought all building operations, so tar as lumber work- 

 ing was concerned, to a standstill, and now that this work can proceed. 

 most of it is still in the partl.v finished stage outwardly. Consequently, ir 

 will be several weeks, it Is believed In hardwood circles, before the demand 

 lor these materials develops. The result at the moment is to bring some 

 weakness into this market, more so in oak and maple flooring, which is 

 wanted more than other descriptions, anyway. These will probably be 

 among the last Items taken on by builders. The present stocks are suffi- 

 cient to meet a good inquiry. Receipts are better from the South, West 

 and Southwest, In the last two weeks, than for months past, the improved 

 weather conditions being instrumental in making for better railroad 

 bandllng. This is a great relief to local lumbermen. Good demand for 

 transits is noted in the last two weeks. 



-< INDIANAPOLIS > 



The hardwood market Is firmer than It has been in several weeks, but 

 conditions are not as yet pleasing to the trade In general. More cars are 

 available and the shipment of logs is proceeding in a more satisfactory 

 manner, but freight restrictions continue to hold back the operations of 

 the trade. 



During the last week there has been a more optimistic tone in all Urns 

 of business, as it has been found that money Is moving more freely than 

 had been anticipated. The hardwood manufacturers of Indiana arc 

 especially pleased with the automobile outlook. A month ago motor car 

 manufacturers were talking of reducing their requirements for hardwood, 

 but the demand for pleasure cars and trucks has so increased as to cause 

 the automobile trade to take a more optimistic view of the situation. 



Consuming plants are also facing a more encouraging outlook. The 

 furniture inilustrles especially are heavier buyers, and report the general 

 condition of their business Improved. Box manufacturers arc experiencing 

 fllfnculty In filling the demand, and all box-making materials are bringing 

 top prices. Woodworking plants In central Indiana arc working on large 

 contracts for the government. The demand for oak and hickory Is strong, 

 and there has been an Improvement In the gum demand. 



Architects and contractors report that there Is considerable estimating 

 being done, and that the prospects for the coming building season are 

 better than had been anticipated. 



=< EVANSVILLE >= 



The hardwood lumber iiiauufuclurtrs vi Kvau=ville and vicinity report 

 that trade conditions appear more encouraging now than they have at 

 any time for the past six months. Many of the large hardwood mills In 

 this section that were forced to remain closed down during the cold 

 weather In January and February are now running on full time. One 

 large manufacturer said a few days ago that trade In the north and north- 

 west Just now Is exceedingly good. Most of the river mills in Evansvllle 

 remain closed, and It Is not known when they will resume operations. 

 Collections are good. Manufacturers report that logs are coming in more 

 freely and the car shortage Is not as acute as it was a month ago. The 

 general opinion of the manufacturers Is that cars are going to get easier 

 and that it is going to be an easy matter to ship stuff cast In a short time. 

 The prices on the best grades of hardwood lumber are still tending upward 

 and It Is the opinion of the leading manufacturers In southern Indiana 

 that the tendency for prices to soar Is going to continue ail this year. 

 There Is a splendid demand for quartered white oak Just now and plain 

 white oak is in better demand than It has been for some time past. 

 Walnut is picking up some and there is a belief that gum is going to get 

 stronger within a short time. Elm and maple are fairly strong and hick- 

 ory and ash are good. Due to the fact that many of the box factories in 

 this section are being operated on good time, there is a good demand for 

 Cottonwood lumber at this time. Quartered sycamore is moving along all 

 right. Many of the large wood-consuming plants in Evansvllle and those 

 at Tell City, Ind., Henderson, Ky.. and Owensboro. Ky., are being oper- 

 ated on very good time. Building operations in Evansvllle are getting more 

 active, and while contractors and architects say that the building this 

 year may not compare to other years, they look for considerable building 

 to be done. 



=■< MEMPHIS >.= 



There is an excellent demand for southern hardwoods. Very little 

 salesmanship is required, but there is an extraordinary amount of energy 

 and ability necessary in manufacturing hardwood lumber and in finding 

 means ot delivering it. The latter are the two big pressing problems 

 confronting members of the hardwood trade here at this time, and they 

 are making comparatively little headway because transportation condl- 



W E MA NUFACTURE bandsawed, plain and quarter sawad 



WHITE AND RED OAK AND YEUOW POPLAR 



We make a specialty of Oak and Hickory Imple- 



nwnt, Wagon and Vehicle Stock in the rourh- 



Y our Inquiries •elicit* d 



ARLINGTON LUMBER CO., Arlington, Kentucky 



SPECIALLY CUT ORDERS 



Usually Mean Quick Shipments 

 \Miat Can "^'ou Take Care of in 

 This Line? Write Us Full Details 



Hardwoods Especially 



STERNER 



LUMBER CO 



FOR SALE 



HUNTSVILLE LUMBER COMPANY 



S. S. I'LKTCHER, Trustee, DECATUR, ALA. 

 All machinery and equipment, beltj4, piilleyfl, etc.: 7 ft. Clark Band 

 Mill; 5 Boilers; engrinee, dry kilns; alAo hardwood flooring plant. 

 Will Hell UN a whole or separately. For full list of niadiinery and 

 prirrs, apply S. S. Fletcher, Trustee, Decatur, .Ala. 



BUSS-COOK OAK CO. 



BLISSVILLE, ARKANSAS 



MANUFA CTURERS 



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 



All Three of U. WUI Be Benefited if You Mention HARDWOOD RECORD 



