April 10. 1918 



Hardwood kecord — Veneer & Panel Section 



29 



LONG-KNIGHT 



LUMBER COMPANY 



WALNUT- HARDWOODS 



CYPRESS 



Manufacturers and Wholesalers 



Indianapolis, Indiana 



Canadian Woodworking Markets Analyzed 



Insufficient Labor and Raw Materials Most Serious Retardants. 



Holds Well 



D 



emanc 



HIS is written within a few days of the date of the order that cars might be had for more urgent needs, and 



first anniversary of the time when the United even now there are enroute many carloads of lumber 



States officially began to get into the "business and veneers that were started two or three months ago. 



of war." Canada has been very much in that j^ ,9,4 ^.^^^ ^j^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ jj^^ woodworking 



business for over three years, so manufacturers in the 

 United States may find some information, encouragement 

 or inspiration through a visualization of conditions of 

 similar industries in Canada. During March nearly forty 

 users of lumber in eighteen localities were visited and 

 quizzed. Since furniture manufacturers received the most 

 attention, this article is prepared primarily for them and 

 those who supply them with raw materials. 



Briefly summing up the whole situation, furniture and 

 piano manufacturers are pounding along courageously in 

 the face of all sorts of discouragements. The one bright 

 ray of hope that shines constantly is the demand for 

 goods. That ray might not be so bright if factories were 



industries of Canada were not in a prosperous condi- 

 tion. Building operations were practically at a stand- 

 still, and have so remained. At that time the need of 

 labor was far from a paramount question. TTie prob- 

 lem then was to provide employment for the regular 

 workers and keep the organization together. Many 

 furniture makers went after shell box contracts, and there 

 is no doubt but that these orders materially assisted the 

 industry in 1915 and 1916. 



There seems to have been practically no attempt to 

 increase the factory capacity of the woodworking indus- 

 tries during the past four years. The prevailing opinion 



able to produce to capacity, but labor is very scarce and is that the number of employes is fifty-five to sixty per 



raw material markets are rather unstable and uncertain. cent of the number required to operate for normal out- 



This applies especially to lumber and kindred supplies, put, and there is no immediate prospect of any increase 



most of which are obtained in the United States. Many in the number of employes. More could be used, but 



a carload of lumber destined for Canadian delivery was they cannot be obtained. In fact, there seems a pos- 



unloaded this side of the boundary line in January in sibility that labor in this field will be further depleted 



AU Three of Ut Will Be Benefited if You Mention HARDWOOD RECORD 



