HARDWOOD RECORD 



39 



previous months this year. In some InstaTices the increase is doubtless 

 due to changes in methods rather than to a brisker demand along the old 

 lines. Owing to the extraordinar.v conditions that have prevailed in the 

 trade and that remain in evidence, some of the local firms made new 

 departures, generally by venturing into other directions and endeavoring 

 to find new outlets for their stocks. More or less shifting in business 

 has thus taken place, and some of it has proved very satisfactory. 

 On the whole the trade is in better shape, with the outlook decidedly 

 promising. Greater interest is being shown by the buyers in the terri- 

 tory solicited from Baltimore, while the announcement by some of the 

 large railroads of a purpose to spend big sums for betterments in the 

 near future is giving an encouraging aspect to the whole situation. 

 There can hardly be a doubt that such action by one or two of the rail- 

 roads will bo followed by all others, so that a great addition to the 

 volume of hardwood business may be expected. It is llie most hopeful 

 development that has occurred tor some time and will give further 

 encouragement by reason of the fact that it will mean an extension 

 of Interest into many lines. The gain in volume Is fairly general, all 

 of the hardwoods In common use being affected, and It has served to 

 steady prices appreciably, even if a positive advance is still delayed. 

 There are also some unfavorable developments, one of these being 

 a further advance in some of the ocean freight rates. Those to London, 

 Liverpool and Glasgow have been marked up ten cents or more, and the 

 exporters, who were just beginning to feel hopeful that they might be 

 able, on the strength of stable conditions, to resume building up their 

 business, will be compelled to enter into further negotiations, for it is 

 not to be presumed that the increase In the freight rates can be absorbed 

 by them. A considerable demand for fine ash is reported from England. 

 This demand is attributed to great activity in the construction of war 

 aeroplanes. 



=-< COLUMBUS > 



The hardwood market in Tolumbus and central 'Ohio has been fairly 

 active during the past fortnight. Trade has been as good as could be 

 expected under the circumstances. Orders from retailers have been the 

 best feature of the trade by far, although some buying Is being done by 

 factories making furniture and vehicles. 



The price list is generally well maintained', as cutting is not resorted to 

 in order to force trade. Dry stocks are somewhat plentiful in certain 

 sections, but sacrificing quotations are not often heard. Dealers' stocks 

 have been Increased recently in preparations for an active building season, 

 indications for which are bright. The active building is seen not only 

 In the larger cities, but also in the smaller cities and towns and even in 

 the rural sections. 



Shipments are coming out promptly all along the line. Dealers are 

 buying mostly for delivery the latter part of April or early in May. Some 

 buying for delivery the latter part of May is being done. Automobile 

 factories are buying better now and they are wanting wide sizes generally. 



Quartered oak Is rather active all along the line, although prices have 

 not been advanced. There is a fairly good demand for plain oak stocks. 

 Chestnut is still one of the strong points in the market. Quotations on 

 chestnut are not changed from a month ago. Ash is rather quiet, while 

 basswood is in good demand. Other hardwoods are unchanged. 



=-< CINCINNATI >= 



The majority of the hardwood men of Cincinnati express certain satis- 

 faction with the trend of the market during the past two weeks. That 

 spirit of gloom which pervaded business several months ago appears to 

 have been almost completely swept away and practically all unite in pre- 

 dicting normal conditions within the near future, while a few of the more 

 daring business men affirm that the market now shows all that could be 

 desired. The latter opinion, however, does not reflect the hardwood men 

 in general in this city, who believe conditions now are such that by ener- 

 getic work the spring and summer business will in the end .show up favor- 

 ably with previous years when the country was not shaken by a near 

 financial crisis. 



Outside reports on allied business reaching Cincinnati have had a great 

 deal to do with strengthening the Cincinnati market. Most bright state- 

 ments of increasing business and bolstered up courage, especially in the 

 steel mills, has put new life into the Queen City dealers and manufac- 

 turers. While a large part of the recent steel activity has been due to 

 war orders, not a small part of the increase conies from the railroads. 

 Large orders have been placed by the big trunk lines for improvements, 

 and when the big railroads begin ordering, the lumber business must nat- 

 urally receive a big impetus, inasmuch as a large part of railroad improv- 

 ing deals directly with the lumber trade. 



The unprecedented demand for automobiles this year also is working 

 to the good of the hardwood line. While it does appear on the face to 

 be an analogy, the automobile people are experiencing one of the greatest 

 boom years in the history of the business, and it is not only for foreign 

 shipment. The American demand for cars is insistent, and the call for 

 hardwood of the higher grade from this business is increasing almost 

 daily. These facts must surely speak for themselves when the question 

 of a deteriorating market is broached. 



An absence of heavy accumulation is one of the good signs noticed in 

 Cincinnati. AH stocks appear to be moving with increasing rapidity and 

 mill men as usual are hard pressed to keep up with the demand, the 



TIMBER ESTIMATES 

 Northern, Southern & West Indian Hardwoods 



Estimates 



Maps 



Reports 



D. E. LAUDERBURN. Forest Engineer biTnIw r^'J^! N.'^f 



(Leading Manufacturers) 



DUGAN LUMBER CO. 



a" d"s'Hrp'p"e;r Hardwiod Lumber 



MEMPHIS TENNESSEE 



OUR SPECIALTY 



St. Francis Basin Red Gum 



WE MANUFACTURE 



Southern Hardwoods 



Gum, Oak and Ash — 

 J. H. Bonner & Sons 



BIUU and OIBm, 

 QUIOLAY. ABK. 



Poat*IBo« KBd TelecTaph Oflle*. 

 HBTH. ABK. 



BUSS-COOK OAK GO. 



BLISSVILLE, ARK. 



MANCFACTURERS " 



Oak Mouldings, Casing, Base and Interior 

 Trim. Also Dixie Brand Oak Flooring. 



As Well As 



OAK, ASH and CUM LUMBER 



Can furnish anything in Oak, air dried 

 or kiln dried, rough or dressed 



MIXED ORDERS OUR SPECIALTY 



Baker-Matthews Manufacturing Ce. 



Sikeston, Mo. 



Band Sawn 

 Southern Hardwoods 



SPECIALTIES 



RED GUM, PLAIN OAK 



SEND US YOUR INQUIRIB8 



