May ;;'), I'Jl.-,. 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



41 



markets ot tlie country, there is a noticeable general tendency toward con- 

 servatism. 



On tlie whole, the past ten days has not been up to the expected stan- 

 dard considering the rapidity with which the hardwood market locally 

 was adjusting ItselC to normal again, and It Is rather discouraging to 

 those who had hoped for an even more marked change for the better 

 toward the end of Slay. 



The principal cause of complaint is based upon the unsteadiness of the 

 market, which for the past several weeks has shown a decidedly spotty 

 interior. But, according to well posted lumbermen In this city, such 

 a condition i.i only to be expected in the revival ot business following 

 the almost complete stagnation of all business dealing even remotely con- 

 t-erned with the hardwood line. According to these authorities, it will 

 take some time for affairs to adjust themselves before complete confidence 

 can be restored and a generally accepted price level can be reached 

 throughout the market. 



Kncouragirig reports continue to drift in from the Kast, but this is 

 iiuito offset by equally discouraging advices from the West. This section, 

 the middle west, appears to hold up the standard of its cognomen and 

 remains in the middle, liuctuating with the rise in the East and fall 

 In western quarters. Before a complete revival can be looked for, say 

 veteran lumbermen, there must come from the plain and IJocky mountain 

 states far more optimistic tidings, and inasmuch as the market beyond 

 the ilississippi is governed in no slight degree by conditions in this region, 

 predictions of any Immediate change for the better here are not lieard to 

 «ny great extent. 



Cincinnati just at this time is suffering from unseasonable early spring 

 weather and constitutes one of the chief causes of complaint from many 

 quarters allied with the hardwood business. A chain of events has 

 seemed to work against thp optimistic air assumed by the Cincinnati hard- 

 wood men. When conditions were at their lowest el)b during the winter, 

 the dealers here, far from giving up the fight and accei>ting things as 

 they came, banded togetiier in a brave fight to belter affairs and instead 

 •of only looking upon the dark side worked hand in hand in an effort 

 to start a bourn time. A late spring. If there was any spring at all, 

 delayed building operations greatly and then suddenly summer weather, 

 far too early, came with a rush and a tremendous demand came all at 

 once from builders. Tliis has been going on steadily until the last ten 

 days, when the balmy weather vanished as suddenly as it arrived and 

 in its W'ake sprang a season of wet, oold weather, putting a damper on 

 hnilding to a certain extent. However, many contractors were so far 

 ilcng that inside work was entirely practicable notwithstanding the wet, 

 lint many have had to suspend temporarily, thus shutting off the sudden 

 demand as quickly as it started. 



The general opinion, howei"er, is that with the coming of .Tune, when 

 one can practically be assured of fair weather, business again will spring 

 up from many quarters now in their lethargy and a more hopeful view 

 Is being taken of the future. 



Owing to the widespread uncertainty la practically all lines of busi- 

 ness, the demand continues to be of a spotty nature, an unusually heavy 

 da.v of orders and inquiry being followed by one or two days of exceed- 

 ingly light call. One noticeable lack of confidence, is the unwilliuguess 

 of buyers in various lines of hardwood to stock up to any great extent 

 practically all seeming content to confine their buying to actual needs 

 and taking no chance of being caught with any surplus on Iiand. The 

 market Is heartened considerably, on the other hand, by the gradually 

 widening field from w-hieh the call Is coming now. While orders are 

 rather small, being confined to immediate needs, the field of call rapidly 

 is increasing Its scope. Thus, it Is felt, a widespread revival of business 

 naturally will bring in a much heavier demand as the outlet will be 

 opened in all directions. 



Hickory and oak apparently has had the call during the past week or 

 so, although the demand has been of such a general nature that it is 

 hard to designate a really besi: seller. But the steadily increasing activity 

 among the automoi>ile nianiifacturers has caused a considerable boom in 

 the demand for oak and hickory, the latter figuring extensively in the 

 manufacture of spokes. 



A few weeks ago the railroads started in ordering with a vengeance 

 that bespoke of old times, but this sudden revival seems to have been 

 short lived and Inquiry and order from this direction is dwindling down 

 and orders from the carriers still lack considerable of normal conditions. 



One of the most encouraging features of the week's market is the 

 somewhat unexpected heavy call from the furniture manufacturers. While 

 the business obtained from the furniture people all spring has been one 

 of the bright spots In a dull business, the bustle displayed in tlie furniture 

 line recently surpasses expectations and is the cause of no little favorable 

 comment. It is taken as a good omen. The export trade, slightly better 

 than would be supposed considering all conditions, is accelerated by the 

 demand for hardwood used generally in certain war materials. Business 

 from this source does not generally come to the surface, but locally It 

 is intimated that some heavy orders have been placed by foreign rep- 

 resentatives. 



A call for gum box boards which is of an encouraging nature Is not 

 meeting with the response merited, owing to scarcity of materials, but 

 Cottonwood, of which there Is a much larger available supply, does not 

 respond with the gum movement. \ steady advance is noted in red 

 gum and poplar is moving in much better fashion than recently, while 

 ash continues In fair demand, oak getting Its steady call from the auto 

 makers. Mill complaints of low- stocks are heard frequently. 



(Leading Manufacturers) 



WE WANT WALNUT 



If you have Black Walnut Logs 14" and larger in diameter and 

 8' or longer in length, write us for prices and particulars. 

 We are in the market now for two million feet. 

 PICKREL WALNUT CO., 4025 Clara Avenue, ST. LOUIS 



DUGAN LUMBER CO. 



a''nd"shrpp"err Harclwoo(i Luiiiber 



MEMPHIS TENNESSEE 



BUSS-COOK OAK CO. 



BLISSViLLE, ARK. 



MANUFACTURERS 



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 



OUR SPECIALTY 



St. Francis Basin Red Gum 



WE MANUFACTURE 



Southern Hardwoods 



Gum, Oak and Ash 



J. H. Bonner & Sons 



Mills and Office, 

 QUIGLST, ABK. 



Pa«t«fflee and Teleirraph Offle*, 

 HBTH, ASK. 



Baker-Matthews Manufacturing Co. 



Sikeston, Mo. 



Band Sawn 

 Southern Hardwoods 



SPECIALTIES 



RED GUM, PLAIN OAK 



SEND US YOUR INQUIRIES 



