44 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



Mii.v ::.'i. iiii;. 



Ol.\D\ESS 



RcaJ\} Resources $925,845 



LRPLUS 



and Reinsurance Reserve . . . 856,634 



AriNCS 



Relumed to Subscribers. . . . 546,757 



ERIICE 

 60-daV Inspections; Monthly Fire Bulletins. 



These are some of the vital features 

 upon which the management of the 



Lumbermen's Underwriting 

 Alliance 



bases its plea to the LUMBERMEN FOR 

 A SHARE OF THEIR Insurance Lines. 

 These safeguards are the resuU of TEN 

 YEARS of successful underwriting. 



$155,000.00 



in CASH DIVIDENDS went into the treas- 

 uries of ALLIANCE Policyholders in 1914. 

 Owners of protected plants, with five or 

 more years' timber supply, are invited to 



become identified with us. 



U. S. EPPERSON & COMPANY 



Attorney and Manager, KANSAS CITY 



Over 



One Million Dollars 



in savings has been returned its members by the 



Manufacturing 

 Lumbermen's Underwriters 



and there remains to the credit of members over 



Nine Hundred Thousand 

 Dollars 



The membership, which is constantly increasing, 



is now composed of nearly four hundred and fifty of 

 the best saw mill plants in the country. Insurance in 

 force exceeds thirty-five million and nearly three 

 million dollars has been paid in losses. If you have 

 a first-class plant adequately protected and are mter- 

 ested in low cost fire insurance, correct policy forms, 

 an inspection service which may save you from a dis- 

 astrous fire, with the certainty of a prompt and 

 equitable adjustment in case loss does occur, arid 

 wish a list of members and annual statement we will 

 be glad to hear from you. 



Rankin-Benedict Underwriting Co. 



HARRT B. CLARK 



Western Representative 



Portland, Ore. 



Attorney in Fact 

 KANSAS CITY, 



MO. 



but till IT iir.' \.iv ii'w tiiiiiiiiiiiriun i> li'ii- Willi Imw liny popliir of con- 



MM|iiri to olTcr. .V iiuihI clfiimiiil Iiiik rc'ii-nll.v l)wn ri'i.ortnl liy ODi- • 



llrm hiTe for thhi Hnp (jiim. "Si to % Incli. This l« koIiik liirK<')y to 



lOhKlaiul. It In I iiiiiiiillnK .'I fairly Rood price nn<l llio di'iiiaiicl liax hecH 



sumcl.ntly liifK"' t.i take up tlio oiitlrc output of the llriii lii iiu<Btlon. 

 It uppoars to l>c- :i tlini> wlicii spoclnltliK arc In more urccnt rngufht than 

 tlic ordinary run of soutlirrn linrdwoods and those wlio arc In poKltloii 

 to niiM't tlio di'Minnd for the forniiT clnnBoii of lunibiT arc cnjoylnn n 

 very rooiI trade Indeed. It Is poBslble that the volume of business In 

 hardwood clrcleB is oxpandlne soinewhiit but It Is nothlnit like as large 

 .18 was anticipated and It Is doubtful If many of those euKHKed In the 

 luiinufiiilure of sc'Utliern linrd«ood» lit the moment nr,- dcilni; niiirli 

 more than takluR care of their cxpenscB. 



-•<, BRISTOL >= 



The lumber Industry h, this seciicin is now characterized by more 

 activity than at any time diirliic the present year. Some of the local 

 concerns report more market Improvement durlnR the past few weeks 

 than has been noted In several months. The outlook for trade |8 con- 

 sidered much more encouraging than It has been at any time since the 

 business depression begnu Inst fall. .\ fair volume of stock is now 

 moving. With the most of the mills In operation, yard stocks are con- 

 siderably heavier. The general belief is that by the time lumber now- 

 being cut can be prepared for the market, that it will And more ready 

 sale and at n better price than Is now possible. 



=■< LOUISVILLE >= 



While the demand Is not particularly strong In any one department, 

 hardwood men report that business Is coming In fairly well, and that 

 the call is pretty well distributed over the entire list. In other words, 

 snniethlng of neatly everything Is being moved, and this condition Is 

 eneoiirngincr. In view of the fact that concentration on a few items makes 

 for difficulty in filling orders and overstocks on everything else. The 

 furniture trade has been showing improvement of late, but the manu- 

 facturers do not seem inclined to stock up, having in view already the 

 July shows and copsequently being In favor of working along in a con- 

 servative fashion until after the semi-annual exhibitions have given thciD 

 a line of prospects for the fall. 



Building opcrntlons seem to be favorable to good buying except In the 

 Chicago district, and the tie-up there has knocked hardwood men out 

 oi some nice orders. The implement and vehicle business Is Improving, 

 as the farmers, in view of the fact that they have been getting more than 

 their usual slinre of the money, are buying more freely than for a long 

 time. Southern trade conditions are better, owing to the Improveniont 

 in the cotton situation, and this Is making better furniture and vehicle 

 business, and consequently opening the way for more lumber orders. 

 Altogether, there has not been much change In the situation, but, assum- 

 ing that the German troubles are satisfactorily settled, the prospects 

 arc all favorable to better business. 



-•<, MILWAUKEE >-^ 



The steadily increasing activity in the Milwaukee building field is 

 resulting in gradual improvement In the hardwood trade. Buying seems 

 to be carried on a little more freely and lumbermen are inclined to take 

 a more optlmi,stic view of the situation. There has been a gain each week 

 in the number of permits Issued and the amount of money involved up to 

 this time is considerably In excess of a year ago. Inspector Harper Is 

 confident that the total building record for the year will exceed that of 

 1914 and will equal that of 191.''., when a new high figure was reached. 



Improvement has taken place during the past two weeks In both the 

 retail and wholesale field, while the factory trade is showing more life. 

 Stocks on hand at most of the local sash and door and general interior 

 finish plants have been light for .several months, so that the increase in 

 business which is being experienced by these concerns has made It neces- 

 sary for the placing of larger orders. There is no tendency on the part 

 of these concerns to stock up to any extent, but their immediate needs 

 are naturally resulting in a better demand. The officials of one well- 

 known wholesale and retail hardwood concern of Milwaukee say that bujil- 

 ness is so much better that it has been forced to work employes overtime. 



.\nother bright fe.Tluie of the situation is the better demand from the 

 retail trade about Wisconsin. Indications are that there is a normal 

 amount of building going on in the smaller cities and towns and in the 

 country districts about the State and dealers have been forced to get 

 their stocks up in a little better shape. Reports regarding the demand 

 from retailers about the State arc somewhat varied, some wholesalers 

 holding that business from this source is not so good as it ought to l)e, 

 but the consensus of opinion seems to be that conditions are improving. 



The market in all linos of hardwood is gradually working itself into 

 a stronger position. Flooring Is especially active, although all lines of 

 northern hardwoods are showing more activity. Manufacturers do not 

 seem to be forcing the market, as they are confident that they will soon 

 realize better figures on their stocks. Low-grade hardwood is in good 

 demand. It is expected that a shortage in available dry stocks, especially 

 in birch, will be experienced a little later, before the new cut is ready for 

 use. 



