August 25, 1915. 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



45 



manufacturing gunstocks. Such concerns from all parts of the country 

 now have buyers in the state or have hardwood concerns buy for them. 



Quartered white oak and plain oak are still quiet, although there is a 

 little demand. Ash is in bettor demand, owing to incn-asod activity 

 among handle factories. Gum is showing a little improvement, as is 

 hickory. The movement ef all hardwoods, outside of walnut, however. 

 Is far below normal. 



The outlook for fall business is not so good as it was. owing to the 

 serious damage that has been done to the grain crops by the excessive 

 rain throughout the state. The wheat crop loss is about fifty cents on the 

 dollar while the loss on oats will atiiounr to balf as much. Corn seems 

 to be in fine condition. 



=^ EVANSVILLE >.= 



Trade witli the hardwood lumlKT maimfacturfrs of Evansvilh' and 

 vicinity has sho^vn some signs of improvement during the past week or 

 ten days, and the opinion prevails that after the first of September 

 things will nnjve along all right. Both orders and inquiries have been 

 coming in more freely. For the past several weeks walnut has been in 

 strong demand. The countries at war have been in the market for a 

 great deal of this lumber. Gum is in better demand than it was a month 

 ago and indications point to the furniture factories buying more gum 

 later on. Most of the large furniture plants jiere are being operated 

 on an aver;ige of six days a week, while a few of the plants are run- 

 ning niily three days a week. Quartered white oak and plain oak have 

 not Improved during the past month, although manufacturers report 

 that they have made some good sales. There has been no change In 

 poplar. Hickory has remained stationary for several weeks, while ash 

 has improved some. Some of the manufacturers report a slight demand 

 for sycamore lumber, although the uptown mills have had but few calls 

 for it. Trade at this time, taken as a whole, is better than it has been 

 for several weeks. Collections have been good and crop conditions con- 

 tinue promising. Hard rains in southern Indiana and southern Illinois 

 during the past two or three weeks have helped the growing corn a 

 great deal. Banks in Evansville report that they have more money on 

 deposit than they have had for many years past. 



Building operations in Evansville continue active. The building per- 

 mits in July were most gratifying to the contractors and architects, who 

 are kept busy. John C. Keller, secretary of the Evansville Business 

 Association, has received reports from one hundred cities in the United 

 States whieh show that Evansville was second in the percentage gain 

 over the corresponding month last year. There is a good deal of building 

 in sight during the next two or three months. Planing mills in this 

 section continue to operate on full time. Sash and door men report good 

 local business with prospects bright for an increase in the out-of-town 

 business later on. 



Furniture, chair, desk and table factories report a fair business at this 

 time, with good reports from the South and Southwest, which indicates 

 a picking up in trade in these sections this fall. 



=-< MEMPHIS >•- 



Tlie domestic market has broadened somewhat within the past two 

 or three weeks and the outlook for southern hardwoods is therefore re- 

 garded as somewhat more satisfactory. Inquiries have been coming in 

 more freely and there has been quite a perceptible movement of lum- 

 ber into domestic channels. Domestic business is still considerably below 

 normal and there is some complaint also on the score of prices. How- 

 ever, the improvement has been appreciable during the past few weeks 

 and for this reason members of the trade are inclined to take a more 

 optimistic view of the situation. Furniture manufacturers are buying 

 considerable quantities of stock and makers of vehicles, including auto- 

 mobiles, are also iu the market for their full quota. The box people 

 are doing an unusually active business and they are constantly taking 

 care of practically all offerings of low-grade cottonwood and gum. Build- 

 ing operations are increasing in nearly all portions of the country and 

 this is leading to a better demand for interior finish as well as for hard- 

 wood flooring. Oak and gum are being used for interior trim and 

 both of these materials are reflecting the more active operations in 

 building circles. There is also a fairly active miscellaneous demand for 

 southern hardwoods generally, and, as already suggested, the movement 

 is appreciably larger than a short time ago. 



The export situation is complicated at the moment by the scarcity of 

 freight room from New Orleans and other southern ports. Advices from 

 New Orleans say that there is almost no room available and that rates 

 demanded are exceptionally high. There has been a large export move- 

 ment of lumber, particularly ash, cottonwood, gum and oak from this 

 territory to Europe recently. Much regret is expressed in export circles 

 over the scarcity of freight room and other almost impossible obstacles 

 to transportation. The recent large movement of lumber to Europe, 

 while confined to the specialties, has diverted heavy offerings from the 

 domestic markets and has therefore proven a factor of no mean impor- 

 tance in Imparting a better tone to the market for southern hardwoods. 

 While the outlook is quite unfavorable for any export movement of im- 

 portance either to the allies or to South America, members of the trade 

 here feel that the allies must have American hardwoods for certain war 

 purposes and that means will no doubt be found to secure transportation 



FARRIS HARDWOOD LUMBER CO. 



Manufacturer* Band-sawn 



SOUTHERN HARDWOODS 



NASHVILLE, TENN. 



(Leading Manufacturers) 



DUGAN LUMBER CO. 



T:rsl%%\T Hardwood Lumber 



MEMPHIS TENNESSEE 



OUR SPECIALTY 



St. Francis Basin Red Gum 



WE MANUFACTURE 



Southern Hardwoods 



Gum, Oak and Asti 



J. H. Bonner & Sons 



MllU and Offlce, 

 QnCLKY, ABK. 



P(Mt«Slce aad TelCKraph Oflea, 

 HETH, ARM. 



Baker-Matthews Manufacturing Go. 



Sikeston, Mo. 



Band Sawn 

 Southern Hardwoods 



SPECIALTIES 



RED GUM, PLAIN OAK 



SEND US YOUR INQUIRIES 



BLISS-eOOK OAK C8. 



BLISSVILLE, ARK. 



MANtTFACTUBEBS 



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 



