October 10, 1915. 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



43 



sequent higher prices. Ordering for immediate delivery and replenishing 

 stocks continue in good volume and the present conditions and prospects 

 for future business are quite satisfactory. 



=< BALTIMORE >= 



While gains in the hardwood trade are necessarily slow, it will be 

 gratifying to learn that progress continues and the situation is as favor- 

 able as could be expected under the circumstances. Quiet continues to 

 prevail, and orders do not come in with such freedom or regularity as to 

 insure business for any considerable period in advance. In various direc- 

 tions the requirements are increasing. The furniture factories find it 

 necessary to let out somewhat, and the manufacturers of munitions con- 

 sume lumber in considerable quantities. This business, while it lacks the 

 prospect of permanence, serves for the time being to fill a gap. Most 

 important of all, however, the railroads are in llie market again to an 

 extent which suggests a return to approximately normal conditions. 

 Practically all the woods in general use are affected, oak, hickory and 

 chestnut particularly being called for. Perhaps the weakest spot now is 

 the export business, the extensive accumulations on the other side, but 

 especially the piling up of stocks unsuited to the foreign requirements 

 having served not only to check further forwardings but to depress prices. 

 With some of the foreign quotations lower or at least not any higher now 

 than they were when freight rates amounted to less than one-third of the 

 present charges, it will readily be seen that someone must suffer loss. 

 Apparently the estimates of requirements growing out of the war have 

 been greatly exaggerated. 



K COLUMBUS y 



Some improvement is noted in the hardwood trade in Columbus and 

 central Ohio territory during the past fortnight. The volume of business 

 is fair and prices are somewhat better. Prospects for the future are 

 bright and lumbermen believe the worst of the depression is over. Dealers' 

 stocl<s are light but they are not inclined to increase them. Buying is from 

 hand to mouth. Building operations are active and new structural work is 

 beiug projected. Dealers are anticipating a fair demand up to the first 

 of the year. 



Some buying is being done by factories, although that department is 

 not increasing to any degree. Furniture and vehicle concerns are the 

 best customers. Automobile factories are buying wide sizes of poplar. 

 Shipments are coming out steadily although a car shortage is now appear- 

 ing. Prices are steady and all advances are toward higher levels. Cutting 

 to force trade is not so common as formerly. Collections are bad and no 

 improvement is expected on that score. 



Quartered oak is firm and the volume of business is considerable. 

 Plain oak is also firm, and the demand on the part of yardmen and 

 factories is good. Chestnut is strong, especially sound wormy. Poplar 

 is in better demand and there is a good movement in the better grades. 

 Other hardwoods are unchanged. 



=-< CINCINNATI y- 



There is a steady increase in the domestic demand for hardwood lumber 

 as the fall season progresses, the call rallying strongly with the better 

 building situation in the Cincinnati district. The recent announcement of 

 the opening up of several new large subdivisions in the suburbs has put 

 new life into the builders, and construction work is going along with 

 more energy than for several months past. 



Prices show signs of strength and the situation is shaping itself up 

 well and is an improvement over this time a year ago. Probably the 

 most encouraging feature during the past two-weeks has been the activity 

 shown by the railroads in getting started on much needed improvement 

 work. The buying from this source is heavier than It has been for some 

 months and shows good signs of continuing at the present pace all through 

 the autumn and well into the winter. The call from this quarter is 

 widely scattered ; some large orders have been placed in this district 

 for yellow pine to be used in box car construction, lower grades of oak 

 for the same purpose, while the higher grades of hardwood are enjo.ving 

 an increased demand for the finer car and station finishings. Track 

 maintenance, such as ties and bridges, constitutes heavy requirements now. 



The demands from the big ship yards are taking on an encouraging 

 aspect. Exporters still are bemoaning the utter lack of shipping facili- 

 ties. The export demand is heavy, especially the war order call, yet much 

 difficulty is being experienced in finding bottoms in which to load the 

 lumber. The demand from the box and crating factories is keeping up 

 well and in some instances the call is on the rush order and some whole- 

 salers are finding themselves rather hard put to keep up witlf the orders. 

 This is due to the disinclination of so many hardwood yard men to carry 

 surplus stock. The yards in numerous instances show little beyond the 

 actual day to day requirements. There appears a world of confidence as 

 to the future throughout the hardwood field in Cincinnati, yet few are 

 willing to take any risks on what has been for so long a fluctuating and 

 decidedly spotty and erratic market. There are those who are firm in 

 the belief that the end of the war will witness an even worse period of 

 business stagnation than was experienced last winter, basing their pre- 

 dictions on the theory that the present hum of industry is due merely 

 to war orders and any sudden termination of hostilities will mean the 

 cancellation of orders in many different lines. Much good lumber is 



Paepcke Leicht Lumber Co. 



Conway Building HI W. Washington Street 



CHICAGO 



RED GUM 



AMERICA'S FINEST CABINET WOOD 



Consider its good qualities. 



It has strength. 



Can be brought to a very smooth sur- 

 face and consequently will take 

 high polish in finishing. 



Will not split easily. 



Runs strong to wide widths and long 

 lengths. 



Is not easily marred or dented. 



It can be supplied flat and straight — 

 free of warp and twist. 



Has beauty, color, life and character. 



Considering its numerous good quali- 

 ties, it is the lowest priced good 

 hardwood on the market today. 



We are the largest producers of Gum 

 in the world. 



Have a large and well assorted stock 

 on hand at all times. 



Can manufacture special thicknesses 

 on short notice. 



We guarantee 



QUICK SHIPMENTS 

 GOOD GRADES 

 DRY STOCK 

 GOOD WIDTHS 

 GOOD LENGTHS 

 SATISFACTION 



Band mills at 



HELENA, ARK. BLYTHEVILLE, ARK. 



GREENVILLE, MISS. 



Write, phone or vAre for pricet 



Paepcke Leicht Lumber Co. 



Conway Building 111 W. Washington St. 



CHICAGO 



