HARDWOOD RECORD 



37 



seconds and all grades of common have been 

 readily taken and prices have displayed an ad- 

 vancing tendency. Plain sawed red and white has 

 been very scarce and moved at full figures. Cot- 

 tonwood and gum ruled steady, with increased 

 stocks. Poplar demand is keeping up fairly well 

 with offerings at unchanged values. Dry stocks 

 in all woods continue light. 



Chattanooga, Term. 



Lumber conditions continue to improve in 

 this section. The local demands are all that 

 could be desired under the circumstances and 

 the export trade exceeds the expectations of 

 the most sanguine. Lumbermen in this vicinity 

 say that exporters are simply "begging for 

 stock." They say that in less than a year the 

 export trade has increased 100 per cent. Lum- 

 ber dealers here who have visited points in the 

 lumber centers along the southern coasts report 

 that these centers are being visited by repre- 

 sentatives of lumber concerns in Europe to an 

 extent never before known. One export concern 

 here received orders for forty-nine cars in four 

 days. 



There is yet a great demand for plain oak, 

 but there is a scarcity of this grade of hardwood 

 on the market. Quartered oak and poplar are 

 in good demand. Local dealers are handling 

 quantities of basswood, gum and cypress and 

 find a ready market for these woods. Prices 

 for all stocks are on the increase and lumber- 

 men are highly elated over this indication for 

 the future market. The advance in prices is 

 applied to plain oak principally, owing to the 

 scarcity of the wood. During the past sixty days 

 this grade f>i hardwood has advanced $3 per 

 thousand. 



Bristol, Va.-Tenn. 



Speaking of trade conditions and other mat- 

 ters reflecting the condition of the hardwood 

 lumber business in this section, a prominent 

 wholesale dealer and manufacturer states : 



"I am of the opinion that the market is bet- 

 ter and the supply larger in this section today 

 than at any time within the past two years. 

 The greater majority of the mills are running 

 to their fullest capacity and are then unable 

 to keep up with orders. I have talked with 

 many of the leading lumbermen in this section, 

 and they almost invariably state that they are 

 from thirty to sixty days behind with orders, 

 and have all the business they can handle. This 

 is a very encouraging condition of affairs and 

 such as is calculated to give the lumbermen in 

 this section a stimulus, and balance the recent 

 depressed condition of the markets. I believe 

 that many more mills will soon be erected and 

 operated in this section ; as a matter of fact, 

 I know of several large concerns of the East 

 who are contemplating such action. I know 

 that all the lumbermen in this section are 

 pleased with the outlook and I am sure that 

 the past few months has been fraught with 

 blessings for the trade. The business has been 

 somewhat handicapped for a few weeks owing 

 to the severe car shortage, but the situation is 

 now much improved, and by an earnest appeal 

 to the authorities of the railroads over which 

 the shortage exists we have succeeded in re- 

 lieving the situation in a measure, and I have 

 advices today that the Norfolk & Western Rail- 

 way Company is dispatching one hundred addi- 

 tional cars to aid us in getting out shipments 

 long past due." 



Liverpool. 



John H. Burrell & Co., under date of April 

 1, advise that ash logs in round wood continue 

 to arrive in fair quantities and that prime 

 quality of clear ash planks is in demand. 



Our informers say that there Is no demand 

 for chestnut logs. 



Supplies of black walnut logs have again be- 

 come quite heavy and the values of medium 

 sized and smaller logs have further declined. 

 They advise a curtailment in shipment of wal- 



nut logs until the present stock Is reduced. 

 Increased arrivals of black walnut lumber are 

 noted, but a quiet demand and declining prices. 



Of hickory logs a number of parcels have 

 recently arrived and the market Is in danger of 

 being overdone. Prime butts are easier, while 

 rough and inferior wood is almost unmarketable. 



There is ample supply of plain oak boards 

 and inquiries are scarce for quartered. There 

 is a fair demand for oak cabinet planks and 

 shipments are advised of very good quality and 

 suitable specifications. A ready sale at satis- 

 factory prices is reported on oak coffin planks, 

 but Inferior shipments are neglected. Arrivals 

 of oak wagon planks have been light, and there 

 is a steady inquiry for shipments of prime 

 quality and good specifications, but second qual- 

 ity and defective planks are difficult of sale. 



In poplar logs numerous parcels have arrived 

 and prime, large, clean wood has met with 

 ready sale, while second quality or inferior 

 shipments are not wanted. In poplar lumber 

 prime quality of planks continue in fair re- 

 quest. Planed boards have arrived principally 

 on contract, but the demand for unplaned is 

 quiet, buyers generally being fully stocked. 



In satin walnut lumber, red gum, the demand 

 is limited to well conditioned shipments of prime 

 quality boards. 



Alfred Dobell & Co., timber merchants of 

 Liverpool, under date of April 1, advise that 

 supplies of American woods have again come 

 forward in moderate quantities. An average rate 

 of consumption has been maintained during the 

 month at firm values, but buyers still evince 

 considerable reluctance to meet the advanced 

 prices required by sellers. 



Round southern oak has arrived very freely, 

 but the demand is still quiet. 



There is a fair inquiry for first quality Balti- 

 more waney logs and shipments of that descrip- 

 tion can be recommended, as there have been 

 no arrivals lately. 



The curtailment in arrivals of wagon planks 

 reported last month still continues, but the mar- 

 ket is a long way from being rid of its excess 

 of planks of inferior quality and short lengths 

 which have become unsalable. Shipments should 

 be limited entirely to first quality planks, fifteen 

 and a half feet and up long. 



In coffin planks arrivals have been moderate, 

 but only first quality are wanted, and for this 

 description good prices are obtained. 



Walnut logs have arrived rather freely, and 

 prices for all grades are lower in consequence. 

 There is a good demand for first quality planks 

 two inches and up thick. The demand for 

 boards is mainly for middle and lower grades. 



The stock of whitewood logs has been sub- 

 stantially increased by arrivals of southern 

 wood, and prices are a little easier. Boards and 

 planks are only in fair request and prices have 

 not yet reached a satisfactory basis owing to 

 the enormous stock which is still to be worked 

 off. 



Ash logs have arrived, moderately and chiefly 

 on contract. Prices are unchanged. 



Hickory round logs have arrived freely on 

 consignment and on contract. Trices for good 

 wood are very firm. 



The import of staves has again been light 

 and owing to an increased demand prices are 

 very much firmer. 



Dobell & Co. state that there have been fair 

 arrivals of African, Cuban, Tobasco, St. Domin- 

 go and Nicaraguan logs during the last month, 

 and that the three auction sales of the month 

 were well attended, with brisk competition. 

 Prices for wood of good character were well 

 maintained and some improvement is noticed 

 in the poorer description. A small quantity of 

 African offered brought advanced rates. Satis- 

 factory prices are being realized for Mexican. 

 The market is still bare of Guatemalan stock. 

 The demand is for wood of medium and large 

 sizes and for well figured logs. The market is 

 bare of St. Domingo stock and fresh arrivals 

 of good quality and size would realize full prices. 



CLOSES RIVER GAP 



COTTON BELT'S NEW BRIDGE COM- 

 PLETES STEEL HIGHWAY TO 

 THE SOUTHWEST. 



OPEN TO TRAFFIC APRIL 18th. 



All Cotton Belt Route trains between 

 St. Louis and the southwest now use the 

 new steel bridge across the Mississippi 

 river at Thebes, 111 , doing away with the 

 ferry transfer and shortening schedules 

 an hour. 



The Cotton Belt has the line of lowest 

 grades, fewest curves and one of the 

 smoothest tracks between St. Louis and 

 the southwest. 



The new bridge adds to the facilities in 

 reaching the country of mild climate and 

 cheap homes — Arkansas, Louisiana and 

 Texas. Write for literature descriptive 

 of this wonderfully fertile country. Cheap 

 homeseeker's rates first and third Tues- 

 days of each month. 



June 20th, we will run a special train 

 excursion of fruit and truck growers, and 

 others interested to the famous East Texas 

 fruit country. This will afford an oppor- 

 tunity of seeing the gathering and mar- 

 keting of the big fruit crop. Write for 

 itinerary and cost of trip. 



Cotton Belt trains leave St. Louis daily, 

 9:20 a. m. and 9:32 p. m. 



E. W. La BEAUME, G. P. 4 T. A., 



Cotton Belt Route, St. Louis, Mo. 



INDUSTRIES 



ARE 



OFFERED 

 LOCATIONS 



WITH 



Satisfactory Inducements, 

 Favorable Freight Rates, 

 Good Labor C.nditions, 

 Healthful Communities, 



ON THE LINES OF 



fHE ILLINOIS CENTRAL R. R. 



AND THE 



YAZOO & MISSISSIPPI VALLEY R. R. 



For full information and descriptive pamphlet 

 address 



J. C. CLAIR. 



Industrial Commissioner, 

 I Park Row, Chicago, III. 



