30 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



shipped to the valley. Log run maple is worth 

 $12.50 and $13 at the mill up the state, and in 

 the valley it is quoted at $15.50 to $16. For No. 

 2 common ash and better $25 is asked. Beech 

 is held at $13 to $15, and thick elm at $22 to 

 $26. Basswood is $22 and a much better feeling 

 is noted in this commodity. Cars are exception- 

 ally scarce and this will exert an influence on 

 ihe trade, as it is likely to interfere with the 

 delivery of Btock. 



Bristol. 



Dealers and manufacturers in this city and 

 section entertain a roseate view of the prospects 

 ol tlie lumber business for the winter. The con- 

 dition in hardwoods is good, and while there is 

 no material change reported in prices, the status 

 of the market is very satisfactory, and dealers 

 and producers are thinking more of getting stock 

 to the market than of better prices. 



Plain and quartered oak are very scarce, there 

 lieing only a very limited supply of the stock in 

 ihe local yards : however, it is thought that an 

 increased cut of oak which has been begun will 

 soon relieve the situation in some degree. 



The mills are all well supplied with logs, and 

 it is thought that the mills In this section gen- 

 erally have a sufficient stock to last until the first 

 of the year. 



Minneapolis. 

 Dealers in the northwest generally report a 



falling off In the volume of business, which 

 was very satisfactory during September. A 

 portion of the factory trade seems to have 

 supplied its wants, and is no longer in the 

 market The sash and door factories are still 

 getting out a considerable amount of special 

 work in hardwoods, particularly birch, and as 

 they carry very little stock ahead, are ordering 

 frequently. The market Is In good shape, as 

 most stocks now seem to be In strong hands, 

 and the holders are determined to get the 

 value out of their lumber. Offerings are not 

 as numerous as they were, and consumers have 

 not cut prices to any extent. Birch ap- 

 pears to be plentiful, but has not weakened in 

 price. Basswood in the upper grades has 

 dropped off again. Basswood culls are still 

 selling well in competition with pine for box 

 manufacture. Considerable southern oak Is 

 coming north and filling the gap caused by the 

 practical disappearance of northern oak stocks 

 The factories are taking it in limited quantities 

 as offered, and paying good prices, but are 

 ■ on, plaining somewhat :it the slowness of de- 

 livery. 



The country yard trade is still active and 

 quite satisfactory to dealers who give it atten 

 tion. Mixed car business has been a feature 

 of late. Hardwood flooring and wagon stock 

 has been going out with mill work and other 

 Hems, and the yard trade appears to be looking 

 for that sort of business. Most of tin- hard- 

 wood men carry hemlock storks In connection 

 and are anxious to put hemlock out with their 

 hardwood shipments to yards. They are hav- 

 ing fair success In this policy, as advances in 

 pine prices help demand for hemlock. 



A feature of the hardwood situation is a re- 

 sumption In the demand for cooperage stock 

 As there has been little or nothing doing all 

 season, stocks are light, and now that busi- 

 ness has started up in good shape the market 

 will get on a decent basis before long, and next 

 winter's logging will Include the customary at- 

 tention to stave and heading bolts and hoops. 



changes in prices reported during the past fort- 

 night. 



wood is used for the manufacture of caskets. 

 interior finish and mechanical purposes. 



Indianapolis. 

 The hardwood men of Indianapolis report 

 that the fall trade Is good. The volume of 

 business Is np to their expectations, and their 

 expectations are rather high, too. Calls con- 

 tinue to be frequent for all grades of hard- 

 woods. As has been the case all summer, the 

 building Industry of Indianapolis Is still on 

 the boom, and this has kept the dealers In a 

 happy frame of mind. There have been no 



St. Louis. 

 While there has been but little change in the 

 hardwood market here of late, the aggregate of 

 business is. on the whole, of quite fair propor- 

 tions. Both demand and inquiry are fairly 

 active, and nearly everyone in the business is 

 getting his share of what is being placed. Good 

 dry oak. both plain white and red, still leads the 

 list, and those who have the stock are getting 

 full prices for it from urgent buyers. Cypress 

 sells at a rapid rate, and dry stocks, which are 

 not any too plentiful, are being mowed down 

 under the brisk demand. Ash is selling in some- 

 what larger quantities, and gum and cottonwood 

 are figuring more in the call than they have for 

 some time past. The demand for hardwoods has 

 come very largely of late from the planing mills 

 for interior finish to be used in the many resi- 

 dences and additions to office buildings that are 

 now in course of erection. Altogether, the situa- 

 tion in the hardwood market is improving and 

 promises w» 11 lor the remainder of the year. 



Cincinnati. 



Tli*' tenden* y of the local hardwood market 

 the past two weeks has been to a higher level 

 so far as prices are concerned. The encouraging 

 conditions, which nave been characteristic for 

 some time, continue, stocks In nearly all hard- 

 woods are low and prospects of replenishing in 

 the immediate future are not regarded very 

 bright. In this connection, however, advices 

 have been received from Kentucky and West 

 Virginia milling districts that more mills are 

 being operated at present than at any time this 

 year, but the owners are not rushing their lum- 

 ber to markets. Furniture manufacturers have 

 been making numerous Inquiries, but as yet no 

 orders of heavy volume have been recorded, as 

 the factories have not begun to run their usual 

 winter overtime schedule. Carriage and imple- 

 ment makers have absorbed stocks with avidity. 



The besl consumptive source, though, has t d 



the building industry, weather conditions con- 

 tinuing favorable to the erection of numerous 

 new structures. Inquiries from export sources 

 have been above the average, with the best 

 call for plain oak anil poplar, firsts and seconds. 



With dry stocks down to the bone, prlcej 

 have displayed a hardening tendency, which was 

 not unexpected. White and red oak Is Im- 

 proving. Poplar maintains its position well. 

 The demand and values are steadily increas- 

 ing. I"ii-sis and seconds common and mill rolls 

 remain quiet. Cottonwood and gum are more 

 active, wiiile aii cypress sells without pressure 

 Ash. hickory, chestnut and other hardwoods rule 

 firm under urgent inquiries. In fact, the mar- 

 ket has been highly pleasing the hist fortnight 

 and bids fair to so continue. 



Chattanooga. 



There has been a marked Improvement in the 

 lumber demand In this city and section during 

 the past fortnight ; this is especially true of 

 hardwoods and the export trade. Consumers 

 have waited so long for lower prices that they 

 have been compelled to replenish stocks, and are 

 now buying quite heavily, instead of in single 

 car lots, as has been the rule tor some time 

 past. 



Nearly all mills here are laying in large stocks 

 with the end in view thai the coming year Is 

 going to be a record breaker in lumber circles. 

 They believe that the activity in lumber de- 

 mands will be unprecedented since the present 

 building record of the country has never had a 

 parallel. 



The river mills will have only a sufficient 

 stock of logs to run them about two months, 

 after which they will have to draw from the 

 railroads for their supplies. 



Plain and quartered oak continues very strong 

 and very scarce. There Is a marked activity in 

 chestnut, In which this section abounds. This 



Nashville. 



The local market continues active with excel 

 lent prospects for the future. Hardwoods are 

 moving in fair quantities, and are bringing good 

 prices. The indications are that the usual lul 

 experienced during the winter will not be en 

 countered this season, but the rush of business 

 is expected to lap well into the spring months 

 This is prophesied because there is an evident 

 scarcity of stocks at producing points, and a 

 very excellent demand for timber from the many 

 woodworking establishments throughout the 

 country. 



Plain oak is about the best seller on tl»« 

 market ; quartered oak not so brisk. The trade 

 in poplar is aboul normal, chestnut is active. 

 Dry ash is scarce and is being scooped up at 

 any price. 



Memphis. 



The demand for hardwood lumber show- 

 further tendency toward increase and the vol- 

 ume of business here is gradually assuming 

 seasonable proportions, although trade is 

 rather bullish and is not disposed to make con 

 cessions Ihe foreign market continues quiet 

 Several prominent firms are authority for thi 

 statement that they have about all the business 

 i hey are able to care tor promptly. There is 

 not a great deal of dry stock available and tin 

 amount on hand should bring good prices. The 

 buyer who is looking for price shading is not 

 meeting witli a very warm reception. 



Plain oak continues In good call in all grades 

 and color. Offerings are still light, with no 

 aci iiiuiilaiioii regarded possible as long at- 

 the demand remains so persistent. In quarter 

 sawed oak I here is some improvement in the 

 higher grades of white, but quarter-sawed red 

 refuses lo develop any strength and is. in fact, 

 about the flattest item on the list. The demand 

 for ash and cypress is very satisfactory. The 

 amnion of both woods available for immediate 

 shipment is not very large, and for this reason 

 values are firmly maintained. Improvement is 

 reported in the demand for cottonwood. The 

 most marked Improvement has been in the 

 higher grades, Inn even low grade slock is ap 

 predating In value and moving with greater 

 freedom. Production of this wood for the past 

 eight or nine months has been strikingly small 

 as compared with the normal. Gum is in fair 

 request. There is a considerable amount avail- 

 able and prices at which it is wiling do not 

 admit of any large margin of profit . It Is not 

 being pushed at all. Poplar is in fairly good 

 request for the higher grades, but there is only 

 a moderate movement in the commons and culls. 



The feeling of the trade here regarding the 

 market is one of confidence in the maintenance 

 of prices and a steady increase in the demand 

 for hardwood lumber. This view is based on 

 tin- Jimited amount of stock available in the 

 south, the comparatively limited amount be 

 lieved to be In the hands of large wholesaler* 

 and consuming interests, and the excellent condi 

 tions prevailing throughout the country, partir 

 ularly in the industries which are allied more or 

 less closely with the hardwood trade 



Kansas City. 

 Kansas city dealers are busy, and they have 

 had a steady and active demand through th< 

 year. They say that the fall business in this 

 section is starting in nicely and that the local 

 demand owing to the steady activity in build 

 ing is above normal for the time of year. Price* 

 as a rule are on a steady basis, with only here 

 and there a weak spot. Some offerings of quar- 

 tered oak are made at prices which are seem 

 ingly a little o(T, but as a rule these offerings an- 

 nul on first class stock. Oak and maple flooring 

 Is particularly Stiff, the former having advanced 

 $2 per thousand on plain sawed within the past 

 week, and the latter $1.60 per thousand. Plain 



