December 25, 1920 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



.5; 



any extent of late, since the demand to be stirred up by soiiciting has not 

 been large enough to warrant the effort and expense. 



PITTSBURGH 



The hardwood market is beginning to suffer badly from the falling oft 

 of automobile and furniture demand. Automobile buyers are practically 

 out of the market, although now and then a stray order Is placed. The 

 furniture factories are shutting down and these concerns are not buying 

 lumber this month. Reports from the implement concerns in the middle 

 west indicate a similar condition. This makes the market for first-class 

 hardwood very slow. About the only thing that is selling well in hardwood 

 is mining stock, and trade in medium and low grade lumber for this pur- 

 pose is very good. There is practically no retail trade. The inventory 

 season is here and retailers are determined not to Invest more money in 

 lumber until they can realize on the high-priced stocks which they are 

 now carrying. 



BALTIMORE 



Conrlitions in the hardwood trade are about as they have been of late, 

 with the natural and inevitable quiet very much accentuated by the general 

 situation, which appears to affect all kinds of business alike. The inquiry 

 Is greatly restricted, and potential buyers manifest the utmost caution 

 about placing orders and adding to their assortments, not feeling certain 

 that the quotations have touched their lowest level. It is always thus 

 on a falling market, and this time, with the recessions far greater than is 

 generally the case, the disinclination to enter into new commitments is 

 all the greater. More or less variation is also to be noted hi the figures 

 quoted by the different manufacturers, even from the same section ; but 

 these differences have begun to show some narrowing tendency, and there 

 appears to be some prospect that a firmer tone will develop after the 

 holidays. Many of the mills are closed and others are preparing to shut 

 down over the end of the year, with their output even now more or less 

 below capacity. It Is therefore an eminently reasonable supposition that 

 the available supplies will be held down to decided moderate proportions. 

 It may easily happen in these circumstances that an actual shortage 

 develops with the first quickening in the demand, for the users of hard- 

 woods have deferred making additions to their selections so long that 

 they are now down about as low as they can well get, and a general 

 replenishing will be necessary as soon as lumber consuming activities get 

 well under way. At any rate, the mills are determined that when they 

 do resunip operations it will he on a basis giving some chance of making a 

 profit, which has not been the case in numerous Instances in the past. 

 Along with the domestic trade the export business continues decidedly 

 uneventful, with the foreign buyers holding back on the plea that prices 

 are too high and that the requirements abroad are very small. Shippers 

 are still advised to forward stocks only on firm orders and to avoid con- 

 signments as likely to expose the exporters to loss. Members of the tr^de 

 here are rather more hopeful as to the future. They take the view that 

 the range of prices has about touched bottom, and they see rather more 

 than a possibility of the quotations working upward. Certainly, with the 

 stocks as low as they are at this time It would not be difficult, In the case 

 of a revival In the inquiry, to send up the range of values. 



COLUMBUS 



The hardwood trade in Columbus and central Ohio territory has been 

 rather quiet during the pa.st fortnight. Business both from manufac- 

 turers and retailer's has been limited strictly to present needs as there 

 has been no disposition to buy for the future. Due to unsettled business 

 conditions and the approach of the semi-annual Inventory period, the 

 volume has been considerably reduced. The tone of the trade is not as 

 good as formerly and the future is somewhat unsettled. 



Retail stocks are generally low. judging from reports received from trav- 

 elers who have penetrated every section of the state. But outside of a 

 few orders to replace broken stocks in order to take care of current 

 business, dealers are not in the market. Apparently they are waiting 

 until after the first of the year and the completion of inventories J>efore 

 placing orders. All of the dealers are selling some stocks to consumers 

 and their stocks are being reducefl gradually to a very low point. 



Manufacturers are loath to stock up for the future, believing that 

 prices may be lower. Some buying is being done by box factories, which 

 are using low grade poplar and basswood. Implement and vehicle con- 

 cerns are not in the market to any extent and furniture factories will 

 wait until after the January shows. Generally speaking manufacturing 

 plants are playing a waiting game and will not buy until conditions 

 change. 



Inquiries from retailers are growing more numerous and this is one 

 of the best features of the trade. Many of the inquiries are simply 

 feelers to secure information, although some are developing into orders. 

 Railroads are the best customers at the time, buying ties and timbers 

 Prices are generally weak all along the line and some declines have 

 been made during the past few weeks. < 



CINCINNATI 



Shawano County Hard Maple- 



IS OUR SPECIALTY 



OUR STOCK OF NORTHERN HARDWOODS IS 

 NOW COMPLETE AND WE SOLICIT INQUIRIES. 



SOME SPECIAL OFFERINGS 



ASH 

 No. 2 Sc Btr. 5/4, arer. width & length, 9 mo. dry. 2 cars 

 No. 1 & Btr, 6/4. aver, width & length. 10 mo. dr7 1 oar 



BASSWOOD 

 Sel. & B. 6/4, 5" & wider, aver, length. 11 mo. diT 2 cars 



ROCK ELM 

 No. 2 & Btr. 4/4. aver, width & length. 9 mo. di7 2 cars 

 No. 1 & B. 10/4. 6" & wdr., 8' & Igr.. 11 mo. dry 1 car 



HARD MAPLE 

 No. 1 & Btr. 4/4. aver, width & length, 9 rao. dry. 10 cars 

 No. 1 & B. 10/4. w & wdr.. 8' & Igr., 9 mo. dry. 10 cars 



MAPLE 

 No. 1 & B. 8/4. 4" & wdr., aver. Igth.. 9 mo. dry. 10 cars 



Chas. Gill Lumber Co. 



WAUSAU 



WISCONSIN 



Dullness continues the rule in the Cincinnati hardwood market. Buy- 

 ing Is light and dealers are evidently awaiting with expectation the upturn 

 that Is said to be due, at least in this locality, the first of the year. Many 



Manufacturers 



of 



Southern Hardwoods 



Chapman & Dewey Lumber Co. 



MARKED TREE, ARKANSAS 

 KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI 



SIMONDS 



Inserted Tooth 



SAWS 



Stand Heavy Feed, Hold Their Tension 

 STAY Sharp. — Teeth Are Renewable 



Write us about your cutting problems 



SiMONDs Manufacturing Co. 



•■THE SAW MAKERS" 



FITCHBURG. MASSACHUSETTS 



MEMPHIS, TENN. CHICAGO, ILL. NEW ORLEANS, LA. 



