January 25, 1921 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



63 



daily. Shortage is already beginning to manifest itself in some grades 

 and kinds of lumber. This is notably true of plain red and white oak 

 and plain sap gum in firsts and seconds. 



There is no more established market now than there was a fortnight 

 ago. There is less disposition on the part of manufacturers to accept 

 any old price offered but there is no general rule or practice governing 

 the making of prices. Practically every manufacturer is a law unto him- 

 self. The conviction has been steadily gaining ground for some time that 

 the market touched bottom before the holidays. The conviction, too, is 

 growing that nothing is to be gained by selling lumber for less than its 

 replacement cost, plus a fair margin of profit, and this conviction is doubt- 

 less responsible, in considerable measure, for the failure of the market to 

 register new low levels during the past few days. 



Very heavy rains, with some sleet and snow, have characterized weather 

 developments in this territory during the past few days. As a result, 

 comparatively little progress has been made by manufacturers who are 

 continuing their plants in operation. The woods are so wet that very little 

 timber can be cut or hauled while sleet and snow, with low temperatures, 

 have handicapped work at the mills proper. As a result, the mills actually 

 attempting to operate are making only modest headway in the manufac- 

 ture of southern hardwoods. This is only another way of saying that 

 very little lumber is being placed on sticks daily throughout the valley 

 area. 



LOUISVILLE 



There has been a decided increase in the number of inquiries received 

 for lumber during the January period over December or November, and a 

 few fair orders are coming in. Some quotations have been asked on lots 

 of hardwoods running as high as a million feet, which would indicate 

 that some of the consuming trades have fair orders in hand, and are feeling 

 rather confident that present hardwood prices are fairly close to rock 

 bottom lor the year. It is reported that the best inquiries are now 

 coming from the furniture manufacturers, who are reported to have had 

 very fair sales at the shows. The veneer manufacturers report a slight 

 increase in volume of business, it coming a little slowly, but promising 

 to increase more rapidly as the season advances. So far there have not 

 been many mills started for the year, and production is light, although 

 while shipments are not heavy they are taking some lumber right along. 

 Logging has been very light for months past, and a number of the more 

 prominent hardwood operators are optimistic and looking for a high fall 

 market. Some operators are of the opinion that -within three months 

 business will be active and downright good within six months. 



ST. LOUIS 



Pessimism continues to be the prevailing tone in the market here. 

 There has been no great change in the past two weeks, prices being about 

 the same and business dull. 



One lumberman, Mr. Ding, of the Garetson-Greason Lumber Company, 

 would not hazard a guess when asked If he thought the bottom had been 

 reached, but said he had made so many bad guesses that he did not like 

 to make any more. Discussing a report that hardwood men are optimistic 

 regarding the future he said if they were they would probably be buying 

 some lumber. 



But the inquiry is fairly large and is regarded as more substantial 

 than that of the latter weeks of 1920. No large orders have been placed 

 of late. Local furniture plants are not planning early resumption and 

 the show at Grand Rapids did not produce the good results anticipated. 



There is a belief in some quarters that better conditions wOl prevail 

 shortly and much better business is looked for after March 1. 



MILWAUKEE 



A better feeling exists in the hardwood lumber trade generally as the 

 result of a more encouraging situation which Is developing in the indus- 

 tries using large requirements of hardwoods. While there has not been 

 any startling increase in the demand, the nature and tone of inquiries is 

 better than in the last few months of the old year. This gives hope that 

 something substantial in the direction of orders is to be expected within a 

 short time. 



Furniture factories and makers of musical instruments and cabinets, 

 which have been thinning out their orders for several months, are mani- 

 festing new Interest. The better feeling in the automobile industry growing 

 •out of the shows now being held in various large centers of population, 

 Is being reflected in a resumption of production which augurs well for 

 the future. 



In northern Wisconsin, logging operations are going forward and the 

 operation of mills is being resumed in most sections. Both woods work 

 and mill operations are not on the same extensive scale as a year ago, 

 but it is hardly fair to make such comparisons. Manufacturers are cau- 

 tious about new production, but with stocks on hand gradually being 

 worked off and in many instances becoming thinned out materially in 

 selection as well as quantity, there seems to be every reason to bring 

 output forward at an increasing rate. 



Confidence Is expressed that a building movement will start within 

 thirty or sixty days and furnish a considerable volume of requirements 

 ■of flooring and other building materials. 



Thomas Forman Company 



DETROIT, MICHIGAN 



Lumber and Interior Finish 



WHOLESALE AND RETAIL 



FOREKIAN'S FAIMOCS FLOORING 



OAK AND MAPLE 



We Specialize in Less than Carload Shipments 



We offer COMPLETE STOCK 



WISCONSIN OAK 



"TRY US' 



MAPLE 



1 Com. & Btr..5 cars 



Com 4 cars 



Com. & Btr..6 cars 



8/4" No. 2 Com. & Btr..4 care 



10/4" No. 2 Com. & Btr.2 care 



16/4" No. 2 Com. & Btr.l car 



4/4- No. 

 4/4" No. 



5/4" No. 



BmCH 

 4/4" No. 1 Com. & Btr..3 cars 



4/4" No. 2 Com 5 care 



5/4" No. 1 Com. & Btr..3 cars 

 8/4" No. 2 Com. & Btr. .3 cars 

 8/4" No 1 Cniii. & Btr.. 2 cars 

 12/4" No. 2 Com. & Btr.l car 



Brooks & Ross Lumber Co. 



SCHOFIELD, WISCONSIN 



(.SALES OFFICE AND MILL) 



The Tegge Lumber Coi 



High Grade 



Northern and Southern 



Hardwoods and Mahogany 



Specialties 



OAK, MAPLE, CYPRESS, POPLAR 

 Milwaukee,, Wisconsin 



JACKSON & TINDLE 



INCORPORATED 



Sales Oifice 

 GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. 



Main Office 

 BUFFALO, N. Y. 



Complete stock of 



Dry Northern Hardwoods 



HARD M.\PLE 

 SOFT »IAPJLE 

 BASSWOOD 



BIRCH 



BEECH 



EXM 



UP-TO-DATE BAND MILLS Now OPERAT-\ 

 ING at PELLSTON and MUNISING, MlCHt 



