February 10, 1921 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



0/ 



for l.nOO.OOO feet of birch and hard maple for delivery during the next 

 six months. The company normally buys about 8,000.000 feet of hard- 

 woods a year, and it means something to the hardwood trade tor its 

 plant to be running full time. 



BUFFALO 



The hardwood demand i.s slow to improve and little new business is 

 lieing placed. Inquiries have begun to come in a little more actively, and 

 it is expected that within a few weeks trade will be on a more satis- 

 factory scale. Many plants arc still running on reduced time and some 

 have manufactured stocks on hand to be disposed of, but as a rule it is 

 said that the lumber stocks carried by consumers are not large. The 

 building trade seems likely to revive in a fair way within a short time, 

 although some materials, as well as labor, needs reduction in costs to 

 make building attractive. 



Prices show an unusually wide variation. The buyer has the advantage 

 nowadays, as he finds a good many concerns quite willing to reduce prices 

 in order to get a fair-sized order. When the demand gets back more 

 toward normal, and the effect of the extensive curtailment of production 

 is more generally felt than at present, the severe competition is expected 

 to be much less in evidence than today. Wholesale stocks have been con- 

 siderably depleted, though in most cases are still extensive enough to 

 meet the needs of the trade for a while. 



PHILADELPHIA 



While nothing sensational has taken place <lnring the past fortnight in 

 the way of new business, it seems clearly evident some improvement is 

 being felt all along the line, and it is generally conceded that business is 

 better, and while the actual orders booked have not been large, yet they are 

 suflBcient to Justify the above statement. After the inventories had been 

 gotten together many consumers and retailers found as usual many short 

 items, and while this may be directly responsible for the increa.sp as noted 

 above, nevertheless the general feeling is growing better with age. and 

 every order placed, no matter how small, is a link in the chain of stabil- 

 ized prices — the big factor in the industry today. The class of inquiries 

 being received daily have lost the "market feeler" aspect, and when fol- 

 lowed through are merely the forerunners of actual orders. There, of 

 course, is the usual "shopping about," but It is less general in the hard- 

 wood business than In many other woods. Wise and careful buyers are 

 noted to evidence some anxiety as to the supply of well seasoned hard- 

 woods at mill points, which direct representatives from the producing 

 fields have told them were scarce, and many have been noted to be 

 reluctant to wait until the "lowest price" was received before clo.sing up 

 on their requirements. The small mill men have almost exhausted their 

 stocks, which by necessity they were forced to throw upon the market, 

 and this retarding influence is now minimized. Large operators — at least 

 the majority of them — do not seem to jump at the figures offered a few 

 weeks ago. feeling that they should have something to say about the price 

 of their product consistent with its cost. In this section many industries 

 have resumed operations after long periods of idleness, and other large 

 projects are set for early developments. In general the situation is show- 

 ing a steady improvement. 



PITTSBURGH 



Hardwood men are getting i-eady for a big year's business. So far it is 

 all in the getting ready stage, for orders and inquiries have not developed 

 in the way that wholesalers would like to see them. Industrial conditions 

 have been so bad that big manufacturing concerns have been practically 

 out of the market the past few weeks. The coal mining Industry is in even 

 worse shape. This takes away the two largest buyers of good hardwood 

 lumber and until conditions get better their business will be badly missed. 

 Hardwood trade at present is very poor, as retailers are holding off to 

 the last minute, so that they may reduce their stocks. Wholesalers are 

 looking for a great deal from the railroad business that will surel.v come 

 forward soon, providing the government pays to the railroads the money 

 that is owing on the government guarantees. 



BOSTON 



While trade in this market is unmistakably quiet, there are some whole- 

 salers who report a little improvement in demand and in inquiry and take 

 this improvement as indicative of the early coming of better conditions. 

 In a large way, there is not much of any business passing. This is of 

 course ordinarily a dull time of year in the trade here. The building 

 strike is now on in this city and has virtually stopped all new construc- 

 tion and repair work.. 



Really the hardwood wholesalers, their inventories taken, are reaping 

 whatever advantage may accrue from a dull time and a not too great 

 insistence on trade at sacrifice prices. Many concerns here have most 

 advantageously reduced stocks — the fact is that offerings here are light — 

 and have reduced commitments anywhere from 25 to 50 per cent. 



The retarding conditions present in this market at this time are tne 

 tightness of money that still continues and the labor situation — the 

 present strike — and the great uncertainty about prices. There is no 

 doubt but what prices quoted here now for th^ various kinds of hard- 



May we quote you on 

 our present stocks of 

 Southern Hardwoods 



Oak Poplar 



Chestnut Ash 



MANUFACTURERS 



BAND mills: 

 TAVETTVILLE .TENN. 

 BASS.ALA. 

 I 



EiWETTVniLE ,TEHK. 



Tennessee Red Cedar 



^AROMATIC) 



Basswood Maple 



Elm Walnut 



OTHER HARDWOODS 



J. V. Stimson & Co. 



OWENSBORO 



KENTUCKY 



Regular Width and Lengths; Dry 



Ash Com. & Bet. 4/4 to 



Ash No. 2 Com. 4/4 to 



Chestnut Com. & Bet. 



Red Gum Com. & Bet. 4/4 to 



Qtd. Red Gum Com. & Bet. 4/4 to 



Qtd. Red Oak FAS 3/4 to 



Qtd. Red Oak. . .No. 1 & 2 Com. 3/4 to 



Qtd. White Oak FAS 1/2 to 



Qtd. White Oak. No. 1&2 Com. 5/8 to 



PI. Red Oak FAS 4/4 to 



PI. Red Oak... No. 1&2 Com. 4/4 to 



PI. White Oak FAS 4/4 to 



PI. White Oak. . . . No. 1&2 Com 5/8 to 

 Poplar All Grades 4/4 to 



16/4 

 8/4 

 4/4 

 8/4 

 8/4 

 8/4 

 8/4 

 8/4 

 8/4 

 16/4 

 16/4 

 8/4 

 8/4 

 8/4 



You will like our careful method of handling 

 orders, either domestic or export for mixed 

 or straight car load shipments. 



BAND MILLS 



Owensboro, Ky. Gampbellsviile, Ky. 



