January 10. 191B 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



47 



the trade got back to the general run of duties. The trend in values is 

 upward, gains being noted in various directions, with poplar, among other 

 woods, rather scarce. A decided change has come over the situation and 

 now the producers do not seem to have enough to meet the wants of the 

 buyers, with the result that the quotations have been marked up. The 

 calls for oak and other woods in general use are also of gratifying fre- 

 quency, and the demand continues to expand. Among retarding factors 

 are the difficulties of making shipments to foreign countries and the 

 freight embargo at home, which again is at least in large part due to 

 the check upon the export movement. The outlook, notwithstanding all 

 the drawbacks, is very promising, and the hardwood men here feel greatly 

 encouraged over the future. 



^-< COLUMBUS >= 



The hardwood trade in Columbus and central Ohio territory has been 

 rather quiet during the holiday season. Dealers did no buying until after 

 they had completed their inventories, which showed that stocks are not 

 large. As a result trade has been active since the first of the year and 

 future prospects are bright. Buying on the part of the retail trade is one 

 of the best features. Concerns making furniture and vehicles are buying 

 more liberally. Box factories are in the market and the feeling in manu- 

 facturing circles is better. 



The car shortage is interfering with shipments to a certain extent. The 

 shortage is the most pronounced on southern roads, which are the source 

 of most hardwoods. Most of the orders booked are for immediate delivery, 

 as jobbers are loath to book orders for deferred shipment. Dealers are pre- 

 dicting a rather active building season in 1916. 



The tendency of the price list is upward all along the line and no cutting 

 of consequence is reported. Plain oak is firm, as is also quartered oak. 

 Chestnut is one of the strongest points in the market, with sound wormy 

 especially firm. Ash is in steady demand and basswood is moving well. 

 Poplar is stronger and the higher grades especially are selling well. Other 

 hardwoods are unchanged. 



=-< CINCINNATI >= 



Despite the fact that the year just closed began under possibly the 

 worst possible circumstances and devoid absolutely of indications of 

 returning prosperity throughout the fall months and into the early win- 

 ter, business picked up steadily in this section. With building operations 

 going on a scale greater than in the history of the Queen City, the 

 lumber business was bound to follow in the wake. The year just closed 

 was the greatest on record in the building commissioner's office and it 

 was the last four months of the year which turned the tide from a lean 

 year to a record breaker. Already there has been noted a tendency to- 

 ward a rising market. The first real indication of higher prices after 

 the I5rst of the year came from the furniture manufacturers, who some 

 months ago announced that the public could confidently expect a material 

 rise in the price of furniture after the first of the year, because of the 

 fact that a decided gain in the price of lumber was sure to come. Yellow 

 pine has been advancing ste'adily and the entire hardwood list is affected 

 more or less by the doings of the yellow pine people. The tremendous 

 activity shown in the last few months of the year by the railroads, whose 

 requirements last fall ran into many millions of feet, yellow pine being 

 particularly favored, was probably one of the most notable features of 

 the sudden rise in the lumber market. 



The first week of the new year witnessed an unusually well maintained 

 demand from the retail yards and planing mills. This end of the business 

 is wont to suffer considerable of a slump immediately after the new year, 

 but this season the business apparently is to be had and the yards arc 

 having little difficulty moving their stocks. The planing mills for the 

 most part are still working on late fall business, enough of which seems 

 to be on hand to keep them fairly active until the real spring trade he- 

 gins. There still is an excellent request from the makers of doors, sash 

 and blinds, this end of the business also being kept alive by the business 

 which developed late in the fall, owing to the big building projects which 

 did not get under way nntil November and December. There is an In- 

 creased call from the furniture factories, their consumption of oak and 

 gum being considerably in excess of their normal call at the first of the 

 year. The specialty manufacturer is showing more activity than is usual 

 In his case early in January. Undoubtedly considerable of this early buy- 

 ing is due to the effort of many consumers to lay in a good supply of 

 stock before that long expected rise in price materializes. The vehicle 

 factories show improvement in their request, and inquiries from this di- 

 rection indicate a banner spring in the manufacture of carriages. The 

 Implement manufacturer is a heavy consumer now. The automobile trade 

 continues to draw heavily upon stocks and inasmuch as these plants are 

 piled high with war orders for future delivery, there is every prospect 

 of the year being a good one for the manufacturers oi automobiles, espe- 

 cially trucks. 



One of the best features of the new year market is the fact that the 

 demand is well distributed throughout the list of hardwoods. Mill stocks, 

 which were quite low all fall and early winter, now are being replenished 

 in an encouraging manner. In a few manufacturing lines wherein hard- 

 wood is used to a considerable extent, aside from the lines mentioned 

 above, according to authentic information, the production of manufac- 

 tured articles has not been in the volume the general good weather and 



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Low Prices 



Versus 



Cutting Value 



You, Mr. Buyer, Know the Verdict 



Our Stock Proves 

 Its Worth by Its 

 Cutting Value 



See our list of dry lumber in "Hardwoods For Sale" 



Department, pages 34-55, and ask for prices. 



Liberty Hardwood Lumber Co. 



MAKERS OF GOOD LUMBER 

 Big Creek, Tex. 



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J. K. WILLIAMS 



A. T. WILUAMS 



Williams Lumber Co. 



(MANUFACTURERS) 



WHOLESALE 

 HARDWOOD 



LUMBER 



Band Mill Planing Mill Dry Kiln 



Fayetteyille, Tenn. 



We manufacture PLAIN and QUAR- 

 TERED OAK, ASH, CHESTNUT and 

 other HARDWOODS 



Our Specialty is Quartered White Oak 



We Manufacture Dimension 

 Stock — Hickory a Specialty 



All Three of Us Will Be Benefited if You Mention HARDWOOD RECORD 



