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Copyright, The Hardwood Compan't, 1916 

 Published in the Interest of the American Hardwood Forests, the Products thereof, and Logging. Saw 

 Mill and Woodworking Machinery, on the lOth and 25lh of each Month, by 



THE HARDWOOD COMPANY 



Edgar H. Defebaugh, President 

 Edwin W. Meeker. Managing Editor 

 Hu Maxwell, Technical Editor 



Entire Seventh Floor Ellsworth Building 

 537 So. Dearborn Street, CHICAGO 

 Telephones: Harrison 8086-8087-8088 





Vol. XLI 



CHICAGO, MARCH 10, 1916 



No. 10 



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Review and Outlook 



General Market Conditions 



WITH THE HIGH WATER BEGINNING TO RECEDE in the 

 South, there is little further immediate danger of consign- 

 ments shipped to avoid flooding of stock. Looking back over the 

 situation it is hard to see any evidence of serious harm from unusual 

 shipments sent out from the flooded sections because of any antici- 

 pated rising of water. Of course nobody can say what may be 

 expected in the way of further floods, but it seems obvious that those 

 causes which resulted in the early high water stage have undoubtedly 

 gotten rid of certain conditions that would make for flooded condi- 

 tions later. It is entirely likely that high stages in the river will not 

 be so threatening or so disastrous as the first one. 



In the meantime southern operators are devoting themselves to 

 getting their yards and mills cleaned up, but so far as the woods 

 are concerned, even with the wat«r falling rapidly, they will not be 

 able to do any real work there for some time to come. All reports 

 in the South seem to show conclusively that there is nothing in pros- 

 pect that will make possible a sufiicient accumulation of hardwoods 

 to bring the supply up more commensurate with the demand. In 

 the meantime there has been great difliculty in securing hardwood 

 shipments to take care of actual and prospective orders in many of 

 the big consuming points calling on the high water territory. The 

 natural result has been a considerable increase on this stock, which 

 increases have been most notable on various grades of gum. 



The old reliable oak has been going well of late, but does not 

 show any sensational development so far as prices are concerned. 

 There has been a strengthening movement which has established 

 more standardized values at a much more satisfactory level. It can 

 be expected that there will be a slight further increase in the next 

 couple of months, and that the highest values will probably be 

 realized by the middle of the spring building season. Everything 

 would indicate that the prices then will be entirely satisfactory; 

 that they will remain so for an indefinite period, but that they wUl 

 probably not show any further increases. 



The northern wood situation is equally good and as the logging 

 season is now practically over, it is certain that there will be a 

 marked reduction in the manufactured stock put in this season. 

 Already this has begim to establish a much "better level of values, 

 and in fact in some items there is already a marked lack of supply. 

 Maple manufacturers in particular, both those who have stocks on 

 hand and those who will be manufacturing maple lumber in the near 

 future, are showing an independence of spirit. They have a stock 

 which is in excellent call but far below normal in supply on hand. 



Birch is going well; in fact in some cases where maple has been 



used, the high price of the latter stock and the probability of further 

 increases, is directing buyers' attention somewhat to birch. Thick 

 northern ash is a decidedly scarce proposition. In fact, it is almost 

 impossible to secure any quantities in brown Michigan stock of the 

 heavier dimensions. 



The Cover Picture 



HUNGER 1ST DER BESTE KOCH. That is the German way of 

 saying that hunger is the best cook. Whether or not the proverb 

 holds true in all places and under all circumstances, many facts 

 might be marshalled to substantiate it. Look at the cover picture 

 of this number of Hardwood Record, and doubt no more. The man 's 

 surroundings are not particularly conducive to the enjoyment of a 

 banquet, but no lack of enjoyment is visible in his attitude. If he 

 were an Eskimo in Prince Rupert's Land, feasting on some of the 

 gum drops which Capt. Cook took along when he thought he went 

 to the North Pole, his poise could not be more perfect or his enjoy- 

 ment keener. 



The scene is laid in the woods near the Canadian border. The 

 photographer's camera caught the log camp's tote boy in an inter- 

 esting psychological situation, and the picture was the result. The 

 man was totally unconscious that a photographer was nearer than 

 Duluth, and of course there was no posing or staging for the picture. 

 Nature and human habit did the posing and the preparing. The 

 faint shadows on the snow reveal the sun's efforts to shine through 

 mist in the air; but it need not be stated that the beams bring little 

 warmth. 



A person not seasoned to outdoor life in winter would become 

 chilled while eating a cold lunch while seated in the snow, without 

 fire or shelter; but custom makes the situation tolerable if not actu- 

 ally enjoyable. The man is pre-eminently satisfied with himself, the 

 world, and the grub. He belongs to a logging crew at work in the 

 vicinity. He carries his noon meal with him and eats it wherever he 

 happens to be when noon arrives. Linen napkins, plated cutlery, 

 and Havelland are not necessary to his happiness. He has no appre- 

 ciation of such appendages of effete luxury. He is hungry enough 

 to eat what is before him and he asks no questions. 



Imposing on the Public 



CERTAIN BROKERS WITH TIMBER TRACTS FOR SALE 

 have resorted to questionable methods to induce buyers to in- 

 vest in such lands. They have revived the old cry of an approach- 

 ing timber famine; but two false and misleading statements have 

 been incorporated with that alarm for the purpose of putting sales 

 over as quickly as possible. These brokers greatly understate the 



