HARDWOOD RECORD 



53 



H :>gt>x<SOT!iW!OTi>igTOtTOiTOiTOmi^^ 



The Hardwood Market 



< CHICAGO >■: 



Chicago now in common witli other large centers is the gathering point 

 for sellers of lumber and other commodities who. realizing the necessity 

 for placing many orders of small proportions rather than a few orders 

 of large proportion, naturally migrate to those points offering oppor- 

 tunities for seeing many prospective customers. As a consequence, there 

 is a great deal of lumber offered here at present. However, in spite 

 of this, prices have not broken to the extent which seemingly had been 

 anticipated. No one will argue that prices are firm or that there is 

 a real market here tor lumber, but reputable concerns are refusing to 

 sell stock at figures which mean for them direct money losses. The 

 prevalence of this policy is really astonishing as it is established on 

 actual inquiry and investigation. It augurs well for the business caliber 

 of the average lumberman. 



Building in Chicago is still of course very inactive, but there is enough 

 construction going on to take care of very considerable quantities of 

 building and finishing lumber, and at the same time the woodworking 

 factories are keeping fairly busy. 



That their trade is as uncertain as is the trade of the lumbermen is 

 shown by the way they place orders. They seemingly get a line on con- 

 cerns who are in a position to furnish certain items of stock, and when 

 they are in need of this stock they personally get into communication 

 with the lumbermen and place their orders. This method is being illus- 

 trated time after time and simpl.v proves that lumber is being sold in 

 greater quantities than is fully realized. 



Of course the condition is dull. There is no questioning this fact. 

 However, most of the Chicago trade is making plans to take advantage 

 of any favorable developments which might effect the rest of the coun- 

 try, and in the meantime is showing a remarkably commendable disposi- 

 tion toward the extremely trying circumstances which they are facing. 



=< NEW YORK y- 



The lumber situation in New York with respect to the hardwood end 

 particularly is still far below normal with most of those evils that go to 

 make dull times as much in evidence as ever. In spite of the great cur- 

 tailntcnt iu output, there are available now ample stocks for current needs 

 and buyers evidently look upon the easy offerings as an indication that 

 there will be no scarcity of supplies to meet all demands that may even- 

 tuate. So far as prices go, there is no market. The same conditions 

 probably appear in other large markets but it seems to be a rule to send 

 all surplus lumber stocks to New York with the result that values are 

 demoralized. It is one thing to say that low prices do not increase the 

 use of lumber and another thing to hold out for higher — and fair — 

 prices in the face of heavy carrying charges and ruthless price cutting. 

 If some commission men would see the right side of the question and 

 be content to do a smaller amount of business at better prices, the market 

 would be better for it. This steady cutting of prices for the sole purpose 

 of making a sale will go farther toward keeping the market in its present 

 weak condition than any other thing. 



=-< BUFFALO >= 



The hardwood trade has not shown any change of front within the last 

 two or three weeks and is unusually quiet, despite the fact that many 

 sawmills are now closed down. Local dealers are being requested to take 

 stock off the hands of the producers and the prices asked are somewhat 

 below the regular market. The situation is expected to work itself out 

 before very many weeks are passed, but just now the market is in a 

 depressed condition, with sales few in number and small in size. 



There is not much activity in any special hardwood, though plain oak 

 is getting as large a sale as anything. Maple is also one of the leading 

 woods. Poplar is a slow seller and little is doing in chestnut. The 

 flooring trade is on a fair scale, though prices have to be cut occasionally 

 in order to keep stocks moving. Low grades of most hardwoods are in 

 demand and the figures asked show no weakness. 



< PITTSBURGH y 



Hardwood m:itt<:rs arc veiy unsati.sfactory bore as everywhere. Buying 

 is limited almost entirely to immediate needs. Considerable price cutting 

 is being indulged in to stimulate buying but it is not effective. Manu- 

 facturers are buying very little. Yard trade is slow and uncertain. Floor- 

 ing has been a pretty good seller in this market but even for this stock 

 demand is now pretty light. Hardwood mills are beginning to wonder 

 if they can keep on running this winter with conditions as they are at 

 present. 



-< PHILADELPHIA >■ 



There has been no progressive advance in the hardwood business during 

 the last fortnight, but owing to the curtailing of output, values have 



been steadied in certain lines, which is an improvement. The most 

 sanguine optimist is not disposed to predict an early revival of an ag- 

 gressive prosperity, but the vigorous efforts being made by the large com- 

 mercial bodies for the opening of new trade it is felt must ultimately be 

 successful. A less stringent hold on loan money by the trust companies, 

 which seek building operations as a source of investment, has given an 

 impetus to building work, which will last well into the winter months, 

 and combined with the activity in this line in all of the large suburban 

 towns, will yesult in a fair volume of business in building lumber and sup- 

 plies, relieving in a measure the depression which has existed in this 

 line of tra'de for some months. New factories for the manufacture of. 

 products heretofore obtained only from the foreign market will soon 

 materialize and help to swell the building total for 1914. 

 ■ Buying continues strictly on a hand-to-mouth basis, and although prices 

 are believed to have reached rock-bottom figures, there is no inclination 

 on the part of the buyer to stock up for future use. The money market 

 remains tight, in consequence of which retrenchment is the rule every- 

 where. Collections are slow and it is realized by the experienced mer- 

 chant that to press tor settlement at this time would only result in 



WISCONSIN 



STEVEN & JARVIS LUMBER CO. 



OF EAU CLAIRE, WISCONSIN 



OFFER YOU STANDARD GRADES 

 WELL MANUFACTURED 



ASH BASSWOOD BIRCH 



ROCK AND SOFT ELM 



HARD AND SOFT MAPLE 



Stocks cut 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 8/4, 10/4, 12/4 

 WRITE US FOR PRICES DELIVERED YOUR STATION 



BAND SAWED WISCONSIN HABDWOODS 



Dry Stock For Prompt Shipment 



BIBCH 



TOM 4/4 No. 1 com. & bet. plain 

 lOOM 4/4 No. 1 com. & bet. red 

 5M 5/4 1st and 2nd red 

 lOM 5/4 No. 1 common red 

 6M 5/4 No. 1 common plain 

 3M 6/4 1st and 2nd plain 

 13M 0/4 1st and 2nd red 

 4M 8/4 1st and 2nd plain 

 6M 8/4 1st and 2nd red 

 ROCK ELM 

 50M 8/4 No. 2 com. and better 

 HARD M.\PLE 

 40M 8/4 No. 2 common and better 

 Our 1914 cut of well assorted HARDWOODS AND HEMLOCK wUl 

 soon be in shipplngr condition. 

 Send us your inquiries 



ARPIN HARDWOOD LUMBER COMPANY 



Grand Rapids, Wis. ATLANTA, WIS. 



Saw mills and planing mill at Atlanta. Wisconsin. 



20 M 

 30M 

 15M 

 25 M 

 lOM 

 20M 

 13M 

 15M 

 15M 



lOM 



BASSWOOD 



4/4 No. 3 common 

 1x4 No. 2 and 3 common 

 5/4 No. 1 com. and better 

 5/4 No. 1 common 

 5/4 No. 2 common 

 5/4 No. 3 common 

 6/4 1st and 2nd 

 6/4 No. 1 common 

 6/4 No. 3 common 

 WHITE OAK 

 8/4 No. 1 and No. 2 com. 



The Tegge Lumber Go. 



High Grade 



Northern and Southern 



Hardwoods and Mahogany 



Specialties 



OAK, MAPLE, CYPRESS, POPLAR 



/ 



Milwaukee, Wisconsin 



