HARDWOOD RECORD 



43 



Fit Props for English Mines 



Consul Lorin A. Lathrop. repoitiug from Cardift, Wales, says tliero is 

 a prospective shortage of mine timbers in tlie soiitli Wall's coal fields. 

 TWs timber is pit wood, imported from B'rance. Spain, and Portugal, and 

 pit props, broosht from the Baltic ports of Sweden and Finland. Both 

 are the trunks of conifers, such as larch, Scotch fir. etc.. but there is a 

 difference in the way in which they are cut. in the age of the trees, and 

 In the way in which they are marketed tn CardlS. 



So uuuiy 1' ri'iiu.i u ooucuttrrs tui>K tueit- piu^u m the French array that 

 production was greatly reduced and exports lowered. The French gov- 

 ernment is understood to have set soldiers at cutting, lest the Welsh 

 output of coal should be lessened. Supplies of pit wood lor the moment 

 ai'e adequate to the demand. It is the shipments of pit prop.? from the 

 Baltic that have practically ceased. The British government is said to 

 have -sent a commission to Newfoundland to report on the suitability of 

 supplies from the forests there ; and the British Board of Agricutture 

 is inquiring into the possibilities of using domestic gr.owths. Steel props 

 and props made of Teinforccd concrete have been considered for the 

 'permaTient ways of the mines, but cost has been found to prevent exten- 

 sive use. Attempts have been made in the past to import wood from 

 Newfoundland, but ocean freights have been found prohibitive. The ex- 

 tended and constant market, the high financial standing of the importers, 

 and the prompt conditions of payment render this business worth the 

 most serious consideration of American owners o£ timber lands near to 

 ports of shipment. 



Imports into Cardiff in lOl.l from Finland amounted to 220.000 loads, 

 being approximately one and one-third loads to a ton of 2.240 pounds ; 

 from Sweden, 15,000 loads ; from France. 550,000 loads ; from Portugal, 

 250,000 loads; from Spain, 100,000 loads: into Newport, from all coun- 

 tries, 300,000 loads; into Swansea, 150,000 loads. 



Pit wood (all from France, Spain or Portugal) consists of the trunks 

 of trees from fifteen to twenty years old, and is shipped green with the 

 bark on. Of the imports, fifty-five per cent is cut to 6V<>-foot lengths, 

 diameter from 3V2 to 8 inches; thirty-five per cent is cut to 0-foot 

 lengths, diameter from 5' to 12 inches. The remaining ten per cent is 

 in 1.3-foot lengths, diameter 8 to 20 inches. Pit wood is sold by the 

 exporter to the Cardiff importer per metric ton, f. o. b. Bordeaux. Lisbon, 

 Oporto, etc. Prices have usually ranged from .$.3.64 to $4. .37 per metric 

 ton, and freights from $1.21 to ?2.1S per ton of 2,240 pounds, the last 

 named being an entirely exceptional rate. Prices, as between importer 

 and coal mine, during the last few years have run from $5.34 to $5.83 

 per ton of 2,240 pounds, f. o, b. at the Cardiff docks. 



Philippine Hardwood Exports 



Exports of the famous Philippine hardwoods to the markets of the 

 Orient and to the United States are steadily increasing, and the demands 

 are much greater than the current production can till. It is estimated 

 that 300.000,000 board feet could easily be- marketed outside the islands, 

 while the quantity exported last year was less than 10,000,000 feet. 



According to the returns of the collector of customs the value of the 

 timber exported in 1013 was $0,665;- a slight increase over 1912. Lum- 

 ber has shown an advance in export value from $G3.455 in 1912 to 

 $214,814 -in 191.3, the greater part going to the United States. The 

 United States imports chiefly narra and tanguile woods,_ .both being 

 among the best woods obtainable for construction and cablsgt work. 



The Sumac Crop in Sicily ^"^ 



The Sicilian production of sumac has been constantly decreasing 

 during the past few years. This is attributable to the reduction in 

 price and the Increased cost of cultivation. At^iie.time the production 

 amounted to- 60.000 tons, while" the estimated amount of this year's 

 harvest Is about 30.000 tons. Many of the producers have turned to 

 other erops and those who have retained the trees have failed to prop- 

 erly cultivate them, with the result that much of the product is lacking 

 in tannin. 



Exports to the United States reached their maximum in 1907 when 

 they totaled 9,500 tons. They later fell to 4,300 tons, and have risen 

 to 5,600. 



On account of the war, the exportation to other countries will be 

 reduced, which will probably result in a larger exportation this year to 

 the United States. 



The prices, however, are not likely to be lower because of the increased 

 exportation. The increased cost of freight and insurance, as well as 

 the difficulties of exchange, have raised the prices. During the first 

 half of 1913 the price for ground sumac, guaranteed pure, with twenty- 

 eight per ci-nt tannin, was $53.53 to $55.96 per ton e. I, f. New York, 

 Boston or Philadelphia; for the latter half of the year the price was 

 $58.40 to $65.70 per ton. The prices quoted for the first half of 1914 

 were $58.40 to $63.26. Leaf sumac, on account of additional cost of 

 freight, was quoted $2.43 a ton higher. The prices at present are 

 $64.47 to $65.70 for ground sumac, twenty-eight per cent tannin, c. i. f. 

 A-merican ports. It is believed that if the war should cease the increased 

 demand, together with the scarcity of first-quality sumac, will bring 

 prices still higher. 



The United States is not wholly dependent upon foreign countries for 

 its sumac supply. Virginia and other eastern states produce much of it, 

 and the output might be greatly increased. It grows principally in old 

 fields and waste places. It is used in tanning fine grades of leather. 



Indiana Oak 



GUARANTEED 



Do you remember from expeiience in the old days, that 

 peculiar satisfaction in working the rich, mellow 

 softness antl smoothness of real INDIANA OAK? 



You are probably leary of that term now as you don't 

 knoic the origin of the stock purported to" grow in 

 this state. 



In fact that very misrepresentation is the strongest 

 endorsement of INDIANA OAK as the oak. 



Y'ou would like to acain experience that satisfaction If 

 you could know that the stock you are offered is just 

 ivhat lioii used to yet. 



Y'oui* customers would be pleased if tv>eir irnnds showed 

 t' at quiet beauty and even color and figure that for 

 all time has siven to goods made from INDIANA 

 OAK an Individuality. 



You can please them of/ain. How? 



Simply In- buying a parcel of almost anything in lumber 

 ■or Southern Veneers from our yards. You can select 

 from a full assortment. 



And remember — We have built up our business by giving 



Just a little better quality than you expect 



Charles H. Barnaby 



Greencastle, Indiana 



HAi'E You Other Needs for HiciH-GRADE Southekn 

 Hard -WOODS? We Can Fill Them. 



The White Lake Lumber Co. 



Peoples Gas BIdg., CHICAGO, ILU 



Northern and Southern Hardwoods 



CAR STOCK 



WHITE PINE 



YELLOW PINE 



High Quality — Prompt Delivery 



WE WANT TO MOVE AT ONCE 



5 cars 1" 1st and 2nd Basswood 



3 cars 1" No. 1 Common Basswood 



„_. 3 cars 1" No. 3 Common Basswood 



your intiuiriet 15 cars 1 Oak — all grades 



Rockcastle Lumber Co. 

 C. L. Ritter Lumber Co. 



OAK-Plain and Quartered, RED AND WHITE 

 POPLAR CHESTNUT BASSWOOD 



Anythiug in Hardwoods 



Huntington 



West Virginia 



