56 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



Mutual Fire Insurance 



Best Indemnity at Lowest Net Cost 

 Can Be Obtained From 



The Lumber Mutual Fire Insurance Company, 

 The Lumbermen's Mutual Insurance Company, 



Boston, Mass. 



Mansfield, Ohio. 



The Pennsylvania Lumbermen's Mutual Fire Insurance Company, 



Philadelphia, Pa. 



The Indiana Lumbermen's Mutual Insurance Company, 



Indianapolis, Ind. 



The Central Manufacturers' Mutual insurance Company, 



Van Wert, Ohio 



WANT E D 



All Kinds of High-Grade 



HARDWOODS 



S. E. SLAYMAKER & CO. 



WKBT VIKGIN^rsrKTl"^ I.UMBEB CO.. ^'^*^ mJ^L" v^^l;^"'*"°•• 

 Cass, West VlrKinla. NEW YORK 



$141,000.00 



In Savings DIVIDENDS Returned 

 This Year to Policy Carriers of 



The Lumbermen's 

 Underwriting Alliance 



Possibly there is no good reason why 

 YOU were not among these beneficiaries. 

 If it is a matter of eligibility, and you 

 feel that your plant does not at present 

 comply with all requirements, confer • 

 with us anyway. Let us see if it cannot 

 be brought up to an acceptable standard 

 at no greater cost than will be justified 

 by the prospective saving on insurance 

 rates. 



U. S. Epperson & Company 



Attorney and Manager 

 1101 R. A. LONG BLDG. KANSAS CITY 



the average cousnnier, and the chances are that business will not he 

 really brisk until 1915 has been ushered in. However, there ia no deny- 

 ing that prospects are splendid, and that unless every indication is wrong 

 hardwood men will experience a satisfactory demand in the near future. 

 General business is improving. The millions being spent for war muni- 

 tions are helping a good many lines, and indirectly lumber consumption. 

 Some lumber trade Is growing out of the war. On the other hand, rail- 

 road buying is somewhat more active ; the furniture trade is looking 

 better, though the January exhibitions will determine this more definitely, 

 and prospects tor building in 191.5. provided financial conditions are 

 favorable to investment, are much better than they have been. Many 

 inquiries for large bloclcs of stock to be delivered after the first of the year 

 have been received, indicating that big handlers are expecting to be able 

 to place some large orders. Altogether, the hardwood men are feeling 

 rather confident that the turn in the road is not fa^ ahead. 



=■< MILWAUKEE >= 



One of the reasons for the quiet lumber trade experienced in Milwaukee 

 during the past month -is found in the building summary tor November, 

 which shows that the building investment for the month fell off about 

 sixty per cent. There were 236 permits issued for structures to cost only 

 $.591,583, as against 273 permits and an investment of .$1,454,410 during 

 Ihe corresponding period a year ago. Indications are that there ought to 

 be much activity next spring, as much important building planned this 

 fall has been carried over until spring, when it is expected that general 

 business couditions will bvi more satisfactory. 



Wholesalers and dealers seem to be confident tiiat the lumber trade 

 will revive after the opening of the new year when inventories have been 

 completed and most concerns find how liglit their stocks are. Better 

 buying is bound to result if there is to be any preparation for the coming 

 spring trade. Stocks in the hands of the sash and door and most wood- 

 working concerns of Milwaukee are exceedingly light, as these firms have 

 been buying carefully all the fall, taking only enough to meet tlieir present 

 requirements. Wholesalers say that stocks in most retail yards are light 

 and that the average dealer will soon have to begin stocking up in 

 readiness for the spring building demand. 



Local furniture manufacturing concerns and the farm implement plants 

 in Jlliwaukee and about Wisconsin have been making better inquiries and 

 placing larger orders of late, proof that tliey are experiencing a better 

 business and that they have confidence of better things ahead. Stocks In 

 the hands of all these concerns have been light all the fall. 



Wholesalers are inclined to keep prices at the present level, despite the 

 easier demand. They say that the light stocks, especially in northern 

 hardwoods, and the improved demand which is sure to develop soon offer 

 reason enough why present values should be maintained. There are, of 

 course, instances of price cutting, Imt tlie practice is not general. 



^-< DETROIT y- 



The winter furniture show at (iraiid liajiids and inventory period are 

 now awaited by hardwood dealers, who anticipate that change in the 

 liardwood market will follow these events. It is certain that inventories 

 will show an unusually low stock at all plants. The outcome of the 

 furniture show is in much doubt, but any effect that it has, probably will 

 be for the better. Detroit liardwood dealers do not anticipate a further 

 decline in trade. In fact, they do not see where the demand can fall 

 further without ceasing altogether. 



.Vmong the wholesalers birdi and walnut proliabiy show the greatest 

 activity. The demand in maple is very slight and stocks that have ijeen 

 standing for sometime show no inclination to move. Interior finish manu- 

 facturers do not hold out a hope that building operations, which have 

 fallen off alarmingly in the last three nionttis, will receive an impetus 

 until after the first of the year. 



=-< LIVERPOOL y- 



The market here is very much better than has been reported on pre- 

 vious occasions. In fact, with the exception of one or two departments 

 trade is decidedly brisk. A reference in this paper by the writer of this 

 article has been commented on with some needless sarcasm by the 

 Timber Trades Journal of London. The point referred to was the demand 

 for over 2,000,000 staves. It may surprise this clever paper that orders 

 for more than tliis quantity have actually been placed with .Vmerican 

 shippers to personal knowledge of Hardwood Rkcoud's correspondent, 

 and those shippers who took advantage of his advice will be congratulat- 

 ing themselves. It may be said that all orders for this stock have been 

 placed for the present, though it is possible further orders may follow 

 later. Values have not advanced to any material extent in any line of 

 hardwoods at this port, even in spite of freight advancements. 



Some thicknesses of ash planks, mainly 3" and 4", have sold well, but 

 offers on old basis only could be secured. Cypress has been selling well 

 and shippers with this stock should have no difllculty in selling, though 

 ideas of value here are low. Hound American ash is a good point and very 

 little stock is on hand thougli it is understood some new arrivals are on 

 the way. These should come to a good market. All cabinet woods are 

 still weak and mahogany, of course, comes under this category. There 

 have been no sales since the war started. 



