46 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



Mutual Fire Insurance 



Best Indemnity at Lowest Net Cost 

 Can Be Obtained From 



Boston, Mass. 



The Lumber Mutual Fire Insurance Company, 



The Lumbermen's Mutual Insurance Company, 



Mansfield, Ohio. 



The Pennsylvania Lumbermen's Mutual Fire Insurance Company, 



Philadelphia, Pa. 



The Indiana Lumbermen's Mutual Insurance Company, 



Indlanapollt, Ind. 



The Central Manufacturers' Mutual Insurance Company, 



Van Wert, Ohio 



WANT E D 



All Kinds of High-Grade 



HARDWOODS 



S. E. SLAYMAKER & CO. 



WBST TmGINlA''EpKUclf 1.UMBEB CO.. ^'f*^ .i^'Sf "J'^fl?"^'' 

 C««», Wert TlrstBlm. 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 



from a number of big markets that cousumers are aui^ious to contract 

 for lumber for delivery during 1915. and are endeavoring to get their 

 requirements covered at 1914 prices. Some of this business is being 

 accepted, but lumbermen as a rule are chary of taking on contracts of 

 this kind, in the face of what appears to be the beginning of a strong 

 upward movement. Every indication points to bigger volume and better 

 prices, and those who have lumber, especially dry stocks, ready to ship. 

 are inclined to hold out for increases, which consumers are gradually 

 accedinir to. 



=■< BRISTOL y- 



Bristol lumbermen report a better tone to trade and brighter prospects 

 for spring business. They feel that the freight rate advance granted the 

 eastern railroads will be a factor in restoring former business conditions. 

 While not a large volume of business is being done by the lumbermen of 

 this section, the yard stocks are low and it there is any appreciable improve- 

 ment many of the mills will resume operation before spring. The most 

 of the mills closed September or October, although a number of large band 

 mills have been running regularly. Some of the lumbermen report that 

 they have lost some business lately on account of low stocks on their yards^ 



^■< ST. LOUIS >•- 



The hardwood trade is quite dull following the holiday season. As in- 

 ventorying has not been fully completed dealers do not as yet know exactly 

 what their requirements will be, and few orders are coming, although inqui- 

 ries are numerous. The outlook is promising and points to increased sales 

 and prices within tbe next few weeks. Local distributors have fairly good 

 stocks on hand, ample for current needs, and they are getting ready to 

 start out for new business. There is a slight improvement in the demand 

 for cypress. Most of the country yards are very low In stocks and are 

 expected shortly to come Into the market for their spring requirements. 



-■<, MILWAUKEE >-= 



One of the most hopeful signs in the Milwaukee situation is the fact 

 that a great deal of important building has been held over until spring, 

 making it practically certain that there will be plenty of activity and 

 business within the near future. Figures prepared by W. D. Harper, 

 building inspector, show that during the month of December there were 

 132 permits Issued for buildings to cost $393,410, as compared with 17ft 

 permits and an investment of $867,468 during the corresponding period a 

 year ago. The total building investment for the year Just closed amounted 

 to only $9,882,085, as against $13,590,084 during 1913. Building Inspector 

 Harper says that plans have been completed for many large building 

 projects, but that the depression in many lines of business resulted In tb& 

 work being laid over until spring. 



Lumber companies and many of the large lumber consuming concerns 

 are completing their Inventories, and It is expected that business wilt 

 soon take on more activity. The inventories have shown many manu- 

 facturers that their lumber stocks are low, and this Is expected to be 

 another Incentive to buying. Wholesalers arc confident that business will 

 begin to show a little more life soon after January 15. They say that 

 retail yards about the state are not stocked up heavily In hardwoods and 

 that the average retailer will have to begin placing his orders soon for 

 stocks If he expects to be ready for the spring building season. Dealers 

 have been ordering very carefully during the past few months, but It Is 

 believed that buying will be carried on a little more freely from now on. 

 The fact that more Inquiries are being received from various sources Is 

 a most hopeful sign. While actual orders are still coming In rather slowly, 

 improvement Is confidently looked for before the close of the present month. 



Prices seem to be holding their own. It Is generally understood that 

 stocks at most of the northern mills are light and that any surplus will 

 be wiped out Just as soon as business shows improvement. The scattering 

 holders of large stocks are not inclined to give any concessions, in view of a 

 better business ahead and the certainty that stocks at the mills are light. 

 News from various sections of the northern Wisconsin lumber country 

 Indicate that lumber concerns are showing a little more confidence and 

 that plans are being made to increase the log output over the point de- 

 cided upon some months ago. 



-■< DETROIT >.= 



A fair number of Inquiries, some of them resulting in sales, are reported 

 in the Detroit market. Dealers generally are of the opinion that the many 

 forecasts of good times and increased business will assume some concrete 

 form before long, although they, of course, do not expect this until after 

 inventories have been completed. Inventories are expected to show stocks, 

 at the retail yards and manufacturing plants to he well below normal as 

 compared with other years. 



The cfuter of attraction at present is the furniture show. Dealers receiv- 

 ing reports from Grand Rapids say many buyers are being attracted to that 

 market and outside manufacturers who have placed exhibits are in a very 

 optimistic frame of mind. Some announce business in 1914 was not so bad 

 as it was generally painted. Prices have not varied for several weeks, but 

 there is an expectation that they will advance. With from sixty to ninety 

 days, Detroit dealers say, the hardwood market would be hack well toward 

 normal in price. 



