46 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



pany's products. Another line of industry is being sought but nothing 

 has been settled on as yet. 



The International Mill & Timber Company has recently been formed 

 at Bay City to engage in the manufacture of ready-cut houses. Its 

 officers are : President, R. S. Richardson of the Richardson Lumber Com- 

 pany ; vice-president, W. D. Young, Jr., son of W. D. Young, flooring 

 manufacturer ; treasurer and general manager, C. M. Ambrose. The com- 

 pany is the third engaged in the manufacture of read.y-cut houses at 

 Bay City. Others are the North American Construction Company and 

 the Lewis Manufacturing Company. 



The Hardwood Market 



< CHICAGO >- 



There has hardly been time since the first of the year for the more 

 favorable trend of trade which has been confidently predicted by the 

 majority of lumbermen and woodworkers in this section to materialize. 

 However, while this movement has not set in on a general basis, there are 

 reported sales of increasing volume, which apparently are gradually in- 

 creasing in number, thus alTording ample reason for the belief that marked 

 improvement will characterize the condition of business during the next 

 two or three months. 



While the furniture shows have not been altogether satisfying, they 

 have not, at least, been discouraging and quite a number of the manufac- 

 turers exhibiting at Chicago expressed themselves as being very well 

 pleased with the situation as a wbole. It is true that some manufacturers 

 were genuinely disappointed in the results of sales of their products, but 

 considering the general trend of business and the fact that it is impossible 

 for any line to revive instantly and to the fullest capacity, the outcome 

 of the sales has been quite all that could have been expected. 



One significant fact is that a great many of the sales that were actually 

 consummated were of quite unusual proportions, because as a general 

 thing the furniture dealers have, in common with dealers in other com- 

 modities, let their stocks run down to a point where they had very little 

 left and hence have been compelled to take on large amounts of new 

 furniture In order to successfully meet the urgent demand of the consuming 

 public. 



The yard trade is showing a distinct tendency to look more favorably 

 upon purchases in anticipation of marked improvement in the building 

 situation during the early spring months. A great deal of building work 

 has been planned which absolutely must be consummated In the near 

 future, and with the financial situation on a better basis this work will 

 undoubtedly be continued at as early date as possible. The result will be 

 an active call for lumber going into construction work, which call is being 



(Leading Manufacturers) 



COLFAX HARDWOOD LUMBER CO. 



ASH 



MANUFACTURERS 



OAK CYPRESS 



GUM 



All fltock band sawn, well manufactured, carefully graded, ffood aver- 

 age widths and high percentage of 14 and 16 ft. lengths. 

 No manipulation of grades. 



i-.^R.'itVc.. COLFAX, LA. ^n'i'H^T^'r.d 



Miller Lumber Go, 



MARIANNA, ARK. 



We have on our yards, in good shipping 

 condition, five million feet assorted Hard- 

 woods, consisting of Red and Sap Gum, 

 Quartered and Plain Oak, Ash, Cypress, 

 Cottonwood, etc. 



Send 



us your inquiries 



anticipated to a considerable extent by the yard trade, which is looking 

 around for the purpose of filling out its stocks. 



Locally there is hardly any perceptible change in the status of different 

 woods represented on the markets. The gum situation seems to show a 

 little better, at least there have been some excellent orders for gum placed 

 in Chicago during the last two weeks. One concern which says that 

 January has been a bumper month as far as orders are concerned in con- 

 trast with several months of extremely quiet business, also says that a 

 great deal of this business has been in gum and at slightly better prices. 



The oak situation is in fair shape, and more or less difficulty seems to 

 be experienced by local buyers in placing orders of large volume, or for 

 any extended period of time at prevailing figures. It has been pretty 

 generally recognized that the next month or six weeks will see a gradual 

 stiffening up in hardwood values in practically all lines. 



=•< IsIEW YORK >= 



The improvement which is generally reported throughout the country 

 is showing itself in the lumber trade of New York. Current report 

 is that demand for spring trade is quite lively, the volume being satis- 

 factory though distributed over a number of orders. The wholesale 

 trade is now experiencing some real business, and all are confident 

 that the spring season will open the door to a good year's business. 

 The yards and factories are all low stocked and are sure to be in the 

 market for much needed material. Price concessions are still to be 

 heard of. Conservative houses are not meeting this competition now, 

 being content to do less business at favorable prices. Hardwood fioor- 

 ing is in good demand and prices are due to go higher within sixty days. 

 Gum is also coming in for a share of demand with some betterment 

 in prices. 



=■< BUFFALO y 



There is a more general report of improvement at the hardwood yards 

 than for some time. Business is by no means on a large scale, but it 

 shows up favorably as compared with last mouth, and there is a feeling 

 that it is going to continue to improve for a while. Prices have been 

 so low that a change for the better seems very probable, especially in view 

 of the fact that industrial activity is getting larger, while the amount of 

 stock shows no tendency to increase any, with many mills closed. 



A variety of woods have been moving lately and if business holds tip in 

 future as well as it has been doing of late there will be a stronger market. 

 The amount of business going around is certainly on the increase, so that 

 the severe competition should soon give way to a better situation. Plain 

 oak, maple, white and brown ash, chestnut and birch are mentioned among 

 the woods that are now being called for in a little larger quantity. 



The lumber-transit question, which is of so much importance to the 

 local hardwood trade, has again been up for consideration before the 

 Interstate Commerce Commission, and Buffalo has been represented by the 

 same hardwood representatives who attended the first hearing. They 

 were M. M. Wall, acting as chairman, with A. W. Kreinheder, O. E. 

 Yeager, H. F. Taylor and H. L. Abbott. It is hoped that this would be 

 the final hearing in the matter and that an early decision would be 

 rendered. 



-< PHILADELPHIA >■ 



Many trade reports show a sligbt advance iu trading, which is only 

 corroborative of the optimistic business prediction for the early new year. 

 Although there are no special indications of an upward uiovcmeut in 

 prices, it is noticeable that values are somewhat firmer all along the 

 line. Yard buying has begun and many inquiries as to future delivery are 

 being made, but a supreme caution is observable among the manufacturers 

 as there is no doubt of a stiffening of quotations as orders increase. Rail- 

 road companies are sending out unmistakable feelers and in some instances 

 fair orders are booked for material for repair work. The intention of the 

 Baltimore & Ohio to spend $30,000.00(t in the near future gives hope that 

 the other eastern roads sooner or later will conclude to spend an equally 

 high figure. 



Furniture factories are marking time, relying on result of the usual 

 furniture exhibition sales, which as a rule are a dependable index as to 

 future possiltilities of the furniture market. Box makers keep fairly busy 

 right along and builders are looking for a live season. Many are already 

 pushing plans to take advantage of the exceptionally open winter. 



Money is loosening up a little and indications are that a more liberal 

 course will be pursued by the banks in the near future. Taking the situa- 

 tion as a whole the outlook is decidedly promising. 



=-< PITTSBURGH y 



The hardwood situation shows much improvement. There is a distinct 

 uptrend to prices. Orders are more plenty. Inquiries are greatly im- 

 proved. Sentiment is decidedly better on all sides. Stocks at the mills 

 are being reduced a little, although they are still much too large to be 

 profitable. Yard trade is not much in evidence as yet. Manufacturing 

 l>uying is much more noticeable and many concerns which have been 

 out of the market for months are now putting out good inquiries and 

 requisitions. 



