58 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



Mutual Fire Insurance 



B«»t Indemnity at Lowest Net Co*t 

 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, 



Indianapolis, Ind. 



The Central Manufacturers' Mutual Insurance Company, 



Van Wert, Ohio 



W A N T E D 



All Kinds of High-Grade 



HARDWOODS 



S. E. SLAYMAKER & CO. 



WK8T TmGI>?I''87K°XE' l.CMBEB CO.. ^''^ ^/^" v^f^^"' 

 Cass. West Virginia. NEW lOKR 



Buying 

 Time 

 Is Here 



Tiiiil)er and sawmill properties are now 

 offered on exceptionally favorable terms. The 

 market today is rich in possibilities for the 

 operator or the investor, which the far seeing 

 will not overlook. 



Timber Should Be Cruised Now 



That tract of hardwood timber in which you are 

 or may become interested should be cruised before 

 the spring foliage conies on. In the North and South 

 timber can be estimated in less time and probably 

 with greater accuracy now than later. 



Our efficient organization can serve you wherever 

 the timber you wish to buy may be located. 



James D. Lacey & Co. 



Timber Land Factort 



CHICAGO, II.I« 1750 McCormick Building 



rORTI^ND. ORE 1313 Northwestern Bank Bids. 



SEATTLE, WASH 1009 White BaUdinK 



and this section are extremely optimistic as to the prospects for spring 

 and Slimmer business but an increased demand for stocks is showing up 

 very slowly at this time. Yard stocks are very low. in fact lower than 

 they have been for a long while, which is rfparded as a hopeful sign. 



^-< LOUISVILLE > 



Much better conditions are believed to be developing, and the hardwood 

 market is acquiring gradually a stronger tone. The demand is opening 

 up. and while the increase in volume is not large, it has been sufficient 

 to encourage many members of the trade, especially as the tendency on 

 the part of consuniers has been to place orders or contracts for large 

 quantities of stock. This indicates also that buyers realize the strength 

 of the market, in view of the fact that logs are scarce, sawmill operations 

 not having brought out many additional ones, with the result that even 

 if an effort were made to increase operations, assuming that brisker 

 business made this desirable, it would In* fmpossible to log the mills and 

 market the lumber which they produced inside of six or eight months. 

 For this reason the lumber now on sticks is bound to increase in value, 

 and prices can hardly remain steady. In fact, scarcity of thick stock 

 of many kinds has already developed, and some lumber is practically off 

 the market on this account. Of course, thrrc is still a big supply of 

 certain staples, like plain oak and gnm. but even these are improving, 

 plain white oak having advanced, and the demand having shown a gain 

 of late. Taken altogether, the hardwood men feel more optimistic, and 

 are inclined to believe that normal business is just around the corner. 



=•< ST. LOUIS >•- 



TIh- hardwood situation seems to hi' impr<»\ing. .ilthough the disagree- 

 able weather of the past few days is restricting the demand and also is 

 preventing the hauling of lumber to and from the cars. There is a 

 strengthening on all items. A little more buying of car stock is being 

 done by the railroads. Other lines, such as box, wagon and implement 

 material, are increasing their requests. Prices of gum are going up. 

 »tak is showing conslderabU' more strength, t^uite a steady business In 

 cypress in small orders is being done but weather conditions are unfavor- 

 able for much devepolment. Many large consumers have been placing 

 orders recently but not in (he volume tliat Is usual nt this time of the 



=-< LITTLE ROCK >.= 



When compared with conditions prevailing during the past several 

 months the activities in the lumber trade in Arkansas since the begin- 

 ning of the new year indicate growing optimism and greater hopes for 

 tin' future. While little Improvement in prices has come, there are many 

 iftdbations that the lumbermen are expecting more business in the near 

 future, though no one of course expects the change to come with a rush. 

 The general belief seems to be that conditions will gradually improve 

 until they have re;iehed a fairly ^'ood ^tnlus. 



=-< MILWAUKEE >= 



The indi<'atIons are that there will be plenty of building activity in 

 Milwaukee during the coming spring, and this leads lumbermen to believe 

 that business during the next few months ought to be very satlsfatcory. 

 The amount of new building launched in this city during the month of 

 January showed a decided falling off. There were 75 permits issued for 

 structures to cost ?20ri,649, as compared with l.'i6 permits and an 

 Investment of .$471,858 during the corresponding month in 1014. A 

 gr-ai deal oi important building was carried over from last fail because 

 of the business depression, and It is predicted that the building record 

 of 1915 will attain a new high mark as a result. 



Local wholesale lumbermen say that the hardwood trade is showing 

 gradual improvement. One of the most favorable developments during 

 the past fortnight is the improved demand from the factory trade. 

 Stocks are low at most of these phints, due to the conservative buying 

 which has been followed for several months, and manufacturers are 

 finiilny it necessary to eome into the market a little more freely. 

 The sash and door and general interior finishing concerns are beginning 

 to show more interest in stocks. Demand from the furniture manufactur- 

 ing concerns seems to be a little better, although more improvement 

 from Ihls sourci* Is expected later In the season. Most of the farm 

 implement concerns in Milwaukee and at various points about Wisconsin 

 are looking forward to a busy season. Most of these plants are putting 

 on more men and are increasing their output. 



It is confidently expected that a shortage' in some lines of hard- 

 wood will he experienced by the time the spring trade is well under way. 

 Wholesalers say that the available supply of tiircli. for example, is 

 exceptionally low at the present time and that it is hard to quote 

 prices or promise deliveries in this line, considering the state of stocks. 

 Maple flooring is In better demand and it is understood that stocks In 

 this line are not particularly largi-. Prices ari' naturally holding fairly 

 firm tinder existing conditions. 



The cold weather and heavy snows which liave been experienced all 

 over Wisconsin this winter have added plenty of activity to the logging 

 business and all the mills are now receiving heavy shipments. It is said 

 that the logging output will be considerably larger than was anticipated 

 some months ago. 



