HARDWOOD RECORD 



43 



iiKiuiring with a volume that gives unmistakiililc signs of a general improve- 

 ment. 



Ash is selling nicely, fthile plain and ipiait'TiKi oak is on a steady upward 

 trend. Yellow pine continues to be in mild demand, but not quite up to the 

 usual standard, considering the Queen Cily as a center for this. 



With the building trade again reaching out with its now fast approaching 

 seasonable activity, the demand for hardwood fiocring is of sizable pro- 

 portions. 



All told, there is a better feeling throughout all branches of the business, 

 the manufacturer, dealer and consumer apparently realizing that a genera! 

 improvement is bound to set in with spring weather. Thus, the situation 

 can be sized up as a seasonable exiiansion, when viewed with the past month 

 or so and not week by week, whereiu so many false opinions get their origin. 



=-< KNOXVILLE >-= 



Inquiry among the mills and yards through this section reveals the fact 

 that business is not very brisk, although some say there is a very marked 

 improvement. Stocks are fair, but there is very little stock being manu- 

 facttired. 



=-< MEMPHIS >= 



There has been further improv<ment in the hardwood situation in this 

 section. Both manufacturers and wholesale handlers of lumber report some- 

 what inore generalinquiry and reports issued by some of the railroads oper- 

 ating through the Memphis gateway show that there has recently been a 

 steady gain in the amount of lumber handled by them. This latter is 

 regarded as the most tangible evidence so far obtainable regarding the 

 showing with respect to the movement of lumoer. The improvement applies 

 very largely to the domestic situation. I'he foreign demand is fairly active, 

 but conditions affecting the movement of lumber to Europe are so unfavor- 

 able that it is not anticipated that anything can or will be accomplished In 

 the near future. 



There is a particularly good call for plain red oak and there is also a 

 reasonably good cali for plain white oak. Stock from % to 4/4 is preferred. 

 Prices have advanced probably .$2 per thousand on plain oak within the past 

 sixt.v days and a similar advance is reported on quartered oak, which is in 

 good demand in all grades in both nni and white. Ash continues to be 

 readily absorbed at full qupotations and there is a good movement reported 

 in sap gum, though pilces are still considered somewhat low. As recently 

 noted, there has been a sufficient demand to take up practically all the gum 

 box boards offering in this immediate section. Prices thereon are (juite firm, 

 with an advancing tendency. The lower grades of Cottonwood and gum are 

 still moving at a very good rate and prices are quite as good as they have 

 been recently. The bos people are doing a more irregular business than a 

 short time ago, but most of them are keeping their plants in oiieration, with 

 the result that their consumption is quite full. Ked gum is in only moderate 

 request, though it is pointed out that there is a little more activity now 

 than a short time ago. Reports are received every now and then of new 

 buildings which will be finished in red gum. Cypress is in fairly active 

 demand and a good business is expected in this lumber as soon as the threat- 

 ened labor troubles at Chicago, affecting the building trades, liavc been 

 settled. There is no doubt that this has been a somewhat disturbing influence 

 so far as cyi)ress and some other items on the hardwood list are concerned. 



=■< NASHVILLE >■= 



There has been little change in the lumber situation in this market tlie 

 l;ast two weeks. Manufacturers think that there is slow improvement in 

 conditions. Weather has lieen cold, and not entirely favorable for renewe<i 

 local activity. There has been no matcrinl change in values. 



=■< BRISTOL y- 



Slight improvement in the lumber business is noted in this section, but 

 conditions are still far from satisfactory. However, the lumbermen are more 

 encouraged by the prospects for business and the manufacturers are going 

 ahead with operations, feeling confident that by the time the luinbet now 

 being cut can be prepared for market, conditions will be far more favorable. 

 Yard stocks in this section continue very low, which is a strong incentive for 

 mills to start. As a result of this situation many mills have already re- 

 sumed and others will do so at once. Better weather conditions have had a 

 stimulating effect upon business in this territory. 



=-< LOUISVILLE y- 



A better outlook in the har.hvuod lield is geueially reported, though 

 conditions are somewhat irregular. That is to say, trade seems to pick 

 up and be about normal for a time, only to have a relapse. But the general 

 run of business is ahead of what it has been, and operators are conse- 

 quently encouraged by the situaiton. Factory men are now compelled to 

 buy, the policy of using up reserve stocks having been abandoned for the 

 excellent reason that there are no more reserves, in many cases. This Is 

 indlcate<i by the fact that purchases are being tollowe<l by telegrams asking 

 that the shipments be traced, so that evidently the material was needed 

 at the time the order was placed. Inquiries are more numerous, and cover 

 a wider range of material, showing that the consumers have been going ahead 

 on a basis calculated to require general replacements, even if their consum|>- 

 tlon has not been up to normal in every respect. The building trade looks 

 better, and hardwood flooring concerns are encouraged. Demand for high- 



grade giued-up stock is quiet, indicating a similar condition in the 

 furniture trade. The demand for low-grade hardwoods for box manufacture 

 is good, however. (Quartered oak Is In good demand. Plain oak is not so 

 active, though a better movement is reported. I'oplar is waking up. Cotton- 

 wood is rather dull. Hickory, except In dimension sizes, is also dull. 



=-< MILWAUKEE >= 



While improvem.nl Is taking place slowly in the local hardwood market, 

 there is a feeling in the trade that better things may be expected within the 

 next few weeks, when the building season becomes more active. The amount 

 of new building which is being launched ii\ Milwaukee, while hardly equal to 

 that of a year ago, is showing steady increase. W. D. Harper, blinding In- 

 spector, says thai with the building carrie<l over from last fall, there will 

 be plenty of activity and he has made a conservative estimate that the total 

 building investment in Milwaukee during 1915 will amount to at least S12- 

 463,000. 



Large consumers of hardwood in Milwaukee are still buying rather con- 

 servatively. Wholesalers are naturally linding it rather difficult to adjust 

 themselves to the situation. The mills are demanding pretty stiff prices, 

 while the demand in Milwaukee and other Wisconsin centers hardly warrants 

 as yet these lirm i|iiiiti\tions. Northern hardwoods are holding especially 

 firm, as the indications are that there will he a shortage experienced in this 

 line later in tlie season. Judging from tlie present low supply of dry hard- 

 woods. Birch, in particular, is getting low at most points. The sash and 

 door concerns are not buying so freely as might be wished for, but stocks at 

 these plants seem to be low and a better demand is anticipated within the 

 near future. The farm implement concerns here and about the state are 

 buying fairly well. I'here s<*ems to be a slight improvement in the demand 

 from the furniture manufacturing concerns, although it is hardly so strong 

 as at this time a year ago. 



Weather conditions in the northern Wisconsin lumber country have been 

 favorable for logging operations and it is freely predicted that the cut in 

 most sections will be nuich largi^r than had been anticipate<l earlier in this 

 season. This ought to relieve the shortage of hardwoo<l later in the season, 

 when the new cut gets into condition lo use. The greatest shortage Is 

 expected along in May, when the building season will be at its height and the 

 uew cut. with the possible exception of basswood. will hardly be in condition 

 to use. 



=-< DETROIT >-= 



The hardwood trade in Fibruar.v was better than that of January, and it 

 is expected ^larch will show a slight improvement over February. This is 

 especially so in the retail yard demand, increased building operations having 

 aided the demand for interior finisli. 



Wholesalers generally do not regard the situation as sufficiently clear to 

 base a prediction for future trade. The manufacturing companies are not 

 increasing production, although flooring and interior finish plants are run- 

 ing better than a few months ago. The watchful-waiting policy is prevalent 

 still. 



=-< GLASGOW >.= 



Business in this scr-tiou is fair, and quite a number ui the wood consum- 

 ing industries are for the time busy with government work, so that In a 

 good many instances the demand is steady, the result being that some of the 

 stocks are becoming rapidl.v exhausted. This is what is wanted, of course, 

 but when these commodities are not being replaced with fresh supplies, the 

 outlook is not too bright. Taken all over business, despite the many difB- 

 culties, is proceeding on a far more extensive scale than many are inclined 

 to admit. Everything is being liampered by uncertain tonnage, record 

 freights, and transporl delays, bnt as regards congestion Glasgow is one of 

 the few ports which is remarkably free from congestion. Quite a number of 

 vessels are being sent round to Glasgow for discharge, because of the conges- 

 tion elsewhere. Several shipments of spruce deals have arrived at this port, 

 and record prices are being obtained. Government requirements have taken 

 up quite a large proiwrtion of each shipment. However, the supplies are 

 not nearly sufficient to meet this market's demands. The various stores are 

 beginning ti' pri'sent an empty appearance, and stocks of everything are 

 commanding higher values. Of birch planks the market is bare, practically 

 all the available stocks being bought up a few weeks ago. Forward buying 

 is naturally slow, no one being Inclined to commit themselves while every- 

 thing is at such an abnormal height. Contracting for Quebec goods has been 

 sparse so far, and the few that have been made are on an F. O. B. basis, 

 which Is perhaps the safest. Yellow pine stocks are practically depleted, 

 brokers holding very little with the exception of sidings. The demand for 

 Pacific coast spruce has l)een very great, and all available stocks arc being 

 eagerly snapped up. The same applies lo silver pine. 



.\mong the more recent arrivals are the steamships "Lakonla" and 

 "Athenia, " from Baltimore and Newport News with the usual assortment 

 of hard and softwoods, oak and whltewood predominating. 



Wagon oak plank.5 on consignment have done remarkably wtjll, and as 

 regards the other Items, there is no doubt that they will be disposed of 

 ex quay at enhanced prices. The advices from shippers point to higher 

 values being required tor future shipments. 



The steamship "Kyleness" from Mobile has Just arrived and discharges at 

 Glasgow ash boards and logs, staves, pitch pine lumber and oak boards, 

 while at Greenock she will discharge nhmit '.Mimi lo^s s.nwn olteh pine for 

 different merchants. 



