HARDWOOD RECORD 



39 



could get. From this point tlio trade lias gotten away a cousideraljle 

 distance and the tendency is steadily toward a further hardenlDg of t e 

 prevailing figures. The yards liave held off so long that their assort- 

 ments show marked deflciencirs. For a time they made no determined 

 effort to fill out these deficiencies, hut of late they are receiving fairly 

 general attention, which proves that the necessity of making the selection 

 more adequate has impressed itself upon the trade. Hence salesmen are 

 more likely to get a hearing, and the number of orders received by thi' 

 mill men and wholesalers Is on the increase, with no positive advance in 

 the quotations, hut with prices firmer. This is especially the case with 

 respect to the better grades. .Some of the low grade lumber still leaves 

 much to be desired, the offerings lieing considerably in excess of current 

 needs; but the tenders of the better grades are by no means excessive. 

 From eviM-y point comes information that the mills have no large stocks 

 in hand. Good grades of poplar, oak and even [■hestnut have begun to 

 command figures that afford a margin of profit, and the feeling about 

 the hardwood trade is more hopeful. The one really weak point is the 

 exports, which canuot show any expansion because of the prevailing con 

 ditions. With the steamship embargo and with the difflcultles in the 

 way of making shipment increased rather than diminished, no pro- 

 nounced headway can be made. However, the I'nited Kingdom has run 

 low in stocks and is in the market. Such foreign business as the ex- 

 porters can get is done on a satisfactory basis and under very acceptable 

 conditions, payment being made for shipments when they are started and 

 the consignee assumes all the risk. There are also believed to be indi 

 cations that the war will be not much longer protracted, and with the 

 restoration of peace will come a very material increase in the foreign 

 movement, .\ltogether. the hardwood nu-n are in a more hopeful frame 

 of mind than they were not so long ago, and a continuance of the prog- 

 ress toward better conditions is looked for. 



=■< CINCINNATI >-= 



A slow but steady expansion in the volume of business in the hard 

 wood line has been noted generally throughout the Cincinnati market. 

 The wholesalers, jobbers and dealers express confidence in the future and 

 are sanguine that the worst has been past and matters soon must take 

 a turn for the better. 



A late spring, unseasonably chilly throughout March, has retarded 

 movements in hardwood and has had a depressing effect in the building 

 line. However, within the last week or ten days the builders have taken 

 more heart in the outlook and considerable activity is noticed, espe- 

 cially in hardwood flooring. It now appears to be a case of getting out 

 and hustling. The market is opening up and needs only a little pushing. 

 There still is noticeable a heaviness in the East and southern Jlichigan. 

 which markets always tend to govern conditions in the Queen City, but 

 despite the rather discouraging outlook from contiguous quarters the 

 local market bears up unusually well. 



While the demand continues scattered and spotty, there is a pro- 

 nounced movement in .Vmerican walnut and maple, these two constituting 

 the best sellers at present in the Cincinnati market. The latter gets its 

 impetus directly from the unprecedented activity in the automobile manu- 

 facturing business. The demand for maple, which is used so extensively 

 in automobile bodies, is reported from various concerns as the heaviest 

 known in some .years, and as nsual in cases where the demand suddenly 

 settles Vpon one line, the supply is inadequate. Millmen complain, but 

 their troubles do not come from lack of orders and inquiries; but the 

 supply back o[ the mills is reported in some cases as lieing exceedingly low 

 and there is a constant dread of losing business which demands quii k 

 delivery. 



A rather curious condition of affairs has resulted on account of the 

 heavy sudden movement in walnut and maple. Yellow jdne. for which 

 Cincinuati is a considerable market, is practically at a standstill, accord- 

 ing to reports from wholesalers specializing in this line, while other lum 

 her which ordinarily does not command so niu<'h attention in the local 

 market is setting records for activity. The only explanation of this 

 peculiar condition is the unseasonable weather. Optindstic views now 

 are freely expressed throughout the country on business in general, all 

 lines of endeavor seeiidngly gathering new strength, so a backward spring 

 appears to be the only object availabb' ii[ion which to lay the blame for 

 a retrograde market in the yelbtw pine. 



Oak for the construction of railroad cars Is moving in sonu' quarters 

 with encouraging speed. The railroads with added zest, owing to recent 

 fairly favorable decisions by the Interstate Commerce Commission, are get 

 ting into the buying nmrket more freely. Improvements in general appear 

 to be the watchword, and not only is main line construction l)elng 

 planned extensively for the spring and summer, but it is predicted from 

 the volume of Inquiries that there will be an increase In the rolling stoiU 

 of the big trunk lines. 



Cypress interests have started out persistently to boom the market and 

 have been met wdth considerable response. This is directly in line with 

 building operations, the cypress man and the future home builder work 

 ing to each other's good. Implement and vehicle manufacturers feel t\u- 

 advent of spring and are buying in this quarter. 



Cottonwood and gum, principally of low grade, are enjoying a good call 

 from the planing mills and bo.\ factories. Poplar gained during the past 

 couple of weeks, l>ut was not In the active list, although giving promise of 

 color later on. Advice received here by dealers In high-grade gum from 



Kentucky Vcnccr Works 



HIGH-GRADE— WELL-MANUFACTURED 



Vcnccrs 



IN SAWED AND SLICED QUARTERED 

 WHITE OAK AND QUARTERED RED GUM. 

 OUR ROTARY CUT GUM AND POPLAR 

 CROSSBANDING V7NEERS ARE EXCEP- 

 TIONALLY GOOD. 



Louisville Kentucky 



Rotary Cut Veneers 



in Gum 

 in Oak 

 in Ash 



Flat Drawer Bottoms 



Band Sawn Hardwood Lumber 



All kinds 

 All grades 

 All thickness 



Made b^ ourselves 

 In our orvn mills 



Stimson Veneer & Lumber Co. 



Memphis boxiois Tennessee 



The Tegge Lumber Co. 



High Grade 



Northern and Southern 



Hardwoods and Mahogany 



Specialties 



OAK, MAPLE, CYPRESS, POPLAR 

 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 



