HARDWOOD RECORD 



May 10, 1918 



Of course it is true that 



Red Gum 



is America's finest cabinet wood — but 



Just as a poor cook will spoil the choicest 

 viands while the experienced chef will turn 

 them into prized delicacies, so it is true that 



The inherently superior qualities 

 of Red Gum can be brought 

 out only by proper heuidluig 



When you buy this wood, as when you buy a new 

 machine, you want to feel that you have reason for 

 believing it will be just as represented. 



We claim genuine superiority for our Gum. _ The 

 proof that you can have confidence in this claim is 

 shown by the letter reproduced herewith. 



Your interests demand that you remem- 

 ber this proof of our ability to preserve 

 the wonderful qualities of the wood 

 when you again want RED GUM. 



Paepcke Leicht Lumber Company 



CONWAY BUILDING 111 W. WASHINGTON ST. 



CHICAGO, ILL. 



Bond Hllla: Helena and BlrtheTlUe, Ark.; OreenTlUe. HUs. 



a rlocided handicap. Logging is making only moderate progress because of 

 sliortage of help and the outlook for big production of hardwood is regarded 

 as far from encouraging. 



Distribution is going along under fairly favorable conditions. There 

 are numerous complaints of car shortage for the handling of outbound 

 shipments, especially from non-competitive points. The embargo situation, 

 as will be seen from article published elsewhere in this issue of Hardwood 

 Record, is not quite as favorable as two weeks ago. There is a very 

 large amount of "restricted territory" into which shipments of lumber and 

 lumber products cannot be made for the time being unless for the govern- 



=■< LOUISVILLE >= 



Taken as a whole the hardwood demand is fairly active and the trade 

 is having no difficulty in obtaining good prices for all lumber that can be 

 shipped. However, production has been limited in volume for some time 

 past, due to the shortage of labor, cars, especially log cars, logs, and also 

 to the fact that traffic conditions have been such that many concerns 

 have not been especially anxious to increase production. With the eastern 

 market practically entirely cut off by the blanket embargo on southern 

 woods, the trade is being forced to some extent to confine its activities to. 

 the Central Freight Association territory and a few other districts. War 

 orders continue heavy, and are taking a good deal of hickory and poplar 

 stock, some heavy ash and oak and other lines. However, the cabinet and 

 furniture trade has not been buying to any extent this season, but may 

 wake up after the show season. Maple has been active and cotton has 

 also been in good demand, especially in boxboards. All veneers are good, 

 and there has been some improvement shown in ash and hickory vehicle 

 stock, especially dimension stock, this being due in part to some revival 

 of vehicle demand on account of the high cost of pleasure cars. It is 

 reported that some of the southern mills are so short of logs that they 

 are being forced to close down, and no improvement is looked to until the 

 farmers get their crops in and have a chance to cut logs. Road conditions 

 are rapidly improving, and with labor to cut the logs the situation will 

 be somewhat better. The log car situation has shown some improvement, 

 but tew mills are operating to capacity just now. 



=■< BEAUMONT >= 



Free movement of almost all grades of hardwood and increasing inquiries 

 have been met in this district by a sliglit curtailment in production. This 

 was not the fault of the manufacturers, but the heavy rains interfered with 

 logging operations, which were already being held down by the increasing 



shortage of labor. The ship building industry, which is growing to enor- 

 mous proportions along the gulf coast. Is paying a much higher price for 

 all classes of labor than the mills can afford with the result that between 

 this and the army drafts labor Is constantly getting scarcer. Mills that 

 depend upon contract teams for their logs are also suffering for want of 

 teams. 



There is a wonderful demand for oak cross ties for both main lines and 

 switches, and considerable interest is being manifested over what price the 

 government will likely fix. Hardwood men believe that the government 

 will dispose of this question within the next sixty days. 



Box factories appear to be awakening to the fact that stocks in their 

 grades are very scarce. Nos. 1, 2 and 3 common in both oak and gum are 

 particularly active and there is considerable inquiry for thick oak. North- 

 ern furniture factories appear to be anxious to secure material, while 

 the reputable hardwood men say "read the Hardwood Record on that little 

 Washington stunt" when vehicle factories are mentioned. 



Local men are at sea as to Just what effect the big government orders 

 for cars will have on the oak situation. They point out that there has 

 been a man ready with a good price to take every piece of ear material 

 offered, and if more lumber and timber of those dimensions are turned out 

 it will be at the expense of some other customer. 



The shipbuilding industry has caused a wonderful Increase in building, 

 and the permits issued for April amounted to $194,085, showing an increase 

 of $87,984 over April, 1917. 



=< MILWAUKEE >■- 



In spite of the fact that the acute shortage of labor still is a source 

 of great worry to the hardwood Industry of northern Wisconsin, the situa- 

 tion with respect to transportation of both logs and lumber remains crit- 

 ical. There has been no appreciable increase in the car supply and mills 

 are straining every resource to provide room for piling their output pend- 

 ing shipment. The situation is especially unfavorable because of the 

 urgent demand for lumber, particularly from the government or its con- 

 tractors. 



Notwithstanding the drawbacks of car and labor shortage, the lum- 

 ber manufacturers of the North intend to keep tbolr production at the 

 highest possible point, for even then they will be able to fill only a part 

 of the urgent requirements. Summer logging will be carried on in con- 

 siderable volume, limited, of course, only by the supply of woodsmen 

 available. Some mills which are equipped only to do summer sawing are 

 intending to arrange to provide facilities for winter work during the 1918- 

 1919 season. 



All TI>re« of U« WUI Be 



if You Mention HARDWOOD RECORD 



