(tober 10, 191S 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



winter, when it was generally thought that at least 00 per cent of 1917 

 business would be done In 1018. The government restrictions, combined 

 with the lack of funds available In banks for building purposes, are the two 

 causes resijonslble for this poor showing la building. The direct reliec- 

 tlon upon the hardwood Industry, therefore, has been to curtail to the 

 smallest possible margin the amount of material going Into consuming 

 channels. With the house building program so limited, hardwood Interests 

 tind themselves unable to use tht principal outlet for their material, and 

 they have had to turn their attention to business elsewhere. This Is being 

 partly offset now by Arms doing government work, such as factory addi- 

 tions, trucks, automobile bodies ami parts. This means tliat much heavy 

 material, such as oak timbers, Uiw prices of flooring, ash, poplar and 

 similar woods for the truck Interests, arc being absorbed. Significantly 

 cuough there is nothing to indicate a reduction In prices at this time. 

 There is not such a surplus of stocks in hardwoods as in other lumber, 

 and with the approach of winter and the consequent possibility of reduc- 

 tion in receipts, holders here are not keen to unload at low prices to stimu- 

 late business. 



— •< INDIANAPOLIS > 



Every indication points to the fact tli:it there will soon be a radical 

 change in conditions surrounding the hardwood lumber industry in this 

 territory. It is now practically assured that a new hardwood demand of 

 Immense proportions is to soon show itself as a result of plans for gov- 

 ernment work at Fort Benjamin Harrison. 



The government is preparing to spend .$5,000,000 there in the building 

 of what will be one of the largest hospitals in the world. The building 

 will be two stories in height and will extend for 4000 feet, being about 

 2200 feet wide. Wood construction with metal and wood lath and stiici o 

 is to be used. Tentative plans tor this work have been announced at 

 Washington, but it is not generally known that a construction quarter- 

 master is already on the field to place the plans in operation as soon as 

 the designs are definitel.v decided upon. 



The building of such an immense structure cannot help but change the 

 hardwood situation in central Indiana, but as yet lumbermen are unable 

 to tell just what the demand will be. It is known that much of the 

 material will be ordered direct from the mills and that deliveries will be 

 made on government orders. It is expected that the retail trade of 

 Indianapolis will be called upon from time to time to supply such mate- 

 rials as are not immediately available. 



At this time there is no change in the hardwood situation. War demands 

 continue to form the bulk of the business. Car conditions have Jbeen some- 

 what favorable and the mills have been successful in laying in very large 

 supplies of logs for the winter. There has been an immense falling off in 

 the demand from all the customary sources of trade, but war orders arc 

 more than making up for this loss. Prices remain at old levels. 



•< EVANSVILLE >- 



There has been some improvement in the hardwood trade during the 

 past two weeks. Both orders and inquiries have been coming in nicely. 

 which leads manufacturers to believe that October, November and Decem- 

 ber will bring in a nice volume of trade. The demand for the best grades 

 of hardwood lumber, especially those wanted by the government in the 

 making of war materials, has been good for some time. The demand for 

 quartered white oak is especially strong and plain white oak has been 

 picking up some. Gum is steadier than it has been and hickory is strong. 

 Walnut is fair, the grades wanted by the government for war work being 

 in excellent demand. Maple and elm are in good demand. Poplar is 

 strong and hard to get. Quartered sycamore Is in fairly good demand, 

 ash is strong and Cottonwood is moving briskly. Prices are holding firm 

 and there is a tendency tor some grades to advance in price. 



The retail trade is slow, as it has been all season. Planing mills are 

 doing little outside of some repair work, and sash and door men say that 

 things are as about as dull as they could be. Yellow pine dealers report 

 trade slow. The various wood consuming plants in and near Evansville 

 are in the main being operated on full time. Veneer manufacturers report 

 an active trade. Some of the plants expect soon to start running on day 

 ;uid night schedule. Piow factories are busy and wagon plants have been 

 .liiing a great deal of government work during the past tew months. Crop 

 • ■nditions are promising. .\ large yield of corn is expected in this section 



nil farmers have just finished sowing a large acreage of wheat. 



Demand for hardwood lu 

 ing through more rapidly. : 

 rially restricting shipments 



increase in the near future 

 ward and increase in the (| 



-< MEMPHIS > 



xl lumber is fairly 



but permits, while corn- 

 ill rather slow and their absence is mate 

 the territory north of Potomac and Ohio 

 i. It is anticipated that there will be an 

 ■ rate at which these documents come for- 

 ty of lumber sent into the territory men- 



tioned. A better understanding of the order of the War Industries Board 

 exists, as well as a greater desire on the part of hardwood interests to co- 

 i.perate with the authorities at Washington, but it is recognized that 

 there will be considerable difficulty attending business. Further modifica- 

 tions of the order are being sought with a view to smoothing the difiiculties. 

 .Shipments of commercial lumber are below normal, partly because permits 

 cannot be secured and partly because, where they are securable. they are 



The following stock is in excellent 

 condition, ready for immediate shipment 



eholcMt Norttiero HIcbliaa Hardwooria 



Stack Lumber Company 



Masonville, Michigan 



AMERICAN LUMBER 

 & MFG. COMPANY 



PITTSBURGH 



PENNSYLVANIA 



Exclusive Selling Agents 



Lenox Saw Mill Company 



Lenox. Ky. 



PRODUCERS OF 



SOFT ▼ TEXTURE 



WHITE OAK and POPLAR 



All Three of Us Will Be Benefited if You Mention HARDWOOD RECORD 



