HARDWOOD RECORD 



43 



hundred locomotives wore standing "dead" in 

 the Coster shops at Knoxville, and there were 

 hardly enough engines to earn on the pas- 

 senger traffic, while the freight was practic- 

 ally suspended for several days and only the 

 perishable stuff was moved at all. Shippers 



were unable to get ems during the strike, and 

 after they got them were not in much better 

 position, as they could nol gel them moved. 

 The officials of the Southern are to be com- 

 plimented on their admirable conduct under 

 the trying circumstances. 



Chattanooga. 



The demand for all grades of poplar is now 

 almost equal to that of the higher grades of 

 oak. This is a condition which has not ex- 

 isted in this market in ten years. There 

 have been many inquiries for all grades of 

 poplar within the past six weeks. This is 

 probably because the consumer is learning to 

 substitute poplar for the manufacture of fur- 

 niture, coffins, building material, etc. 



The percentage of the higher grades is 

 being reduced every year in consequence of 

 an inferior grade of logs coming in. Gum, 

 elm. sycamore and other woods, heretofore 

 rather a drug on the market, now find ready 

 sale, as anything in condition to ship or work 

 finds ready buyers. Stocks of poplar have not 

 been so low for years. There is a limited 

 quantity of poplar in the various yards here, 

 but the bulk of it is under contract. A num- 

 ber of the mills have been unable to fill their 

 orders as fast as the trade required the lum- 

 ber on account of the excessive rains here 

 for the past two months and the unusual 

 ' shortage of labor in the lumber yards. 



Nashville. 



Nashville lumbermen are suffering severely 

 from the car famine. Some of the lumbermen 

 are from 50 to 100 cars behind on their ship- 

 ments and others report as high as 300. 



Prices as a rule have not changed, however, 

 in any line; the demand is good in all lines 

 and nothing is dragging. Poplar at this time 

 is reported as being in special demand. The 

 uses to which this wood are put are becoming 

 more numerous and it has grown in popu- 

 larity and increased in value. 



Memphis. 



The hardwood lumber situation hen is quite 

 healthy so far as prices are concerned, but 

 there is a pronoun* ed scarcity of stock. The 

 domestic demand is exceptionally good, though 

 the export call is somewhat slow, largely the 

 result of the high prices demanded for south- 

 ern hardwoods. Quarter sawed red oak is 

 lather slow in all grades, though there is 

 nothing suggestive of a surplus in this wood. 

 The mills have made rather better progress in 

 cutting lumber during the past few days, but 

 the output is still considerably below the 

 average, with the result that no headway is 

 being made in restoring local stocks to any- 

 thing like normal. The demand is not only 

 good now, but the trade believes it will con- 

 tinue so because of the phenomenal evidences 

 of prosperity in every part of the country and 

 particularly in the hardwood lumber consum- 

 ing industries. 



Ash is easily the strongest feature of the 

 list. The demand is active while the supply 

 is exceptionally limited. All grades and thick- 

 nesses arc wanted, especially in stock that is 

 dry enough, for immediate use. 



Plain oak is showing continued strength. 

 The demand for this lumber, in both red and 

 white and in all thicknesses, is excellent and 

 prices have advanced to a record level. Quar- 

 ter-sawed red oak is, as already suggested, 

 rather quiet, but there is better demand for 

 quarter-sawed white oak than recently experi- 

 enced. The volume of business in the latter, 

 however, is scarcely as large as it should be 

 at this season. 



Cypress is a reads seller in all grades at 

 very stiff prices. There is a scarcity of this 

 wood in all grades. Cypress is reported by 

 seme members ,,i He- trade to rank next in 

 strength to ash. 



Poplar is in fairly good demand with offer- 

 ings here very limited but with prices well 

 maintained. Cottonwood is a good seller in all 

 grades, with the most pronounced strength in 

 box boards and in the lower grades which 

 are used in box manufacture. There is a 

 di ei.led scarcity of Cottonwood in all grades. 

 and the demand is reported by some to be 

 the best ever experienced. Firsts and sec- 

 onds Cottonwood arc in good demand, and the 

 movement of these grades is about as large 

 as the limited offerings will allow. 



There is a lively movement in gum. though 

 there arc. some complaints that firsts and 

 seconds red are not as active as they were a 

 short time ago. However there is no accumu- 

 lation even iii this class of stock. The lower 

 grades and clear saps are wanted at current 

 prices and all off, rings are readily taken at 

 figures which are gratifying to the local trade. 



New Orleans. 



There has been comparatively little activity 

 in the local hardwood market during the last 

 fortnight. The exports continue fairly good 

 and the same might be said of the interior 

 demand. The mills are increasing their stocks 

 and the prices remain steady. A number of 

 the fall bin eis have gone to work and it is 

 expected that the operators of these will, 

 within a very short time, begin to have a 

 boosting effect upon the market. At present. 

 however, comparatively little is going on. 



Louisville. 



The trade here is concerning itself more 

 with the work of getting out and shipping 

 stock than with the market for hardwood. 

 The market is taking care of itself pretty well 

 and there is no complaint on this score. One 

 noticeable thing about the present situation 

 is the efforts of those who have or can pro- 

 duce gum to raise the market price on this 

 product. They are succeeding, too, and the 

 market value of common gum today is not 

 only a couple of dollars higher than it was a 

 few months ago but is promising to go still 

 higher yet and to involve the movement of 

 larger quantities of gum than ever before. It 

 leoks like the beginning of an awakening in 

 gum that will, if continued without mishap, 

 soon place the wood in the position it de- 

 serves in the hardwood market. In the oak 

 market there is practically no change to note, 

 and the demand is good. The most urgent 

 call continues to be for car stock and some 

 pretty good orders for this material have been 

 booked lately. Plain oak continues firm and 

 in good demand, and the manufacturers find 

 no trouble in making fairly good disposition of 

 all the stock they get. The weather of late 

 has been favoring the mill men in the country 

 districts, but rather against those depending 

 on lb., rivers for moving logs. Some of the 



river mills are ou1 of nmission, but those 



that are logging by land are doing some hus- 

 tling these days. Poplar is the strongest item 

 on the list in point ol price and also in point 

 of demand i i 1 1 r 1 1 1 .. 1 1 .-. I to supply of dry stock. 

 There is some stock moving all the time, but 

 not as much as there would be if it were dry 

 .mil reads foi the mark. I. Quite a number of 

 tie local people, to.,, are piling stock for 

 mo. . iiinii on the rivers rather than 

 for immediate shipment by rail, and il con- 

 tinues all around to be a manufacturers' mar- 

 ket. 



Minneapolis. 



Tli ri hi been an active movement of birch 

 1 in tin past week or two. and this lum- 



ber is in, longer found carried in large stocks 

 The surplus which existed has been reduced 



to proportions about normal, and mills ami 

 yards will carry just fair stocks into tin win 

 ei season. Prices have not advanced mate- 

 rially as y, t. inn there is no occasion to, ,,,,. 

 marked weakness in birch. All the othei 

 woods have been stiff iii price and remain o 

 Northern red and white oak are practically 

 gone, :im I I here is a steady call foi southern 

 stocks. owing I,, car shortage condition! 



""■'■■ shipments are irregular ai ilatorj 



Prices of oak and of oil the thern woods 



but birch are Hrm. The factory trad,- is tak- 

 ing elm of any description now. ami factories 

 looking for cheap lumber are taking soft elm 

 freely. Maple is selling -won, a nd Here is a 

 I, a,vy call for flooring. Basswood is running 

 low generally. The upper grades are firm, 

 while culls are almost out of the market, ,,„ 

 ing to the heavy demand from box manufac- 

 turers. Low-grade stock in all the hardw I 



is selling readily for box and crate purposes. 

 and at better prices. 



The large factories are all watching the mar- 

 ket closely now. and seeking to annex every- 

 thing they will need for the winter's con- 

 sumption, either in stocks on hand or con- 

 tracted. The sash and door factories and tin 

 flooring concerns have been particularly act 

 ive. Country yard trade is quiet now. and 

 comes mainly in small orders for yard stock- 

 to go into mixed cars, flooring being the chief 

 item demanded 



Toledo. 

 Maple is improving; there is a better de- 

 mand for this wood, with stocks generally 

 low. The demand for basswood of late has 

 shown improvement. Oak seems to be hard 

 to get, ami the condition is generally con- 

 ceded to be growing worse. The general tone 

 of the hardwood market is good in view of the 

 ii' it building boom in the city at present. 

 At the city building inspector's office, the re- 

 ports are of the most encouraging nature. 

 For Hie ten months ,,f the present year, the 

 total valuation of building in the city is about 

 63 per cent greater than the total lor tin- 

 entire vein- of 1905. For October, as compared 

 with the same month a year ago. the Increase 

 in valuation is over 100 per cent. The car 

 shortage is a serious problem in this terri- 

 tory. 



London. 



There is a fail demand for all lumber at the 

 moment and while the trade is not busy stocks 

 are moving in a more easy manner and the 

 goods arriving on consignment, though not 

 making for firmer prices, keep the market well 

 supplied. 



Plain oak boards and planks are in good 

 demand at fair prices, and most parcels if 

 dry are readily sold for immediate consump- 

 tion. There is very little demand for quar- 

 tered oak. except for wide stock. 



In walnut, the arrivals of common one inch 

 boards are more than sufficient for the mar- 

 ket's wants, but there is a good demand for 

 all grades of thin boards. Logs are wanted. 

 but only of the best quality and fit for 

 veneers. 



In whit, wood, there is a good demand for 

 prime thin dressed stock, of which the m 

 ket is bare, and higher prices are being asked 

 and paid for same. Planks are in fair de 

 mand, and cull boards are in very good re- 

 quest at full [in 



The demand for medium quality inch satin 

 walnul boards is active, while prim,- bo 

 are slow ,,f sale, but Hi, market is bare of 

 stock. 



Ash planks ami logs are in good den 



mil fun prices ai.- i g paid for any pa 



arriving. 



Good prices are being paid for mahogany 

 logs off, ring, but even this does not bring a 

 plentiful snppl>. ami there is eager competi- 

 tion ai public auction, il,,. usual metbo 

 selling tins wood here. 



