20 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



the winter months. Inasmuch as low grade 

 poplar has been used extensively in the manu- 

 facture of boxes and for other purposes for 

 which white pine is employed the scarcity of 

 both poplar and pine may well be regarded with 

 concern by those who use either. A conserva- 

 tive estimate places the decrease in white pine 

 for 1907 at 400,000,000 feet. A similar de- 

 crease in the output of poplar will not take 

 place, but the proportion of loss probably will 

 be as great. This condition carries its own 

 recommendation to all concerned in the out- 

 come. 



Cottonwood and Gum. 



Within tie last few years both eottonwcod 

 and gum have become established parts of the 

 hardwood lumber supply of the country. Sup- 

 plies have been more adequate than in many 

 other kinds of wood because timber has been 

 more plentiful. This is the natural position of 

 new material seeking favor but scarcely is ap- 

 plicable to conditions of the Cottonwood trade 

 in 1906. Conditions surrounding the produc- 

 tion of gum and cottonwood are the same, >.\ 

 ing to the close relation in which these timbers 

 grow. Manufacturers are experiencing the same 

 trouble outlined in the case of oak producers in 

 the Mississippi valley. It is scarcely possible, 

 owing to the interruption of logging operations, 

 for an output of normal size to be reached. The 

 result of this state of affairs is to strip both 

 cottonwood and gum of the advantage of ade- 

 quate stock which most of the younger suitors 

 for public favor enjoy. 



Values show the influence of an enlarged de- 

 mand. Cottonwood box boards are now bringing 

 ?51 and No. 1 common .$25 f. o. b. Cairo. All 

 grades are moving freely, but the lower grades 

 of cottonwood are becoming scarce owing to 

 the unusually heavy demand for package mate- 

 rial. The majority of producers are oversold 

 on low grades and some of them are having 

 difficulty iu meeting the demand for box boards 

 and tirsts and seconds. 



A broader knowledge of the qualities and 

 merits of gum has given this wood a niche of 

 its own among the hardwoods. Under normal 

 conditions it would be possible to enlarge pro- 

 duction materially, but at present the weather 

 interposes an insurmountable obstacle, as condi- 

 tions in the sections where gum abounds are 

 decidedly unfavorable for logging operations. This 

 year it has been impossible for the manufac- 

 turer to accumulate any sizable stocks of sap 

 grades. Box manufacturers and furniture fac- 

 tories have supplied a ready market for all 

 stock in condition to ship. The red or heart 

 stock has not moved as fast as the sap lumber 

 but owing to the relatively small production 

 of these grades manufacturers have had no diffi- 

 culty in carrying the small surplus and have 

 excellent prospects of a. satisfactory market for 

 this material in the near future. Red gum has 

 advanced rapidly but the future probably will 

 see still greater improvement. 



Producers and users of gum have studied the 

 peculiarities of this wood and now handle and 

 use gum as gum should be used, not in accord- 

 ance with' methods which proved satisfactory 

 when some other kind of lumber is involved. 

 Gum has taken its place as one of the standard 

 articles' of hardwood produced by manufacturers 

 in this country. 



ASH. 



Ash is one of the woods which fill a certain 

 function in the trade. It is perhaps in greatest 

 demand and lightest supply of any hardwood in 

 the country. Particularly is this true with re- 

 spect to t.he better qualities. Demand is heavier 

 than the supply and those producing ash of any 

 kind find it difficult to accumulate anything like 

 a respectable assortment of sizes and grades. 

 The heaviest call at this time is for thick sizes, 

 which manufacturers are recommended to cut 

 in order to satisfy the wants of users. 



Hickoet. 



Hickory supplies are practically a minus 

 quantity. The output is decreasing rapidly and 

 the call from vehicle manufacturers and other 

 users steadily is enlarging. There does not 

 seem to be any satisfactory substitute for it. 

 The tendency of the times will keep prices at 

 least on the present level should further ad- 

 vances not be made because of light supplies. 



Of late years carriage and wagon manufactur- 

 ing concerns have endeavored to buy hickory cut 

 to suit their requirements. Realizing this 

 change, some of the larger lumber concerns have 

 installed separate plants so as to shape the ma- 

 terial as the user desires it. This methed of 

 handling the timber makes it of more value and 

 should enable the manipulator to secure more 

 for his hickory, because only those portions 

 which are suitable for their several special uses 

 are shipped. 



Dimension Stock. 



Furniture dimension stock has not responded 

 as readily as many desire to the generally im- 

 proved demand and price of other kinds cf 

 hardwood lumber. Producers feel, however, 

 that they should have proportionate prices for 

 their material. Low values this year are due 

 largely to carrying out contracts made early in 



the season, with which at least one party thereto 

 is dissatisfied. In the event contracts are made 

 for 1907 delivery it is generally thought prices 

 will show a material advance over those ruling 

 in 1906. 



Other Woods. 



Conditions affecting chestnut, basswood, ma- 

 ple, elm, sycamore, walnut, butternut and 

 cherry, comprising those woods of lesser impor- 

 tance, quantity of product considered, with few 

 exceptions have been entirely satisfactory. Val- 

 ues have improved this year in sympathy with 

 the general betterment of prices of the hard- 

 wood leaders in the market. Sound wormy 

 chestnut is in great demand and stocks are lim- 

 ited. Basswood is becoming more widely known 

 and the demand is heavy. 



. The Year. 



The hardwood trade of 1906 has been ex- 

 tremely gratifying to producers and distribu- 

 ters. The demand has been broad enough to 

 furnish a market for practically every foot of 

 every grade and size that was produced. It 

 has not been a case of a heavy call for one 

 item and a limited market for many others, 

 but a broad, uniform demand for the whole 

 range of woods, gum and cottonwood to cherry 

 and walnut. 



HardWood Record Moil Bag. 



[In this department it is proposed to reply 

 to such inquiries as reach this office from the 

 Hardwood Record clientage as will be of enough 

 general interest to warrant publication. Every 

 patron of the paper >s invited to use this de- 

 partment to the fullest extent, and an attempt 

 will be made to answer queries pertaining to all 

 matters of interest to the hardwood trade, iu 

 a succinct and intelligent manner.! 



Insurance Standard Woodworker. 



Boston, Mass.. Nov. 22. — Editor Hardwood 

 Record: Enclosed find copy of the Insurance 

 Standard Woodworker, which shows how to re- 

 duce the fire hazard and obtain a low insurance 

 rate. The undersigned, who is inspector for the 

 Lumber Mutual Insurance Companies, wrote the 

 pamphlet and will furnish one gratis to any lum- 

 berman or owner of a woodworking plant who 

 mentions your paper in his application. 



This goes to the trade papers and record will 

 be kept of results from each paper. We think 

 there is need for such a book and also wish in- 

 formation as to which paper is in touch with 

 people the companies should reach. Will be 

 ] chased if you will put this letter in your read- 

 ing matter. Very truly yours. A. L. Artz, In- 

 spector, 1133 Oliver Building, Boston. Mass. 



Accompanying the above letter was the 

 pamphlet referred to, which should be in the 

 hands of every lumberman and which will 

 be sent to anyone interested on application 

 to the writer. — Editor. 



An Appreciation and a Record. 



Colimiua. Tkxn., Dec. 1. — Editor Hardwood 

 Record : Enclosed find our check for $ 2 covering 

 subscription for the coming year. We can't well 

 do hardwood business without the Record. We 

 recently sold to the Central Lumber Company 

 hi' Nashville. Tenn., seven old time yellow poplar 

 logs scaling 9,398 feet. Can you beat this? — 

 Mavberry Mill Company. 



The Mayberry Mill Company is an old 

 and esteemed subscriber. Its story of 9,39S 

 feet for seven yellow poplar logs looks as if 

 it might be a record. If anyone can beat it 

 the Hardwood Eecord will be glad to an- 

 nounce it. 



Wants Quarter-Sawed Oak. 



New York City, Dec. 6. — Editor Hardwood 

 Record : I am in the market for the rather diffi- 

 cult requisition of 2.500 feet firsts and seconds 

 one and one-half inch. IS feet quarter-sawed 

 white oak, and 3,500 feet same grade and thick- 

 ness, 16 feet long. Can you suggest anyone who 

 would be willing to get this order cut for me? 



Quarter-sawed white oak of the grade, 

 thickness and length named is a pretty diffi- 

 cult order, even in the small quantity re- 

 quired. However, if any of the clients of the 

 Hardwood Record would like to figure on 

 this requisition the name of the correspond- 

 ent is at their disposal on application. — 

 Editor. 



Wants Table Legs. 



Newark, O., Nov. 20. — Editor Hardwood Rec- 

 ord : We are in the market for immediate ship- 

 ment of two or more cars of oak table legs in the 

 following sizes : 



3 x3 —26". 

 3'jx3U— 26". 



4 x4 —20". 



If you can put us in communication with any 

 mill in position to furnish this stock we will 

 appreciate it greatly and beg to thank you for 

 your kindness, in anticipation. — Com- 

 pany. 



The address of the writer of above inquiry 

 will be furnished to anyone interested. — 

 Editor. 



Annual American Forestry Association. 



The annual meeting of the American Forestry 

 Association will be held at Washington, D. C, 

 Wednesday, January 9. The meeting should 

 bring out a large attendance of members of the 

 association and friends of forestry, as impor- 

 tant business is to be transacted and officers 

 elected. 



Considerable attention will be given to the 

 White Mountain and Southern Appalachian Re- 

 serves, their significance, the importance of pass- 

 ing the bill establishing them and the methods 

 to be employed to secure such legislation. A 

 large attendance is greatly desired. 



