34 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



from $3 to $4 less. Sales are reported at the 

 outside figure. Quartered oak is also very firm, 

 being held at $S3 to $S5 for one inch stock. 

 A leading dealer received an order for common 

 quartered oak this week at a higher price than 

 he ever sold at before. A good call is found 

 for ash and prices are strong. Maple flooring 

 is moving. Chestnut is Arm. but offerings are 

 very moderate. Whitewood is in small supply 

 both here and at mill points. Prices are higher 

 than they were a few weeks ago. 



A very moderate export business is being ex- 

 perienced here. Dealers do not have to depend 

 upon the foreign markets for an outlet as 

 much as they once did. One of the veterans 

 in the Boston trade is authority for the state- 

 ment that a few years ago the foreign market 

 was used as a dumping ground when stocks got 

 large here, but that now the home demand prac- 

 tically absorbs receipts. 



New York. 



Local conditions in hardwoods continue bull- 

 ish all along the line and an active market 

 between now and spring is assured. With a 

 demand which seems to be general in all con- 

 suming branches, the only regrettable feature 

 is the market shortage of good hardwood lum- 

 ber in the better grades, and it is generally con- 

 ceded that all available supplies of hardwood are 

 going to bring fancy prices before the spring 

 wants of the trade are satisfied. Indeed, it is 

 not a. question of selling among the wholesale 

 trade, but distinctly one of buying, and all re- 

 turning pilgrims from hardwood producing sec- 

 tions bring the same tale of bare mill yards 

 and high prices. Another unfortunate condi- 

 tion in the present situation Is the inability 

 of such wholesale houses as have lumber at 

 mill points to ship the same out on order, due 

 to the car shortage. This is an exasperating 

 feature by reason of the fact that some of the 

 sharp wholesale buyers saw the present condi- 

 tion coming and bought heavily during the sum- 

 mer, and now that they are willing to allow 

 some of their holdings to go m the present 

 active market, they are unable to do so, although 

 the general attitude in the selling trade is to 

 hold on to stocks in view of the excellent out- 

 look for still better prices with the approach of 

 spring. 



Ih view of these conditions it Is almost super- 

 fluous to mention the market feature of the 

 different stocks. Ash is practically out of the 

 market, with prices exceedingly high. Better 

 grades of plain oak, birch, chestnut. and poplar 

 are exceedingly scarce and entirely in the hands 

 of the seller. Maple and beech are in scarce- 

 demand, and thick maple is going to be a scarce 

 article between now and spring. Quartered oak 

 is holding its own and. prices are constantly 

 tending upward. Cottonwood is likewise bullish 

 in price in view of the short stocks at mill 

 points. 



Conditions in the local mahogany and cedar 

 trade continue extremely active, with prices 

 still ruling on the highest level known in years, 

 namely, 8 to 12 cents for mahogany and 9 to 14 

 cents for cedar, according to quality. The 

 arrivals during the past month were a fair 

 average from all ports, but the demands of the 

 market were such that receipts almost imme- 

 diately passed into second hands, and the unsold 

 stock on hand Feb. 15 was meager. The market 

 in both woods is very strong and early ship- 

 ments from supply sources are urged and badly 

 needed. 



The car service remains the same serious im- 

 pediment to business and the mills, both in the 

 East and South, on account of the trade ob- 

 structing conditions there, are able to supply but 

 a fraction of the increased demands made upon 

 them. 



Chestnut, ash, poplar and basswood are scarce, 

 with prices high. Oak is a little easier to ob- 

 tain of late. Walnut is not called for to any 

 extent in this market and it is hard to get. 

 Maple flooring has a steady demand. Prices on 

 all hardwoods are steep and will probably go 

 higher yet. Preparations for building operations 

 in the spring go on, but trolley and railroad 

 building has been retarded somewhat by the 

 severe weather during the fortnight. Yards are 

 fairly well stocked and dealers are anticipating 

 considerable activity in the spring. Authorities 

 on the subject, who were dubious a few months 

 ago as to a continuation of the phenomenally 

 prolific business of 1906, now predict another 

 banner year. 



Baltimore. 



The hardwood lumber situation here has 

 undergone practically no-change during the past 

 two weeks. Stocks of all kinds are still in 

 active demand and prices are as high as ever. 

 In fact, the prevailing tendency seems to be 

 upward and dealers are eager to take up stocks. 

 The bad weather and the bottomless roads, to- 

 gether with the almost unprecedented floods in 

 various sections, have served to curtail the pro- 

 duction of the mills and prevent shipments, so 

 that the available supply is smaller than ever, 

 while the demand continues unabated. Car 

 building shops and other large consumers are 

 ready to place large orders, and much competi- 

 tion at milling points is the result. It is quite 

 evident that months must elapse before the 

 production will again attain a volume commen- 

 surate with the inquiry, and meanwhile more 

 or less embarrassment to users of lumber must 

 result. It is now the general belief that the 

 range of quotations will be maintained for an 

 indefinite period, at least no easing off is ex 

 pected. Oak leads in point of demand, with 

 mills receiving numerous inquiries, and making 

 .■very effort to get out lumber. though 

 delivery is very uncertain and shipments 

 are attended with much delay. The sup 

 plies are now below actual needs of the 

 trade, and in numerous instances the figures 

 asked do not represent the real market condi- 

 tions, for the reason that mill men, if their 

 terms were accepted, would not be in a posi- 

 tion to furnish the stocks. The exporters are 

 also after supplies, but the foreign business con- 

 tinues rather quiet and no decided change is 

 expected for the present. Ash is hardly less 

 active, with values well up to the highest notch 

 and the outlook for getting lumber in adequate 

 quantities by no means promising. Chestnut, 

 ' beech and other woods are also moving as freely 

 as circumstances will permit. Walnut is taken 

 up as rapidly as desirable lumber and logs reach 

 the market, and the prices realized are suffi- 

 ciently attractive to bring out trees that have 

 been preserved for years. The inquiry for pop- 

 lar is very brisk, the boxmakers and other 

 consumers being in urgent need of supplies, and 

 the range of prices ruling very firm. 



Philadelphia. 



All lumbermen agree on the general prosperity 

 in the hardwood business. The furniture fac- 

 tories of eastern Pennsylvania are buying freely. 

 There is no diminution of activity in sash and 

 door mills and indoor finish plants. Box makers 

 are buying up everything that can be converted 

 into boxes, and veneer manufacturers are plac- 

 ing large orders. 



especially with respect to oak and chestnut, but 

 very few dealers have advanced their quotations 

 lately. It is pretty certain that price advances 

 will be made, however, as soon as the spring 

 building season opens fairly. 



Oak takes precedence over all other hardwoods 

 in demand. Stocks are low and dry lumber is 

 very hard to get at any price. The call for oak 

 trim and for heavy timbers is strong and buyers 

 are anxious for early deliveries. The oak mills 

 of western Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia 

 have been running as steadily as the weather 

 would permit, but are not accumulating any sur- 

 plus of oak. 



Chestnut is also a good seller at present. 

 Poles are going well and box manufacturers are 

 taking considerable lumber of the lower grades. 

 Elm is badly wanted by the cooperage concerns. 

 Ash and hickory, especially the latter, are taking 

 a foremost place in the list of hardwoods and 

 are commanding excellent prices in the eastern 

 market and among the implement and furniture 

 firms of the Middle West. Recently some big 

 inquiries have been received for maple flooring 

 and Pittsburg firms are taking more interest in 

 this wood than for some time previous. 



Pittsburg. 



The hardwood market is in splendid shape, 

 with every indication that it will be equally 

 prosperous throughout the year. Present condi- 

 tions are bearing out fully the predictions made 

 by a few conservative wholesalers last August 

 that the man who had a chance to buy hard- 

 woods then stood to make money before summer 

 came again. Some dealers profited by the ad- 

 vice and loaded up with all the common stock 

 and mill culls they could get. Now they are 

 selling lumber at a good profit and the buyers 

 come to them to deal. 



Throughout the hardwood list prices are well 

 maintained. Rumors of higher prices are heard, 



Buffalo. 



Trade in hardwoods in Buffalo and vicinity is 

 active, and prices on all woods are firm. Lum- 

 bermen look for a continuance of present pros- 

 perous conditions between now and spring and 

 many predict a big rush of orders then. 



Oak is very scarce and in active demand. 

 Dealers who have looked into the question care- 

 fully state that there will doubtless be enough 

 I»la in oak to supply the demand, but quartered 

 will remain short for a while, as many mills 

 have cut plain stock almost to the exclusion of 

 quartered. Ash is very scarce and the demand 

 for it frequent, which is true also of chestnut. 

 Birch is plentiful, but is being used so much 

 more now than formerly that the stocks on hand 

 cannot last very long. Maple is in fairly good 

 supply and prices are strong. Local mills have 

 received some poplar logs recently and a replen- 

 ishing of the poplar market is looked for 

 eagerly. However, this stock will not last long 

 considering the activity of the demand. Prices 

 are of course high. 



Saginaw Valley. 



Trade is good and the market for basswood, 

 elm and ash is hardening. The supplies of ash 

 are not large, that timber having been pretty 

 thoroughly cleaned up, but elm and basswood is 

 in fairly good supply. Prices are stiff. No. 2 

 common basswood brings $25 to .$28 and mill 

 culls bring $18. Elm is quoted at $22 to $29 

 and culls at $13 to $14. 



Maple flooring is strong and looking up. Nos. 

 1 and 2 are quoted at $30 and the lower grades 

 at $20 and up. 



For firsts and seconds maple lumber the quota- 

 tion is $24: No. 1 common, $17 and $18; No. 

 2. $11 and $12, and culls $9 and $10. 



Log run beech is held at $15 and there is a 

 very good movement for the season. No. 2 com- 

 mon birch is held at $20 and $25. 



There isn't a great deal of oak in the market, 

 but it is firm at $35. Ash is quoted at $30 for 

 the top grades and $12 for the bottom. 



Stocks in dealers' and manufacturers' hands 

 are much smaller than they were a year ago and 

 the market conditions and prospects are in every 

 way improved. 



Indianapolis. 



Trospects for an enormous spring business in 

 hardwoods are bright in this city and in all 

 parts of Indiana. Car service does not seem to 

 be much improved, but enough shipments are 

 being made to meet demands in a fairly satis- 

 factory manner. In the southern part of the 

 -i mii' the high waters have receded and have 

 greatly improved the situation, allowing hard- 

 wood men to get logs to the mills. The furni- 

 ture factories are all busy and there seems to be 



