HARDWOOD RECORD 



35 



no reason why an unusually successful business 

 should not be conducted this year. 



Bristol, Va.-Tenn. 



The past two weeks have fulfilled the predic- 

 tion generally made a month ago that the 

 sudden and marked improvement in the. car 

 supply was transitory and due to local condi- 

 tions coupled with the fact that there is less 

 demand for cars at this season of the year than 

 any other. Though the Virginia &. Southwestern 

 has augented its supply with a thousand 

 new cars within the past month, the situation 

 is not what it should be. 



The demand for stock is holding up well and 

 lumbermen have a roseate view of the future. 

 Heavy spring and summer business is looked for. 

 The mills in this section are nearly all run- 

 ning. The weather has been very propitious 

 for the past two weeks, though during January 

 and the first part of February much time was 

 lost on account of the extreme inclemency of 

 the weather. Indications are that spring will 

 open up early and the prospects for more activ- 

 ity in the lumber business than ever are bright. 



Cincinnati. 

 The local hardwood market has received added 

 impulse the last few weeks, the demand has 

 increased and some dealers report that they 

 have advanced the prices of the more desirable 

 stock $1 per M feet. There is but one setback 

 In this market and that is the car shortage ; 

 if some one could find a method of securing 

 desired facilities a small fortune would await 

 him. At present poplar grades continue to lead 

 all descriptions of lumber, and with added in- 

 quiry for spring trade a shortage in that stock 

 will undoubtedly result, as at present all stock 

 has a ready sale as soon as it leaves the mill. 

 Another strong factor is oak. All kinds are 

 meeting an unusually good demand and prices 

 are being held stiff. Hemlock, cypress and bass- 

 wood have a ready sale, with prices ranging 

 firm. Many spring orders are making their ap- 

 pearance and a difficult proposition now con- 

 fronts the lumbermen to accommodate them all. 

 Many concerns have orders on file that will 

 keep them busy for some weeks, and unless 

 other agreements are reached a serious loss of 

 trade will result. Each lumberman when asked 

 concerning the market asserted that it is at its 

 very best, and with the advent of spring even 

 a busier season is promised. 



St. Louis. 



The recent pleasant weather prevailing 

 throughout this region of late has had some 

 effect on the demand for hardwoods from con- 

 sumers, and manufacturers who have stocks to 

 offer are anticipating strong and more lively 

 buying in the near future. Unless very unfavor- 

 able • weather conditions again interpose, the 

 spring trade, which usually becomes noticeable 

 about this time, or even earlier, should immedi- 

 ately set in and soon be in full swing. The 

 hardwood men in this market, while of course 

 interested in prospective business, are usually 

 anxious to make sure of good supplies with 

 which to meet it when it comes. The car short- 

 age is still decidedly noticeable and the high 

 water and damp ground in the timber are still 

 hindering logging operations so that it is difficult 

 to round up shipments from the sections affected 

 In spite of the present clear weather. 



There is considerable stock on hand at the 

 mills which was sold up long ago but has not 



PORL/\R 



Rough and Dressed 



SOUTHERN HARDWOODS 



M. A. HAYWARD 



1021 Saving and Trust Bldg., Columbus, O. 



been moverl for lark of ears; however, holdings 

 arc below the usual amount on hand at this 

 season. Another result of bad weather condi- 

 tions was the shutting down of many plants for 

 a time, and many are still closed. 



All these factors contribute necessarily to keep- 

 ing prices strong on almost all items. Ash, 

 gum, poplar and Cottonwood are in great de- 

 mand, and in fact it is a matter of speculation 

 as to where sufficient stocks of these woods are 

 to be obtained to meet the anticipated spring 

 trade. Oak is unusually quiet. 



Nashville. 

 Local lumbermen state that conditions here 

 are quite unsatisfactory. Many reasons have 

 contributed to the situation. To begin with, 

 they will start into the spring business with a 

 great shortage of dry stock. They have orders 

 on hand now for all the dry stuff they have. 

 But this is not all. These conditions have made 

 prices rtrm. Some of the dealers say the ad- 

 vance in all lines will average $1 a thousand. 

 But with top prices and a big demand the local 

 lumbermen can't ship what they sell owing to 

 the shortage of cars. 



Memphis. 



The demand continues active and there is a 

 decreasing rather than increasing tendency in 

 the dry stock available in this center as well as 

 in tributary territory. The mills are much han- 

 dicapped by the scarcity of timber and the un- 

 favorable conditions surrounding production, 

 with the result that only moderate quantities of 

 lumber are going on sticks to supply the late 

 spring and early summer trade. This condition 

 is arousing much activity among buyers who are 

 actively competing for what is to be had and 

 as a consequence prices are about the highest 

 ever known here. The demand extends to prac- 

 tically every item of the list and is more pro- 

 nounced from domestic than foreign consumers. 

 Values are altogether in the sellers' favor and, 

 in the opinion of the majority of the trade, this 

 condition will continue indefinitely because, even 

 with more favorable weather, it will be well 

 along toward summer before there can be any 

 resumption of either logging or milling opera- 

 tions on a normal scale. 



Cottonwood is one of the strongest features, 

 being in very active demand in all grades, but 

 in most urgent request in the lower grades used 

 in box manufacture. The supply is much re- 

 stricted in these grades and buyers are having 

 unusual difficulties in securing their require- 

 ments. Box boards have sold here during the 

 past few days as high as $52 per thousand, f. 

 o. b. cars, which is something in the way of a 

 record itself. Very few Cottonwood mills are 

 running on full time. Gum is another strong 

 feature and, as with cottonwood, the demand for 

 Uiis is relatively better in the lower than in 

 the higher grades, though the latter are by no 

 means slow of sale. Ash is an excellent seller. 

 There is a liberal movement, limited offerings 

 considered, in plain red and white oak as well 

 as in quarter-sawed white oak. Quarter-sawed 

 red is less active than the other descriptions of 

 oak, but even this shows a tendency toward im- 

 provement. Cypress is a very satisfactory seller, 

 while poplar is moving without difficulty, even 

 the lower grades of this finding ready sale. 

 Predictions of further advances are being made 

 with confidence, and the basis on which hard- 

 woods in the South can be bought during the 

 next few weeks may be changed somewhat by 

 the announcement of a rather pronounced raise 

 in freight rates on lumber on the part of some 

 of the railroads operating in the Southwest. 



Minneapolis. 

 Trade In hardwoods is not very heavy, but 

 it is good considering the limited amount of 

 dry stock in sight. The price situation has not 

 greatly changed of late. While dry stock is un- 

 doubtedly low, it is a sure thing that most of 

 the big consumers of hardwood have laid in 



supplies for the coming two or three months. 

 Winter mills have some stock that is going to 

 be ready to ship fairly early in the spring, and 

 there is a good supply of hardwood logs going 

 in right along. The recent mild weather put 

 the woods in good shape, and did not last long 

 enough to spoil roads. Work is now going for- 

 ward in the logging camps rapidly, and it looks 

 as though there would not be any trouble in 

 hauling all the logs that are cut. The high 

 price of basswood has stimulated production in 

 that line and there is also a big crop of birch 

 being gotten out. 



There is a good run of orders for birch, which 

 is somewhat firmer in price and Is profiting by 

 the scarcity of other hardwoods. The factories 

 are all busy and are working up considerable 

 hardwood. -The sash and door people are al- 

 ready getting a good run of special orders call- 

 ing for oak and birch. The retail yard demand 

 is fair, but there is great difficulty in getting 

 hold of cars to fill orders and the movement of 

 stock to smaller towns is very light. 



Louisville. 



Better weather during the past two weeks has 

 enabled mill men In the Louisville territory to 

 get in good shape for the lirst time siuce the re- 

 cent Hood. The rain and high water has put 

 them behind considerably and now they are work- 

 ing strenuously in an effort to get in a little 

 better shape so lhat they can turn out stock 

 and make deliveries as they should. There is a 

 scramble for logs where cross country hauling is 

 necessary, and while most of the plants seem 

 well supplied it is only by extra efforts that 

 they have been able to keep enough logs coming. 

 The market meantime has continued to call fre- 

 quently for all sorts of hardwood stock, both for 

 Immediate and future delivery, and the millmen 

 who were in shape to turn out stock have a 

 prospect before them of an unusually good spring 

 with prices at which they can realize a fair 

 profit and with a demand for everything on the 

 hardwood list. 



Toledo. 



The local hardwood market is dominated by 

 a spirit of active buying, both by the retailer 

 and wholesaler. The demand is not equal to 

 the supply and this fact has stiffened prices. 

 All hardwoods are scarce, but oak seems to be 

 the hardest to get In anything like the quantities 

 and qualities demanded. Prices are expected to 

 go higher when the building season opens. To- 

 ledo this spring will have an exceedingly busy 

 season in all lines of building. Hardwoods 

 from the south are almost impossible to get 

 just now because of the car scarcity. 



London. 



Although the hardwood trade is not brisk, it 

 must be admitted that a fair amount of stock 

 is going into consumption at full prices. 



Three and 4-inch oak planks are badly wanted 

 and buyers are making bitter complaints to 

 shippers' agents about the nonfulfillment of con- 

 tracts made some months ago. Parcels arriving 

 are selling at very good prices, but most arrivals 

 of this thickness are sold on firm contracts. One, 

 1% and lVa inch boards have arrived on con- 

 signment very freely during January and most 

 parcels have been stored. These arrivals are 

 mostly Nos. 1 and 2 common, with which the 

 market may be said to be well stocked. Prime 

 boards are scarce, but the demand Is ouly fair. 

 Quartered boards are slow of sale, but there is 

 a fair demand for good planks. 



There have been several parcels of walnut 

 culls and "poor" medium received which have 

 been difficult to sell, the demand being for the 

 better grade wood in all thicknesses. Good logs 

 are badly wanted. Satin walnut is scarce, but 

 the demand is good for all grades and the sappy 

 wood is coming into favor with consumers here, 

 more especially if planed both sides. YVhitewood 

 of all grades is scarce, and high prices are being 

 paid to any agents who will guarantee their 

 contracts. 



