HARDWOOD RECORD 



isly dlstui-l)C(l the general business world and are leading to tlie 



yriM ral opinion, logical or otliorwlse, that If Congress were to adjourn 

 and go home, things would adjust themselves and trade revive. The 

 constant agitation, suspense and anxiety as to what will happen next, 

 naturally interferes with the hope of a settled prosperity. The only 

 really encouraging sign as to outlook, was the visit to this city recently 

 of two buyers from England who are in the market for 500 cars of 

 hardwoods. 



Building work Is advancing, and although no boom is expected, there 

 is quite a large amount of this line of work under way, and yards are 

 beginning to feel somewhat encouraged. InQulries are coming In more 

 freely than for some time, resulting In some good business. Some of 

 the local firms claim that the March trading doubled that of the same 

 month of 1913, while others report business below normal. The total 

 amount of business since .January 1, however, has averaged up fairly 

 well, and prices are well maintained. Oak of all kinds holds steady : low 

 grades of poplar and ehostiuit are In good demand. Oum Is steady, and 

 ash, maple, birch and 1m—. -Ii unwoakenod. 



=-< BALTIMORE >-- 



There is little of an especially encouraging nature to be said about 

 the hardwood trade of this section, which remains rather uneventful, 

 with the movement restricted and with prices easy. At the prevailing 

 values lumber ought to be very attractive to the buyers, but the latter 

 are not disposed to go beyond their present needs In the matter of 

 commitments because the outlook is not especially reassuring and the 

 general situation leaves much to be desired. It has been found by 

 experience that the matter of price really cuts no big figure in the 

 movement and that when business is good the buyers will purchase more 

 freely, even at the high values, than they do when it Is possible ti. 

 get bargains, but when the prospects are uncertain no one can till 

 how long it may be necessary to hold stocks before they can be ill"- 

 posed of. With the general requirements more or less curtailed, tin' 

 buyers are holding down to wants as they develop, and even the low 

 prices that prevail do not go far to stimulate the inquiry, though it Is 

 also to be said that within the last two or three weeks a somewhat 

 better tone has made itself felt in the trade. The wholesalers here 

 report that they are finding the yards and other buyers somewhat more 

 receptive to offers than was the case not so long ago, and that there 

 are indications of a revival, not especially pronounced as yet, but none 

 the less definite enough to leave no doubt that the requirements in the 

 way of all kinds of hardwoods are rather larger than they have been. 

 With more settled weather various activities wherein lumber Is used 

 have been prosecuted, with the result that the needs in this direction 

 are greater. The builders, for Instance, are calling for stocks to an 

 extent wanting not so long ago, and it Is also to be said that the wood 

 working establishments, though not so dependent upon the weather, are 

 showing an interest in tenders that serves to encourage the dealers. 

 With the furniture factories at work on next season's goods, these 

 establishments are more actively in the market and their purchases help 

 to swell the total. The sawmills have all gotten back to work, and the 

 production is materially larger than it has been. Good dry oak is none 

 too plentiful at this time, while chestnut has not undergone any impor- 

 tant modifications, sound wormy being called for with gratifying freedom 

 and in quantities that keep down the assortments at the mills, but with 

 other grades far less active. Poplar is quiet as to the lower grades, 

 with the better kinds of lumber in fairly good request, while the rest 

 of the list is Just about where it was two weeks ago. Export conditions 

 are still decidedly unsatisfactory, with the movement restricted, and 

 with the range of prices on the other side too low to be remunerative. 



=-< CINCINNATI >■- 



There is very little if any improvement in the hardwood situation. 

 Dealers do not complain tliat business is suffering any more than last 

 month, but other lines of trade are claiming a steady decline. Ship- 

 ments and receipts are light. Dealers are not buying or ordering into 

 yards here anything that is not needed, rather following the same 

 poli-?y as the buyers of the large wood consuming factories of this sec- 

 tion, who are buying only just what they have to have. Inquiries are 

 not quite so numerous as a few weeks ago, indicating a further dullness. 

 Lumbermen are at a loss to solve the problem, there being no real rea- 

 son as far as they can see for such a slump of so long duration. They 

 are hopeful that a clearance of the political situation will have some 

 good effect, and feel that as soon as the Interstate Commerce Commis- 

 sion will grant the 5 per cent increase in freight rates to the railroads 

 they will start buying in liberal quantities lumber, pig iron and steel, 

 which it is thought will have a tendency to start the ball rolling. This 

 should also have a tendency toward the employment of the now thou- 

 sands of idle workingmen. 



Ash, as is usual, is very active, and both plain and quartered oak is 

 in fair demand, moving steadier than other hardwoods. Poplar in good 

 grades is hard to move, but low grades sell readily. High-grade red 

 gum is very slow in movement, sap gum in the same grade, however, 

 moving much more freely, while low grades of both are in very good 

 request. Maple is a fair seller at this time and should there be a re- 

 vival of the furniture trade, this wood will be in active demand, as it 

 has come into much favor for that purpose. Cottonwood is in only 



Important 

 Announcement 



Wllli.X you attend the Forest I'roduct.s R.x- 

 position in Chicago look for C-34 and in- 

 vestigate the results of the new Patented 

 marvelous Process for bleaching and extractins; 

 sap from wood. The inventor. Mr. A. Franck- 

 I'hilipson. of 



Franck-Philipson & Co. 



will be present and explain this wonderful proc- 

 ess to you. We will show you how Red Birch 

 can be made white and look similar to White 

 Maple ; how the red heart of Hickory can be 

 made colorless ; how Red Maple Veneer can be 

 made white ; how Mahogany can resemble the 

 Prima Vera, and many other wonderful things 

 will be shown, among others, the equalization of 

 colors in different colored pieces of wood. 



The Patent 



was issued in I'nited States in July last year. 

 Since then the use of this Patented Process has 

 , had a steady growing until now 



Our Exhibition Will Be the Topic of the 

 Whole Exposition 



because we here have the opportunity to present 

 to the whole lumber world and wood product 

 interest what our (process can accomplish. 



Come and Ask Us 



.Any information shall glatlly Ije rendered with- 

 out any obligation to you. Tt is to our 



Mutual Interest 



that we become acquainted and get together, as 

 you need our process at your plant. 

 If you for any reason cannot come and see us, 

 write us for information. You do not want your 

 competitors to get ahead of you in the market! 

 The first in the market in your line "Reap the 

 Harvest !" 



Auf Wiedersehen! 



The Coliseum in Chicago from April 30th to 

 May 9th, 1914. 



Franck-Philipson & Co. 



714 Peoples Gas BIdg. 



CHICAGO, ILL. 



