HARDWOOD RECORD 



S3 



chasers and in some cases to those who have already contracted ahead. 

 Some of the dealers seem to feel that the lightly-stocked factories and 

 yards will yield a fairly good summer demand, while others are quite 

 apprehensive that buyers will push their advantage on what forced sell- 

 ing is undertaken, thus keeping all business at a low point for the sea- 

 son. The same general relation prevails between the woods as recent 

 reports ; only a few kinds showing actually increasing prices, such as 

 may be noted being thick a.sh, quartered-sawed sycamore and beech. There is 

 some opinion that the lightening of the veneer business west may cause 

 quartered oak to show its first weakness, although held steady in all 

 thicknesses up to date. The demand for plain oak seems decreasing, but 

 the values remain about as they have been with wide ranges, according 

 to character of the wood. No great change can be reported in the poplar, 

 either as to price or demand, it being one of the weaker items at present. 

 Other hardwoods commonly used in this market continue at fairly close 

 to market values which have lately prevailed. 



--<, BALTIMORE >•= 



Such changes as have taken place in the hardwood trade within the 

 last two weeks are not of suflScient moment to alter the situation ma- 

 terially or to have any decided effect eitlier upon prices or the movement. 

 Most of the hardwood men report a shrinkage in their business, this 

 shrinkage varying from ten to fifty per cent. There are other firms, how- 

 ever, which state that the total of their transactions compares very 

 favorably with corresponding periods of other years, though it must be 

 said that these concerns are in a marked minority. I''or the most part 

 the demand is of the unexpected kind, the sellers never having many 

 orders ahead of them, and frequently getting down to their last deal 

 before new ones are developed. It is also to be said that persistent effort 

 is required to obtain orders, and the salesmen must be on the jump, it being 

 also desirable for them to keep a close watch on the requirements of the 

 yards. These latter are not disposed to place orders ahead of actual 

 needs. At the same time it does not appear that stocks at the mills are 

 accumulating in an alarming degree. Although the various plants are 

 for the most part running full time, they manage to work off their out- 

 put, or at least a sufficient part of it to avert fear of troublesome con- 

 gestion. Of course, until the large consumers get back into the market, 

 business is likely to rimain quiet. The railroads are still holding off, 

 and oftener prefer to haul stocks from their own yards over long dis- 

 tances to points where the lumber is to be used, to entering into new com- 

 mitments. In addition, the furniture manufacturers are by no means 

 so busy as they expected to be, and their curtailment Is having a decided 

 effect upon the market. No particular division of the trade seems to be 

 affected by the prevailing state of affairs more than another, all showing 

 the effect of the letdown. 



There are some manufacturers who refuse to make price concessions and 

 who maintain that they have not found it necessary to cut their quota- 

 tions in order to move stocks, but it Is generally admitted that the range 

 of values is lower than it was last year, though it would not require much 

 of a revival, in all probability, in the demand to get the list back to where 

 it was. While the outlook as to exports is regarded by some of the 

 shippers as better than it was. others still profess to see no improvement. 

 and it must be said that they have the custom house figures to support 

 them, these latter showing that the forwardings are smaller than ever, and 

 that the tendency is still retrogressive. That a considerable cleaning up 

 of stocks has taken place, however, hardly admits of doubt, and it would 

 probably not be long before a very decided quickening in the foreign demand 

 asserted itself, if the domestic situation were in better shape. The 

 indifference of the home buyers, however, renders large quantities of lum- 

 ber available for export, and any stiffening in the returns would probably 

 attract stocks in Increasing quantities to Europe. 



=-< COLUMBUS >= 



The hardwood trade in Columbus and central Ohio has been rather active 

 during the past fortnight despite the general business depression which 

 prevails. One of the best features of the trade is the active building oper- 

 ations which have been the salvation of the hardwood trade. Building Is 

 active not only in Columbus but also in cities and towns In all parts of the 

 state. 



The best buying is being done by retailers. Yard stocks are rather light 

 and dealers generally are loath to Increase stocks at this time, but the 

 demand on the part of consumers has made it necessary for them to place 

 orders right along. Most of the orders are for shipment during the latter 

 part of June. Factories are buying in limited quantities as they are not 

 operating on a very large scale. Implement and vehicle concerns are the 

 best customers, while furniture factories are rather slow. 



Dry stocks are not plentiful in any section and as a result lower prices 

 are believed to be out of the question. Prices generally have been well 

 maintained, although some shading is reported to force trade. This Is 

 especially true where stocks have accumulated. All grades are moving 

 fairly uniform and shipments are coming out promptly. Collections are 

 somewhat improved. 



Oak Is one of the strong points in the trade. The demand is good for 

 both quartered and plain osik, and prices are ruling at the levels which 

 prevailed for some time. Chestnut Is another strong point, especially sound 

 wormy. Poplar is moving well and prices are satisfactory. Ash and bass- 

 wood are firm and other hardwoods are unchanged. 



Paepcke Leicht Lumber Co. 



Conway Building 111 W. Washington Street 



CHICAGO 



RED GUM 



AMERICA'S FINEST CABINET WOOD 



Consider its good qualities. 

 It has strength. 



Can be brought to a very smooth sur- 

 face and consequently will take 

 high polish in finishing. 



Will not split easily. 



Runs strong to wide widths and long 



lengths. 

 Is not easily marred or dented. 

 It can be supplied flat and straight — 



free of warp and twist. 

 Has beauty, color, life and character. 



Considering its numerous good quali- 

 ties, it is the lowest priced good 

 hardwood on the market today. 



We are the largest producers of Gum 

 in the world. 



Have a large and well assorted stock 

 on hand at all times. 



Can manufacture special thicknesses 

 on short notice. 



We guarantee 



QUICK SHIPMENTS 

 GOOD GRADES 

 DRY STOCK 

 GOOD WIDTHS 

 GOOD LENGTHS 

 SATISFACTION 



Band mills at 



HELENA, ARK. BLYTHEVILLE, ARK. 



GREENVILLE, MISS. 



Write, phone or wire for prices 



Paepcke Leicht Lumber Co. 



Conway Building 111 W. Washington St. 



CHICAGO 



