HARDWOOD RECORD 



55 



rays of li»i)e. Wliilc the demand. is not ospeclully lunvy Just now, business 

 coiiditiODs in spite of the war scare liave sliown a vast improveniout. 

 Business in general lines is mucb better and there Is a noticeable 

 improvement in steel and iron circles. I'actories which have been 

 closed down Tor months are ii;;:nii lu ip i,Hi..]i. Automobile cuii.. rii> 



are starting up asain in normal i i i i n < ' is a generally imi.i ..v.l 



outlook. There is, of course, i.n in. re use. but the i.iv.. ni 



demand is fairly good, r.uiliiin;; .ri. i nim • >i»-dany in this viciuit.,, 

 continue active and much hardwood i< !■■ lug used by builders. Thi' 

 factory demand is showing some improvement, and coopers are calllnii 

 for a heavy line of stocks. Prices are holding firm. 



-< MEMPHIS > 



of hardwood lumber 

 i.il Umiber producing 

 I auiship companies 

 111 port and those 

 111" r have cabled 

 I II..'. It may also 

 system has officially 

 t accept any further 

 are expected to take 



The war in Europe lias |.iil au .■ml to e.\port 

 from Memphis and from tin- .ntir.- .s.nitbern bar.li 

 territory. This has h:i|i|i. m .1 im t\M. n.i .m ll 

 will not accept consiKum. m - ..i lumlii i i- n. I 

 on the other side wh.. Inm iii;i.l.> ihhii 

 instructions cancelling all >lii|.iii..iiis iiiiiil miili i 

 be noted in the .same conm^ctiou that tb.' Krisc' 

 notified lumber and all other Interests that it will 

 shipments of any kind for export. The other line 

 similar action. 



The stoppage is the most complete ever known and It will Impose a 

 serious handicap upon those who are engaged exclusively in the exi>ort of 

 southern hardwoods for lauope. There are a number of firms engaged 

 in the lumber l.ii,,in. -^ h r. w lii. Ii .1.. s.hihi .xport business but bainlle 



the majority ..I i m m il.i- m \ These will be affect. -.1 s.. 



far as their .-.vi i i m i .nh.iii.il i.ui lli.'y will be in a posiii-.n 



to go ahead with .L.ai. -li. -Imi.iii. iit- In ..ilnr words, the effect .if tli.' 

 war upon them will be mucli bss .serious than In the case of those who 

 depend entirely upon Kurope for an outlet for their stock. 



The stoppage of export business has put most of the firms dealing 

 exclusively in export business out of commission. In some Instances 

 mills have already closed down and will await further developments. 

 The Arms which do a larger domestic than foreign business will be 

 able to operate their mills provided they are able to finance their output. 

 So far, the banks have signified their willingness to advance the neces- 

 sary cash to take care of payrolls and most of the mills catering to 

 domestic markets are still running. Just how long they will be able to 

 pursue this course will depend largely upon the attitude of the banks and 

 upon the readiness with which they are able to dispose of lumber. No 

 body knows how tight money may become or how serious stagnation may 

 develop in industrial circles throughout the country. Upon the outcome 

 in this respect depends the action of lumlier firms here, including Imtli 

 those in the manufacturing and wb.il.-sal.- .livisions of the market. 



=-< NASHVILLE >= 



Business in hardwood in this market during July showed some satis- 

 factory improvement, and just as the dealers and manufacturers were 

 looking for prosperity to become general, the European war situation 

 developed. This has been a serious setback to the hardwood lumber trade, 

 as well as to all other branches of business. Export business has been 

 suspended, and a good many foreign orders are reported to have been 

 canceled. This territory sells a considerable amount of hardwood to 

 England. Oermany and other foreign countries, and this business will 

 be cut off for the time being. Woodwork factories in Tennessee also have 

 considerable foreign business, and it is expected that their operations will 

 be greatly affected by the war in Europe. The local market is without 

 important features, except the war phase. There is a fair demand from 

 domestic buyers, and but for the new difficulty it was expected that busi- 

 ness was on a fair way to get back to a normal basis. 



=-< MILWAUKEE >■= 



.\n indication of the improvement which is slowly taking place in the 

 geueral business situation in Milwaukee is found in the announcement 

 Just made by A. E. Manchester, superintendent of motive power at the 

 West Milwaukee shops of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, 

 that the plant will start soon on manufacturing 1.316 box cars, a part 

 of an old order for 2.5(J0 cars placed last fall, but held up in part because 

 of the depression. This will mean an increased demand for car lumber. 

 The railroad shops are now employing 5.000 men and operating at more 

 than 60 per cent capacity, repairing cars and general equipment, in readi- 

 ness for the big crop movement. 



Local wholesale lumbermen report that more inquiries are being made 

 and that the outlook is bright for a big fall trade. There seems to be 

 little doubt that stocks in rh.' hands of retailers and the consuming 

 trade are exceptionally lijlii nii.l that active buying must start soon 

 on a larger scale. Dealer, m ii. uiiiiiiug to take more of an interest in 

 the market and are jilariim iniii ..rders so that they may be in 

 readiness tor the fall building which will begin in the smaller cities 

 and towns and country districts of the state within the near future. 



The sash and door manufacturers are still inclined to buy only enough 

 to meet their present wants, but stocks in the hands of these concerns 

 are unusually light and a better business from this source is expected 

 soon. The implement factories about the state have been placing some 



Mahogany and 



Circassian 

 Lumber & Veneers 



^ The largest assortment of finest figured 

 Mahogany Logs, Lumber and Veneers in 

 the country can be found at the Chicago 

 plant of C. L. Willey. 



^ We are just in receipt of fifteen cars of 

 remarkably superior Circassian Walnut 

 Logs, large size, well-figured and of good 

 color, which are now being cut into 

 Veneers. 



^ A visit or correspondence from discrim- 

 inating buyers of all varieties of fine Im- 

 ported and Domestic Cabinet Woods in 

 Lumber and Veneer is solicited. 



^ You will not only find the Willey ware- 

 houses well stocked with a superb collec- 

 tion of Circassian, Mahogany, Vermilion^ 

 Black Walnut and other fancy foreign 

 and domestic lumber and veneers, but 

 buyers are assured of prompt and pains- 

 taking service, and a quality of product 

 not usually obtainable. 



^ To visit the plant take Blue Island Ave, 

 car at the postofifice to Robey Street. 



C. L. WILLEY, Chicago 



Largest Fancy Wood Veneer 

 and Lumber producing plant in the world 



