HARDWOOD RECORD 



57 



tonwood and sum aii' eujoyiuii m wiilir illstribu- 

 tion now than for some time and oflFt-rincs aro 

 by no moans fre"\ Rnx manufacturing plants 

 arc doing a Iars>' Inisincss. and it is notable that 

 they are not havinj; any too easy sailing because 

 of the actual scarcity of cottonwood in the lower 

 grades and the relative lightness of supply of 

 those grades of gum used in box manufacture. 

 I'lain oalc has been rather scarce for a long 

 while and the relations between supply and de- 

 mand continue somewhat strained. There has 

 been some increase recently in the demand for 

 iiuartered oak and prices are a shade firmer. 

 The higher grades of cottonwood and gum are 

 not quite so active as is the case with the lower 

 grades, and cottonwood box boards are reported 

 more quiet than usual. Ash is being shipped 

 green in many instances, which is convincing 

 proof of the demand therefor as well as the 

 scarcity thereof. The cypress market continues 

 steadj' but the lower grades are in relatively 

 better demand than the higher. Altogether lum- 

 ber interests here are inclined to take an 

 ttptimistic view of the outb'ok. 



BRISTOL 



Business is uiuviug along well, and pros- 

 pects are good for fall and winter business. 

 .Mthough August is generally a dull month, 

 a fair volume of business has been done by 

 the lumbermen of this territory. Considerable 

 new business has been booked at fair prices 

 and the general feeling is that September will 

 be one of the best months of thr- present j'ear. 

 Practically all mills are running atid the yards 

 as a rule ari- well snpplieri with stock to meet 

 orders. 



LOUISVILLE 



Conditions in this market have improved no- 

 ticeably during the fortnight. Much of the I)«t- 

 terment is believed to be due to the recognition 

 on the part of consumers and others that luni 

 bcr stocks are not over-plentiful and that with 

 a car shortage in prospect for tliis fall, stocking 

 up right now is the best plan that can be 

 adopted. As heretofore, consumers have had 

 light stocks on their yards, and though they 

 have been rather uncertain about business on 



THREE STATES LUMBER CO. 



Manufacturers of 



SOUTHERN HARDWOODS 

 Cottonwood and Red Gum 



SPECIALTIES 

 Main Ollice, Memphis, Tenn. 



BLUFSTONELAND& 

 LUMBER COMPANY 



MANUFACTURE R S 



West Virginia Hardwoods 



SOFT WHITE PINE 

 OAK POPLAR 

 CHESTNUT HEMLOCK 



BAND SAWED STOCK 

 Complete Planing Mill Facilities 



RIDGWAY. PENNSYLVANIA 



account of political and other conditions, there 

 Is now- a more hopeful attitude in evidence. 

 This is giving the necessary foundation of con- 

 fidence for the purchasing of supplies. Kurnl- 

 ture manufacturers, farm implement concerns 

 and the railroads are doing much buying, and 

 the outlook in practically all lines has improved. 

 Quartered oak and plain oak are selling well, 

 the supply of plain oak being somewhat larger 

 than it has been. Chestnut is doing better, and 

 poplar is also showing Increased strength. 

 Prices are holding up. and any change during 

 the next six or eight weeks should be upward. 



NEW ORLEANS 



The local hardwood trade is active, particu- 

 larly in the lower grades. Stocks are unusually 

 low and badly broken, and the majority of deal- 

 ers have a number of orders on hand. As a 

 result of this shortage, prices have materially 

 advanced. 



The export trade during the past two weeks 

 reflects the influence of approaching conditions 

 which are calculated to hamper .shippers, and 

 the large movement indicates a clearing up of 

 contracts and the preparation for changed con- 

 ditions. So far as the future is concerned, the 

 rate situation has become lixed at a basis which, 

 while tending to exert a depressing effect on 

 shipments for the immediate future, affords a 

 reasonable basis of liguring on business to come. 

 However, the general feeling is one of optimism, 

 the apparent strength of the demand abroad 

 affording a reasonabli' assurance of a healthy 

 trade. 



The stave market rem.ains practically un- 

 changed. While it is not up to the mark of 

 former years, the demand abroad continues 

 ■strong and steady, even in the face of advanc- 

 ing prices, and a satisfactory demand prevails 

 in practically' all quarters. 



ST. LOUIS 



J 



Although the vacation period continues to 

 alTect the hardwood uiarket. there are still 

 indications of an Improvement in business. The 

 demand for all items on the hardwood list is 

 holding up, but the call for plain red oak Is 

 decidedly the best. The demand for quartered 

 red oak is showing an improvement. Red gum 

 and cottonwood are holding up nicely, and wide 

 poplar and thick ash are active. Cypress hold- 

 ers in this market report a fair volume of trade, 

 f'onsiderable activity Is being shown in the 

 sash and door trade. 



MILWAUKEE 



Building operations in Milwaukee are un- 

 usually extensive for this season of the year, 

 and the lumber business in all lines Is natur- 

 ally good as a result. Indications are that 

 the early fall rush is beginning to make Itself 

 felt even at this early date. 



The hardwood business is holding up remark- 

 ably well and all upper grade stuff is holding 

 firm. Lower grades aro in brisk demand, as 

 a result of the general shortage in stocks. 

 Birch, maple and basswood are In leading de- 

 mand among northern woods, while plain red 

 and quartered white and red oak among south- 

 ern stocks seem to be in the lead. Shipments 

 of both northern and southern stocks are ex- 

 ceptionally light and deliveries on orders are 

 delayed as a result. The yard trade .seems to 

 be showing considerable improvement. 



MINNEAPOLIS 



tlnu owing to the great (h'luand for both hem- 

 lock and hardwond gi-ain door boards In im- 

 mense (puinntles which will be needed by rail- 

 roads in moving the tremendous grain crop 

 this fall. riain red and white oak are luild- 

 Ing firm In the higher -jradi's. although .No. 1 

 common and low-grades have not developed 

 much strength. First and second birch is Urm 

 wliile Nos. 1 and 2 common are going at about 

 ordinary prices. Factories are busy and there 

 is no lieavy stock of lumber in tin- yards. 



The early part of August developed brisk 

 business conditions, especially in low-grade 

 .stock. Basswood, hemlock and maple have held 



LIVERPOOL 



The market has taken a brisk turn in view 

 of the improved trade conditions. The fairly 

 heavy arrivals have been favorably ri'celvcd 

 and a good margin of profit has ruled. The 

 niahog.'iny iiosillon still keeps exceedingly firm, 

 and prices at the three sales Just concluded 

 have all reached a very high averagi'. In fact 

 lecord values were reached all along the line. 



Bound American ash is exceedingly scarce 

 .lust at the present time, especially with the 

 large wood. FIr.st growth logs are in keen 

 demand and though only Inferior wooil has ar- 

 rived, It has brought very high figures. 



Poplar is exceedingly ki'eii in value, espe- 

 cially logs ot good diameter and length, which 

 are very scarce. Prices are firm and very 

 keen competition is anticipatMrl for future ar- 

 rivals. 



Itonud hickory logs are active and advances 

 have been made since the beginning of the 

 year. Lumber stocks are scarce especially In 

 wide poplar. Oak is good and there are some 

 good ln<|u!rles on the market for l'^. % and % 

 ln<'h plain and quartered slocks, which must be 

 whiti' and prime. Some good orders have also 

 been placed for oak dimension stock, while 

 wagon specifications arc active. Birch Is ar- 

 riving freely and good prices are being paid for 

 same. 



OLASaOW 



The annual hollilays In this market an- now 

 over and business has just gotten started. Qow- 

 t ver, conditions prevailing at present tend toward 

 a particularly good liusiness during this half 

 of the year. Although the London dock strike 

 collapsed some time ago, it was only receutlj^ 

 that it finally terminated, and hopes are now 

 entertained for a lengthy peace. The effects of 

 the strike were distinctly felt In the Scotch 

 market because liners which had part shipments 

 for Clasgow were held up In London and conse- 

 quently could not finish discharging to enable 

 them to leave port. 



The steampship Valetta recently arrived In 

 port with the usual miscellaneous cargo, consist- 

 ing chiefly of poplar boards, oak logs, oak planks 

 and various lots of oak boards. This shipment 

 lias sold very well. The oak boards have sold 

 exceptionally well and prices obtained have been 

 quite satisfactory. It Is beginning to be felt 

 here that if consignments are kept in moderate 

 compass the market will be well In hand. Prices 

 now being obtained are slightly In advance of 

 those received for the past cargo. In a good 

 many cases shippers are mixing the grades to 

 suit the old prices but this Is a very short- 

 sighted policy and it Is well known here that 

 such salting of grades is not appreciated even 

 at the lower values. 



The demand for quartered oak l)oard3 Is fair 

 for prime quality. The demand for hazel pine 

 (sap gum) Is very brisk with prices at a high 

 level, while the demand for satin walnut (red 

 gum) Is low and prices show no signs of advance- 

 ment. Prime qualities of cottonwood are In good 

 lequeat. Present quotations arc rather lower 

 than some time ago. Buyers here cannot ac- 

 count for this condition unless it la becaase 

 of a slight overproduction In the States. 



