Published In the Interest of Hardwood Lumber, American Hardwood Forests, Wood Veneer Industry, Hardwood Flooring, 

 Hardwood Interior Finish. Wood Cheralc&ls, Saw Mill and Woodworking Machinery, 



Vol. XXII. 



CHICAGO, JUNE 10, 1906. 



No. 4. 



Published on the 10th and 25th of each month by 



THE HARDWOOD COMPANY 



Henry H. Gibson, President 



Frank W. TUTTLE, Sec-Treas. 



OFFICES 

 Sixth Floor Ellsworth BIdg., 355 Dearborn St Chicago. III., U.S.A. 



Telephones: Harrison 4960 Automatic 5659 



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The entire contents of this publication are covered by the general copy- 

 right, and articles must not be reprinted without special permission. 

 Entered at Chicago Postotfice as Second Class Matter. 



Advertising copy raust be received five days in adyance of 

 publication date. Advertising rates on application. 



General Market Conditions. 



While there seems to be a slight slackening in hardwood demand 

 in some parts of the country, trade generally remains very good and 

 prices are remarkably firm on the majority of woods. The last few 

 weeks have witnessed very good weather conditions in the South, 

 with the result that logs are coming out of the woods more freely 

 and mills are generally running on full time. Thus green stock is 

 accumulating, while dry stock, notably oak, still remains scarce, as 

 for months past. As a consequence prices are holding firm. 



The breadth of consumption and increased demand for red gum 

 and tupelo is going forward with increasing momentum, and the 

 gums are fast becoming a prominent feature of nearly every hard- 

 wood market. Until recently the East has not taken hold of gum 

 to any extent, but lately is becoming interested in both varieties of 

 the wood, with every prospect that it will cut as much figure in the 

 East in the next few years as it does now in the middle West. 



Values of poplar are ranging high and Cottonwood seems to be 

 in increased request. There is not enough of the coarse end of either 

 of these woods to cover the demand for box-making. The general 

 lines of minor southern hardwoods — ash, hickory, and elm, are closely 

 picked up and comparatively light stocks of green lumber are in 

 sight. Chestnut still has a strong call in the East, with the price 

 approximating that of oak. 



There is nothing particularly alluring about the situation in north- 

 em hardwoods, and in relative value as compared vrith southern 

 output the prices are well toward twenty-five per cent below normal, 

 and even at these values the majority of these woods are dragging. 

 There seems to be an increased demand just now for the coarse end 

 of basswood, which is being absorbed by the box trade. Birch, gray 

 elm and the general run of basswood are in only moderate request. 

 Inch maple is in excellent demand, but the price is still ranging low. 

 The call for thick maple is extremely moderate, with no particular 

 encouragement for an increased demand for some time to come. 



Veneer and panel people are still doing a lot of business, but it is 

 a question whether the majority of them are making any money. 



Prices both on veneers and on made-up panels are much lower than 

 the value of the products warrants. 



Hardwood flooring makers, both of maple and oak, are being kept 

 busy. Prices are fairly satisfactory, although not unreasonably high. 



The foreign trade is only good in spots, as will be noted by letters. 

 from Record correspondents abroad. 



The mahogany trade is showing some improvement, but still the 

 wood remains the lowest priced high-class commodity on the market 

 to-day, value considered. Unquestionably the market in mahogany 

 is being overcrowded. This fact is manifest even with the largely 

 increased demand that has been achieved for the wood during the last 

 twelve months. 



Ironwood. 



Northern forests generally have a considerable sprinkling of a 

 tree growth known as ironwood. Scientifically this wood is desig- 

 nated Ostrya Virginica. Generally the tree is small, running from 

 four to ten inches in diameter, but occasionally reaching a growth 

 of thirteen to twenty inches. The growth was pictured and fully 

 described in the Hardwood Eecord of November 25. It has never 

 come into great commercial prominence and its utility for general 

 use is problematic. For local and domestic use it has been known 

 for years to the lumbermen of the North and to the farmer as the 

 best material for making wagon or sleigh tongues, a skid or a lever, 

 that grows in the northern woods. It is a remarkably tough wood 

 and has a great many of the characteristics of hickory. The complete 

 analysis of this material for wagon and carriage making is well 

 worth the attention of the Forest Service, as well as the wagon and 

 carriage trade. With the prevailing and growing scarcity of hickory 

 ironwood may prove an excellent substitute to a considerable extent 

 in this trade. 



Muck Raking. 



It is distinctly an unpleasant task for a newspaper of character 

 and reputation to be obliged to carry on a department exposing 

 irregular practices in any line of trade. At best such criticism re- 

 flects on the character of the entire trade. Particularly unpleasant 

 is the duty to its clients which the Haedvtood Record recognizes of 

 taking issue with concerns supposedly allied with the lumber indus- 

 try, whose practices in no wise accord with what has hitherto been 

 regarded as legitimate. 



In an article by Merrill A. Teague on the subject of "Bucket 

 Shop Sharks," contained in Everybody's Magazine for June, he 

 says: 



The proprietor, manager or operator of a horseraclng pool- 

 room is under the ban of the law in nearly every state In 

 the Union. The professional gambler sets up hla outfit for 

 poker, faro, roulette, monte and craps behind barred doors 

 and drawn screens. The expert manipulator of three Eng- 

 lish walnut half shells and a pea Is chased from every 

 county fair ground in the republic. Postofflce Inspectors and 

 secret service officers pursue Into penitentiary cells the back- 

 ers and managers of discretionary pool swindles. The pro- 

 moter of fake mining, oil or "development" stock swindles 

 sooner or later brings up In the dock of a police court. 

 Policy has been outlawed and practically banished. 



