HARDWOOD RECORD 



31 



Ijcr. Much of the business now being put 

 througli is on old bookings, there being enough 

 inquiry some time ago and enough orders 

 placed to insure continued operations for a 

 considerable period. TWs business, however, 

 is nalurall.v .supplemented by the current de- 

 mand. 



The decline in the price of pig iron in llu' 

 Birmingham district and the tightness of 

 money in New York and all over the country 

 are regarded as rather unfavorable collateral 

 developments, but these are quite offset by 

 the fact that crop prospects tliroughout the 

 South. Southwest and West are all that can 

 be desired, thus insuring a high degree of 

 prosperity for lumber and all iillied industries. 

 Building operations are on a large scale and 

 the railroads are rapidly increasing their 

 equipment, thus contributing to the demand 

 for hardwood material. Moreover, the furni- 

 ture people are in the market for considerable 

 requirements and their l)uying is expected to 

 prove a sustaining inlluence. The implement 

 and W'agon manufacturers, too, are backed by 

 the prosperity of the agricultural interests of 

 the country and they should afford, in the 

 opinion of the trade, a considerable demand. 



Plain oak. in both red and white, continues 

 a ready seller at full prices, though there Id 

 no improvement noted in the demand for 

 quarter-sawn stock. This latter condition is 

 attributed to the fact that so much more 

 veneer is used now than ever before, making 

 quarter-sawn oak requirements much less. 



Ash is a good seller. There is not much for 

 sale here and prices are firmly held. The 

 thicker stock is more wanted than any other 

 kind, but there is no particular trouble en- 

 countered in disposing of incii and five and 

 six quarter stock. In fact, ash is scarce and 

 buyers are not any too choice about what 

 they purchase. 



Cypress is in good request at very steady 

 prices. The offerings are perhaps rather more 

 liberal than they were six or seven weeks ago. 

 but there is no surplus dry stock and those 

 who are in the market are not having any 

 very easy time getting what they want with- 

 out paying full values therefor. The higher 

 grades are in rather better request than the 

 lower. 



Cottonwood is a splendid seller, especially 

 in the lower grades. No. 1 and No. - liox com- 

 mon. There is a phenomenal demand for box 

 material, and this accounts for the fact that 

 this class of Cottonwood is so much wanted. 

 Box manufacturers are heavily sold ahead on 

 their output and in many instances they are 

 short of the lumber, with the result that 

 their competitive bidding for stock in the 

 open market is expected to give continued 

 strength and firmness. The higher grades of 

 Cottonwood are somewhat easier, possibly, 

 than they have been heretofore, though there 

 is no great amount of this class of material 

 to be had. 



Gum is steady, with probable tendency to- 

 ward easiness. There is a fairly good demand 

 for red firsts and seconds and clear saps, espe- 

 cially in thin, while there is a moderate move- 

 ment of inch stock. The lower grades are 

 holding their own imder the stimulus of a 

 fair request. There is some disposition among 

 small manufacturers to contract their output 

 and this is calculated to give an easier tone 

 to this wood. 



The poplar situation shows no material 

 change. There is little to be had here, while 

 the demand in Memphis is not particularly 

 large. 



tent, exports continue good and the prices 

 are just what a good demand and low stocks 

 always makes them. 



Louisville. 



The Louisville hardwood market is in vui'y 

 .satisfactor.v shape. A few of the dealers here 

 have an idea that the furniture factories will 

 not buy very heavily during July, but that is 

 not worrying them, as the majority have 

 plent.v of orders ahead, and would just as soon 

 buy as sell lumber right now. 



One feature of the market of late has been 

 an inquiry for thin plain sawed oak. This is 

 rather a new departure to the trade here. 

 Those who make quartered oak carry thin 

 stock, both % and %, but heretofore there has 

 not been an.v demand for % plain sawed to 

 inspire the mills to cut it and keep it in 

 stock. It may be that this is just a special 

 requirement and does not indicate a growing- 

 demand for this class of oak. but it is the 

 opinion of some that since oak has grown so 

 valuable it may be expected that the future 

 demand will include more and more of this 

 thin stock, even in plain sawed. The logic ot 

 this is found in the fact that in ordinary lum- 

 ber widths % incli oak lumber should be 

 cheaper than three ply % made of veneeer. 

 with a plain oak face. Of course, when it 

 comes to larger panels the veneer stock would 

 have the advantage, but as long as it can be 

 used in stock lumber widths the odds seem 

 in favor of the '% inch plain sawed oak lum- 

 ber. At any rate, it is a new and interest- 

 ing question, and one that sawmill men will 

 do well to watch. It should be borne in mind 

 in this connection that it is not a good idea 

 to try resawing dry plain one-inch oak boards 

 into this % stock. Lewis Doster. secretary of 

 the Hardwood Manufacturers' Association, who 

 is quite an authority on cutting and caring for 

 hardwood lumber, says that it is not advisable 

 to resaw dry plain oak. as it warps bady and 

 the cull account outweighs the advantage 

 gained. The only successful way is to make 

 it thin while green. 



Poplar continues to be a strong element in 

 this market, and cottonwood is keeping it 

 close company. Common gum is still on the 

 uncertain list, although among the cooper- 

 age people there is a note of improvement, 

 especially in the manufacture of tight sta\'es 

 where a year ago it was down in the dumps. 



New Orleans. 



The last fortnight has brought about little 

 change in the condition of the hardwood mar- 

 ket in this section. Stocks still remain low. 

 though efforts are being made to replenish 

 those which during the last few months have 

 ■ been drained to the lowest ebb. Even though 

 the buyers are not operating to any great ex- 



Minneapolis. 



Dealers in the twin cities report an active 

 demand for some hardwoods, while others are 

 slow. The new cut of ash is just coming on 

 the market, being in condition now to ship 

 and put In the dry kiln, and consumers who 

 have been waiting for ash stock for a while 

 are now rushing shipments. There has been 

 a rush also for rock elm. and there is very 

 little of that lumber left unsold, even count- 

 ing the logs that have not reached the saw. 

 The large manufacturing concerns that have 

 adopted rock elm as a substitute for oak have 

 been cleaning it up so fast that it is now al- 

 most in the oak class as to price and scarcity. 



Birch is moving fairly well, and is abundant. 

 Prices, however, are holding fairly steady. 

 Basswood is slow here, although it sells well 

 in some other markets, and at firm prices. 

 The old stock was well cleaned up. and re- 

 ports from the mills indicate that the bass- 

 wood output is not going to be what it w.as 

 last year. The culls will go quickly, and there 

 will not be any considerable surplus of the 

 upper grades. The retail yards are taking 

 considerable oak yard stock again, having sold 

 into their early supply. Factory trade in oak 

 is rather .slow just now. and, is being supplied 

 entirely from the South. The factories are 

 not expected to buy any stock in large quanti- 

 ties before August 1. Their hardwood stocks 

 are low. and they are only buying to fill im- 

 mediate needs. Flooring is quiet, and many 



builders are complaining of high prices, which 

 they claim are reducing the use of hardwood 

 flooring. 



Liverpool. 



Arrivals during May were moderate, accord- 

 ing to Dobell's report, and consumption may 

 be considered satisfactory, although business 

 generally has rather disappointed sanguine ex- 

 pectations. 



There has been fair inquiry for oak. and 

 fresh arrivals should meet with ready sale. 

 Stocks of rock elm remain light and values 

 firm. Birch logs have been liberally received. 

 and although there has been a fair consump- 

 tion, lower prices have had to be taken for 

 market parcels; planks are arriving too freely, 

 as the stock is heavy, with only moderate 

 demand and prices easier. Walnut logs of 

 prime quality and large are scarce, and ship- 

 ments can be recommended; medium and in- 

 ferior grades are well stocked and quotations 

 are steady; planks and boards have arrived 

 freely and values are therefore lower. AVhite- 

 wood logs of good sizes and first quality are 

 in demand and would realize satisfactory 

 prices; for planks and boards the demand is 

 only fair, as stocks are heavy. Arrivals of 

 ash and hickory round logs have been heavy 

 and iM-ices are easier. The import ot staves 

 has been enormous and values are lower. Ma- 

 hogany .sales have been well attended and 

 competition for sound logs and figured wood 

 was exceptionally keen, extreme prices being 

 obtained for Cuban wood of the latter descrip- 

 tion. Inquiry for all kinds is good; large, 

 sound logs and figured wood would meet with 

 ready sale. Lignum vitae is in request, and 

 prime, round, straight thin-.sapped wood wouiri 

 come to a w*elcoming market. 



London. 



The liardwood market is not brisk, as there 

 is little stock offering, and although the rising 

 prices tend to restrict business somewhat, 

 goods offered are bringing higher prices. 



In oak there is a supply of plain boards in 

 medium quality which Is ample for the de- 

 mand, but thicker stock is scarce and good 

 prices are paid for arrivals. Quartered oak is 

 being asked for. and strips are selling well at 

 advanced prices. Ash planks are selling^ at a 

 lemunerative price to shippers, but there is 

 only one grade wanted for this market and 

 that is prime. Logs are difficult to dispose of. 

 Whitewood boards of all grades are in de- 

 mand at tci|i prices, and the stocks of 

 planks which had accumulated are going 

 into consumption slowly: the demand is lim- 

 ited. Walnut is wanted, but this want will 

 be supplied, as one of the walnut shippers 

 whose brands and grading are well known 

 here is shortly expected to .send large quant.i- 

 ties. Arrivals of satin walnut are small, bin 

 quite equal to the demand. 



Churchill * Sim's wood circular, under date 

 of June 5, states that the London market 

 has shown little change during the past few 

 weeks; general conditions are fair, and ;\l- 

 though prices have advanced on a few items, 

 this is indicative rather of a scarcity of the 

 stocks than of increased demand. 



The three mahogany auction sales held last 

 tnonth were well supported, and the sales 

 effected thereat will further reduce already 

 W'ellnigli depleted stocks; quotations are ni-ni 

 and as there appears to be every prospect of 

 imports continuing light there is good reason 

 to expect prices to rise In the near future. In 

 American black walnut, sizable prime logs find 

 ready takers at remunerative prices, but in- 

 ferior lots should not be shipped; planks and 

 boards continue in active request. Whitewood 

 logs should be shipped only if large and 

 prime; the demand is dull for planks, but 

 there is good call for planed boai'd.s. In lig- 

 num vitae. well-grown sizable wood is wanted, 

 but inferior parcels are invariably rejected. 



