52 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



panic. Prices are miicli stronger, and while no 

 large .idvanccs liave been recorded, the proba- 

 bilities arc that increased values will be the 

 lule in a short time. While local yards are com- 

 fortably filled and stocks are large, the general 

 belief thai the amount of dry lumber to be 

 had is appreciably smaller than last year is also 

 stimulating things. The dry weather has pre- 

 vented some of the mills from operating, and 

 that is resulting in a smaller output than usual, 

 although most of the mills in the South are 

 running. I'rices on plain oak have shown ad- 

 vances in the last few weeks, and first and 

 seconds and common are in fine demand. Poplar 

 is strong, and quartered oak, though no price 

 changes are quoted, is in good demand at high 

 prices. Heavy building operations are encour- 

 aging the demand for mahogany, and the sales 

 in this market have l)een large. Veneers are 

 in solid demand at better prices. 



ST. LOUIS 



The hardwood lumbermen report a fair vol- 

 ume of business. Nearly all items on the list 

 are being called for. The pleasant weather is 

 partly responsible for the improvement in trade. 

 The demand is mostly for the better grades of 

 hardwood, and the supply of dry stock is now 

 hardly equal to the demand. Plain and quarter 

 sawed oak is in particularly active call, and the 

 supply of these items in dry condition is get- 

 ting low. Poplar, ash and red gum, both in first 

 and second grades, are getting scarce. The 

 demand for red gum in the first grade has in- 

 creased the call for No. 1 common. Those who 

 are well posted anticipate an increased demand 

 for dry stock in gum and are getting all they 

 can lay their hands on for future use. Wide 

 poplar, suitable for panels, has shown a big 

 increase in price, caused by the increased de- 

 mand for this item from automobile manufac- 

 turers. Cottonwood box boards, both the better 

 and lower grades, are in good request. 



MILWAUKEE 



Tile traffic situation has at last reached a 

 fairly satisfactory stage, with the result that 

 lumber shippers are meeting with little trouble 

 in getting through their stocks. The roads are 

 not so congested and empty cars are not so hard 

 to secure. The improvement in railroad facili- 

 ties has meant much to the general lumber busi- 

 ness and trade is now reaching a normal stage. 

 The remarkably warm spring weather all over 

 Wisconsin has given a genuine impetus to build- 

 ing and the call for hardwoixis is stronger than 

 it has been since last year. In fact, a satisfied 

 feeling exists in the entire hardwood trade of 

 the state. The factory trade is much better 

 than is usually the case so early in the season. 

 The sash and door and interior finishing plants 

 are all busy as well as the hardwood fiooring 

 factories. Furniture manufacturers arc in the 

 market also. 



The supply of dry stocks is becoming alarm- 

 ingly low at some points, especially in inch 

 firsts and seconds birch. The supply of No. 2 

 birch is low, although stocks of No. 4 seem to 

 be fairly large. Demand for low-grade bass- 

 wood is much stronger and advances in price 

 are expected. Upper grade basswood is consid- 

 erably higher. Both plain and quarter-sawed 

 oak is firm. Owing to the rising value and 

 scarcity of hickory and white ash, there is a 

 decided demand for maple. The hardwood floor- 

 ing plants are picking up all the inch maple 

 they can find. 



SAQINAW VALLEY 



Prices are good for maple and birch. The de- 

 mand for maple has been extraordinary. More 

 than 50,000,000 feet in the lower peninsula have 

 been contracted for during the last three months. 

 The railroads are pushed to get the logs to the 

 mills and shipments of manufactured lumber are 

 active. It is the consensus of opinion that tlie 

 day of cheap majjle lumber is a thing of the past, 

 the stock is steadily diminishing and unless tbi' 

 trade should collide with Halle.v's comet or be 

 stricken with paralysis, the price of the com- 

 modity is going to advance. The output of 

 birch is not large, but there is an active call for 

 it. Basswood and ash are also selling well and 

 stocks are short. 



LONDON 



Business iu the London market is showing 

 decided improvement. Mahogany and teak are 

 both firm and are likely to remain so. A fair 

 amount of business has been passing since the 

 last report and inquiries have l>een more marked 

 in hardwoods generally. Whitewood planks .'! 

 and 4 inches, firsts and seconds, are wanted, 

 and holders of this stock ought to have no 

 dilficulty in disposing of same through the usual 

 channels. Medium satin walnut is wanted and 

 what is in transit to this port should bring 

 satisfactory prices. Some good sales of quar- 

 tered oak for forward shipment are reported 

 :md no doubt more will follow, as is usual when 

 a movement is made with a wood that has been 

 neglected for some little time. 



LIVERPOOL 



The market is in a condition that appears to 

 satisfy both manufacturers and dealers. The 

 trade is brisk and taking everything dry in sight. 



Trade here continues fairl,v satisfactory, 

 though the volume, as yet, is not anything to 

 boast about. Prices are firm, and higher quota- 

 tions are anticipated in the near future. The 

 firmest item on the market is hickory. In spite 

 of a heavy arrival there is little or no wood 

 on hand, almost the whole supply having gone 

 into consumption at once. Kecord prices have 

 been realized and merchants here arc anxiously 

 inquiring about contracts they still have on 

 hand. There can be no doubt that another 

 famine of hickory logs will be seen this season 

 Jind buyers here are extremely anxious to get 

 hold of wood. In fact they one and all realize 

 tliat to obtain adequate supplies they must pay 

 more money, and now is the time for shippers 

 to reap a rich harvest. 



The ash log position is less satisfactory ami 

 though it is thought that stocks are not very 

 plentiful, the market has become timid and 

 prices have suffered accordingly. Ash planks, 

 however, are scarce both in ijrime and No. 1 

 common grades, and values in consequence are 

 ruling liigli. 



Wagon oak planks are distinctly firm and 

 prices are improving. The volume passing, how- 

 ever, is not large. The arrivals have been lim- 

 ited and there is a pronounced scarcity of 

 31/2x12. Coffin oak, in prime, is firm, as, in 

 fact, are all grades of oak boards and planks 

 of every thickness. 



Poplar is good, especially the wider stocks ; 

 1x18 and up, is almost prohibitive in value. 

 Buyers here are experimenting largely with 

 cypress as a substitute. Until the present time, 

 this wood has not been used to any extent. All 

 wide stock has enhanced in value in sympathy. 



The mahogany position is strong and the re- 

 cent sales have shown much higher average 

 prices. It is thought that mahogany will go 

 much higher owing to the known shortage of 

 stock on the west coast of Africa. Some choice 

 figured lots were offered at the last sale. The 

 trade position generally is much disturbed by the 

 prospect of another general election in June, 

 the last one not having been of a definite char- 

 acter. It is recognized by both parties that the 

 present government cannot carry on long. 



INSURANCE COST 



As a lumberman you carefully 

 analyze the cost of your stumpage, 

 manufacture and sales, but your 

 insurance is usually bunched with 

 "general expense." 



We can convince you that fire 

 insurance is worthy of even more 

 careful analysis and attention than 

 any other feature of your business. 



We can also convince you that 

 our form of insurance is the safe, 

 logical and economical one. 



Will you give us an opportunity 

 to prove our claims? 



Manufacturing Woodworkers 

 Underwriters 



LEE BLAKEMORE & COiMPANY 

 Rector Building CHICAGO 



BLUESTONE LAND & LUMBER GO. 



White Pine, Oak, 

 Poplar, Chestnut 

 and Hemlock Lumber 



WHITE PINE AND OAK TIMBERS ON 

 SHORT NOTICE 



RAILROAD TIES 



We own our own stumpage 

 and operate our own mill. 



Mill: GARDNER, \V. VA. 



Sales Office: RIDGWAV, PA. 



Greenbrier Lumber Co. 



Manufacturers 



White Pine, Hemlock and Hard = 

 woods, from our own lands. 



Pine and Oak our specialty 



NEOLA, W. VA. 



WE WANT TO MOVE 



600,000 feet dry 4-4 Brown Ash 

 EDWARD CLARK & SON, Toronto, Can. 



