Published In the Interest of HaLrdwood Lumber, AmerlcaLn Htvrdwood Forests, Wood Veneer Industry, Ha.rdwood Flooring, UAKI' 



HaLrdvrood Interior Finish, Wood Cheinlca.ls, SaL«r Mill a.nd Woodworking Ma.chlnety. 



Vol. XXX. 



CHICAGO, AUGUST 10, 1910. 



No. 8. 



Published on the lOth and 25lh of each month by 



THE HARDWOOD COMPANY 



HENRY H. GIBnON. President LOUIS L. JACQUES, Sec'y and Treas. 



Sixth Floor, Ellsworth Bldg,. 355 Dearborn Street, Chicago, III. 



Telephones Harrison 8086-8087-8038 



REPRESENTATIVES 

 Eastern Territory - - Jacob Hollzman, 525+ Larchwood Ave., Philadelphia, Pa- 



Northern Territory - - - - C. F. Dedekam, 355 Dearborn St., Chicago 



Southern Territory - - - - H. C. Haner, Gayoso Hotel, Memphis, Tenn 



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Entered as second-class matter May 26, 1902, at the PostofBce at Chi- 

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Comming Association Meetings 



HOO-HOO ANNUAL. 



The annual meeting of the Concatenated Order of Hoo- 

 Hoo will be held at San Francisco, Cal., September 9-12. 

 J. H. BAIED, Scriveuoter. W. A. HADLEY, 



Snark of the Universe. 



General Market Conditions 



While the volume of hardwood lumber business for the last two 

 weeks has not materially exceeded that of the previous fortnight, 

 there is a much improved tone in the market. Buyers have awakened 

 to the realization that there is a very small quantity of desirable 

 lumber of any kind in the hands of producers and that hardwood 

 production has been much restricted for several months, hence there 

 is little prospect of any additional lumber being ready for market 

 for some time. 



In Michigan and Wisconsin, the chief centers of the production of 

 maple, birch, beech, basswood and elm, there is considerable less stock 

 on hand tfian there was a year ago. In fact, in first hands in both 

 states it is doubtful if there is one hundred and fifty million feet 

 unsold, of which about one-third is No. 3. No. 2 common and better 

 maple and birch is bought up very closely. 



In the southern hardwood sections of the country there is an accu- 

 mulation of No. 3, but this is owing to the fact that freight rates 

 against this class of stock to points of consiunption are so heavy as to 

 almost preclude the possibility of its shipment long distances. 



In the entire lower Mississippi valley the larger number of opera- 

 tions have been suspended for more than a month owing to the bad 

 weather conditions. There is verv little No. 2 common and better 



in first hands unsold in all this region. Southern mountain operators 

 are well sold up to the saw. 



With the conditions as they are it is not surprising that there is 

 a strengthening rather than a diminution of hardwood lumber values. 

 Manufacturers generally have recognized that the past month has been 

 a dull buying period like the corresponding season in all previous 

 years, and have not forced sales on the market. 



Generally, the furniture trade, interior finish makers, flooring manu- 

 facturers and other lines w'hich are enjoying a good trade, have 

 exceptionally light stocks, and it is certain there is going to be an 

 extraordinary demand for hardwoods this fall. It is a question of 

 securing satisfactory material rather than prices that confronts 

 buyers. 



The good end of oak, poplar, maple and birch is exceptionally 

 active. 



. The eastern buying situation is not as strong as that of the Middle 

 West, where hardwoods are utilized so extensively for remanufae- 

 turing j)urposes, but there is a healthy development going on in 

 all the Atlantic coast cities looking to an increased demand as the 

 season advances in the region that has been exceptionally dull for 

 months. 



From a seller's viewpoint, at the present time the hardwood sit- 

 uation is exceptionally good. 



For manufacturers of aU varieties of hardwood lumber having 

 stock in erosspile, it only requires a little more waiting to secure sales 

 at as high a price as has ever been realized. 



The Ethics of Adulteration 



A contemporary recites that the strict enforcement of the pure 

 food law has directed attention to the adulteration of many articles 

 of merchandise which, w'hile not edible, might well be pure. There 

 is vast difference between foods which are to be taken into the 

 human system and materials which are to be consumed in other ways. 

 It is the contention of many that adulteration of all commodities 

 should be regulated by law. 



Before reaching conclusions, there are many important matters 

 to consider. It may be admitted at the outset that almost every 

 staple article, including lumber, is more or less susceptible of being 

 cheapened by lowering the general quality. In some lines weighting 

 and filling materials are commonly used. Leather, rubber and all 

 the textiles are adulterated to a considerable extent. There is much 

 complaint of the small quantity of actual rubber in the cheaper 

 grades of rubber shoes, and the National Association of Shoe Manu- 

 facturers at a recent convention appointed a committee to draft a 

 bill for presentation to Congress with a view to preventing the adul- 

 teration of sole leather. The president of the Saddlery Association is 

 out with a letter suggesting a means of preventing the artificial 

 weighting of harness leather. These are indications of the trend of 

 affairs. 



In lumber it has become a general practice to "salt" the higher 

 grades with lower qualities. This is a practice that is deprecated by 

 many lumber producers, jobbers and consumers and is countenanced 

 by many others. 



The inherent dUEculty in projecting reform lies in the little- 

 understood fact that the men who use adulterants are by no means 

 the sole beneficiaries of the custom. Tf niercerizod cotton masquer- 



