1586





The   Record   and   Guide.





becetaber 17, 1887





Boand, a first-class offering from first hands will *»t-
tract fair atiehtion, and there is more or less .<=tock
moving cn export accunt. The market, however, bj
no meona phow-; rt-al aniiration. and th^re is more or
les* gru")bliDg by dealers of a'l c asses. Prices appea'
to be al'out steady for the ttardard det-criptions oi
pTock of oompstic growth and strung for mah'gany
We qu-'t" at wholesale rates bv car loads as foUows ■
Walnut $60®iU"p-r M; Whitea'-h. ft87 Mi®43 do.; oal-,
$37(?fc4!S do.; quarter sawed riear. $='(i®55 do.; maple.
$25(2.32 do.; chestnut. $:i"(c438 do,: cherry. $67®9(
do.; whitewood, $27®33do.; elm. $2C@23do.; hick¬
ory, $50®7o d0..iie.»^





GEJSEKAL  LIAIBER  NOTES.

THE WEST.

The Northu-estem Lumberman, after a detailed re¬
view of (he ( hicago wholesale market fer 1&87, says:

Taking a backward look over the market year, a
few salient features are discovered. At the ou'set
there was a determination ou the part of manufactur¬
ers to realize more for their lumbar (ban they did ir
the aea?"Ou of Ift^G. This retolve was S'rengthened br
the yard men Ihemselvts, who, in March and Apr I
purchased large blocka at mills—partiiularly at Mus¬
kegon, Menominee ard - lh-*r Green Bay points. Tl e
disposal of BO much lumber early in the season made
the mill men independent, and abU to dole out to the
ca'-go market here ju^t fast enough to keep price>-
steady and at odvaLce over those of la^t jear. This
established prices, which the yard men not only hae
to'pav cn this market, but tnev found, when]ihey went
to the mills, that the pame prices prevailed there. It
may be that this gear's buying at the mills has fe¬
cured prrflts to the yards in the way of choice selec¬
tions of stocks and a bettp^^.h<ipingupof a sort ments,
but it must be coiiftss':d that it liwewise aided tht
manuf icturers in holding a steady grip on prices al.
the seas', n. The condition iu this re-pect has been
exactly opposite, fis between the Saginaw Valley and
the f'hic g> district In the Valley, hastern buyers
Btood aloof and let'uaiber accumulate; around Lake
Miehis"tn QtncitH wore largely bought befure they
touched the saw.

Uoujuiia*iou men report as much lumber sold
through th' ir agency this season as in 18^6. Lees mill
product has come from Muskegon to the market'h.iL
last year. Tni*c*nbe ac^-ountfd for from the fact
tbat the largt-r part of the purchasing by the block.
on the part of yard men. was cone at that point.
This loss tias been measurably made up by increased
shipments from other and newer points More than
In previous years has c^me from Menominee and
other Green B .y ports. Altogether, nothing has beer-
develop-d this year to indicate that the Chicag > cargo
market is on the decline. Ir, has psssed through some
change, and dnubtle-a will from year to year. But it
is probable fhtiL as long as white pine is accessible by
meansof the lakes, there willbe a market for it by
the cargo in this city.

The Luviberman refers to yard trade as follows:

Thft broken state of a«Fortmen ts is a subj ^ct c f com¬
mon remark among the dealers. Ir is uredicted thai
this condition will btcouie more pronounced as the
winter advances, sn that when spring trade opens
there will be au unusual looking about for sorts to Oil
orders. For (his reason some dealers aie not urging
sales. The scarciry of clear and A Mrip-* is especially
commented on. This condition has become c'early
defined within a i-hort time. Men who have to buy a
good H'any sripsa-sert that it is necessary to pay
from $3 to $4 a thoi'sand more for them than was
paid ar a coirevpondiog time last year.

CVmmon strips are in moderate supply. Few yards
have full ttocks, and none have more than they want
O.ie or two yards are making cute in their lists on
fencing flooring, but tbe majority are very firm on
No. 1. dressed and matched at $17 a thousand, and
first quality of rough at 8l5..^0 The cut spoken of is
but 5u ceute off from these prices.

Ten ard 12-iLch stock boards are among the sorts
of lumber ihnt are in fhort Fupply and held firmly
A yard recently received an Eastern order for ic-inoh
Btocks. naming prce. An answer waa made that the
recipient would gladly fill the ordt*r, but could not do
It without a price higher by 2^^ cents a thousand than
that named m tbe order. Bux boards are also wanted
at vr-ry firm prices.

Piece stuff is generally selling at the list. Here and
thtfeadealeri-* willing to sel! certain sizes at $12 a
thousand; but the m>-jority, when billing to the coun
try, want $12 50.   One cOiiCern oflers 2x4—16 at Jtii Rii





having an overstock.





coiicern oflers 2x4—16 at $11,.50,





The Mississippi Valley Liimberman says:

•I '^1'^,'-°*^**^'*^,^ ^" ?^- Pa"* and Minneapolis Is stead¬
ily falling rff though rece.pts in St. Paul continue
large, and the rather anomalous condition is pre¬
sented in Mi-neapolis of the receipts just about keen¬
ing pace wi.h lb-, shipments. Under ihrse conditions
1?^ rJ^ not bkely ro be any material reduction of
stock during tbe winter. Plthongh the receipts iLcIude
a bbeial proportio.. of haTd\v, od, and ** shop " for
thesajh. door and blird mauufacturers. The receipts
inbt. Pant are Urge, becftuse dealera are moving iuto
their local yards for the retail trade, stocks of lum-
ber purchased or manufactured at interior mills and
Which are now lu condition to be moved. Trade dur¬
ing   November,   however, wag   considerably   below

are that more than the wonted dullne-s is to be en¬
countered during December, A part of thi« can be
attrihuted tn the f«cc that dealers ar« not at all aeres-
sive m pushing out after trade. No one i« particu¬
larly anxious to unload. More tra-le is reported at
the interior Wisconsin mills, a part of it, undoubtedly
bemg m the line of lumber for local consumption ih
the tao cities.    Two moniha or more of exceeding

fhi mf^if ?^*'''Pf*'*^"'^.'- ^P^ ""'**'^ ^^^^'se circumstances
the markecde-elops lutle of interest. The work of
taking:theinventory of stock is now in progress in a
majority of the yards in the two cities

The Chicago LitiMfttTHifnt taies the following ooti-
mi5t view of the situation :

From every point of view the aspect of commerc'al
affairs 19 decidedly promising. In the lumber busi¬
ness all the siens are propitious. It is not disputed in
any quarter that the visible supplies are compara-
tively ,smail. There are no unwieldy accumulations
ot lumber in the prfnc pal marts of the country. East
or West; the m^nutaciiirers, except at a few central
points have only such luoiber as will be sure to go off
their hands wuh the early mofitijs of spring; tbe
^\ holesale and retail dealers at all points have carried
w«"v."^''*Ji7*'™l^' Pua°ti'ie«; their aim Feems to
have been throughout the fall season to clear out
n «n.>.\^'°^i^*'^T e'^"'^ ^^""^ customers for, and to re-
nlto^l °°'>^^^*;^'n 'he limits rf necessity they are
Always under of preserving the requiaite assortment





to hold trade. Values are now held at &o reasnnable
■», point that no holder nf lumber, doors, sash, blinds
or other wood products need teel auy apprehension
'h«t they vrill decline on their hards Evervthing in
lhe linp Is desirable property at current quotqtir.ns,
^nd. with the proppects of immense con?umption. if
'ealers will only evince a proper degree of firrrne^s
ttirough tbe dull period (<f lhe next ten weeks, thev
will in all probability, enter upon a new year thait
wi 1 crown their pa'ience with plenty and to*pp*re.

During rfnient weeks tbe reviewers have pointed to
Mich gan lumber piles as bf ing larger than customary
at this season cf the year—Fome have ac ually claimed
Ihat aconsiderable number of manufactuiera on the
■Saginaw River were likely to be obliged to accept
lower prices for their merchantable stock when the
new season opens than they have asked during recent
months, owing to excessive quantities of iumber in
pile. There is a posibility of such a thing coming to
pass in the course of events, but there is s nrcely any
ground ou which to found that opinion at this time.

The preliminary drop in the demand for hardwood
is on just at present—and for some unknown reason
it comes a bit early in the season. This will be. as
usual, but temporary, and the trade will probably
enjoy greater activity before the usual dull winter
sets in. This demand wi'l be no'iced more particu-
arly by wholesalers, who deal directly with the out¬
side manufacturers, who are now casting about for
prices on d- y htock, to stock up for winter use. Rome
inducpmente in the way of prices have been offered
to stimulate trade but prices remain about tbe same
as quutea last woek.

The stocks of cherry he'd in this market are of tbe
choicer grades, and these are sure to be wanted al an
eirly day—posi^ibly agood proportion of the supply
will be wanted by Ea-^tern b'jyere, who find It impossi¬
ble ai times to get their wants supplied elsewhere.
A'd hf rein is fouEd the advantage of tbe dealers of
this market—they have abundant means and the
courage to invest in large suppliea of these staple
■voods when they are obtainable, and tbis policy re-
■-ults favorably, particularly when prices are solid at d
trade corditions generally good. Walnut, quartered
oak and butternut are coming in quite freely from the
.small manufacturers.

An impression has been given out that this market
is short on the better grades of b^ack walnut. It took
but little inquiry to dissipate that idea. A half dozen
hardwood dealers declared their ablity and willing¬
ness to furnish walnut in upper grades—eight to ten
inches ivide end Me^t tn ten feet long, and in lots of
from 50,000 to 200,0C0 feet.

GREAT BRITAIN.

The Timber Trades Journal as follows:

London.

It is naturally too early to express any opinion as to
the course that prices are likely to take next season.
Hellers, as usual, are confident tbat a rise will be
established, and they have certainly better grounds
for Ibis opiuion than ihey had during the opening
campaigns of the la?t few years. We understand that
several leading firms have already intimated their
willingness to treat for lines of varioua well-known
makera on the basis of pricts ruling during the spring
of this year. Theae overtures have. In most instances,
be*n declined, but sellers justly regard tbese prelimi¬
nary iuquiries as indications of coming strength in
values.

American Black Walnut.--A large amount of busi¬
ness continues doing in this; straight-grown, sound
loga sell freely at good prices. Cut fituff, tco, goes off
rapidly, though for some time past it would appear
that the supplies of beards have greatly gained upon
the demand. Of )H and IJ-y inch p'anka the stocK ia
short, and theae thicknesses are being inquired for.

American Whiiewood.—Although tbe am.iunt of
businesa has not increaeed of late, there is evidently a
fairly good trade doing, tbough. a.4 a rule, yard-
keepers pnd consumers alike are pretty well stocked.

American Satin Walnut.—This trade contiouea to
maintain a fa'r activity, some manufacturers being
pretty well supplied with ordera. but some of the
wholesale dealers are still very reluctant to speculate
at all freely.

Sfquoia.—lhe demand for this ia of a fluctuating
acd unsat'sfactory character. Some time back we
thoucht there were indications of improvement, but
the trade has quieted down again. There is evidently
very little disposition on the partof wholesale dealers
to speculate.

LrVKRPOOL.

In Quebec goods, board pine, efpecially of large
aizes and prime quality, is dearer; and as most of it
ia in few and atrong hands, it is not unlikely that those
who have not already laid in their supply will have to
pay much more than tbey have anticipated. A fair
amount of business continues to be done in pine deala,
but all transactions are by private treaty.

METALS.-Copper—Ingot has continued Ihe re.
markable advancing tendency with another consider¬
able addition made to values and the general Idea of
the situation quite strong. Tbe speculative element
is of course an important factor, but buyers for actual
consumption seem to have become impressed witn
the strength of the outlook and invest with some
freedom beyond immediate wants. The fire in the
leading mines in the Lake section Is still beyond con¬
trol, and it IS feared flooding must be resorted to. which
mean^ a stop to production for several months The
tendency to sudden fluctuation gives quotations a
somewhat nominal ba^is, but at presf nt about ]7^^(a
l.^4C. may be named for Lake and of Baltimore grade
sales have been made at Ific. per M. Manufactured
Copper 18 not very active, the season of the year and
tull cost having an infiuence to create acautiousde-
°J*^? ^ V,-^ l^I.^"^®^' however, are naturally much stim¬
ulated by the„advance in metals and show about 2c
gam since our last report. W^equoteasfoUows: Sheets
not above 30x72 in., lb oa aud over. 22c.; do. 14 to 16 oz

«.^'*iA °' \l ^ J** °^' ?'**^ ' *i°' J" ^ 12 oz, 25c ; do,
8 to 10 oz. 28c ; do, under 8 oz, 28@80c. Sheets longer
than .2 inches add Ic. for 12®14 oz, 2c. for 10®
12 oz and 3c for 8® 10 oz. Sheets, not above 36x96
^■•^^ P^^ *°** °^®''' '^2°-: <*o. '6 to 32 oz. 2,'c.; do
i?> on ^^' ^*^-= ^^' *2 to 14 oz, 26c.; do. 10 to
12 pz,30c.; do. 8 to lOoz. 33c. Sheets longer than
96 Inches add Ic. for under 16 oz; and 2c. for 8
to 10 pz. Sheets, not above 48x60, 32 to 64 oz2'®
i^'U ^^\}^ ^"^o.?^ oz,27@2Fc ; do. 14 to 16 oz. i:9c^
?n^^'**i^*'^'|-^-' *^°' 1*^ *« laoz,-®-; do 8 t<;
10 oz, —®—. Sheets longer than 96 inches add Ic. for
\b oz and under. All bath tub sheets, per lb , iti oz v5c ■
14 oz, 2,o.;]2o229c.;andlOoz.S2c. Bultcopper. aiinch
diameter and over. 2ic. Circlea, m di.iraeter and lesa
?^V*^*^.^? P^^*^® *^^ «***'®'^s of same thickness; circles
wJto9t) dodo, 5c. do; circles. 9edo and over, 6c, do!
eegmeot and pattern eheets, Sc.   above price  of





sheets required to mt them from. Cold or hard rolled
copper Ic, per Ib. above the foregoing prices. Copper
hottom. 2.*i®i8c. per Ib. Iron—Scotch Pig baa rot
been particularly Active on corsumpti^e demand,
hilt the market ruled very firm nrd on the up¬
ward turn, throueh the stimulus of cheerful
ftcconnts from abroad and an incre^^se in the line of
freight ehnrges The foreign combination of ppecu-
lators is tinderstond to ha^e turned its attention to
iron, and an advance in warrants wou'd seem to con¬
firm the storv. We quote at $19 ^f'®^^.'0 per ton,
according to brand, quartity and delivery, American
Pig has been somewhat unsettled by the free trade
theories enunciated nn thr message to Congress, and
fora time it was diflBcult to secure bid**. Buyers,
howev*>r, have since shown Increflsed interest, and
the position Is steadier, especially fot the best brands,
of which only a small offering can be found. We
quoteat $'^(ro21..';oper ton for No l X foundry; $19.50
®20.00 fer No. 2 X do , do; and $17 fl ((?..17 50 for Gray
Forge. Old material found general neglect during
lhe greater portion of the peiiod since our last, con¬
sumers claiming to have a plentiful f^tock on band
and standing off in the expectation of lower rates as
the outcome of the free trade recommendations to
Congress. Present valuations, therefore, are nominal.
but certainlv q-'ite above tbe bids made. We quote
Rt$Jl 0'®-n ^^J for old rails; $;;0.f0®2a.50 for No. 1
wrnughtecrap; $21 Or(Q>21.5'» for crop fnds, and $10 00
((7j.19.50 for car wheels. Steel rails have remained
qu'et on a sort of stand off between buyera and
sellers, btit on the whole the position seemed to be
quiet trom all deliveries. It is said that bids on lOO.OOk^
tons are in hnnd at $1 per ton less than quotationa.
We quote at $12 oc@33.CO;perton for standard section,
according to delivery. Manufactured Iron meeting
with pome little demand in regu'ar course of trade
orders, but the movement showing nothing unueusl
and prices standing about as before. We quote aa fol¬
lows: Common Merchant Bar, ordinary sizes at 2.20®
2.30c. from store, and refined at 2 40®2.80c.; Roda,
round and square. 2.50®2.70e.; Bands, 2.60®
2 70c.; Norway Nail Rods, 5®6c.. and domestic sheet
on the basis of 2 8'^®2,8.'ic. for common Nos. 10®ie.
Other descriptions at corresponding prices, with 1-lOc.
less on large lots from cars. LEAD—Domestic Tig
made further gain on value, but it was of rather s
forced character acd due largely to local manipulaf-
tion. Operators were anxious to have it appear thaS
the French syndicate bad turned attention to lead*
but the story looks doubtful. We quote $1.60®;
4 65 aa to quantity. The manufactures of lead are
steady and quoted: Bar. 594®i:c.; pipe. T^c; sheet,
S^c. less the usual discount to the trade; and tin-
lined pipe. 15c.; block tin pipe. 55c., on same terms.
Tin—Pig has reacbed such high rates as to retard
auch additional demand of a speculative character,
and also forces actual consumption into compara¬
tively narrow channels, but the position seems to be*
fairly in ha'^d and sellers confident. Patea somel^hafi
nominal. W^e quote atabout 35J4®35^c. for rotmd"
lots, and S6@3e}^c. for jobbing parcels. Tin Platsi*
continue in very light demand for early use. but
buyers can be found for future delivery and are ac¬
commodated bv operators who turn over recent invest¬
ment at a profit. We quote prices as follows: I. C.
Charcoal, J^ cross assortment. Melyn grade, $6.25®
6 30, each additional X add $1.50; L C. Char¬
coal, i^ cross assortment. Allaway grade, $5,12i^®
5.15, eacb" additional X add$l; Charcoal terne—M. F.
grade. 14x20. $6.7P@6.80; M. F. grade. 20x28,
$13 50®13 5P; Worcester. 14x20. $4.75@4 8'}4\ Worces¬
ter, 2{x28. $9.30@9 35; Dean grade. 14x20, $4.60@4.65;
Dean grade. 20x28, $8 80®6.P5; Allawav grade. 14x
20, $1.35(^4.40; Allawav grade. 20:^28. $8.70®8.75; I.
C Coke—B. V. grade. $4F5^4.{*0; J. B. grade. 14x90,
$4.9fi®4.95; I. C. Bessemer steel, squares, $4 90®
f^.OO basia; I. C. Siemens steel, squares, $5.00@5.12^
basis. Spelter for a time following our laat was quit©
active, but speculation eeems to have cooled down
again and matters now exhibit a quiet tone. Wequote
at 85.ivi^@5 30 for Western, according to brand.

NAILS.—The market undergoea no change of aa*
important character. There ia a certain regular de-'
mand from ordinary sources and it is taking off quit^
a little stock, but buyera are not investing until they
know where every package can be handled to ea-'Iy
advantage, and they oppose all additions to value.
Offeringa can be reached without difficulty. We
quote at $2.UO®3.05 per keg, according to size of in¬
voice.

PAINTS. OILS, ETC.—Not much animation shown,
and the general status of the market is without quo¬
table change. Through a course of careful produc¬
tion the accumulation on hand is not difflcult to carry,
and this insures & steady tone for all the principal de¬
scriptions of stock, though for the present there
eeemi* to be no intention of marking up cost. I i-^seed
Oil meets with fair favor and is selling at 4P@49J.^
for Western and 5l@'^ii^c. for City. Spirits Turpen-
tirre receives support from primary points and is firm,
but the businesa runa light. We quote at 3T)ii®38c.
per gallon, according to size of invoice.

TAR AND PITCH,—Just about the usual story Is
told by operators, and there is nothing new of special
interest to advise this week. We quote Pitch at $1,3&
®1.50 per bhl.; Tar at $2.10®2,25, according to
quantity, quality and delivery.





For Tables of Building Material prices se* ^f&^pt
v., VII., VIII. and it.

SALES OF THE IFEEK.

The following are the salea at the Real Estate Ex¬
change and Auction Boom for the week ending De¬
cember 16:

•Indicates that the proper^ described fuu been bid
inf jrplaintiff^s account:

RICHARn V.  HARNETT A CO.

♦Washington st. Nos, 787 and 789, e a. 50 n
Jane st. 50.3x90.3x50 2x93 10. two five-story
brick stores and tenem'is. Julius Lipman.
(Amtdue $1..818; prior nort. $20,600).....$30,600-

L.   J, A I, PHILLIPa.

Broadway. No, 452, e a, 80 3 s Grand at, runs
east 200 to Noa. 14. 16 and 18 Croaby st, x
south 75 X west 80 6 x north 51 x west 120 to
Broadway, x north 24 to beginning, five-
si ory iron front store on Broadvfny and
flve-story brick (atone front) store ou Cros¬
by st. witb engines, machinery, Ac. Gut¬
man Bros.   (Ront 18,500) ..................  2C2,00Q

Broadwav. No, -44. e s, 180.3 s Giard st. runs
east ..ISO, X i:^|lJi.25.SwteBt.80.6.ic ^oeJO^Bd;