The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-28
BUSINESS STEADILY IMPROVING, DECLARE VISITING SALESMEN Small Number of Accounts
 in This Territory Past Due MONEY COMING OUT
 OF ITS HOLE AGAIN Should the War Be Terminated Things Will Hum-Automobile Sales. a
 Good Barometer, Con
 tinue Excellent

In the opinion of half dozen travel ng salesmen from other sections of tn country who periodically make" thi business Is steadily improv ng with the indication that by sprin, normal will have been attained.
 Claude Taylor, who travels out of Bristol, said. q cannot declare hat business is as good as it was once upon time, butt is fairly brisk, with an upward tendency. I have in this territory a compara- tive small number of accounts past due, and this sign is an excellent one"
 Had Good Season
 R. F. Stickney, who sells Boston shoes, said last night at the Hotel Morris: During the winter we had rather good season in Alabama despite the fact that hard times prevailed. Our spring trade started a month ago, and things look good. Our men who travel in various sec tions of the state turn in opti- mstic reports, and I look for good sailing ahead. Should the war. through some freak turn, be ter minated, business in America will hum"
 Tennent Goodall, travelling out of New York with line of dry goods. said last night at the Tutwiler: Some weeks ago, when there seemed probability that the United States would become in volved in war with some foreign country, money went again into its hole. At the present time, however. the opinion prevails that the demo- crats in Congress. led by President Wilson. will suppress the jingoes and that under any reasonable cir constance, peace will continue to obtain Therefore business has inn proved, and we are fast approach the normal again."
 No Room to Kick
 W. c. Paris of Louisville, sell ing groceries, While at the Flor ence, said last night: "It has al-
 
 times was a nightmare We have done good business throughout the south, not quite as large as that of last winter, but as good as the average for the last five years. We have no room to kick The bulk of our business ilas shownk a. decrease, but our collec- tons have been as good as any previous year since 1907"
 Lucien Hayes of Detroit. auto mobile agent. said last night: "Au- tomobifes are good harometers of trade conditions. People have to buy food and shoes and clothes. but automobiles are luxuries. And still you see people buying cars ev- cry day. We have nothing at which to complain and hope that during the spring and summer we can do as well as we have this winter"
 Hugh C. Sweet, who travels for a notion house of St. Louis, when interviewed last night at the Hill man, said: Our business is almost as good as it was last February. In the beginning the people of this country were apparently afraid that We could not exist in a financial sense with European countries at war. Now. however. after the pas sage of five months of blood spill ing, 1t is apparent that this coun- try is strong enough to continue going irrespective of what course European countries pursue. There Tore, we are discounting the war and our business, steadily improv- ing, is destined soon to reach 4 high water mark"