Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-05

SO.stuvhOiy preuloteu n gradual but quite
evident forward movement locally; he
went further, ard predicted a like adj
/ vance throughout the nation, though
| somewhat slower In the South This
4 optimistic tone will distinguish the next
/ statistical report of the National Cham
Der Of Commerce. Washington, u. c., for
| the facts upon which that bodv's reports
are based are gathered largely by the
! approximately 500 representatives Of the
simmons Hardware Company.
our business was greater i'm volume
'ast month than in any other month i'm
our history" said MIR Simmons, but,
understand, that does not necessarily
| mean that the general volume of hard
| ware business is greater than at any
time since our organization. We are a
young concern, and our volume should
increase even when that of long-estab-
iished houses does not Our advance last
month, however, exceeded our most SAN
gutne expectations Our Increase was
considerably more than normal
II am Informed that last month showed
q general increase I'm the business all
over the country. II was slightly above
| the normal increas in Philadelphia for us
and, according to the most reliable in
formation ] have at hand, there was
sJEht Improvement for every one in the
business over the last few months
Yesterday I returned from Western
trip visited Toledo. St Louis and other
cities and had considerable opportunity
to learn the feeling. The views given
me varied l''le a few men were in
clned TO gloomy view, but their dis
satisfaction seemed to be over the slow
ness of the recovery they believed had
set In rather than over the actual de-
preston. But the vast majority expressed
themselves well satisfied and all that they
said justified my belief that this move
ment toward better conditions wi,l gain
nj A.. 4.
few months, Understand me, nobody
should expect to wake up some morning
and md the country from coast to coast
In the full enjoyment of a season Of
Unparalleled prosperity We have had
bad times and we are not at the end of
them, but right now they are not as bad
as they were, and while the change for
the better that has set in will not be re-
markaby rapid, II will be far from slow,
THE information I CLEANED was con-
Vinctng to me, but 1t is confirmed by our
representatives over the nation. the heads
OF our six houses and about 800 men who
are constantly covering the country.
These have unusual opportunities for
studying conditions most intimately. The
centre of information in the small city
is the hardware store Just as the hard
ware store Is the centre of information
In the town.
"Our men visit Che hardware stores and
there they meet every one. The farmer
drives into town and hitches his team
in front of The hardware store. and it is
In that store-not in the grocery-that he
does what talking he does before he
drives home. Our men get all this talk,
They know how to weigh it. too. \ man
who deals in 5000 items. as they have to
do Is man Of unusual grasp and per-
spicaCit%. This is so true that the Ma
tiOnal Chamber of Commerce asked us
TO permit our representatives to furnish
the statistics which. with Government re-
ports, form the basis OF the chambers
trade bulletins"
DRY GOODS TRADE.
Things certainly do show improve
ment." said Calvin NJ. smyth, president
of the Young, Smyth. Field Company,
drygoods wholesalers. There is plenty
of room for Improvement. but feel
greatly encouraged with what has de-
Veloped already. Our collections last
month, March. were better than they
were a year ago and our sales were
nearly equal to those Of a year ago."
II. NJ. Gwyn, president and general
manager Of the Oneida Hosiery Knitting
Company, I'd street and Allegheny ave-
nue.. said that last month the Oneida
business showed the first increase it had
shown since last May. Orders are in
creasimg William f. Taubel known as
the hosiery king" has announced that
he soon will build new mill in Reading.
Pa. Another hosiery manufacturer said
he was worrying more over the problem
of dyestuffs than that of sales.
I'VE are going to have plenty of pur-
chasers,' he said, but we're afraid we
may have to give them natural-colored
stockings"
Norris l.. Dannenbaum president of L.
pannenbaum's Son & Co. said that last
month showed an appreciable improve
mert in his business, silks and millinery
supplies though he deals in luxuries.
IN OTHER LINES.
George r. Lang, of Laing. Harrar &
Chamberlain, shoe findings and shoes. said |
he notes a slight improvement in condl- |
tIons, but 1t is very slight and will be
slow in his opinion, though sure, until |
the end of the war
w. +. Sharp, president and general |
of the William Whitman Com
pany, candy manufacturers, said:
THE business is not as bad as 1t has |
been. We have been working harder, and |
the determination of men not to be beaten |
has helped. 1t will continue to help. The |
situation for the candy manufacturers Is |
greatly improved from the East to Chi
cago, but still serious In the South and
Southwest But the Improvement in the |
section first named almost equals that in
the South and the Southwest"
n, Il. Folwell of Folwell Brothers &
Co, spinners and dress goods manufac-
turers said sales last month showed an
encouraging increase, and the dyestuff
problem is the greatest now.
He said American capital would produce
the dyestuffs If it could have any assur-
ance that the industry would be protected
after the artificial protection OF European
war should disappear. I'VE ought to have
a little activity to encourage that and
less 'watchful waiting " said Mr.. Fol-
we'll.
William j, Eldrldge. of Hardwick &
Magee. carpet manufacturers, said there
are signs of general improvement i'm con-
dltions, though there has been no strong
ly marked change as yet so far as the
carpet business Is concerned.