The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-05

which viii probably show in Eebru.
airy and March figures on account Of
grain and cotton shipments. will 10
offset considerably by decline in live
stock shipments. No material change
can come TO them until the begin
ming of-rnoverie Mt Of the 1915 crops
The total number of idle cars on the
hrst of March was go. 600, compared
with 1874, 900 year ago.
For February pig iron production
totaied 1,6f5,090 tons, compared with
l,601.O00 the previous month and
l.sS9,O00 IN February OF last year
The daily production was 10000
tons. compared with $4,000 tons in
January, the increase being largely
brought about by the blowing in OF
furnaces IF the Steel Corporation. a
total gain Of sixteen active furnaces
being made for the month
The corporations untitled tonnage
statement at the close of February
4,3A5I000 tons. compared With ~
249,O0 inc previous month and 81
026.000 Al The close of February.
1914
The attempt is being made TO hold
back copper production and steady
the price ny simply meeting consuna-
ing demands, Lake and some of the
southwestern mines are running AZ
full capacltT. with Anaconda produce
ing 50 per cent Of normal showing
total copper production is above 20
per cent of normal This increasing
production cannot come out of re
fineries until the middle of the year
and with TIE great decrease shown
last month In European stocks. there
should be ample demand for it by the
time 1t reaches the market
Stocks in tin showed A decline
OF over 1000 tons for the month, now
being 4.0s9 tons. compared with B.
667 tons a year ago. Consumption
was about $50 tons for FebruarS.
com pared with 6.167 tons last Feb
ruary Visible TN at the beginning
Of this month was 14.54s tons COM
pared with 1909 a year ago
Tine Industry Busy.
The zinc industry Is one OF ths
busiest in she country. The imme-
dlate future Of this indutry Is as
sured. the only thing necessary be-
ing the ability to get the surplus to
Europe.
Anthracite coal output for FehA
rIary was 4,Z75,o00 tons, pared
with 4tG21,000 "a year ago,
Gold production in the Trsnsvaal
for February was $4,000 fine ounces.
compared with $4,000 a year ago.
! ne bAt pFI kOF t1e next lew months
will naturally show an increase over
last year.
Domestic consumption OF cotton
in February was 4s3 goo bales. COM
pared with 400. coo for February last
year Nanufs Cturers' stocks of cotton
were on the frst OF the month L.
Goa 900 bales compared with l,712,-
600 last year Stocks in warehouses
were 4 0so, 600 bales, compared with
= ,3l4 600 iast year. Exports were
] 100000 bales, compared with 1871
600 a year ago Active cotton spin
dies numbered 30.T77 0oo in Febru-
AIRY, compared with 3I,14o.0o0 year
afo. There is some promise for the
owner Of cotton in the smaiinegs OF
manufacture RS stocks. bur the small
number Of active spindles indicates
hat some manufacturers are still not
taking advantage of the situation.
The price Of cotton IS steady and the
advance has continued to point
where there il now reasonable ius-
titication for thep lauting OF the MS
nal acreage
Reports from the winter wheat
and rye sections are nearly all IA
vora bic and the condition of thess
crops now IL, the ground Is better
than the average for the season In
the Southwest the season is late and
the putting Ia OF oats ana other early
sown crops will be AT least ten days
or two weeles later than usual. Gem
eral weather conditions have been
good and the condition OF the soil IN
40 per cent Of the tillable area of the
! country ia excellent. We enter the
! spine season AZ least with good crop
promise for 1915.
Business IN numerous lines IL
m ore or less spasm odicai and uncer-
Ia 81 o.
ed but sometimes from unexpected
sources Taking ali lines as a unit.
! business TO-DAY stands at the hisheao
point since the beginning OF the war
and in fact AT the highest point since
May / 1914.