The Washington herald., 1915-11-27
TRADE OUTLOOK
DEEMED Bright
JIM. Giddings, Of Washing
ton and New York, Sees
Prosperous Days.
RAILROADS PICKING UP
Fashionable Women Now Buying
RAILROADS PICKING UP
Fashionable Women Now Buying
Wardrobes in America. Not Paris.
Says Business Man.

j. NJ GIddings. who has just returned
from an extensive trip throughout the
West and Northwest, is enthusiastic over
the business outlook throughout the
country.
Business is good and getting better
every day." he says. The West has
ceased to look with suspicion upon the
boom in the East and is beginning to re-
gard Il as q real indication of prosperity.
instead of merely another outcome OF
Wall Street manipClations."
1t is Mr. Gidding's opinion that the
railrods are the surest barometer of bus
mess conditions. When the railroads are
enjoying a season Of prosperity, business
conditions are good, he says. The fact
that the railroads are beginning to pick
up means that the banks will have to
loosen their purse strings and lend to the
railroads for much needed improvements
and expansion a part Of the vast re-
serve that is piling up.
While at White Sulphur Springs, where
Mr. Giddings stopped OF for 4 few days
for a rest and a few rounds Of golf, he
overheard a trio of railroad men dis
cussing the situation. The consensus OF
their opinion was that the railroads had
had rather hard shedding for the past
few years, but that the period OF de-
preston seemed to be over and condt-
lions were better and brighter than they
had been for a long time. Mr.. Giddings
thinks that the legislation and agitation
against railroads have about ceased and
that the railroads can get down to busi-
ness.
Business Increases.
Mr.. Giddings in his trip covered Min
neapolis, Chicago. Cincinnati, and Du-
luth. where important branches OF the j.
NJ. Giddings business are located. He
was also in the Lake Superior region.
where furs for their establishment are
collected. He found throughout his trip
that general retail business conditions
were good. and that general tone OF
optimism existed.
In the New York and Washington
stores the business of J. NJ. Giddings
has increased from forty to fifty per
cent. This is unusually large because of
the fact that many women who formerly
repIenished their wardrobe abroad are
not going to Paris this season on account
of the war.
Mr. Giddings. when asked about the
international dress question" which is
agttating the coutouriers of New York
and Paris. declined to give an opinion.
except to say that he did not believe
any one had been commissioned TO pur-
chase gowns for Mrs Gait in Paris. When
asked II Mrs. Gait was one of the patrons
of J. NJ. Giddings. he said:
1T is the policy of this firm not to
say who does and who does not purchase
from It. Mrs Gait and others of the So
cial and official circles of Washington
have visited our esta blishments both in
New York and Washington. But as TO
whether Mrs. Gait or any other indiVid-
ual purchases from us or not, is a mat
ter between our visitors and ourselves"
Mr. GiddinGs left Washington last night
TO return to New York in time to give
some final instructions to one of the buy
ers for the firm. who leaves for Paris
this morning Mr.. Giddings is making
more extensive purchases than ever be-
fore. for he is an optimist who prac-
tees what he breaches. and he is look
ing for better times and preparing for
them. Another buyer leaves in Deem
Der and a third the latter part of Jam
uary to catch the latest Of the fashion
hints in the salons of Paris.