Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-12
GENERAL BUSINESS
GROWING BETTER;
COLLECTIONS SLOW
Cotton Yarn Trade Improv-
ing-Greater Activity Re-
ported in Millinery.
Strength in Wool.

The gradual Improvement In general
| business conditions Is reported by r. G.
| Dun s. Co.
In the cotton yarn trade a better in
! quiry Is reported than the previous week
and, while the volume of business Is fair,
trade is less profitable 'owing to the pre-
| vailing low prices There is but little
demand from the hosiery mills, indicating
that line of business is very dull at the
present time. The demand Is mostly
from manufacturers of underwear. Col
| lecttons in Pennsylvania are reported
| slower than other surrounding States. An
optimistic feeling still prevails in this
line and a gradual betterment of cond-
| tions Is anticipated.
Conditions are strong in the local wool
trade as to the prices, and in some cases
show further advance There is a sat
isfactory demand for most grades of
wool. especially for grades suitable for
the manufacture of millinery goods. Ter
ritory woods are moving freely while
there Is an urgent demand for secured
wools Medium and unwashed hceces are
becoming scarce and a strong view of
those holding the woods Is to some extent
restricting their sales Medium woods
have been reported as selling ut "a cents
and some holders are demanding So cents.
Fine and hne-medium staple territories
SO cents cleaned, while fine staple Mon
tana is quoted as high as 65 and 66 cents
cleaned. All foreign markets continue
strong, and it Is stated that quantities
of South American wools are now due
here. having been sold previous to ar
rival.
Trade among the cloak and suit operat-
ors, during the last week has been quiet;
there has been some activity among the
eli aist nd M In
these lines, however, the trade continues
10 buy for immediate needs only. Manu-
facturers Of mems and boys clothing
state that the trade continues to buy eau
tiously; that they have a fair amount of
orders on hand for future delivery. Col
lections in this line are generally slow.
For some weeks past trade has been in
clined to be quiet among shirt manufac-
turers, although there is some little ac-
tivity at present.
Dealers in electrical goods report a sat
isfactory volume of business, with profits
small and prices fairly firm. The prlnci-
pal activity noted is In household special
ties, though there is some business in
connection with building operation work.
The leather market continues firm all
grades of heavy leather are in demand
and prices high. Glazed kid manufac-
turers and dealers report only a moderate
business; export trade conditions unsat-
isfactory, due to the European war, and
interference with transportation. Shoe
dealers state purchases are small and
tendency to buy for immediate use only
prevails.
Millinery dealers report greater ac-
tIvity and a good spring trade is antici-
pated. Inquiries indicate only a small
amount of stock on hand. Increased ac-
tivity is shown In the building and con-
tracing lines the last week, and indi-
cations point to a fair amount of work
being started this spring. For some weeks
past there has been a comparatively
small number of new buildings started,
the permits being taken out principally
for alterations. The records show de-
clded gain the last week and include a
dwelling operation.