The Washington times., 1916-04-16

parts OF the country Indicate sustained
business activity.
FundE mental conditions continue to
strengthen as domestic influences be-
como more potent and a wholesome OPP |
timism. according to the trade journals,
the comments from the
leading business centers.
Steel manufacturers report a quieter
market after the terrific buying OF the
past several months. In view OF the
fact that the mills are sold up for the
rest Of the year and well into next
year, however. smaller orders are not /
surprising. Another reason Is that Vir-
tually all OF the regular buyers are
now covered by contracts placed for a
long period.
Largest Order of Steel Rails.
The Pennsylvania Railroad announced
Friday the placing Of the largest order
Tor steel rails in the history of the COM
pany. The order called for 10000 tons.
the cost of which will approximate
5000. .OOJ.
This exceeds by 20 per cent the former
high record of l7O,972 tons. awarded in
1919 The rails are to be delivered in
1917, and l25 900 tons will go to the COM
panys lines east of Pittsburgh, and
10000 tons to the lines west.
Another favorable development Is
an apprcciable Improvement In the
transportation situation. The Amer
icon Railway Association ngures on
car supply snow a net surplus for all
roads OF $3.50, as of April 1. This
compares with not shortage or
2O,551 only thirty days earlier.
In the coal fields, however. there is
Etill complaint as to the car supply.
This is not altogether attributable to
scarcity OF cars but to the fact
that much OF the product from the
collicries. instead OF going to the
consumers. is being sent to storage
yaruE.
Failure OF the public to buy coal
because the companies did not make
the usual April reductions Is responsible
| for the storing OF the coal.
Not Affecting Prices.
This failure on the part of the public
TO purchase in the spring. however. is
not affecting prices. On the contrary
coal prices are soaring and are today
from 20 to 80 per cent above a normal
price.
Foreign demand for American coal
| relieves the producers from any con-
Germ over a market. Great Britain's con-
troll OF the worlds coal market has been
much crippled, and the British pro-
| duceIs realize that a. the emo OF the
war they will have to proceed slowly to
resume their bid for foreign markets, as
many of their miners have been sacri-
| feed In the war. and those who return
will need months to become again ef-
| fcien..
French. Belgian. Russian-Polish mines
| will use their production for re-estab-
lishinC railroad service and Industrial
life. Germany will find II difficult fur
/ Al. NINA
| scandinavian reserve OF 60.OO0,0O0 tons is
| exhausted. The United States must pur-
Ney coal for the larger part of the
world to fully 10000 or 100000 tons
per annum.
Breaking All Records.
Trade between the United states and
South America Is breaking all previous
records as II now averages 3l.5OO.O00 a
day. and far exceeds that in any pre-
viOus year. According to figures made
public by the foreign trade department
OF the National city Bank, OF New
York. this trade in the seven months
ending with January averaged $l.4l4, ,OOC
a day, and in the single month of Jan.
uary. sl.702. 900 a day.
The banks report showed that the in
crease was in both exports and imports
The total value Of merchandise export
ed TO South America in the sever
months referred to was $g7. .396. SIG. com
pared with $53. .033 $40 In the same months
OF 1910 and 81, ,"s2,366 in the correspond
ing months OF 1906. having thus more
than doubled in the ten-year period
Imports from South America were $20I
III, ,653, against 100000 in 1906, havinl
also more than doubled in the period II
question. In the single month of Jan
uary 1916 the exports to South Americf
I I'm ~
corresponding month of 1915. and for tn,
Scven months ending with January
we're also more than double those o.
the corresponding months OF 1918, which
was a period OF exceptionally low i'm
ports by the South American countries
Increase in All Glasses.
The report commenting on the ex
traordinay gains In trade, said: THE
large increase In our exports to South
America which are now larger than In
the corresponding period in any earlier
years. occurs in practically all classes
of manufactures, for MANUFACTURED
form about 80 per cent OF our exports tc
that continent Cotton cloth, for ex'
ample, shows a total of 100000 yards
against 100000 yards in the CORES
pording months of 1915. and 5000. .O0
yards la the same months of 1914 Thii
increase In the movements of cottor
cloths occurs In the exports to prac
ticaly all of the South American coun
tries. and the total, II will be noted. Il
nearly three times as great as in 1915
and double that of 1914"
I Large gains are shown in the repor
covering shipments from here of coal
} agricultural implements, binder twlne
wrought iron pipes, iron sheets an
plates, tin plate, barbed wire, boots an
shoes, illuminating and lubricating oils
printing paper and lumber. Imports fror
South America also showed large in
! cTeases, especially in coffee, cocoa
rubber and nitrates, while meats an
corn showed decline.
Used More Raw Cotton.
. Cotton manufacturers used more ra,
cotton during March than in any on
: month before In the nations history
, Census Bureau statistics show tn
100000 bale mark was passed for III
first time, as far as records show. Th
exact quantity OF cotton used durin
, the month was 6l3,625 bales, exceedin
the previous record month, which wa
: March last year, by almost 30 900 bale
Indications are that the years cor
sumption OF cotton in the United State
9 will be record one, as the Cotto
manufacturing industry Is eXtremel
active. Up to the end of March 1925, o
bales of cotton had been used durin
J. | tho first eight months of the cottO