The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-18

directions. such as engineering work.
for example. and that 1t Is with re-
gard to competition in textiles that
persons on this side the Atlantic have
shown most apprehension.
Circumstances Affecting Cottons.
During the week the quotations of
cotton fiuctuated within comparatively
narrow bounds, and the transactions
seemed to indicate merely profess
ssonal trading. Those who believe
cotton should bring more than 1t
, seems TO blame the existing lowness
OF price on speculation and the new
foreign complications. At the same
time there is an absence of the op-
timisrn which in the earlier part OF
the season foresaw twenty cents az q
minimum. The results of the con-
tinued depression in price have been
shown In the lowered quotations for
yarns and in the easing on print
f cloths and other convertibles. There
seem little on which to base the ex-
/ pectation OF any great break in fabric
prices while production costs remain
as high as they are, a continuing ex-
port demand would help to prevent
this. Bleached and colored fabrics
have been holding their own, and the
calls for them have been quite steady.
III tAiE Dllt anu ldlGy Niobtto' w
style governs so much, the relative In
activity shown ia not considered sign
of weakness In hosiery and knit
goods there was little furry due to
belief that large government orders
would be put in which would have
precedence over those for the trade.
Nothing was really done. however, and
, there does not appear to be any reason
why, for some time to come AT least
the government should be In the mar
ket to any large extent without any
public orders the knit goods people
have enough on their hands 10 attend
to the business offered them.
As 10 Wool and WOODEN Goods.
No news has yet come from Great
Britain as to the details OF the ship
mcnts OF wool which arc TO be per-
mitted to come here. There is no rea-
son TO doubt that they will come in
due season, and 1t is quite likely that
moro consideration Will be shown for
the needs of this country should II
cast in it's lot with the allies. The
war excitement during the week had
the effect of quickening sales of wool
In the Boston and other markets. and
prices showed an upward tendency.
The demand was for secured woods
ranging from fine to medium. There
was an impression that hurry call
from the government would be forth
coming for cloths suitable for army
purposes. and this led to the American
Wooden company's withdrawing Its
lines for a couple of days or 30. 1t
appears however, that a good deal of
cloth, is now in the possession OF the,
army. and that. consequently no great
demand on the mills Is apt to be made
in the near future. The bids called
for on Friday were for the normal
needs of the army under the new
scale of appropriations, and the guam
tity of woolens indicated Is not big
enough TO cause much stir. The furry
that was caused induced clothiers to
put in adequate orders SO as not to
be left in the lurch. Dress goods buy
ing has also been quite up to the
mark expected. Retailers are show
ing, q little more anxiety to I'LL
their requirements, although some.
Especially among Those dealing in
women's garments, were at first dis
posed to hold off In the vain hope Of
getting concessions in price. Others.
however, we're uncertain because OF
inability to decide as to the trend in
styles. New York Times.