New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-09-02
War Requirements
Continue, to Absorb
Industrial Plants
Trade Also Affected by In
creasing Government De-
mand for Basic Materials

The very large proportion Of the in
dustries in the district under the juris-
diction of the Federal Reserve Bank
of New York engaged in war work con-
tinues to be augmented by the CONVEX
sion of plants specifically to meet war
needs, it is stated by Pierre Jay, chair
man of the banks board, in his review
Of the situation. Production, he says,
continues at high level, though the
steadily crystallizing demands of the
government exceed the flow of products.
To an increasing extent the distribu-
ton of basic raw materials, despite
large output, is restricted to those in
dustries contributing directly and in
major degree to war ends, and for even
such collateral activity as the govern
ment's housing programme, calling for
structural steel, brick, linseed oil, for
paint, ETC., supplies are so inadequate
that an index of building material
prices, prepared by "The American Con-
tractor" shows recent sharp advances
IL
rise.
Basic Materials Are Scarce
With the increasing government de-
mand for STEEL estimated for she'll steel
at probably Is per cent above present
shipment rate, and for plate steel at
about IL per cent more than recent rec
ord outputs, less essential industries
are, of necessity, adjusting them selves
to the scarcity of these and similar
fundamental materials. Only approx
mately S per cent of the total supply
of copper is said to be available for
other than war purposes, at the fixed
price of 26 cents. Tin, pending
arrangements with the British gov
eminent in respect to imports, is at al
most prohibitive prices, and canning
industries and oil refners complain of
shortage of tin plate. Important chem
icals, such as glycerine and nitrates,
are diverted from normal use in the
manufacture of such articles as soap
and fertilizers, to use in the manufact-
ure Of munitions.
Because of limited imports, the allo-
cation Of rubber for August and Sep
TENDER is on basis of three-eighths of
the consumption during the CORE
spending period last year. The small
quantities of incoming hides and skins
disposed Of at prices fixed by the gov
eminent, to 8 per cent lower than
those prevailing, similarly permit the
filling of only a portion of the need of
manufacturers of leather goods to sat
isfy their active trade demand. Fed
eral regulation looking to a Is to 20
per cent reduction in the size of news
papers follows decreased production of
newsprint paper.
Textile Industry Unsettled
The textile industry is in an unset
tied state, with somewhat opposite con-
ditions obtaining as to supply of raw
materials in the wool and cotton
trades. A tendency appears to exist
among manufacturers and distributors
to await full issue of government price
regulations before determining trade
policy. With importation of wool. ex-
clusively on government account. it
seems not improbable that the supplv
will be inadequate to permit the manu-
facture of pure wool fabrics for civil
ian trade, but as sufficient stocks of
cloth for the near future are in the
hands of merchants. they hesitate to
contract for mixed goods. Trading in
cotton goods is also light, owing to un-
certainty is to how government-estab-
lished prices for certain classes of
goods affect the prices of others. and
to expectations, on the part of buyers.
of lower prices, and to preference. by
the mills, for large scale governme nt
orders for goods of homogeneous char.
| acter.
The shortage of unskillcd labor is
reported to be slightly less acute, and
the turnover diminished, largely as a
result of Federal supervision Of en-
ployment, but the demand for labor
above the completely unskilled grade
and especially for men with some
training along mechanical lines, is very
keen.