The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-22
IMPROVEMENT IN z
TRADE INCREASES
Retirement Is Noticeable In
Textiles and Activity Is
More Pronounced.
IDLENEss BEING CHECKED
Spring Buying Shows Signs Of
Expansion and Outlook Is
for Large Crop.
BEING CHECKED

The Improvement in trade and busi-
ness conditions is widening. according
to the weekly trade reviews. which take
a decidedly more optimistic view OF the
situation. While there is no genera
RESUMPTION OF business. it is declared.
there is less apparent hating In activi-
ties and especially In textiles, &c. 10
the Improvement n1oet noticeable.
The labor problem Is assuming a bet
ter aspect, and although thousands OF
men are returning from military and
naval life to civil life. the increase IN
idleness is being materially checked In
many communities.
III plainly lacking uniformity" says
Dun's Revisto, Commercial reports
nevertheless give positive evidence that
the area of improving conditions IL
widening From parts OF New England
where hesitation has been especially
conspicuous comes the best news IN
many weeks, and IN other sections of the
country encouraging Indications, while
not everywhere manifest, are multiply
ing IN number. without general re-
sumption of normal activities. yet with
less hating than recently, business Ia
slowly emerging from the state OF re-
preston that followed the elimination
OF the great. but artificial. stimulus OF
the war period, and expansion elonS
''h'SA~N~'''~
foreshadowed.
THE fact that certain Ieadins
branches, such as the steel industry.
still fail to reflect recovery tends TO
divert attention away from the better
ment In some other directions, a. In
! textiles but even where no gain no"
appears there is confident expectation
| regarding the future. and forward
movement may conce.vably develop with
| the removal or lessening of restraining
| price uncertainties.
| Check Idleness Increase.
| White labor problems. accumulated By
| tho return of thousands of men to civil
| life remain, formidable Il Is reassurfn's
| that the increase of. idleness Is being
| checked In some localities, and tho
launching OF deferred private construc~
ton will open UP many avenues or en-
! ployment
with favoring weather building op-
erations though yet handicapped by the
| continued high cost Of both labor and
materials. are undergoing noticeable re-
yival, and renewal of real estate &C.
tivity ie feature commented upon mora
generally in the weeks dispatches. In
spite of the difficulties incident to the
change Of brsiness from a war to -
peace basis the present situation 10 ons
that not only holds various clements OF
promise, but which in actual perform
ance clearly makes an improved show
ing.
IAN interesting and significant event
Of the work was Thursdays heavy fall
| in sterling exchange on the announce
ment that the British Government had
withdrawn It's support from the mar
ket, while a sharp break in French bills
had preceded this movement"
There Is a better evidence OF spring
! buying. according 10 Brddstreets Strs
Of Trnd,, which declares: TRADE and
industrial deve lopnerts Of the week have
been many and varied, these including D
further expansion in spring trade at Tnost
| markets. especially In dry goods ana
wearing apparel hitherto inclined to lag
a trifle behind other lines; speeding UP
Of industrial operations where readtust'
ments have been completed and new Do
msnd has appeared; a glowing series Of
! reports as to early crop and soil condl-
| tons IN surplus crop regions; a rather
| sharp advance In many food products.
with a consequent advance in the gen.
e-al level of necessaries; excellent re-
tueus as to general export trade for Feb
ruary, and enlarged shipments OF wheat
To Eurooe