davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1919-05-03
Leather
Shoe Retailers Placing
Large Orders for All
the Fall Lines

Retailers are placing orders with
manufacturers and wholesalers for
what are considered fairly large
stocks of fall shoes Of all kinds. With
the prospects of lower prices for next
seasons footwear being dispelled by
the attitude of the manufacturers at
their recent meeting in Boston, the re-
tailers are now anxious to cover their
probable requirements. Throughout
the wholesale district yesterday the
impression was general that by next
January shoe prices would be consider
ably higher than at present. Some
wholesalers were of the opinion that
the increase on the average would be
about 81 a pair, while others figured
81 as the advance.
Stocks OF fall shoes were reported to
be plentiful, though not sufficiently
large to take care of any unusual de-
mand that might develop. Staple
lines, black and tan, are expected to
be IN demand in both chidren's and
women's footwear, with a few novel
ties holding favor in what are called
the "growing girls" shoes. 1t is said
that an effort is being made to again
popularize button boots, more of this
type OF shoe being turned out by the
manufacturers this year than in some
time past One novelty in women's
shoes that is said to be we'll received
by the retailers is a patent leather
vamp with black buck top, buttons and
an extremely narrow toe and Louis
heel.
New-York tribune., 1919-05-03
Looking Far Ahead
Clothing Manufacturers Enquir-
ing for Fabrics for Next Spring


Mems clothing manufacturers are so
fearful of the future cloth situation
that they have already broached the
subject of orders for spring fabrics for
1920 to several woollen and worsted
selling agents. Normally the selling
season or spring materials would not
begin until July, and it is probable,
the mill agents say, that it will be late
in opening this year, because many of
the mills have extended their fall pro-
duction season in order to attempt to
catch up with the many orders on their
books
The situation in fall fabrics daily
becomes more acute. Many of the Fill
agents who were careful not to over
sell the estimated production of their
mills are being forced to cut their or
ders now because of labor troubles.
With 80 per cent of the workers back
at Lawrence and the labor situation in
Passaic clearing, tho strike mania ap-
pears to be spreading to other centres.
North Adams, Mass, where several
small mills are located, probably Will
be the scene Of woollcn mill strike
on Monday. Until recently North
Adams was non-union town, but the
workers are now said TO be we'll or
ganized
New-York tribune., 1919-05-03
Metals
Lead Output Being Cur
tailed OsUiag to Lack
Of Densi7sd

Copper producers in the last week
have gone through the dullest period
since the war came to an end. Con-
sumers are reported to be waiting for
revival of demand for iron and steel
before entering the market on any ex-
tensive scale. The resumption of buy
ing Of these metals would naturally
bring with it greater purchases Of
copper. The large copper producers
continue to quote 1873 cents pound
for the metal, while offerings from
smaller sellers are made fractionally
below that figure. =
Demand for lead has declined TO q.
point where curtailment of production
has almost become a necessity. One
Western refinery is already reported
TO have shut down, and some others
may follow within a short time unless
the demand for the metal on the part
OF consumers is speedily revived. aos
No change in the tin situation was
apparent. Stocks of the metal remain-
ing IN the hands Of the government
are estimated at approximately 2.OO1
tons, and these must be disposed Of
at the fixed prices of 72h cents a
pound before restrictions on importa-
tions are lifted. The last of the gov
ernment owned tin. it is said, may be
disposed of in perhaps month or six
weeks.
New-York tribune., 1919-05-03
Orders for Carpets
Exceed Production
Selling Agents Forced to Re-
fuse Further Business
for the Season

Selling agents for carpet mills re-
port that they have booked enough
orders to keep the mills working to
capacity for the next six months and
that they cannot accept more business
until the October openings. The pres
ont selling season has been character
izcd by variance in prices Of from
80 cents to 81 asked for the same
class of rugs by different houses.
At the opening of the selling sea-
son IN March it was generally agreed
among the wholesale trade that prices
were to be reduced to a point that
would induce buyers to place orders
Profits were shaved to the bone in
many cases, but some mills went
further than others in the cutting pro-
cess. Mills that sold at higher prices
IMAM their competitors say they have
booked all the business they can han
die without the loss Of patronage be-
cause Of their relatively higher prices.
None Of the mills which made ex-
tremely low prices are said to have
sold beyond their production facilities
and are now cutting down orders at
ready received. This has thrown a
Certain amount of business to the mills
winch quoted higher prices.
Most Of the selling agents are Of the
opinion that prices will go higher.
Labor cost has advanced fully so per
cent over the pre-war figure and ia
tending to go still higher Carpet wool.
most Of which is held by the govern
ment, has shown but little reduction
IN price at the government auctions.
New-York tribune., 1919-05-03
April Sets Low Record
in Business Failures
IL. =. Dun & Co. Never Before
Reported So Few InsoIven-
cies in One Month

or April the record of bus;no..
lailures, as compiled by r.. G. D,,n g..
60, discloses only 543 commercial do
1aults in the United States, involvjn 6,
ll'qoo'462 of liabilities. In noint of
number, no such showing as this has
heretofore been made since montb1,
returns were first prepared by the
Dun agency, in 1894, the: nearest an
pfoach to 1t being the 5S1 failures of
May, 1899. Comparison with the fic.
uros of April of 1918-a period of re1a-
lively light neutrality-suspicious. that tho
NUMBER OF lnsolvencies is 362, or OK
actly 40 per cent, smaller, and ths in
debtedness less by fully $R,soo.OOo, or
nearly 20 per cent. Contrasted with
the 2'oe5 defaults for more than s43.-
100000 of April of 1915-the. high noint
for the month-the reductions are in
excess of 73 per cent in each instance.
From March of last year, there was an
unbroken decline in number of failures
until December, when a moderate rise
occurred. Thus far this year the fem
dency has been almost steadily down
ward and the number of April insol-
vencies is SO below that of March.
Included in the April failures were
TIA for $6,107,171 in manufacturinr -
lines; 319 for $3,309,S61 in trading oc,
cupations, and so, with liabilities of
$2,033 430, among agents, brokers and
other concerns not properly included
in either of the two leading classifica-
tions.
New-York tribune., 1919-05-03
me Ar1ounes rage Of Business News s% s%
Textiles
Mills Fast Disposing OF
Stocks OF CoIored
Cotton Goods

Buying of colored cottons was ex-
ceptionally active yesterday, but the
demand for both bleached and un-
bleacheA fabrics aDated Some OF the
Eastern mills have sold their outputs
of fall ginghams and fannelettes, the
latter being used for making klmonos
and house dresses. Blankets for fall
also sold we'll. While the buying of
bleached fabrics subsidized for the first
time in about five weeks, sales agents
declared that goods were scarce, chiefly
because of strikes at some of the mills
and shorter working hours at other
plants. 1t also was asserted that not
more than rs per cent of the country's
full production Of all cottons was be-
ing turned out at present.
Although business in the gray or
unbleached goods receded, the mills
did not seem to be keen about making
further sales. They have booked Il
splendid volume of orders, and in ad-
dition have disposed Of nearly all of
their old stocks. The mills that turn
out the so-called clothing styles of
unbleached fabrics have sold their out
puts we'll into next fall, and therefore
only small qualities are available for
ready delivery or spot trading
Because of the large scale buying Of
all kinds of goods by Southern job
bers some of the local mill agents
were inclined to look for higher prices
for raw cotton.
New-York tribune., 1919-05-03
Silks
Dealers Haze Difficulty
ir, Supplying Demand
for Dress Silks

Buying of dress silks, the activity of
which has so long been the feature
Of the market, became even broader
yesterday. Manufacturers reported
that the chief difficulty was to take
care of the business that has been
placed and to see that customers were
supplied with goods as near to sched-
ule time as may be practicable. Or
ders for spring silks trickled i'll an
unusual volume for this stage of the
year Cutters bought heavily Of the
leading fall fabrics, and retail deal
ers also purchased quite literally.
Prices are being advanced. Some of
the selling agents predicted that goods
were likely to be scarce later on in
the season and that prices We're bound
to 60 still higher. 1t was estimated
that the silk mills of the country
at present are working only about two
thirds of their full capacity, bat ew
ing TO the scarcity of experienced help
it was we'll nigh impossible to speed
up production
New-York tribune., 1919-05-03
TELEPHONES:
Beekrnan 8243
Beeknan 5000
Diamond Prices
Still Soaring in
Holland Market
Buyers of Nearly All Nation
aiities Compete for Gems
at Amsterdam, Paying
Spot CasI,

Diamond dealers in Amsterdam who
are in position to obtain rough
stones from the English syndicate can
dispose of their uncut and unpolished
stones at a profit of from 20 to 80 pes
cent, so great is the demand, accordinr
10 James j. Loeb, a local gem dealer.
who returned yesterday from a three
weeks visit to the Holland market
Mr. Loeb declared that the situation in
the Amsterdam diamond trade is be-
yond the conception of the American
dealer who Is not on the ground.
During the three weeks that | WAS
IN Amsterdam the price of rough dia-
monds advanced 20 per cent" said Mr.
Loeo yesterday. at was almost a
question Of paying a new price every
lime you went into the market. Fine
sNhail dlamonds are almost impossible
10 OBTAIN, and the profits that the cut
lers can get for their rough stuff are
so great that they declare il does not
pay to cut the stones. Wages of dia-
mond cutters were advanced 5 per cent
uurlng my stay, which meant [ had to
pay that much more for what [ bought
despite the fact that the stones | pur-
SNu "ciS cut prior 10 the increase
going into effect
Any American dealer going to Am
sterdam without acquaintances in the
trade there and expecting to ret n
STOCK OF stones is doomed TO disan-
polntment The market is alive with
buyers who are willing to pay all sorts
OF prices, and they have to paw some
nigh prices. Germans and Austrians
are hooking to Amsterdam and turning
thelr marks into diamonds. Scandira.
wan dealers also are present in large
numbers, and some Japanese are buy
ing, too. All business is done cash o,.
the spot. Formerly we could buv on on
from eight to ten months terms hit
NOT now If you cant pay for the
goods Immediately someone else is onlv
too willing to do so. ''
Il could have sold in Amsterdso
from ll0 to lis carats of the stones
mat bought there at profit of from r
TO 70 forin carat, but we are in too
Gre need of these diamonds here for
me TO leave them behind after once
gettlng them in my hands.
Diamond cutting has been revival
IN antwerp, but the Germans have ga
sti11led that market that it will he
some time before it regains it's former
posltion as diamond centre"
New-York tribune., 1919-05-03
Overlapping Seasons
Fall Goods Cut Into Spring.
Clothing Owing TO Shortage

CiOahing Owing TO Shortage
Seasons may soon be thing of the
past in woollens and worsteds for
mems clothes, according to some Of the
trade leaders This year the extreme
shortage OF spring fabrics forced many
of the clothing manufacturers to cut up
what is normally considered fall ma
terial in order to fill the requirements
of their customers for spring clothes.
With the available and future supply
Of fall fabrics becoming more scarce
each day it is probable that the seasons
will overlap again and that winter
clothing will be made Of some fabrics
intended for summer wear. 81
This overlapping of seasons is not as
serious as might at first appear, for in
many cases there is only two or at
most three ounces difference yard
in the weights of summer and winter
fabrics. The gradual narrowing of this
difference in the last few years and the
increasing demand on the part of the
general public for call the wear round"
suits has led to the belief that soon
the woollen and worsted industry will
disregard the seasons and operate on
the same weight cloths right through
the year. A few mills are already on
basis approxmating such a condition.
New-York tribune., 1919-05-03
General Asphalt Net Larger

Trading income of the General AS
phalt Company for the year ended
1919 amounted to S13 ,2S7, ,492, or $72S,-
179 larger than that for the preceding
year. After expenses, depreciation,
etc, gross profits were S2,323, ,4S3. an
increase of S426,121. To this amount
income from other sources amount
ing to Sl04,540 was added. making a
total income of S2,42S,O ,O23. Net profit
after charges and war taxes was ST.
1851, ,016, which, after the deduction of
$6b2,705 for preferred dividends, was
equivalent to S7.1S share on S9,S62,-
600 outstanding common stock. In the
preceding eleven months the company's
profits were equal to S3.71 a share.
The funded debt of the company, con-
sisting of $2,000,000 6 per cent de-
bentures, dated April /, 1915, was re-
duced during the year $4,000 by
operation of the sinking fund The
amount outstanding at the end of last
year was $l,690,000.
New-York tribune., 1919-05-03

factories within this district. Now
the owners of the factory necessarily
want to help the communities in which
those factories are located make the
best possible showing in the loan cam
paign. Therefore, the big subscrip-
tions go to the localities in which the
carpet factories are located. Yonkers
Amsterdam and Philadelphia all profit
by this at the expense Of New York
1t IS situation which cannot be over
come in any way, and so our COM
mittee is forced to do the best it can
among the selling agents and the local
statesmen.
Even among the retailers we are
restricted, because the furniture people
get the bulk of the subscriptions from
the retail stores. In the end, of course,
the government gets the money just
the same, but for the sake of the sell
ing end in New York | am appealing
to the men in the industry here to
lend to their utmost. We more than
subscribed our quota in the last loan
and if we all put our shoulders to the
wheel this time we can do it again.
1t means just little greater effort,
which is sure to be exerted through
pride in the industry"
New-York tribune., 1919-05-03
Furs Brings High
Prices at St. Louis
Fox in Keen Demand, With
Best Peits Going to New
York Dealers

ST. LOUIS, Mo, May 2-The high
prices that rule at the spring sale on
the International Fur Exchange is al
most the sole topic of talk among both
buyers and sellers. Echoes of the ex-
citement over record prices for Rus
sian sable and Hudson Bay sables con-
tinue to be heard. The trade says that
the high prices are evidence of the
general prosperity, and quote the ac-
tivity of the diamond market as cor
roboration.
General opinion is that very high
priced lots are sold before they are
bought, which means that the buyer
has his customer ready for the goods
and that they will be marketed readily
at fair profit. Nevertheless general
prosperity in fur and other trades has
been potent in the continuous ad-
vances of prices at this sale by the
high qualities Of furs displayed. Buy
ers assert that prices are not invari-
ably speculative, but based on in
creased sales of high priced goods in
practically every line of merchandise,
claiming that furs are staples rather
than luxuries.
The sale opened to-day with 1900
swift fox. which went to $4.25, the
highest, and S11O the lowest, most
of the skins selling around So. The
collections totalled $4,000. Keenest bid
ding occurred on cross foxes, due to
the superlative quality, many being
almost of the silver fox class The
highest price was $240 and the next
S236 and 1920. New York dealers Sc
cured the choicest pelts, most of them
selling around S75 to s175. Small and
pale skins went around $50, and even
damaged pelts sold for more than $40.
Paris dealers bought we'll and London
also, with New York the heaviest
One thousand cross fox totalled over
$4,000, several lots changing hands
privately imme diately after the sale at
increased prices. Thirty-two thousand
red fox brought big market, brisk
bidding and high prices, the top price
being STA and the next $66. The bulk
of selling was from S35 to $50, with
seconds and thirds running $50 to $50.
Fine Kamchatkas, Alaska, brought
around $50, fours and fives grades went
from $40 to SIS, buyers expressing sat-
isfaction at that price. Red fox to-
tailed almost S902, 900. Thirty thousand
Australian fox sold quickly for 81 Is 600.
Karagon fox went quickly for over
$1,000 for $50 The $500 Macedonian
fox brought approximately $4,000.
Increased attendance to-day for foxes
was noticeable, with many new arrivals
from the East and Canada Particu-
larly strong bidding on all classes of
fox sold to-day was evident. The Of
fetal market announcement quotes
swift fox advanced % per cent, cross
fox advanced SO per cent, red fox ad-
vanced 30 per cent. Sales to- day to-
tailed Sl,350,000, making sales to date
$4,000,00O.
New-York tribune., 1919-05-03
E.ull i'm Raw Silk
Rising Prices Cause Buyers TO
Hesitate

Buying Of raw silk was light yes
terday, the recent rise in prices having
checked the demand. Manufacturers
were not disposed to place any orders
for delivery beyond the month of June,
but importers seemed confident that
the luIl would give place to renewed
activity within the next week or two.
1t was stated that nearly every man
ufacturer of silk goods has booked so
many orders that further buying of the
raw product would be essential if the
mills were to be kept at work. Re-
ports from Yokohama indicated that
the market there was firm, that hold
crs of raw silk were confident of still
higher prices, and that the visible
supply was only 1925 bales, against
10000 reported earlier in the week.
New-York tribune., 1919-05-03

of funds by the government, and is
not necessarily considered significant
OF any real tendency toward ease.
Dealers asserted that there was more
to yesterdays purchase of bills. than a
mere employment of funds over the
week end, as they sold bills not de-
liverable until Monday.
More bills have come on the market
IN the last two or three days than in
the previous ten.
There are sometimes conflicting re-
ports from dealers on the condition Of
the days market. That merely reflects
present conditions. Time was when
each bank bought from day to day.
Now perhaps only one bank will buy
one day, and another another. If a
broker Is fortunate enough to see first
the bank that is buying, he may get
nearly all its business for that day.
II he arrives later, he may find that a
competitor has been there first The
result is that one broker will report a
good market and another poor one.
Fifteen to sixty day prime trade
acceptances were quoted at and 5A
per cent; sixty to ninety days, and
61a per cent; indorsed trade accept
anccs, u per cent, all maturites.
New-York tribune., 1919-05-03
Rubber
Rubber Footwear Pro-
ducers Making DriUe for
FOREIGN Markets

Because retailers are we'll stocked
with rubber footwear that was not sold
during the unusually mild winter, man.
ufacturers Of these goods are now mak>
ing strong drive to develop foreign
markets for their 1919 production. Sew
oral of the larger rubber goods manu-
featuring concerns have had selling
agents abroad for some time to build
up this business, but recently COM
paratively smaller concern has sent its
representatives to Europe in an effort
to find an outlet for rubber footwear
Prices have remained unchanged since
the first Of the year, manufacturers
realizing, it is said, that even reduc-
tons would not encourage the retail
crs to further burden themselves with
stock.
Tennis shoes are moving rather slow
IIy from the stockrooms Of the manu-
tacturers and jobbcrs as retailers are
purchasing rather sparingly in antic1-
patton Of lower prices. 1t is said that
Some of the manufacturers have made
concessions in prices, but the down
ward tendency has not become general.
New-York tribune., 1919-05-03
Record Sales of Fall
Clothing Expected
Retailers, Abandoning the
Hand-to-Mouth Policy, Are
Buvinc Eaperlv

EARLY fall orders placed by retailers
with the manufacturers of mems
clothing indicate that the season will
be one of the greatest in volume of
sales the trade ever has known. Al
most without exception the retailers
have cast aside the hand-to-mouth buy
ing policy and are placing orders as
soon as they can for the bulk of the
merchandise they will require to carry
them through the fall AID winter. At
one OF the largest clothing manufact-
urlng. plants in the city buyers we're
standing IN line yesterday awaiting
thelr turn to be served by the sales
men, rms experience. is not excep-
tlonal, and even those manufacturers
who have not yet placed their fall
lines on sale are begieged by buyers
who want to place their orders now.
Two reasons are advanced for the
great number of buyers in the market.
The first Is that they want to obtain
merchandise and the second is that
the lateness of the cloth mills in max
ing deliveries of goods to the clothing
manufacturer has made it impossible
tor this latter to make up enough sam
pies to send out on the road. Retail
oio WIN iiollhaHy puy from the ROAD
statesmen are thus forced to come to
New York to do their buying. There
will be fewer clothing statesmen on the
road this season than ever before.
The early orders also indicate that
the buyers from the West, South and
Middle West favor the novelties and
extreme styles, although the staples
are not neglected.
Many of the manufacturers will not
accept as large orders as the retailers
would like to place with them. The fall
season is just beginning now more
than two months later than normal,
ana the manufacturers say they will
not be able to produce all the mer-
chandise required within the shortened
working period.
New-York tribune., 1919-05-03
Vegetable Oil imports
Disturb Texas Cruslaers
Tariff to Check Competition
With Cotton Seed Product
Il Advocated
Business Ne1Cs Bureau
.Cllac,nI En.,-l.-.,..,-..-l..

AUSTIN, Tex, May Q. - The Texas
Cotton Seed Crushers' Association is
much disturbed over the growth of i'm
ports OF oils from the Orient, which
seed oil. In bulletin which the asso-
ceiation has just issued on the subject,
is the following:
Unless tariff is fixed on peanut and
palm oils imported from the Orient.
domestic products of a similar character
will suffer and cottonseed will be worth
oe1satore than 3o0OO,0oo gallons of pea
nut and palm oils, more than $4,000. 900
gallons Of soya beans oil and more than
35,OO0,000 gallons Of cocoanut oil, or
more than 130000,00O gallons in all.
were imported in 1918 from the Orient.
Much of this was in direct competi-
ton with cottonseed oil, which the gov
ernment was stabilizing. Much of it
was insanitary in preparation, in stor-
age and III handling'