davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1919-02-04
Textiles
Textiles
Buyers Protected on
Cotton Fabrics bv
Contracts With
ConpeYters

Certain of the lower grade cotton
fabrics can be bought at lower prices
with buyers in most cases protected
by an agreement which many of the
converters have placed in operation
specifying that untitled orders for fut-
ure delivery will be billed at the mar
ket sprice prevailing at the time the
goods are placed in the purchasers
hands.
Burton Brothers & Co., one of the
largest converters in the city, have
pursued such policy since the first
Of the year and other large houses arc
understood to have done the same.
Price reductions have been only on the
lower grade and heavier fabrics, such
as sheetings, imitation linens, poplins,
etc. In the sheer fabrics, made OF the
long fibre cotton, there has been no
reduction, and leaders in the trade do
rot expect any this season.
The fall in prices mas not affected
all fabrics evenly. For instance, Bur-
ton Brothers e. Co. have reduced one
of their leading lines from 35 cents a
yard to 271a cents a yard, while on an
other fabric the price has fallen from
as cents to 421a cents.
The fluctuations in the raw cotton
market, it is contended, will have rela-
lively small effect, since it requires
about eight months to manufacture the
fabric. Mills having raw cotton bought
at the peak prices cannot reduce prices
without taking loss.
Business in rough cotton goods is
light Jobbers are taking only enough
supplies to cover immediate needs. EX-
pectations of lower prices exert a re-
tarding influence on the demand An
indication of the recession that already
has occurred in prices is afforded by
the fact that a standard cloth, one COM
monty used, is now quoted at 91a cents
yard, compared with 4 price of 1919
cents fixed by the government. This
product went as high as IS cents yard
before The government assumed charge
of prices.
Most mill agents say quotations are
on an attractive business, and that
rather than allow stocks to accumu-
late the mills will further restrict their
outputs. =
Agitation for forty ght-hour week
instead OF fifty-four hours causes some
concern among mill owners, but in view
of the uncertainty over prices it is
estimated that a suspension of opera
tions might be welcome.
New-York tribune., 1919-02-04
Metals
Place Large Orders
tor Locomotives to
Equip Foreign
Railways

The largest foreign contracts fos
railway equipment taken by tbo
American manufacturers since N.
signing of the armistice have bsen
closed by the American Locomotive
Company. which has arranged to buila
sixty-two locomotives of various tvps,
for foreign railroads. The total
amount involved in the orders ar.
proximates S5,OO0,O00.
The biggest order is from the Sout,
African Railways for forty mountais
type engines, of which twenty viii
weigh 81 tons and twenty 81 tons.
The Chemins de Fer de la Province
de Santa Fe of Argentina has con-.
tracted for twenty Pacific tyns
engines. weighing So tons each.
A railroad operating in Portuguese.
East Africa, has contracted with the
company for the manufacture of two
19tcn mogul locomotives.
The engines to be shipped to South
Africa will be manufactured at the
company's Montreal plant, the Others
at its Cooke works.
All the American companies manu-.
featuring locomotives are looking for
an increased export demand since rail
road lines all over the world are said
to be operating with run down rolling
stock, as a result of war, which tied up
the output of most of the plants
New-York tribune., 1919-02-04
Silks
Proposed Luxury
Tax Puts Check on
New Buying by
J0bbers

Jobbers are buying just enough man.
ufactured silks to exc out broken lines
Inquiries for quotations are numerous,
but uncertainty as to the trend Of
prices, the effects of the prospective
tax on luxuries and the duration of
the readjustment period deter buying
While retail trade is good, there are
reports that some iobbers, believing
the war would continue, overstocked
last year, and that these supplies, most
lv Of popular priced goods. are being
offered at prices somewhat below man
ufacturers' quotations.
However, the strike of some $4,000
operatives declared at Paterson yester-
day is expected to steady prices.
Raw silk is in light demand. The un-
settled situation Of textile labor dis
courages manufacturers from buying
and causes weakness in the Yokohama
market.
The signing OF the armistice on No.
vember II removed speculation, and
since that date Japanese Shinshiu No.
/. basic grade of raw silk, one that
is widely used in this country. has
receded about S1.35 a pound in the New
York market. The strike of the waist
and suit workers still being waged also
has eXerted an adverse influence upon
sentiment.
Some reports indicate that the stocks
to demand. But the recent drop in
prices has caused a number of deal
ers in New York to withdraw offer
iOpS
New-York tribune., 1919-02-04
Plan to Perpetuate
Dollar-a-Year Idea
Ablest Business Men May Give
Services for Country's
Good
Business NeaUs Bureau
StGf Corresp0ndencee


WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.-The dollar
a-year-man idea may be perpetuated in
this country.
A movement is under way to get the
ablest men of business to contribute a
year wholly to the service of the gov
ernment. Officials who during the
stress of war caught the spirit of work
ing for the national good are discuss
ing the formation of volunteer soci-
ETY. of men who will pledge themselves
to spend twelve months in the employ
of Uncle Sam without compensation.
To blow the warm breath Of throb-
bing life into the bureaus of the gov
eminent will be an outstanding aim Of
the proposed organization. To bring
government closer to business and to
the people, to eliminate routineering,
to slash red tape, to curtail arbitrary
tendencies and to eectrfy the rank
and file of government employees
these will be the general objeetives.
The right of commercial leaders to
ask for a share in government. it is
contended, has been established by the
lessons of the war. The mobilzing of
business men through the War Indus
tries Board, the Council of National
Defence and other agencies showed
where untapped sources of energy and
imaginatioffor serviceable government
work leland the meaning of the
movement to get pledges for year Of
service in the future is that the lessons
of the war are not to be ignored
New-York tribune., 1919-02-04
French Competition in Potash
Is Temporarily Eliminated

The French government has requi-
sitioned the entire Alsace potash sup
ply for revitalizing the soil of the
nation, which has been vitiated by neg
lect in the last four years. Conse-
quently American consumers will have
to rely wholly on existing supplies and
domestic production for a considerable
period, according to the Nebraska
Potash Producers Association.
Although the industry in this coun-
try is in its infancy, producers are
confident that it will expand rapidly
and assert that by the time the Euro
pean supply again becomes available
American potash may have replaced
the foreign product in this market.
Temporary elimination of French COM
petition will give the industry better
chance to get firmly established.
America requires 600, 900 tons an
nually. AS soon as an adequate labor
supply becomes available it is believed
that domestic output will reach 10000
tons a month. About 100000 tons of
the commodity are now in storage in
this country
New-York tribune., 1919-02-04
High Prices No Damper

Manufacturers Of coats, suits, capes
and other outerwear clothing for women
and children are booking heavy orders
for spring merchandise.
Business couldn't be any better
right now said Il. J. Vile, head of
-osle of the largest women's and misses
coat and suit manufacturing concerns
in the city.
Price seems TO be no object this
year" he continued. "Our prices are
aboye those Of last year, but there is no
complaint from the buyers. They seem
20 realize that prices are as low as
they can be made under the present
conditions. am low paying 81 a
yard for one particular woollen fabric
which cost only SO last year, and /
m taking All Of it I can get. Other
manufacturers in this line have offered
rs ki2h as 10 per cent more than |
paid for some Of the fabrics | pur~
ebaaed last year and have held in stock.
Iy3cex wil come down some day, of
course, but that day il not in the near
future by any means"
New-York tribune., 1919-02-04
Is The Tribune's Page Of Business News
Makers of Knit Goods
Are Curtailing Output
Shorter Working Week, They
Say, Will Increase Produc-
zion Cost

Manufacturers Of knit underwear and
fall of 1919 is inactive because jobbers
are waiting for more settled conditions,
but they assert that warehouses are
almost bare of stocks. Normally, in
November the mills store goods for
Distribution a year later, but until re-
Gently they we're chiefly engaged on
production for the army and navy, and
therefore the output of knit goods for
civilian use has been comparatively
small
Only six months remain in which to
produce for the fall of this year, dis
tribution from the mills to jobbers gen
orally being completed by the end of
August.
Manufacturers state that the forty
eight hour week for operatives will
cause a reduction Of 1212 per cent IN
output and a consequent increase in
the unit cost Cf production. Another
price sustaining factor is that existing
stocks were made. with high priced
materials.
Mil men seem determined not to cut
prices. Rather than do SO. it is as
serted, mills throughout the Mohawk
Valley will curtail production during
the present week.
bright aspect Of the situation, &C
cording to mill interests, is that ex-
ports are expected to expand now that
ocean freight rates have been reduced.
New-York tribune., 1919-02-04
business Money

The present status of the commercial
raper market is Just like the status Of
markets IN business as a whole. This
l:' only to be expected, for the market
Tor commercial paper is merely the
reflection of business conditions. Mer-
chants are hesitating. Their policies to
meet readjustments and peace condi
tlons are not formulated. They COM
NIT themselves to as little borrowing
as possible The result of this is that
banks are more anxious to lend than
merchants are to borrow. The falling off
in industry in the small industrial
towns, where war orders have been
cancelled, has left the banks of those
districts with money on their hands
which local merchants do not want.
therefore these banks send their money
TO New York, where the market is wide.
The result of this flow of money has
perhaps been to lower the interest on
commercial paper below what it other
wise would be, but some bankers here
maintain that the out Of town banks
haven't any money that matters, and
the supply they send here is insignih-
cant.
The prevailing rate is about 54 to
512 per cent. Some paper lends at 5
per cent, but this is the paper of houses
that command the highest credit, and
there is apparently not great volume
moving at the figure. The naper of a
few houses is being taken at 594 per
cent, but this is not "the market" It
is what bankers want for their added
risk
Owing to the hesitation of business
the amount of paper moving at this
time is abnormally small, though banks
are willing enough to find employment
for their funds. 1t is for this reason
that there is not the same difference
as usual between the rates on money
that is tied up for the short and for
the longer periods. There has been
some talk that meat packers would
soon have to pay more for their funds
on account Of the results Of the Wash
ington investigation. but banks who
lend millions of dollars to the packers
New-York tribune., 1919-02-04
business Meas Burcn@
.Sfnfi C1rres11onde1sce ce

CHICAGO, Feb. 3.-Retail distribu-
the greatest in the history OF the ma
ton, according to. John G. Shedd, presi-
dent of Marshall Field & Co. In an
interview with The Tribune this mer-
chandising authority called upon manu-
facturers and jobbers to catch inspira-
tion from the confidence which the
masses Of consumers have shown in
the future prosperity of the country
during the recent weeks of readjust-
ment to peace conditions.
"The retail drygoods business" Mr..
Shedd declared "has always been all
excellent barometer OF the purchasing
power of the people. Reports that we
have received from all sections OF the
country prove that the months of De-
cember, 1918, and January, 1919. have
shown the largest volume of retail dis
tribution in history.
a Source of Inspiration
Such display of confidence on the
part of the public in the transforma
tion of the country from war to
secure peace basis should be an in
spratlon to all manufacturers and dis
tributers.
In the face of such evidence of the
national welfbeing of the people
manufacturers and distributors are
hesitating in their operations for the
1uture' and continuance of this hesi-
fancy may we'll demoralize the eco-
New-York tribune., 1919-02-04
Uncle Sam, Furrier,
Starts Greatest Year
U. S. Hopes Soon to Place
100000 Seal Skins on Mar
ket Annually
Business Neacs Bureau
Strh Correspo1idence


WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.--Uncle Sam
furrier, is facing his largest season.
The government Of the United States,
which owns herds OF seals consisting
Of $4,000 animals which might be CAPT
talized at $50, 100000, operates in the fur
market through the Bureau of Fisher
les. 1t just struck it's pace last year,
which was the first open season since
the government in 1918 took over the
Alaskan seal business, heretofore
farmed out to private interests. 1t
brought $4,000 skins, valued at $780,
600, into the open market. 1t expects
to get a bigger yield in 1919, aiming
soon to place 100000 skins year on
the market.
DR.. II. NJ. Smith, who as tCommis-
sioner of Fisheries is ex ofico custo-
dian of the seal herd, urges a national
campaign to make seal the all-American
fur. At present seal constitutes hardly
more than a per cent of the fur con-
sumcd in this country, II is estimated.
On the seal islands III the Bering
Strait. which the government owns, are
also valuable herds of blue foxes,
which DR.. Smith has characterized as
the finest in the world The seal and
the fox skins are sold at auction to fur
dealers twice year, and the sales will
soon be conducted four times a year.
New-York tribune., 1919-02-04
To Sell Textile Shares
Property Custodian Will Auc-
ton Enemy Stock

On February Is, A. Mitchell Palmer,
Alien Property Custodian, will sell at
auction 1928 shares of the capital
stock of the international Textile. Inc.
Bridgeport. Conn, and York, Penn,
the largest manufacturer OF Barman
laces, braids, made of an odd number
OF yarns. in the United States. The
company has total of $500 shares at
a par value of s1o0 each. Only
American citizens will be permitted to
bid at the auction.
The company's Bridgeport plant has
been making Nottingham lace, machine
made cotton lace, often called English
lace. while the mill at York produces
narrow fabrics and during the war has
been engaged in the making of braid
for military uniforms.
The business was established in
1909, as branch of Alb. e. E.
Henkels. of Langerfield. Germany, said
to be the largest lace manufacturers
in the world.
New-York tribune., 1919-02-04
Chemicals
High Ocean Freight
Holds Back Trade
in the Heavy
Chemicals

Manufacturers of heavy chemicals,
used for the manufacture of soaps,
fertilizers, etc, are awaiting the out
come Of the deliberations of the United
States Shipping Board concerning a
further cut in ocean freight rates be-
tween North and South American
ports. If substantial reduction Is
made to meet the greatly reduced Brit
ish rates between Liverpool and the
various South American ports the
manufacturers expect greatly increased
inquiries for industrial chemicals from
Latin-American consumers and gen.
eral revival of activity in the domestic
market, which for some time has been
yesterday by further curtailment of
orders from the textile industries,
which are now in the grip of strikes.
Consumers Cautious
Consumers in this country are hold
ing back orders in the hope that prices
will drop to lower level, buying only
sufficient quantities to meet immediate
and imperative needs. Meanwhile the
manufacturers are gradually recover
ing from the cancellation of govern
ment contracts and are making prepa-
rations TO meet heavy inquiries when
present stocks have been worked off
and industry generally has readjusted
itself from q war to peace basis.
The government is to-day the heav-
lest holder of chemical stocks, and the
fear that it might "unload' and so
bring about a precipitate drop in prices
has held many consumers from the
open market.
Government Sells Slowly
The government is, however, dispos-
ing of its chemical stocks gradually,
and among manufacturers it is gem
orally believed that no further reduc-
1ion in prices is to be expected.
New-York tribune., 1919-02-04
Forty-eigI't-Hosr
Week Begins in
Textile Mills
Only Disturbance Occurs in
Lawrence. Where 40 Per
Cent of Workers Strike
To Prevent Wage cat
Business Ncics Bureau
Special Correspondence


NEW BEDFORD. Feb. 3.-The forty
eight hour week schedule for textile
workers went into effect in this city
and Fall River to-day in accordance
with the agreement reached between
delegates of the manufacturers and
labor chiefs last Saturday. AS prac-
tically the entire number of the $4,000
operatives in the two cities are effect
ed, leaders here believe that the i'm
pending strike in the industry has been
avoided.
The change to the rev time sched-
ule was carried out with no untoward
incident. IN the case of several mill;
there was no actual difference maHi-
fest. as they were already running .on
less than II forty eight hour week be-
cause of lack of orders
The new schedule, adopted in both
cities. which provides for reduction
OF six hours each week. follows: First
1--WE days of the week. 7:15 a. m. to
b o. M, with an hour off at noon; Sat
urdays. I:15 to 1880 a. m. This makes
the work days eight and three quarter
hours for five days and four and one
quarter hours for Saturdays, total
OF forty light hours.
In spite of the predictions of certain
labor leaders. the wage question has
not been raised. The manufacturers
expect to pay q sproportionate decrease
On forty-eight hours work, and it is
assumed extra pay for overtime. al
though representatives OF the opera
ives ignored the point at Saturdays
conference. 1t is known that an appre-
& able number of the workers are look
Ing for the same size pay envelopes as
Nnen they worked fifty-four hours.
Manufacturers here, however. do not
Jock for strike on this point such
IS the textile workers in certain mills
NJ Lawrence began to-day. The Dart
mouth No. l Mill, which was forced to
close down Thursday because the fire
men absented themselves from work,
WAS running to-day. The differences
were satisfactorily adjusted
New-York tribune., 1919-02-04
Jewelry
Trade Is Working
at Top Speed to
Meet Heavy
Demand

Although jewelry and silvcrwars
manufacturers are working at top
speed to fill depleted stocks through
cut the country general scarcity Of
merchandise is expected. The shortage
set in immediately after the uneS,,
pectcd holiday rush, which followed
the signing of the armistice. Dealers
in all parts of the country were look
ing for long continuance OF the was.
and consequently were unprepared ior
heavy Christmas buying. The buyins
of wedding gifts. which was greatly
curtailed during the war owing to inc
haste with which departing soldiers
were wed, has also been resumed. ana
further accentuates the jewelry short
age.
A further reason for the ANTICIPATED
shortage is that shorter hours io'
workers in the leading manufacturing
plants have gone into effect. besides
which there is serious lack OF eA.
perienced help. owing to the fact ina ina,
jewelry workers have not yet siteo
back from the munitions plants ano
from the army 20 their pre-Nar eccu'
pations.
New-York tribune., 1919-02-04
New Woollen Mill

!. The Caledonia Woollcn Mills is add
ing another story to one of its mills
at Clifton Heights. Penn. which will
new automatic looms will be installed,
Tho company Is also erecting 4 new
mill In the eastern section of Clifton
Heights. adjacent to its present yarn
mill, which will be used for spinning
yarns. both for the use Of the com
pany and eor sale to other mills.
A. M. FLETCHER bas been appointed
selling agent for the company and has
opened Offices at 2lb Fourth Avenue.
this city. Mr.. Fletcher formcrly was
associated with F.. Schwars, selling
agent Gar the Yorkshire Worsted Mills
and the Caledonia Wooden Mills.
New-York tribune., 1919-02-04
Head of Textile Alliance
Export Corp. to Sail Soon

John r. Mum, president Of the
recently formed Textile Alliance Ex-
port Corporation, organized under the
webb act to export cotton, wool, flax,
silk and other fabrics, soon will leave
for Europe with selling commission
and samples. The personnel of the
selling commission probably will be
announced later in the week.
An official Of the organization said
to-day that the British embargo would
not affect the plans of the corpora
tions. since textiles are not on the list.
1t is said outside the organization that
while there is little or no market for
American woollen fabrics in England,
there is an opportunity to sell Ameri-
can cottOns there
New-York tribune., 1919-02-04
Mill Operatives in
laurence Walk Out

LAWRENCE. Mass. Feb. 3-Textile
operatives in large numbers Joined in
strike to-day to enforce demands
fol, tifty-four hours pay for forty
eight hours work, under the new
weekly. schedule which had been
generally adopted by mills here
Picket lines were established about
many of the mills. but there were no
disorders and only a few arrests were
made for minor infractions of the law
The fact that the United Textile
Workers of America had withheld
sanction OF the strike kept rxany other
Operatives at work. Demonstrations
we're made by strikers in front of
several of the mills. line Kaplan.
secretary of the general committee Of
the strikers. estimated at noon that
20 per cent of the 10000 operatives in
this city were out, but mill officials
claimed that not more than 80
Jer cent had quit their posts.
PIckets posted about all the plants
confined themselves to shouting "Fifty-
Jour hours pay for fortyeight hours
bearing the figures "54-4S."
The four mills of the American
NEoolen Company were practically
closed in the afternoon Other mills
remained open throughout the day and
most of them carried on a reduced
amount of work
p. Late in the day the agent of the
Everett Mills, employing 1000 opera
tiyes, announced that the mills would
be shut down tomorrow for an indefi
mite time. All the other mill agents
said that their plants would open at
Ire usual time tomorrow. Except for
two OF three mills which are curtail-
Jag, all put the forty eight hour week
into effect to-day. None of the manu-
1acturers has granted the demand for
fifty-four hours pay.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 3.~Half of
the employees in local textile mills
went or strike TODAY
New-York tribune., 1919-02-04
Cancellation Causing Heavy
Losses TO Machine Makers

Cancellation of orders for govern
ment account still acts as a heavy
burden on machinery manufacturers.
Finished machinery, which the govern
ment no longer needs. is in the hands
of manufacturers in substantial guam
titles and in most cases is q dead
loss, except for scrap, for which allow
ance must be made to the government.
This places nearly all the loss on the
makers.
Inquiries for machinery are light
because buyers are waiting for a price
reaction before placing large orders
The "hand to mouth" consumption in
the machinery trade is expected to
continue until the industrial situation
is more clarified.