The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-30
GENERAL TRADE Is
SLOWLY IMPROVING
Broadening Movement In Many
Lines Is Continuing All
Over Country.
PICKING UP IS GRADUAL
Advance Is Unmistakable, Say
Reviews, Which Discuss
the Outlook.
PICKING UP Is GRADUAL

There y a continued broadening OF the
Improvement in business and industry
throughout the country. The pace con-
tnues slow, but the advance is unnl!g-
taxable. according TO the weekly trade
reviews. which continue TO take an opti-
mistc view OF the outlook. The utter
absence OF Conspicuous economic ur-
settlement" according TO Dun's Rertst1,
Is regarded as one of the most highly
gratifying features of the present stua-
ton.
Tho reawakening of commercial 40
tivities." says Its article, although still
slow to appear In not a few instances,
is each week broadening In its scope.
AFTER several months OF general read
Justment the most gratifying feature -
the absence OF conspicuous economic I'M
settlement. as failure statistics Gernor-
strate, and optimism regarding the
future character!zes practically all re-
ports That business will further re-
cover during the second quarter. ~ ct O
lowering OF the wartime level Of p-ort-,
there is confident eSpec tation, and condi.
tons IN the larger industries are row
better by reason OF the partial brcSk!nE
OF the lul! In steel ard copper. In thess
important lines, az In most others where
moderate expansion has replaced tbs
recent hating. the change has only con-,
after prices have been revived downward,
and Efforts 70 stimulate greater revival
through similar reductions are extending
to lumber and building materials rathe-
generally.
Tho launching OF private construo-
ton ana the development OF public I'M
provenents that had long been syoordl-
mated to the exigencies Of tho war period
are being resumed or are unde- con-
temptation In many localities, thus az
iordtng opportunities for work to Idle
labor. and the unemployment problem IS
ono which now occs sions less concs-n In
some sections. Yet strikes remain an
unfortunate and disturbing element,
sometimes recurring after adjustments
nave been concluded. and whsro settle
rents are not Eoon effected the purchas-
Ing power Is appreciably diminished
With the approach Of Easter. how
ever. retail trade reflects increasing ant.
nation. except IN Off rail districts, where
Dao country roads have proved a detrI-
mont, and consumers are benentirF
through offerings of rome classes OF
staple merchandise ct prizes CONCESSIONS.
Ihat there has been great increase
IN buying IN wholesale ard retail lines
Is one or tho CHIEF features Of the part
WEEKS development. according TO Bred
streefS State Of Trade, which SAYS:
Factors OF the week IN purely donrcs-
Tic trade circles have included enlarged
buying, both a. Wholesale and retail.
reports o. excellent moisture, soil and
winter wheat crop conditions; the be-
ginning OF spring wheat seeding In the
southern areas OF the Northwest: mora
IKE IN building trades and IN lunnoer
ana IN other materials: preparations
making Tor an early opening OF ma yiga-
ton on tho great lakes good sentl-
a
nent OF actual buying of iron and steel
following last weeks, Gu. in prtcee:
larger than expected demand for des!.-
able GRADES OF wool at the Government
auctions; q continuance OF tie sa,ns
shown IN clearinGs as compared with a
year ago. and a slight cutting down OF
the unemployment totals, this latter
news being accompanied by reports from
the Northwest and South thai IN those
sections unemployment is negligible. or
that an actual need OF labor, especially
farm help, Is already perceptibla
The unfavorable elements Of ths
weeks financial and commercial news
were o, largely foreign origin, notable
in this respect being the surge forward
OF anarchisic influences IN eastern El.
rope, which weakened allied security
markets. added to the unssttlemant In
exchange rates and in conjunction with
heavy realiz.ng based on uatowArd local
traction developments and reductions In
DIVIDENDS OF copper companies brought
about a change In feeling IN the stock
market, d!scoursg ed public operations
ana caused some sharp Tecsssioas In
prices
These latter were. however, partially
resained later on slightly more reassur-
Ing news from Europe as to peace treaty
prospects, better reports from the steel
- Tut tAaN