davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-19
of Contracts
For Machinery Awaited
Smaller Concerns Are Reported
To Be Intentionally Cir
cumstanced

Machinery and metal goods manu-
facturers are awaiting the outcome Of
government action on the validating
of contracts. 1t was said yesterday, on
good authority. that some Of the
smaller but ordinarily financially
sound concerns were confronted with
a serious situation because Of the slow
ness of the Federal authorities in act
ing upon their claims. These concerns
have invested most all their available
capital in the production of govern
ment orders.
The strike in the building trades is
not affecting the manufacturers Of
metal products to any great extent. 1t
was said by several manufacturers that,
as long as there was to be a strike,
this was about the best time for it,
as far as they were concerned, because
their business is already adjusted to a
state of inactivity. On the other hand.
there is apprehension lest the cessation
of work be prolonged. In that case
the metal producers, az one Of them
explained, would be left flat on their
backs" for the reason that there had
been a general expectation that build
ing operations could be resumed in the
near future. Bankers are said to be
making arrangements to extend larger
credits for the resumption of building
and construction work.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-19

More WOollens Offered
AT Reduction i'm Prices
New Prices Quoted by American
Company Regarded as
Barometer

The American Wooden Company Of
fered to the trade yesterday all
worsted mixtures and piece dyed over
coating at prices which averaged about
25 to 80 per cent lower than those
quoted for the same fabrics two years
ago when they were last offered by the
company
In discussing the Offering dealers
declared that these goods must have
been made of wool spun into yarn
since the government released the
mills from their contracts. 1t was
said that it would have been impos-
sible for the American organization to
have had any old yarn on hand from
which these cloths could have been
woven.
The prices on the mixtures ran from
$2721a to $3.621e yard, the goods
weighing from 81 to % ounces yard.
The piece-dyed goods, Of lighter
weight, 10 to "a ounces to the yard,
had price range of from $3.50 to
$3.67h yard.
Goods of this class last year in the
hands of the speculative jobbers would
have brought at least 100 per cent
more than the makers are asking for
them now.
Taking into consideration the fact
that the goods offered yesterday are
all wool and contain no cotton or re-
worked wool, the prediction was made
that the American Company's products
are going to show reductions all along
the line. The goods shown by the
company at the previous openings
were Of lower grade than those
shown yesterday and could not be
taken as price barometer by the
trade,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-19
Textiles
|0bbers Order More Fin.
ished Cotton Goods and
Ask for Prompt
Shipments

Orders for finished cotton goods
placed with mills yesterday were
mostly for small lots, but as instruc-
tions were received to hurry ship
ments it was surmised that iobbers
have sold fairly liberal quantities to
retailers and that they are finding
it cXpedcnt to replenish their stocks.
Mill agents allege that iobbers are
bent upon pursuing the policy Of buy
ing frequently and in small lots in
order to affect a quick turnover.
Retail dealers seem to be making
progress in selling goods that had
been taken in some time ago at much
higher prices than prevail now. If
the trade of the retail dealers con-
tlnues as satisfactory as it has been
for the last two months or more mill
agents believe jobbers will have to
increase their purchases substantially
before long
While demand for unfinished cotton
goods is light, the few sales put
through yesterday brought higher
prices than the business of a week
Cloth woven 6S threads to the
of warp, and 70 threads to the
of filling. and 80 inches wide,
d at 1918 cents yard against 10
cen; last week, and what are known
as 64-60s, 381a inches wide, were
quoted at 89@ cents yard, compared
with 81s cents yard last week. There
is ;. broader inquiry for cloth that
can be used for the Innings of mems
clothing, indicating that clothing
manufacturers are doing more bust
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-19

" inter ResOrters Largt
Buyers Of Je,celry;
Cotton Prosperity
HELPS. Too

Large jewelry orders coming from
the South are ascribed by the indus
try to The popularity of that section
as winter resort The curtalment
OF European tourist travel has guided
TO the South many persons who ordi-
narlly would have gone overseas.
lhls condition follows Immediately
the sending into that part Of the coun-
Try OF hundreds of thousands of men
lor training at the various canton
ments. The majority Of these wcro
located south of the Mason Dixon line.
and thus millions Of dollars in SOL
dlers pay was spent in that section.
BESIDES this, relatives and friends.
and especially officers wives, made fm.,
qucnt visits to the South, and in MANY
cases made their homes in the vicinity
Of the cantonments. "
ohe or the greatest reasons. besides
those already mentioned, for the great
prosperity Of the South is the fact thot
cotton planters receive high prices for
he'r product, which brought prosper
lty all around and stimulated the buv.
ing Of jcwclry.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-19
COlOrs
Dyen1akers Urge Protec.
ton Against COMPETE
ton From, Germany
Is Necessary

The question Of tariff protection is
at present uppermost in the minds Of
dyestuffs manufacturers. 1t Is agreed
in the industry that unless some steps
are taken to afford the dyemakers an
opportunity to get firmly established
before German dyes are allowed to
come freely into this market once the
blockade is lifted the results are likely
to be disastrous, especially for the
smaller dye producers. It is said that
when industrial read justment has been
completed some Of the smaller dye
making plants, which owed their birth
purely to the war, will have been elimi-
mated, and that the industry will be in
the hands of those enterprises which
have been built on more secure
financial and technical foundation
Whether large or small, all branches
or the industry are at present urging
protective Legislation, and plans are
being made TO push with greater vigor
the agitation for tariff on dyes when
more receptive legislative body has
assembled at Washington.
Meanwhile dye consumers are await
ing the production of vat coors for
eottons and fast dyes for silks in this
country. There are some seventv-f3ve
colors Of this kind which have not "a
yet been made in the United States.
and dyers are Of the opinion that MANY
Of these will still have to be innortea
from Germany when commercial rela~
tons are established. These dyes sold
before the war at from 8 to rs
cents pound, but for the past four
years the price for them has been
anywhere from 81 to sl2 per pound.
The dyeing industry Is handicapped
by the high cost Of unskiled labor.
ms has risen enormously since the
outbreak Of the war. There is no
shortage Of this labor, but the wage
demands are creating scrious situa-
ton IN tho trade. That there is no
snortage OF skilled workers in the dye
ing industry is owing TO the fact that
they have, for the most part been edu-
Gated in the plants and generally re-
main there.
There is very little dycing and print
ing being done for export, foreign buy
err holding Of for reduction in prices
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-19
Silks
Southern and Western
Buyers Talk Prosperity
While Placing
Orders

Business in the better grades of
manufactured silks is unusually salts
factory. The show rooms of the more
important concerns yesterday were
thronged with buyers. Most of the
merchants in the market hailed from
the South and Middle West. 1t was
evident from conversations the visiting
buyers held with silk statesmen that
the high price of cotton has radiated
prosperity throughout the Southern
States, while equally high prices for
all farm products have increased the
buying power Of the West. Quick de-
liverics were specified on goods or
dered. indicating that retail dealers
are counting on disposing Of their
stocks speedily this spring. The sales
held in January provided indications
of what styles were wanted, and these
are featured in the February exhibits
of leading department stores through
out the country. The buying that is
now in evidence calls for goods to be
delivered up to June ]. Soliciting Of
fall orders will not start until April IS.
when travelling men will 20 out for
autumn trade
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-19

Some commercial paper dealers main
tain that they can sell paper to banks,
even New York banks, at 5 per cent
almost as easily as they can sell it to
them at ~ per cent, provided the
bankers have the money. Very few
New York banks are now in the mar
ket for mercantile paper, and the de-
mand from banks upstate and other
wise outside of New York City is de-
scribed as "spotty." But under the
conditions dealers do not feel that it
would pay them to increase rates, for
small increase in rates means little
to the banks, and if their funds are
free and they feel disposed they will
take paper at its present level.
The condition is this: The New York
banks are buying the Treasury certiti-
Gates of Indebtedness. When they
make that purchase thew do not turn
the money over to the government, but
place instead a deposit to an equiv
alent amount in favor Of the govern
ment, and the Treasury makes with
drawals of money as it needs it. For
the last few days these Withdrawals
have been heavy, and this has been
the leading cause not only of reluct-
ance to purchase commercial paper but
Of the advance in rates on demand
loans which Stock Exchange houses
borrow on the security of good col
lateral.
One commercial paper broker be-
lieves the rates will remain high for
the next six to nine months. The sup
ply of paper will be restricted. The
buyer will seek the seller. He offers
the following reasons:
Cd The present reimbursement, price
uncertainty and fall in commodity
prices Business men, before going
ahead are waiting for business to re-
sumo on lower level, and think it
cannot become stabilized until prices
have reached "rock bottom"
CIV The labor situation. Labor must
be "liquidated." When and how will
wages be reduced? Will the present
labor unrest subsidc or Will it grow
The answer is anybody's guess, but it
is factor of uncertainty; it il re
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-19
New Officers Chosen
For Corset Association
Prices Not Discussed, but Opin-
ion Is That Present Level
viii Hold

At the annual meeting and election
of officers of the Corset manufacturers
Association of the United States at the
Hotel Aston yesterday, it was decided
to enlarge the activities of the organi-
cation credit bureau and to place into
operation as soon as possible an eX-
change bureau through which members
may exchange surplus piece goods they
may have on hand
The meeting was closed to all but
members OF the organization. 1t was
sad after the meeting adjourned that
neither tn prices of corsets or of the
cotton gooGs which compose the bulk
OF the industry's raw material were
discussed. Nelson Gray. executive
secretary Of the association, vouch-
saied the opinion that wholesale prices
OF corsets would remain on their pres
ent level for some time to come.
The following were chosen officers
for the ensuing year: President. L. T.
" afner Of the Warner Bros Company.
New Haven. Conn; vice-pres ident
Leonard S. Floershoim, of the kabo
Corset Company, Chicago, H.; secre-
tary, a. l.. Newman, OF L. Newman K
Sons, New York; treasurer, David
W elngarten, Of Weingarten Bros, New
York.
~" H'etiu Oh NiItClOl~ is COM
posed of the following: X. c. Stirton.
cf the Gossard Company; Theodore
Shortlander, of Tho Lorettc Corset
Company; !. Alexander, Of the Lily Of
rance Corset Company; Joseph Sicgel.
Of the American Lady Corset Company:
William Titus, of the Bay State Cor
set Company; c. Is. Johres. Of the Ben
Jamin & Johnes Company; NJ. ]. Blu
chanan, Of the Empire Corset Com
pany; NJ. W. Ferris, of the Ferris
Brothers Company; NJ. c. Mayer. of She
Gage-Downs Company; II. NJ. Stiles, Of
the jackson Corset Company; Z 2.
set Company; I. H. Ullman, Of Straus.
Adler & Co.; Theodore f. Somers. of
blrdsy- Somers & Co, and Leo Levy. of
the Model Brassiero Company.
At the banquet in the evening each
member of the association was pre-
scented VITA specially made Gillette
safety razor
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-19
Retail Dealers Being Taught
How to Sell More Clothing
Manufacturer Sees No Need to Go Outside of
This Country to Increase Business-American
Men to Wear More and Better Garments

While admitting there are trade pos
sibilities for the American manufac
turer Of mems clothing in South
America, Europe, Japan and other far
off lands, Henry Fruhauf, clothing
manufacturer believes that for goods
such as his firm produces the best
market lies right at home doors.
"Our firm" said Mr.. Fruhauf, "be-
lieves it will be cheaper and easier to
build up greater outlet for our goods
in this country than it would be to
spend money in seeking foreign trade.
Perhaps this is new thought in the
clothing industry, but we have studied
out the situation carefully
"a business may grow in one Of two
directions. 1t may add new customers
continually and grow in that manner
or it may sell increasing amounts to
the customers it already has 1t is
along the latter line that we believe the
greatest growth can be attained by the
manufacturer Of mems clothing in this
country.
Fruhauf Suggests Help for Retailer
But it is not enough merely to sell
YOUR customer more goods. That proc
ess soon would strangle itself unless
you can show him how to dispose of
the merchandise he buys from you to
advantage This is an idea which is
almost neglected in the mems clothing
field There are a few big firms, of
course. who have established various
systems Of helping the retail dealer,
but they are far too few. If every
wholesale manufacturer Of clothing
would devote time and money to show
ing his customers how they can sell
more clothing to the ultimate con-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-19
Chemicals
Cancellation Of Exporter.
ders Depresses Prices
of In d ustrial
Chemicals

One of the main reasons for the
present depression in the prices Of
heavy industrial chemicals, especially
soda ash and caustc soda, is the can
collation. and holding up of export
orders from South America Tor these
alkalies. This condition, added to the
decrease in use by the government fol
the manufacture Of munitions, has
brought about situation where the
product IS going begging on the
market.
Bichromate Of soda. used for tanning
purposes and in the manufacture o.
dyes. yesterday sold as low as lZi2
cents 9 pound.
Glucose is in fairly active demsnd,
and il holding firm at cents pound
with some lots beng turned over a,
slightly lever figures. There IS
good demand for this commodity loi
export. both the nleached and un
bleached qualities being in demand
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-19
Exporters Meet New Head
OF Foreign Trade Bureau

Ansel R. Clark, the new chief of New
York district Of the United States Blu
reau of Domestic and Foreign Com
merce, was formally introduced to New
York exporters at a luncheon yester-
day at the Bush Sales Company's audi
torium. The luncheon was held under
the auspices of the Export Manager
Club Of New York Harold B. Gregory,
of the Patten Tank Company, presi-
dent of the club, presided as chair
man of the meeting. About sixty ex-
porters were present at the luncheon.
Mr. Clark thanked the members of
the club for their hospitality and pre-
dictcd closer relations between his of
flee and the exporters. He promised
his cooperation in every possible way
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-19
Buyers w ant
Delivery Dates
More Binding
Profits, They Say, Fail to
Materialize on Orders
Not Promptly File

PHILADELPHIA. Feb 1s - Buyers
OF knitted underwear in this market
are insisting that when delivery dates
are agreed upon they should be equally
binding upon the mill and distributor.
The point was emphasized by John
Schotield, buyer for Sullivan & Co.
''Thc buyer Of knit goods" he ex-
blained. spends many hours of thought
i'll making up new lines which his
statesmen are to take out on the road
to get orders. When the orders come
in they are not made up of one item.
More often they call for the products
OF many mills, and because some of
these mills do not ship your goods
until one TO ten weeks later than
agreed the profits you have counted
on fail to materialize.
81 believe the tendency to regard
these obligations with greater punctili-
BUSINESS is increasing and that it will
continue to increase until we are all
satisfied. The mills had difficult con-
ditions to meet during the war, but
that is over. Labor difficulties and
uncertainties In connection with pro-
curing. supplies are still to be reck-
oned with. out the situation on the
whole is greatly improved.
THE year promises to bring with It
many problems. During 1918 there
was profit for the inefficient and the
slow moving stock had increasing
chances Of gain. Yhis year I believe
those who are prepared will change
their policy. I believe the quick. alert
handling of stocks will be the only
way to show the greatest profits
prices seem to be Of vital interest
now. but it is my opinion that there
will be little change. In fact, prices
are now higher than they were last
year and with the demand even greater
than in 1918 there will not be any
surplus stock Of raw materials on hand.
This not being a cold season may help
out little, but stocks on hand are
not large. as buyers bought conserva-
lively of the high priced garments,
expecting the prices to be forced
down. They will be lower, but not for
some months to come"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-19
Leather
Sales Of Heavy Cloues
Used BY WorLfmen
Reported BelOsc
Normal

Heavy leather gloves and mitt.n,.
such as are used by ironworkers, lum-
bermen and for rough work generally.
have not been selling up to the nor
NAL winter business of other years.
according to leading manufacturer
This is due, they say, to the mild
winter conditions. On the other hand.
automobile gloves and mittens are in
good demand because the open season
has resulted in the greater use Of
motor cars.
Canvas gloves and mittens have
been substituted quite generally for
the heavy leather kind, with the re-
suit that the demand for the former
has been large.
Revival of building operations is ex
pected TO increase the sale OF rough
leather working gloves this spring.
In fact, dealers report a fair showing
OF orders from sections of the country
where plans for new construction
work arc getting under way Owing
to scarcity Of raw horsehide and
shortage of stocks in the hands Of
manufacturers prices are expected to
hold up to about the present average
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-19
Shoes to Continue
High, Retailers Say
Shortage of Calfskins Reported
at Meeting of Local
Association

Shoe prices will not be reduced for
some time to come. as labor and raw
materials are both high. This opinion
was expressed by several speakers at
an informal meeting Of the Shoe Re-
tailers' Association of New York yes
terday at the Bush Terminal Sales
Building. The open discussion dis
closed the fact that there is a great
shortage Of calfskin in this country,
which normally produces about half the
amount consumed. There is little
coming In from other countries now.
Kid also is scarce, since there has been
an embargo on the importation of goat
skins for some time.
According to John Slater, of J. & J.
Slater, president of the association, the
labor conditions In the shoe industry
are acute at the present time. The
workers are making demands for
higher wages and may strike if these
demands are not granted.
Oily by-night" shoe retailers and
bogus" auctioneers came in for much
condemnation by those present. 1t was
agreed to begin movement toward
Legislative action to restrain such con-
Germs.
About seventy-five local retailers at
tended the meeting.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-19

sumner their own business would in
crease phenomenally.
at is unfortunate that the average
retail clothing dealer is poor mer-
chant. Recently I gathered some sta
tistics on the retail clothing trade of
the country and found out that 90 per
cent of the men in the business entered
it through accident There was no
preliminary training or education along
the lines that make for efficiency in
the business. What they need is solid
education and training.
A School for Merchants
This idea has become almost re-
ligion with US. This coming summer
we are going to conduct our fourth
school for clothing retailers. Every
merchant or clothing salesman in the
country is welcome to come to New
York to take the course. Attendance
at the school is not restricted to mer-
chants who buy only from us. We
maintain the school primarily to help
our dealers, of course, but we feel so
keenly about the need of greater edu-
cation in the trade as a whole that we
are only too glad to do what we can
to help every clothing merchant in the
country.
"Right at home in America there is
a greater opportunity for retailers to
sell more clothing and better clothing
than ever before. Many of our young
men have travelled much during the
war, some of them to foreign lands and
others to camps remote from their
homes They have a bigger outlook on
life and undoubtedly have picked up
new and better ideas in dress. With
but little effort the retailer can per
suade these men to buy better clothing
than they did before they entered the
army"
Mr.. Fruhauf's firm-Fruhauf Bros.
e. Co.'s making preparations to get
its share of this expected increase in
business by increasing its manufacture
ing space so per cent.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-19
Makers of Mems Clothing
To Discuss Trade Outlook

Mems clothing manufacturers from
various parts Of the United States will
gather at 1890 a. m: to-day at the
Hotel Brevoort to discuss general
market conditions in their trade. The
meeting is known as market confer
ence" and was called by Ludwig Stein
vice-president of B. Kuppenheimer &
Co., Chicago, and president of the Ma
tional Association of Clothiers.
The meeting to-day will be particu-
larly timely. The clothing manufac-
turers are just finishing up work on
merchandise for the spring season and
in about two or three weeks will begin
making up their samples for fall trade
These are normally shown to buyers
for the first time in April
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-19

uokers of Pressed Metal
Products Say Losoer
Steel Prices Are
imperative


- CLEVELAND. Ohio. Feb. IS
lhlrty- five members eff the Pressed
Metal Association. which uses approx
mately six hundred thousand tons Of
sheet, strip and plate steel q year in
the production Of stampings of all
kinds, after a meeting here to-day is
sued statement that prices of steel
and steel products must be reduced
Immediately if general business is TO
revive from stagnation, and these re-
auctions must he made before other
lneVltable Establishments tending to
lower prices can be made
The association favors immediate
action in order to relieve unemploy-
menTt and is against any proposal
looking 20 government assistance for
the reason that government action
would require several months to get
results. and in the meantime a serious
condition Of unemployment and i'm
dustrial inactivity might result.
The association favors periodic
sterilization of steel prices for definite
times, with the whole tendency down
ward from present price levels.