Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-12
BUSINESS NOTES

Tho London Economists index num-
ber for British commodity prices at the
end of January shows total OF os5l,
the lowest reported since FEBRUARY
1918. The latest level represents de-
cline of 243 points from the end or De-
cember and is 416 points below the htgh
record reached at the end or last Au-
gust.
The energetic Japanese have increased
their exports to Australia by nearly
eleven millions annually over the pre-
war figure. The chief increases are IN
textiles and earthenware. mission
sent by the French Government has been
touring the commonwealth for the pur-
pose of opening new opportunities Tor
trade development with France.
Preliminary crop reports from Argen-
tina give the following figures: wheat
5.015,0.0 tons, with an exportable sur
plus of 100000 tons linseed. $4,000
tons with an exportable surplus of 679-
900 tons; oats, $4,000 tons. with an
exportab.e surplus Of 45o,co0 tons.
A London dispatch says Great Brit
ain has given out contracts FOR 100
ships to start coast war trade.
/, The United States Governments guar
antee of wheat prices will end October
15, 1920, instead OF December 81, 1870.
Western merchants. who are optimis
tic, are buying glassware and crockery
in better volume than eastern traders
Lack of buying in the East tends to re-
duce the total volume or orders. East
ern buyers declare they must get lower
prices in order to induce them to trade
Manufacturers retort that they are TIED
up with high wage scales until next
July In this industry wages are fixed
for what is known as the period of the
/ FIRE" meaning the time during whlcf
the pots are operated. the season usually
extending from January to the end oi
June Exporters are inquiring for prices
but thus far little in the way of actua
orders has developed from these In
quiries.
Government control OF the wool situa.
tion in Great Britain Is relaxing to the
point where. according to recent advices
from Bradford, England. dealers expect
much greater freedom of action VIII be
given them in a couple of months. The
London sales by auction are TO be re.
sumed early In April. while East India
wool in the near future IS to be free
and by-products will also be removed
to a large extent from control.
The American consul at Durham, South
Africa. has transmitted the name of q
firm that desires catalogues of teNtile
machinery. Ii is also requested that
duplicates of these catalogues be sent
to the consulate at Durham. The name
of the inquirer can be obtained from the
/ Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Com
/ merce or its district or cooperative OF
/ fees by referring to file No. 1O76OO.
In the ferromanganese market condi.
/ tions are unfavorable. There has beer
no demand since the war ended. and
| large number of contracts have been
cancelled Brazilian manganese ore. con-
| tracted for during the war, is still com
ing freely into the country, although II
/ is not needed as there Is sufficient man
ganese ore and ferromanganese here
now to last the country at least year
Ferromanganese is now quoted at from
s175 to $780, as compared with wal
price of $3.50, and probably could be
| bought for less, while manganese ore
sold on contract during the war at Sl.3t
per unit, is now being offered for re
| sale at seventy cents per unit, or even
lower. Other iron alloys, such as
spiegeleisen and ferrocilicon, are in the
same position. there being an over sup
ply and no demand.