davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-04-01
NORTHERN LIGHT IS EXPLAINED
 BY PROFESSOR

Philadelphia, April 1.---The earth was passing through the outer con fines of the corona or exterior enveI- ope of the sun on the night of March 22 when the inhabitants of the north ern portion of the United States wit messed the great aurora in the skies, says Professor Monroe B. Snyder, Di- rector of the Philadelphia Observa- tory.
 The astronomer declared in a state ment to the Associated Press that the universal force of radioaction' on the sun ''hurled the final atoms of an explosion, namely, electrified hydrogen and probably helium, straight to earth"
 Professor Synder's observation fol- lows:
 N"The recent aurora is a fine indica- ton of the explosive atomic disinte- grafton which takes place at the sur face of the sun and is responsible for it's prominences, spots, and coro- | na- Our discovery of the magnitude and precise atomic order of the ex- | plosion of the chemical elements in i the sun, and in the stars generally, 1 leads to conceptions of the aurora | and the accompanying magnetic and 1 electric storms, which are beyond any 1 doubt as to their validity.
 ! During the hours of Monday night | last, the earth was, In very true sense, and to the delight of us all passing through the outer confines ot the solar corona. The same universa force of radioaction which disinte- grates the atoms in stupendous local ized Krakatoas, or Mont Pelees, or the sun, and produces the hydrogen l of the coronal streamers, then also | hurled the final atoms of that ex. plosion, namely, electrified hydrogen and probably heliun, straight to the earth.
 "On1y within about a month of the equinox, or atumnal, is the earth il an orbital position to be thus success
 fully bombarded. The moving cleo
 tric hydrogen is, of course, an cleo
 tric current, and is therefore carried
 toward the poles of the earth ant
 round them by the earth's magnetic
 forces. The fascinating colors of tn,
 aurora are due to the changing cleo
 tric excitation of the hydrogen ana
 other gases. The theory of vegard
 the Swedish physicist, which has ex.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-04-01

plained the wonderful curtained a;u- roras as due to hydrogen particles of positive electric charge, is now shown to be unquestionably true, in that it is but a logical result of the explosive eruption of the electric hy- drogen from the sun.
 / '"The weI1-known delay, or lag in time, between the solar eruption and the appearance of the magnetic storm and accomp mpanying aurora, on the earth, of about 45 hours, is due to the time taken for the hydrogen atoms to travel from the sun to the earth. The rate of travel is about 575
 miles per second, or somewhat in excess of the rate of the upward movement of the gases in some of the great solar prominences.
 fThe numerous and complete de- tails of the auroral phenomena are found thus to receive, for the first time, reasonable explanation. Addi- honal confirmation of this explana- ton is given by the fact that our dis coveries also prove that all the e1e- mental atoms so wonderfully explo- sive in the stars, are structural pro- ducts of hydrogen
New-York tribune., 1920-11-14
Rubber Slump
Laid to.Creat
Far East Cain
Increased Production of
Plantations i'm Last Sew
eral Years Brings Supply
Above the World Demand
Price Drops Steadily
Advance in Consumption
Even During War Unable
to Absorb Large Output

Tho slump of the rubber markets to
unpreccdentedly low levels within the
last week is directly attributable to the
astounding development Of rubber out
put by the plnntntions Of the Far East,
whose product has grown from four
tons in 1900 to abou, 360 900 tons for
the current year. The low price OF
crude rubber Ia due to great over
stocking Of raw material.
Thee tendency toward bottom prcea
has been active over period of years
and is not TO hc confused with tho
current dcflation movement in com
modify markets and its rcsultant price
reductions. Al though crude rubber ~
nov under 20 cents the movement down
has been manifcating itsrlf for nomo
time. At the termination of hos,ili-
ties two years ago the rubber industry
wns - per cont below the price level
o. all commodities, and crude rubber
was probably the only important raw
material whose price did not show In
crc"seS during the years 1913 to 1917.
This rs more remarkable. in view OF the
increased consumption. which grew
from lol, 900 tons 10 go 900 tons, or
III per cent, While consumption reg
istcred thia gain. however, output
showed an incrcnse OF 147 per cent, and
the surplus which has been accurnu-
hitting since IS the fundamental cause
for crude rubber price depression.
The price dcfiation in Brazilian up-
river Para and in plantation smoked
ribbed sheets Is shown in the following
comparison:
New-York tribune., 1920-11-14
Unemployment Gains >
In San Francisco

Return OF laborers to the city from
1aFms has brought slight increase,in
unem ployment in San Francisco and
has given an easier tone to wages for
this class of labor. No other effec.
on wages has been felt by the trade
depression, it is said.
Some expansion programs have been
temporarily postponed because of unr
settled conditions, but it is believed
that none OF these has beer abandoned.
others have been completed and new
business concerns continue to locate
IN the city. Several new buildings
have been added to the industrial SEE
ton.
Manufacturing plants are operating
about at normal. so far as can be
learned. but wholesale business is dull
and little movement OF stocks is taking
place. Retail bushes has held up we'll
except within the last two or three
weeks.
Bank clearings in September this
year were .s712,o00,0O0, against s217,-
381,517 in the same month of 1919. -
New-York tribune., 1920-11-14
Selling Market Short =
Proves Profitable for One

Selling the market short on SOME
merchandise has been q profitable ex-
perience for few retailers, bold,
enough to take the chance. A story,
~ell founded, is going the rounds re-
lating the experience in short selling
!ndulged in by a prominent Chicago,
mail order house. The compaak had. 2.
certain amount of fannelertt night
gowns in stock that cost $1.39 apiece
and were marked to retail at $1.S9 -
A new retail price Of $1.39. which
did not cover cost, plus the selling aad.
ether overhead expense, was placed Of.
the merchandise and "hyers" sent to
the trade. Response was instantaneous
and enormous. Orders for more than
twice the amount of stock in hand
were received. The Wholesale marksH
was canvassed for additional merchan-
disc which had 1.opned in price tH
about So or SO &Sdozen, thus leaving
the mail order house with q hand
soma Droat IN 6llin9 its ordasA
New-York tribune., 1920-11-14
Piece Goods Exports in
August Exceed Imports

Cotton piece goods exported from the
United States during August showed a
decrease of 25 per cent in yardage, but
an increase of 25 per cent in valuation
IN comparison with the exports for the
sarle month last year, according to the
United States Department of Com
merce. Total exports for the month
we're 47,113.O00 yards. valued at $l5,-
603, 900, against 63, ,496, 900 yards. valued
at $l2,535,000, in August, 1919. The
value of yard in August last averaged
81 cents, with 1874 cents the average
value for the same month of 1919. An
increase in the bleached good@ and
decline in other varieties Of Cloth eX-
ported were also shown.
The Importation of cotton piece
goods during August was three and
one-third times the volume and four
times the value reported for the same
month of 1919. The volume of imports
is less than one-quarter Of the volume
of exports. Imports for August aggre-
gated 10,051 1894 square yards, valued
at $4,401 900, compared with 3,O08.177
squade yards, of valuation of $1,116,-
900 in the same month last year. The
average value a square yard August
last was "a cents while the value in
the same month of 1919 was 37A cents.
Goods dyed in the piece showed the
largest quantity imported during Au-
gust
New-York tribune., 1920-11-14
? ;
Pacific Coast
Cities Little
Hurt by Slump.
Seattle Experienced First
Depression When the Big
Wartime Shipyards Sus-
pended After Armistice
San Francisco Is Hopeful
Expansion Programs Post:
poned in Some Instances:
Unemployment Gaining

The Pacific Coas. is not feeling tae
full force Of the present depression,
especially as it affects labor and Tr-
employment, according to reviews Of
the situation compiled by the chambers
Of commerce in San Francisco and in
Seattle So.
1er-
In the case Of Seattle the readjus.~
ment period was reached and passed
earlier with the curtailment of wo.k
on government contracts in the ship
yards there. This was the first trads
to feel the reaction from war activity,
and the resulting depression was no.
felt 30 keenly for the reason thatotheu
industries were unaffected. -.>
San Francisco reports some increase
IN Unemployment, with labor returning
from the farms, but the general bust
ness situation might be worse, it, .ts
said, Wholesale trade is quiet there
as elsewhere, according to reports. hut
retail trade has withstood the deprss-
sion until recently. 90
The Tribune to-day prints additions
to the list Of fourteen cities in which
business conditions were described h
last Sundays Tribune y
New-York tribune., 1920-11-14
Financial Items

Inc forty first annual meeting of the
I'm 1aimerlcan nc society OF Mechanical Engineers
Building In New York City from Decem.
Der TO 10. Daniel willard. president Of
.he hatlHore Ohio Railroad and chair
man OF the Association of Railway Execu.
OF the Chicago. Rock Island g. Pacific Rail
road; General e T. Hines formerly in
cnarge OF waterways for the War Depart
ment; Colonel Barclay Parsons, builder of
me me subway and chairman of tho Columbia
University board OF trustees: Gustav Lin
denthal and Francis w. Davis transpor-
tation eng ineer OF the Pierce Arrow Motor
Car Company, will discuss railroads and
practical measures for improving trans.
portation conditions. Many phases of the
nations industrial and economical prob
lens will be discussed by other authori-
ties The keynote session of the program
:. Brown Brothers Co. announce that
,hey have opened private wire to Chi
Gfaso' ana mat Stevenson Brothers & Perry.
INC, VIII be their correspondents In that
city. at los South La Sale Street Steven
son brothers & Perry. Inc. were recently
organized to conduct general Investment
banking business, including the underwrit-
ing and distribution of new Issues Of secur-
tiles.
Harris. Forbes &. Co.. Coffin & Burr.
Inc. and E. II. Rollins & Sons are offer
Ing at S71a and interest yielding per
cent. 100000 Adirondack Power and Light
=, per cent gold bonds due March l. 1850.
inc company agrees to pay interest with
out deduction for any normal Federal in
come tax to an amount not exceeding
the source. Net earnings. after allowing
$272,953 for depreciation, are over one and
three-fourth times the angpal interest on
mortgage bonds including his ISSUE, The
mately SO per cent Of the common stock Of
the AeE corporation.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-14
Siackening in Business -
Reported in Mem phis
NnrciOj D,cro+oL y -,

Special Dispatch 10 The Tribune
A general slackening in business. but
no undue pessimism, is reported .by
business men in Memphis and the sur
rounding territory. The slump in cot
ton and hardwoods has affected local
industries to some extent. Some of the
local hardwood mills are running on.
half time, while few have closed conn.
rarily. A revival in business is expected,
soon after the first of the year "a
Expansion programs, particularly
those pertaining TO farm DEVELOPMENT
and road work, have not been dropped.
According to the local Chamber of.
Commerce the territory around Mem
phis, already has 5000, 100000 worth o.
bonds authorized for good roads.
Shortage Of cars and materials is,
kindering this work. The Chamber Of
Commerce reports 122 new industries
trat have arranged to locate in Men,
phls since January !. 1920. compared
to 1873 for the calendar year Of 1917.
No wage cuts are reported and little,
unemployment is noticed Bank debts
TO individual accounts for the week
eI.ded October 81, 1920 show de.
cline, compared to the debts for tho
same period last year. The figures
for the week this year are S3f.628. .Ooo-
and for last year, S40,2S0,0O0. The
decrease is attributed to the fact that
the cotton crop this year is about
three weeks later than last
New-York tribune., 1920-11-14
Look for Further De-
clines, but Others Urge
Placing Orders Now to
Assure Business Revival

Opinion Of local retailers and buy
ing agencies on the wisdom of placing
orders now for spring merchandise is
sharply divided. The discussion was
precipitatcd yesterday y the announce
ment of the May Company, conducting
:. large chain of retail stores through
out the country, that it had decided
that in the best interests of business,
orders should be placed now in order
tc provide manufacturers with busi-
ness to set their machinery running
to capacity again.
In general, retailers are still look
ing for further price declines, despite
assertions of manufacturers that pres
ent prices in many cases are below
the cost of production and that fur
TIER orders can be taken only on
price basis that will give the manu-
1acturer q chance to break even. In
other words, manufacturers contend
taht present prices can obtain only for
goods already made up and being sold
at loss. These arguments hold good,
agree the retailers, but do not take
into account further possible declines
in raw materials and in labor costs.
One point in the situation is fraught
with certain amount of danger from
the retailers point of view. That is
the possibility ahat buyin. movement
at presetn would boost prices to levels
above those now prevailing. This, the
retailers assert, would bring about still
further resistance to buying on the
part of ultimate consumers. Distressed
merchandise that has finally reached
the consumer has established retail
prices in some lines which, the mer-
chants feel, will have to be maintained.
This can be done, they say, only by the
continuance Of prices at about present
or lower levels.
Of course, there are exceptions to
these broad statements. Some retail
crs admit that certain articles, notably
silks and silk garments, have gone to
low prices that cannot be maintained,
even with further declines in produc-
tion costs. However, this has not slim
ulated buying to any great extent. Even
some of the largest factors in the man
ufacturing trade now feel that extreme
ly low prices or stabilized prices will
not shake the majority Of retailers
from their determination to buy only
for immediate needs. In this connec-
tion, an executive Of leading local
store stated yesterday that his concern
was buying only for the estimated
needs three weeks in advance.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-14
Cotton Goods Converters
Ask Lower Finishing Scale

Converters of cotton goods, through
their association, have asked the fin
lshers who process their goods to make
lower scale of charges for bleaching,
dyeing, bringing, etc. The resolution
adopted by the converters at a board
Of directors meeting follows:
"Whereas there has been substantial
reductions in the cost Of all textiles
and commodities,
And, whereas the finishers have
failed to revise their prices to conform
with such altered condition,
And whereas, such attitude on the
part of the finishers tends to retard a
proper and orderly readiustment:
Now, be it resolved, that the Con-
verters' Association request the fin
ishers to readjust their prices to meet
the present conditions and that a conv
Of this resolution be forwarded to tbs
National Association of Finishers Of
Cotton Fabrics"
Finishers, although running ON
greatly reduced schedules because of q
lack Of business, have maintained that
lower finishing costs are dependent
upon lower wage scale which have not
yet appeared.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-14
Says Germany's Recovery
Hinges on Ra,u Materials
Former American Consul General at Berlin Dis
cusses the Economic Needs of Onetime Empire
Reparation Problem One of Greatest, He Says

Germany's recovery economically is
dependent largely on whether her facto-
rles can obtain raw materials and coal,
III the opinion Of Julius Lay, American
Consul General at Berlin up to the time
tho United States entered the war and
new associated with Speyer G. Co..
Shortly after his departure from the
German capital Mr. Lay was assigned
to the State Department at Washing
tor as it's foreign trade adviser and
continued in that capacity until he
joined the New York banking irm last
March.
Although Mr.. Lay has mot visited
Germany since 1917. he has had un-
uaual opportunities Of keeping in
formed about financial and economic
conditions in that country. "Is Ger
'many recovering economically 2" Mr..
Lay was asked. "Jf at all, German
economic conditions have recove cred
only slowly since the war, and the grav-
itY Of the situation is serious menace
not only to the peace and prosperity
ot Europe but also to the welfare Of
America" he replied
what do you think would ameliorate
these conditions?" was the next ques-
ton. Before any Improvement can
he expected in the general economic
welfare in Germany" he said, first
the amount Of the indemnity that Ger
,nnny Will be expected to pay must be
determined. and that amount must be
Axed at reasonable sum. Second,
credits should be granted more exten-
siyely in order that German factories
nay be enabled to procure raw ma
'eriaIs from other countries.
Cannot Balance Budget
"The German government cannot,
without knowing the amount of the
indemnity. balance its budget, decide
upon final taxation program or take
steps to check the fall in mark ex-
change which is diminishing in its
purchasing power and increasing the
cost of living. In turn the manu-
under present conditions. embark on
many industrial undertakings economi-
caily beeficial, and as a consequence,
unemployment has been increasing and
The industrial resources Of the country
ere not being fully utilized. Even the
'irility and intelligence Of the German
people cannot overcome the continued
uncertainty and the hopelessness of
the present situation without any pros
ecls OF improvement.
"The extent to which Germany will
recover Is dependent upon whether
factories can secure raw materials and
coal. The German cotton industry Is
working at 25 to 80 per cent of its
normal capacity. The principal handi-
cap to industry is the shortage Of conl,
which is responsible for the closing
down Of 80 many factories. Germany
has been unable to buy more than 20
per cent of the cotton that she i'm
ported in pre-war days"
"1s Germany dehating?" Mr.. Lay
was asked.
"As long as Germany has @ large
monthly deficit (the deficit for the rail-
roads alone amounted to 14,000,OO0,OO0
marks for 1920 there is no means of
preventing further issues of \ paper
money-the only means of payment"
he replied.
How about labor and unemployment
New-York tribune., 1920-11-14
Seattle Feels Effect -. ~
OF Slump in Lumber

Although Seattle feels that it's buss.
ness position is somewhat stronger,
1han many Eastern and Middle Western
cl1les, LOT the reason that it passed
through its readjustment period seSL
eral months ago, it has felt the recen.
slump IN the lumber industry. Outside
OF this line Seattle's industry is weu
diversified, and the change has been
well absorbed, it is felt. ~
The first contraction a. hrsios.e.
came with the cessation Of work Oh
war contracts il the new shi--
yards, and this released labor in st-te
nclent Quantities to ease the sitrls
ton. Consequently TIE depression" ri
the last few months has not been 80
keeniy felt. Although industry IS
quiet IN comparison with war days. e
mas advanced considerably from pre-
No industrial expansions are under
way at present, but plans are urder
consideration and only await settlsd
conditlons, it is said. New industries
are not springing up at the CUSTOMARY
war rate, but several Of q substantial
nature have recently looted in the citv
1t IS probable that 95 per cent Of the
manufacturing plants are operating on
q normal basis, although lumber nils
are on part time to some extent.
"ages' except Tor common labor. are
little changed, but there is. greater an
employment, especially among un--
skilled and semi-skilled. and building
trades have recently been unsteady.
In the retail stores sales in most
lnes are running above 10 per cent
behind last year. The situation az @e
gards proflts IS spotted, some lines
showing losses. Inventories are prob-
ably lighter than year ago. Luxuriees
are continuing in demand to a grear
extent
Bank clearings show the city's indus
frlal growth. For October this wear
they were $I76,937,51 and for the same
month last year s17e,507,453. For the
corresponding month of 1913 they weie
$65.352, ,937.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-14

in Gs>nany?" was another question
asked
Labor conditions are unsettled" Mr..
Lay answered. "The number of unem-
ployed will continue to increase during
the winter if the shortage Of co@ com
pels more factories to close"
What is the food outlook 2" Mr.. Lay
was then asked.
Germany will be obliged to import
at least 100000 tons Of food during
the current year" he said, "if the
working classes are to retain sufficient
vitality to maintain present produc-
ton, and this food must be purchased
at very high prices on account of the
low mark exchange.
Relief Stations Opened
"Mr Hoover, realizing the necessity
Of relieving the great food shortage in
Germany, has recently established three
additional branch warehouses of the
American Relief Administration, at
Berlin, Frankfort and Dresden, besides
the main one at Hamburg.
, The German Labor Minister reports
that in the city Of Berlin, among the
large number Of families receiving re-
hef $4,000 children are being fed from
public funds.
OS4icFe, WltN the economic COOP
Grafton of other nations and an oppor-
tunity to procure raw materials with
which she can reduce the present short
age in the worlds production, Ger
many, with her industrious and intelli-
gent people, will gradually reconstruct
her economic life and her finances and
meet her reasonable obligations.
Plan to Ship Cotton
to-day large quantity Of low grade
cotton. This cotton is not used in this
country or in Western Europe, and
finds a market in Germany and Cen
trail Europe only, but at the present
unfavorable rates of exchange Ger
many cannot afford to buy it,
Governor Harding Of the Federal
Reserve Board has suggested to our
planters plan by which they might
ship this low grade cotton to Germany
on long-term credits. The plan pro-
vides for retaining title in the raw cot
ton by the shipper until it is manu-
factured by the German mill and ex-
ported, when the shipper is paid for
the raw cotton.
Howard ". Adams. representative
Of the Bureau Of Foreign and Domestic
Commerce at Berlin, has recently made
oAA iiiICA co'4HS 4cPOit ueSCIlDIHR CDc
cotton mill situation in middle Eu-
rope"
Owing to Germany's inability to OBJ
tain an adequate supply of raw cotton,
Mr.. Lay said that out OF total of 10,-
100000 spindles $500, 900 are reported
idle. Importations of cotton at Bremen
for the period from Augusta, 1919, to
July 81. 1920, included only 355,977
bales from the United States, 73,709
bales from India and 14,4O7 bales from
Egypt.
The steel industry of Germany, &C
cording to Information obtained by Mr..
Lay, is also feeling intensely the dearth
of raw materials SO necessary in the
manufacture of the finished product.
This has resulted in current rate Of
production equal to only 40 per cent of
the country's requirements and an op-
Grating ratio equivalent to only one
third the capacity Of the steel mills.