Evening star., 1921-09-17
BY BYRON SELLER.

| Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, September lit Is
possible to alter the Constitution of
the United States. and some people
seem to think it as possible to ignore
the alteration. but it is not possible
| to alter or ignore the laws of supply
and demand. Those laws now are
operating for the business reha bilita-
tion of the United States as is shown
by business dispatches received with
in the last twenty-four hours. Those
dispatches indicate beyond question
that production and prices are ad-
ivancing both in basic and subsidiary
Industries.
/ Unquestionably the truest reflection
of the return to business prosperity
and increased production shines from
the dull blue surface of the work
aday overall. The demand for these
garments has advanced by ..aps and
| rushed at top speed and their prices
! have Increased in the normal ratio
of demand and supply. This condi-
tlon exists not In one section OF the
country alone, but is reported alike
from the lumber camps, wheat fields
! and orchards of the far west, the
mines and cattle ranges of the inter-
, mountain region. the prairie farms,
i factories and steel plants of the mid
west. the cotton fields of the south
and the textile plants of New Eng
| land
Not an Isolated Condition.
This demand is not to be regarded
as an isolated condition of the over
all trade. subsidiary industry, but
may be taken as a reliable symptom
! of returning prosperity. of increas-
| ing production and renewed employ
ment in commerce and industry as a
whole
The iron and steel industry is re-
spending to the laws of supply and
demand. not only by the blowing in of
additional plants. additional employ
| ment, a progressive increase in out
put and still further curtailment of
production costs. but by the accom-
panying increases in prices Of fin
ished products. Price shading to
stimulate business is lessening, in
quiries are increasing and are being
turned rapidly into orders; pig iron.
nails. sheets and other products have
advanced materially in price.
Coal and coke demand and prices
have advanced in sympathy with the
general movement. although 1t is ex-
pected that some time still must
elapse for demand to rouse produc-
ton to normal
Railroads have increased their car
loadings. the figures for early Sep
tember being the largest since De-
cember, 1920. Also they have re-
sumed buying of steel, lumber and
other material for replacement needs.
WOOlen Mills at Capacity.
The wooden and worsted mills of
New England are working at capac-
jity with satisfactory orders booked
| on spring lines. Some mills in the
big centers. such as Woonsocket. are
operating night shifts and similar
conditions prevail in the cotton tex
tile plants
Some of these plants are taking on
| idle men from the metal trades in
| posit which do not require textile
| experience Even mills which are not
rushing production are known to have
bought wool heavily in anticipation
| of Increased output. This condition is
| reflected in increased prices for raw
wool in the west.
greatest building booms in it's history
| this year exceeding the amount for
the entire twelve months of last year
Resumption has been noted in other
sections, with corresponding relief
| from high rents.
= Cotton and Grain Trade.
| Cotton is moving to market freely
and steadily, but in some sections
grain is being held for higher prices
| which some growers expect as a re-
suit of increased export demand. Cop
per is evidencing a decidedly stronger
| tendency and mines are preparing to