Evening star., 1921-04-22

their losses" just as the merchants
and farmers have done
Certain il is that farm labor is plen-
tlfui and at cheaper wage scale
than has prevailed heretofore for
several years. 1t is equally as obvious
that skilled artisans, in the building
industry especially, may be secured
On far more satisfactory terms than
have obtained.
In consequence of the labor adjust
ments" the building activities in the
cities and towns have called into
service most of the men who were
unemployed a month or two ago, and
in the rural districts farming opera
;ions have attracted from the cities
much labor that was thrown out of
work with the suspension of indus
trial activity.
A year ago it was almost impossible
to get farm labor at any price, and
this condition helped increase the
cost of making the cotton crop.
Pre-war scales now prevail on the
farm, and il is the boast of farmers
everywhere that the 1921 cotton crop
will be the cheapest ever made. They
are counting to beat the boil weevil
by intensive manual labor, which
thus far has been favored by ideal
weather conditions
Fall Orders Surprising.
Several hundred travelling sales
men, handling various lines and rep
resenting jobbers and wholesalers.
have taken to the road within the
last ten days with their fall samples.
and to date their firms have been
agreeably surprised with the orders
they have received from retailers
throughout the territory. Small-town
merchants. who have not been In
to buy, and the reports sent in by
the drummers indicate that the stock
of goods in practically every line
have been pretty well depleted.
1t is worthy of remark, however.
that there is less demand along the
retail trade for the more expensive
and costly lines of merchandise, with
a corresponding increase in the de-
mand for medium-priced commodities
of recognized and established merit.
x
BUSINESS NOTES.
NEW YORK, April 22.-Conserva-
tive optimism marks the tone of the
week end summary of business issued
by the National Wholesale Dry Goods
Association. A better tone is said to
prevail in the primary markets.
basis that textile price reductions
have been made to a greater extent
than any one in the business thought
they would. and as it is possible for
silk piece goods. underwear and
hosiery. notions and other lines at at
tractive figures, it is contended that
we are on sound foundation. Taking
up the various lines we find the con-
sumer actively purchasing ginghams
X X
CHICAGO. April 22.-Eastern re-
of goods
business are reflected here. The John
V. Farwell Company reports a much
better sentiment spreading. conditions
manifesting a more healthful activity.
Buyers are in the market in much
larger numbers than a year ago. Road
men report the retailers have had an
exceptionally good spring business.
many showing decided gains over
last year.
BOSTON, April 22.-The entire
leather trade is turning optimistic Let
country indicate dealers and packers are
not anxious to sell even at the slightly
higher prices prevailing, while tanners
are much more anxious to purchase.
Large orders for fall shoes are being
placed by retailers, and much earlier
than usual. There is therefore a gen.
eral broadening demand. and number
of large producers are running at close
to full time.
X X X
RICHMOND, Va. April 22.-The 1921
tobacco crop is yielding the growers only
1913 cents a pound, against 80 cents
pound for all grades in 1920. This
shrinkage of nearly so per cent has
brought hardship to farmers who bought
or leased land at high rentals and may
result in the formation of a tobacco
marketing association similar to the or
ganization recently accomplished by the
grain growers. Attention is called to
the fact, however, that while the 1921
figures appear abnormally low they are
well above the average for the last ten
wears.