The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-11-03

lions. 50
Inc value of our merchandise as
compared with October 4 1921 a.
ABOUT 40 per cent less, because We
arc seIllng greater number of
uhits IMAM a year ago. Naturally
tne UNITS OF stock carried are some
what greater than a year ago.
-, Maurice L. RothschIId. Chicago,
we anticipate an Improvement
oy When the abnormal income tax
ON large capital is reduced SO as not
70 prevent Investments on fair busI-
ness risks and so as to. give EN-.
pIoyment. Merchandise profits are
oelns decreased because the buy-
ing power of the people has lessen
ed ana values are forced to cause a
demand. d"
We think our selling prices on
our commodities average about %
per cent less than last year. There
are no overstocks on good wantable
merchandise. There is an overstocL
IN the country of inferior grades
Tor which there is no demand.
The answers from the retail hard
ware group follow:
Cussins & Fearn Co., Columbus,
Ohio:
l. No. 2. Waiting. Q. When Con-
gress enacts a tax bill that will
distribute the tax burden euuitebly
"a bill that will give no man rea-
son to believe he is escaping taxes
when transportation costs are de-
flated propcrtionately to the della
ton Of commodities generally. 4
Government extravaganza, suffocat-
ing taxes, transportation costs and
the uncertainties resulting from the
danger of railway strikes. 5, Our
stocks show in value a As per cent
decrease as compared with last year
and a Al per cent decrease as
against two years ago.
In physical quantity our stock is
about 80 per cent of what 1t was
one year ago and 80 per cent of two
years ago.
Balfour Hardware Co., Savannah,
Ga:
We do not anticipate an improve
ment in business this year. Bust
ness is only fair in this locality and
Is poor in the towns in the interior
Of the State. No Improvement is
likely until crop conditions are bet
ter and exports increase. The value
of our merchandise on hand is about
IS per cent of what IL was last
October. Merchandise today shows
much better workmanship than at
any time In the last two years.
Henry Gilbert 4 Son, Harrisburg,
Pa: o.
We are busy now on goods for i'm
mediate use, especially on small
building and repair contracts. We
are out selling for the future to our
retail trade. We anticipate a fall
ing off in trade about January 1,
with a resumption in the early
spring. especially in material for
dealers stocks, which are low. We
can sell goods for immediate deliy-
cry from cur stock and therefore
have a larger physical stock than
ever before. The value of our stock
is about rs per cent less than a
year ago and 30 per cent less than
two. years ago. The chief retardine
influence upon business is the lack
of steel business in our territory.
Chandler q Farquhar Co., Boston,
Mass;
Specializing as we do in machine
shop tools and supplies. we are ex-
periencing a very considerable re-
cession in sales volume and COM
modify prices as against the last
few years.
Our September sales exceeded Au-
gust about 5 per cent, and we an
ticipate a steady seasonal Increase
on about the same basis; but we do
not look for a pronounced general
Improvement this year.
Our merchandise inventory in
dollars October. 1921, is about IS
per cent less than in october, 1920,
and about rs per cent less than in
October, 1919. Our commodity, or
physical quantity is about 20 per
cent less than in October, 1920.
We feel that such fundamentals
as tax, tariff, and transportatio
must be either adjusted or more
nearly portend definitely an adj
justment before general business
viii show a marked improvement.
We do feel. However, that seasonal
conditions and replacement of en-
tirely worn out and patching up of
partly worn equipment OF all sorts.
cl0fhfnn hoalIaru.