Evening star., 1921-03-25
Detroit Auto Show Sales
Reflect Revival in Trade
BY PHIL s. HANNA.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
DETROIT. March 25.-The attend
ance and interest in the Detroit auto
mobile show this week seem to lend
serious doubt as to the existence of
hard times, imitation or deflation, or
credit lack. Attendance up to Wed
nesday night was 1000 more than
that of the whole 1920 show. The to-
tai, for the first four days is 1856,
against 31,722 in 1920. There is a
marked increase in sales at retail and
the report of wholesale contracts
which will be made public at the end
of the week is expected to show sub
stantial increases over last year.
The revival indicated at the show
is also being expressed in the Detroit
Stock Exchange. where Paige-De-
troit, Packard and some of the lead
ers are making gains averaging about
four points. The Ford plant has
again increased .itsz daily2=1output.
which makes the total now about
association reports a net gain for the
week ended Monday this week of
$500 men. making the total employed
by the seventy-nine member firms Of
the association. S2,187, compared with
1874 the week previous.
Call for Investments.
The Michigan country banks are be-
ginning to call on Detroit bond and
paper shouSes for Investments. We'd
nesdsy three banks in different sec
tions OF the state telephoned in for
more than s11S.o0o worth Of paper to
one house. Other houses report an in
creasing call from banks throughout
the state.
The indications apparent for some
little time OF building boom are
more vivid this week. s. w Strauss
& Co. are offering to finance apart
n.ents and similar building projects in
amounts of 100000 and upward at s
per cent interest.
+. F. Hascall. secretary of the Build
ers and Traders Exchange. computes
the contracts under way at present as
totaling more than $75.000.00O for
1921, and states that this season will
see the biggest home-building move
ment since before the war. Both Has
call and Strauss advise patrons that
prices for building material, in their
opinion. are at rock bottom. and urge
an immediate start.
PHILADELPHIA, March 25.-Dele-
gates to the semi-annual meeting of
the National Association of the
Sweater and Knitted Goods Industry
In session here. report good busine ess
prospects. particularly in New Eng
land and the middle west. The officers
have urged member concerns to make
preparations to take care Of increased
orders.
NEW YORK. March 25.-Hyman
Weitzer. international fur merchant
who has just returned from Leipzig
declares that the Germans are work
ing hard to re-establish that city as
the fur center Of the world. On the
other hand. he asserts that if the trade
agreement between Great Britain and
the soviet government of Russia
proves a success it may establish
London as the fur center Of the fu-
ture.
MARTINS FERRY, Ohio. March rs
The Laughlin Tinplate plant of the
American Sheet and Tinplate Com
pany. a United States Steel subsidiary
will be enlarged. The plant has been
working steadily. but all the men
have not been employed at full time
The Yorkville Tinplate plant of the
Wheeling Steel Corporation, idle for
nearly two months. will start six
mills Monday.
LANSING. Mich, March 25.-Build.
ing permits for the first three months
Of 1921 thus far show an increase OF
% per- over the same period OF
last year. according to figures just
made public by the building depart.
ment. Permits for buildings other
than dwellings have Increased 40 pei
cent over last year. The Macs. mbal
Paper Mill at Piainweli, Mich, closed
since last November. has reopened.
Business Notes.
SEATTLE. Wash. March 25.-The
best informed department store ex-
ecutives declare that Easter buying
here, both as to numbers Of sales anG
yardage involved. has been on a pal
with last year. Reductions in prices
however, have diminished the cash
and account returns on gross business
about 20 per cent. Wholesale trade
also has picked up, but still is classeC
only as fair. This is because retailer.
are feeling their way and buying only
on a hand-to-mouth basis. They are
not certain that the consumers strike
is over. despite the briskness of the
Easter trade.
NEW YORK, March 25.-The realt,
market in New York appears to bt
fast approaching the normal. A stront
! revival of the building. buying ant
leasing movement has been noted re
Gently and the past twenty-four hour.
have recorded some big deals. A pur.
chase of two large plots in the uppel
West Side for the erection Of $4,000,
900 worth of multi-family houses, and
the conclusion Of one of the larges
leasing transactions of the year wer.
among the features. The leasing deA
was in the Grand Central texunina