The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-31
HELP WANTED" AD REPLACES THAT OF POSITION WANTED'
Trade Reports Optimistic, Building on Increase and
 General Situation Very Satisfactory
By THEODORE II. rRIcE.
Editor Commerce and Finance, New York Copyright, Theodore II. Price Publishing
 Corn, I6 Exchange Place, New NOrk.)

Etditor Commerce and Finance, New York tCopyright, Theodore II Price Publishing
 New York. October 30.--tSpeciai) There will be no railroad strike. The labor leaders are to be congratulated upon their good judgment. The stock market which was sins ularly com- yiacent while the strike threatened, advanced sharply wnen It's abandon pent was announced and tLere are Iaany who believe that real boom is incipient In the oil and industrial share department many sharp ad- vances have already been recorded and the railway stocks, which have been held back by the strike talk should now attract attention.
 Meantime traffic has been quick cned by the fear that transportation would be interrupted by the strike snd both car loadings and net earn 3ngs continue to show increases. ) reight rates are, moreover, gradual ly coming down. Transcontinentd rates and the rate on iron ore were educed some weeks ago and last week a reduction of from 10 to IT h Tor cent In the rates on grain and feed in the western territory was or o,1red. There is an intimation that | reduction In lumber rates will be aortly made, for even the railway anagers are coming to realize that cut In the cost of carrytng both pas bengers and freight would greatly imulate business.
 Can't Fill Orders
 Trade reports are generally op- smistic in tone. Revillon, the New ork furrier says that "it is almost inpossble to fill orders" The presi- mt of the Am erican Radiator com aAny claims that they are dolng the rgest business in their history. The United States Chamber of Commerce Hnnouipces decided improvement in sAe industrial situation generally. In speech at Atlantic City Charles M. ehwab propesies the greatest boom American history. Many similar atements from all over the country luld be quoted did space permit The ! arriman bank asserts that not more t2an 1,o00 900 persons are now unem- 2 oyed and the New York World of st Monday published 9 columns of Help Wanted-Female," and IF col smns of Help Wanted-Male," ad- rtisements. The other papers also carry an unusually large number of Up wanted advertisements
 In the west some reduction of pur- sasing power is expected as a result si the decline in grain, but when l Us in Chicago last week the mer- z lants that I saw there told me their 1rade was surprisingly good. In the south the feeling Is distinctly cheer dll and In the textile industry there. well as in New England, there Is ractically no unemployment.
 Cotton Now Static
 Cotton has become comparatively | attic at between IS and 20 cents. round this level the minds of buyers T ld sellers seem to have met. The cry goods market is gradually ad- sting itself to the advance in the ''aw material, and while there is no boom the off-take Is about equal to the production. The demand for woolen goods is excellent and higher prices for raw wool have been paid i' the auction sales recently held in London, Australia and New Zealand.
 Coffee is up nearly .% of cent 1und and raw sugar is distinctly temer upon realization of the World wide demand at present low 1rices and the inadequate supply which America has thus far secured 3rom the merchants standpoint
 
 ilr seem to be indicated. Rubber Is lather firmer and increased activity the factories of the Akron district i& reported. A better demand for leather is also to be noticed Produc- ton of crude oil is gradually increas- ing, The bituminous coal production 1o9October promises to be the largest C.. the year. There Is better de- 'iand al slight advance in price.
 Tn ifnnr fr. htt;l any sections is also reported. Steel Sils have been reduced s7 ton to 70, and the best authorities agree lth k. H. Sweetser of the Southern tihio association in believing that a gal revival of the steel industry only ;waits the expected reduction in . Aieht rates.
 Nuch Illness Likely
 The cheerfuness to be inferred From the foregoing has not been seri- oasly affected by the expectation iaat there will be much illness in the country during the coming winter 'low that real beer and wine is pro slfable on doctors prescription Nne curious effect of Secretary Mel an s sympathetic order has been saarp advance in the shares of the nited Drug company upon the the S that its prescription business in .coholic beverages will he greatly decreased.
 Like the eel that got used to skim 1nng, the business community is be- oming somewhat indurated to the reconstruction of the Senate over 1le tax bill, and as almost anything is better than the present uncer- .lnty there are many who are com lencing to hope that the revision of ixes may be delayed until after the siection of 1922. The tariff bill seems s9 be entirely moribund. The week ) federal reserve statement shows ialn of Sl3500,0o0 in the gold held and a reserve ratio of 70.S, the high est since September. 1917. Money is taily becoming cheaper and further reductions in federal reserve redis- count rates are generally expected.
 Bond Market Firm
 The quoted rate on commercial paper is F per cent, but this can robably be shaded by borrowers of nndoubted credit. Two hundred mil Ion treasury certificates offered at 1s. per cent for those maturing April j. 1922, and 4 i5 per cent for those que September b. 1922, have been