Evening star., 1921-05-07
SURVEY OF WEEKS BUSINESS
SHOWS CHANGE FOR BETTER
Unusual Demand for Lumber From Many
Quarters Indicates Revival in Building.
Wage Issue Still Problem.

ing that business conditions in other
industrial plants there and elsewhere
in the state are improving.
Kansas, with its usual prompt way
Of doing things. has gone to work to
determine who has reduced prices and
who has not. Her industrial court is
going to tell the world, 1t is announc-
ed. whether producer, wholesaler or
retailer is tagging in defiation en-
deavor. st. Louis reports prospects
of a continuation of the good retail
buying experienced during the past
two weeks.
Help for King Cotton through the
War Finance Corporation is believed
by southern business men to be near.
The mere belief has helped stimulate
business in a section that is coming
back fast, anyhow.
Pacific Coast Waiting.
Pacific coast cities are wearying of
the business of waiting for business
to get better. That section of the
United States. always last to feel the
full effects eithkr Of boom or depres-
sion, is about three months behind
New England in it's progress toward
prosperity, a dispatch from Seattle
says, but feels sure that real pros
perity Of a substantial. rather than
spectacular, character Is on its way to
the coast. Meantime. hundreds of
picturesque soldiers Of fortune pitch
camp in Seattle They are the gold
hunters, bound for Alaska and wait
ing for the opening of the ocean lane
to Nome.
Throughout the nation the railroads
are reporting a genuine pickup in
traffic. March figures. showing net
income approximating $4,000. 900: are
believed to be harbingers OF still bet
ter days in April and May.
From Philadelphia, where labor and
capttal lock unfriendly arms in many
strikes, comes light reading Of deeper
import than appears On the surface.
The Quaker city says the five-cent
cigar is coming back.
NEW YORK, May High freight
rates on the railroads are driving
business to the waterways. The news
that the Mississippi river Is carrying
more traffic than at almost any time
in its history is followed by special
advertisements here urging merchants
to ship their package freight by the
New York barge canal. The rates are
far below rail charges, and the service
includes delivery at the customers
shipment Of goods consigned to
Cleveland, Detroit. Duluth. Superior
St. Paul, Minneapolis and the north
west.
Despite the fact that little encour-
agement comes from members of
Congress, merchants organizations
from all over the country are urging
a sales tax as a substitute for the ex-
cess profits tax and higher income
levies of the existing law.
The latest advocate Of the tax is
the National Association of Hosiery
and Knit Goods Manufacturers which
has been in session in Philadelphia
The association declares that the re-
moval of the super taxes and the ex.
cess profits tax will release large
sums Of capital at present tied up ir
non taxable securities.
CHICAGO. May I'm the opinion
Of many economists the retailers are
setting themselves a virtually impoS
sible task in trying to equal or exceed
the sales volume of last year as fig.
ured in dollars and cents. A drop ir
prices Of from 25 to 50 per cent ha.
made it necessary. Of course. to sci
a much greater volume Of goods te
make anything like an equal money
return to corresponding periods o1
last year.
NEW YORK. May 7.-Revised price
lists covering the fall deliveries OF
rugs have been sent to the trade by
one Of the largest wholesale houses
here, and while there has been some
shading of prices on both rugs and
carpets. the new lists show compare :
lively little change.