The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-08

The Argus
Business
Review
(By Consolidated Press.)
Telegraphic dispatches from
nations important centers
giving Business News and
Reviews of Interest and I'M
portance to Producer and
Consumer.
BY C. G. MARSHALL.

Chicago, March S.-Business is so
distinctly better in nearly every
line in the middle west that it is
difficult to explain the sudden fall
ing of in the coal trade Industries
have ceased stocking up in prepara-
ton for a possible strike, manufac-
turers being apparently confident
that if strike comes it will be of
short durance. Few plants have
more than sixty to ninety days sup
ply on hand and the consumers be-
lieve the price will be lower.
This is merchants buying week
here and retailers from many states
are in the market for dry goods and
accessories. The majority are buy
ing for immediate delivery. Dry
goods jobbers are receiving encour-
aging reports from their men on
the road. They attribute better de-
mand to the Improvement in the
price of grain and hogs.
The still industry in this section
is increasing its output and demand
for steel products continue heavy.
The United States Steel corporation
has blown in two more blast fur
naces at Gary and South Chicago
and that company and the leading
independents now are operating at
80 per cent of capacity. Railroads
are buying track material and car
orders are numerous.
BY /. V. SHANNON.
New Orleans, March S.-Jobbers
in every line are feeling the stimu-
lus of spring business in this sec
ton. For the first time in over a
year they are reporting a profit on
sales for the month. Business in
the last 80 days increased from to
.25 per cent over the previous
mohnth, the greatest gains being in
dry goods and notions and the
smallest in drugs and food pro-
ducts. Wholesalers in the country
districts are claiming gains in bus
mess of from 10 to 20 per cent. Re-
tailers continue to buy conserva-
lively, but their stocks are low, and
distributors anticipate steady con-
tinued demand from them. Whole
sale stocks are also low and in need
of constant repleniShment.
Real estate is more active and
sales are growing from week to
week Building permits issued for
small residences continue to show
steady gains. Reduction of freight
rates on oil and erection of addi-
tional refineries which have been
planned will add to the Importance
of this port as a factor in export
trade, making it one of the most i'm
portant in this country.
The cold weather in the last week
has injured the spring crop of veg
etables in this section and ship
ments will be three weeks later
than was anticipated. The loss to
growers was about half a million
dollars.
BY FRANK ID. NCLAIN.
Philadelphia, March S.-Business
is showing a gradual improvement
in this section, but this slow growth
is regarded as a more encouraging
sign than any temporary boom.
Bank clearings are increasing and
these are a fairly sure barometer
of trade and industry, as this is not
a speculative center. Demand for
steel is picking up substantially in
certain lines. Many large indus
tries here have been stocking up
with bituminous coal, but none has
sufficient reserve supply to carry
through a protracted coal strike.
However, by April L domestic re-