Evening star., 1922-05-06
BY j. c. ROYLE.

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
NEW YORK, May 6.-The winter OF
the farmers discomfort has not been
made glorious summer yet. but 1t has
blossomed into promising spring.
Money. real hard coin, Is coming into
their hands and the future gives no
indication that their profits will be
checked. Cotton has had Its first real
move for months and that move HAS
been upward. Weather conditions
and crop prospects are inducing the
agriculturists of the south to talk
hopefully of 20-cent cotton and the
jump has given opportunity to many
to turn old holdings into cash.
Grain. strengthened by the prospect
OF Increased world demand and short
supply. Is maintaining it's strength.
and trains and vessels are pouring
their cargoeS into shipping and mill
ing centers and the returns into the
farmers pockets. Shipments of the
early vegetables and berries are IN
full swing in the south, and the sea-
son is gradually working northward.
with ready cash following in Its wake.
Permanence of Betterment.
The west may not be wild any long
er. but it Is woolly, and glad of 1t.
kalispell. Mont. are cashing the fat
checks for their clips. sold at prices
averaging nearly double what they
obtained last year. The live stock
situation is improving. and the ranges
and pastures are flush with feed and
water.
Business In general has just begun
to feel the effects of this distribution
of ready cash, but those effects Will
be increasingly evident from now on.
The first returns to the farmer have
gone to pay his debts. Old loans are
being rapidly cleared off and for the
first time since the depression, be-
came acute. the agriculturist feels he
has money to spend. The, mail order
houses have marked this first and
now the retail merchants are begin
ming to reap their harvest. They are
rejecting the feeling Of confidence in
the permanence of betterment.
Textile Trades Active.
The rise in basic materials has been
followed by renewed activity in the
finished products. especially in the
textile trades. Cotton goods have
in price are predicted. Consumers. 1t
appears, are willing to buy. but mills
are not anxious to sell for future
delivery until the price of raw cotton
has stabilized itself. Woolen goods
and worsteds have risen.
Manufacturers in many districts and
many industries are buying raw ma
terials and turning out finished prod
ucts for future, as well as present
demand. Orders for mill and factory
supplies are increasing steadily and
many makers of such goods are
booked months ahead. Lumber pro-
duction. although speeded up in every
producing section. cannot keep pace
with new business engendered by
building activity.
Gasoline has been advanced In price
and further advances are forecast.
The reverberatories of the copper
smelters are beginning to roar again.
and the ore and concentrates are
pouring in as production is being
resumed at the mines. Zinc and lead
also are in better technical positions.
Auto Trade Striking Example.
The revival Of the automobile in
dustry perhaps offers the most strik-
ing example of industrial improve
ment. Manufacturers are behind
with deliveries and are increasing
their forces and working hours In
desperate effort to take the tide of
business at the flood. Their chief
worry is to secure sufficient parts
ure production without carrying bur-
densome inventories. There is prom
ise that the automotive Industry
will experience the biggest year in
it's history.
Steel production is increasing
slightly despite the coal strike.
Plants are Well booked ahead, many
have withdrawn from the market,
and prices are trending upward from
pig iron to the finished product. To
say. however, that the coal strike has
not affected commerce and industry
is like telling the patient in dem
fists chair that he will not feel the
twist of the forceps.
The Suitcase" population, the
itinerate workers both skilled and
unskilled, are gradually settling
down to steady jobs for the summer
either in the industrial centers or on
the farms