Evening star., 1922-03-12
BY j. L. BOYLE.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. March 11.-Business
is better in the United States and
United States as whole know 1t is
better. The improvement has been
going on right along, but the working
of the yeast of better times was
going on under the surface. Now the
general public is seeing the results
with its own eyes and is far more
ready TO believe what it can see and
feel than what was intangible.
It is the Easter trade of the re-
taller which has brought it before
their eyes. Everybody deals with the
retailer. while few are permitted to
glimpse the situation of the producer
at first hand: Retail trade is on the
increase as business dispatches re-
ceived within the last tWenty-four
hours show conclusively.
Wearing apparel both for womer
and men is in demand and purchasers
lave the money to pay for it. Stores
are crowded and goods are moving
freely and swiftly, off the shelves.
That demand has run through the
circuit of distribution and produc-
tion with the speed of an electric
current.
CIamorinE for Shipments.
Retailers are clamoring at the
wholesalers and jobbers for quick
shipments of orders. Wholesalers are
facturcrs, who in turn are clearing
their decks for purchase of new raw
materials for porduction of fan
goods. Railroads are increasing
freight shipments. They all have
evidence that business is better.
That word has been passed down
the line TO silk weavers, to stocking
makers, to wooden and cotton manu-
facturers and finally to importers.
Cutters-up are buying goods, and SILK
mills which have been work ing at not
more than so per cent of capacity and
having difficulty in disposing. Of that
amount of goods, are increasing pro-
duction Shoe manufacturers are
speeding up with assurance of de-
mand at good prices. Sweater knit
ters are buying yarns in quantities
and raw materials are stabilizing In
price; u;,,no
more letters starting: Your order re-
ceived," and they are buying thou
sands of new typewriters. are hiring
thousands of stenographers to do 1t.
steel Mills Picking Up.
Steel mills not only are increasing
production, but some concerns are
increasing prices on their products.
Some mills. for the first time in many
months, are working at a full 100 per
cent of capacity. The industries of
the great Mahoning valley steel dis
trict are operating on higher per-
centage than at any time for year.
Whatever effect a coal strike may
have on April l. the prospect of
strike is speeding up production.
shipments and sales now. Scores of
mines are breaking production rec
ords, and railroads are carrying
| heavily increased coal tonnages.
! Auto sales are increasing steadily
and indications are not lacking that
| the era of price cutting is over, at
| least for a time. The paper industry
| is speeding up. Prices are firm and
supplies in the hands of distributors
are small
Prospects for the farmers are nc
! less bright. although many have suf-
fered a diminution of their paper
profits through determination to wait
i for higher prices for their grain hold
ings. The trend upward in farm prod
ucts however, in most lines is un-
mistakable, and is based on the solid
justification of world supply and de-
mand. The increased sales of ferti-
lizers throughout the country is am
T: Pile indication of the more favorable
! situation.