Evening star., 1922-03-05
BY J. c. ROYLE.
special pispatcb to The Star

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. March 4-The current
of business is flowing again. released
by the spring breakup of frozen cred
its. And there is no question but that
it is moving in the direction of better
conditions and greater prosperity. If
that movement is not apparent on the
surface. it is none the less Irresistible
and is increasing in force as the side
streams of various industries pour
their outputs into the main channel:
Like every great stream, it has it's ed
dies and its back waters. but the most
hopeful thing is that business men are
not jumping into the stream reck-
lessly.
This movement of industry and COM
merce toward better things has been
recorded on a score of accurate gauges
in various sections of the country, ac-
cording to business dispatches receiv-
ed within the last twenty-four hours.
More money is coming into the marts
of trade. Funds long tied up in long
standing debts are flowing back into
trade channels.
steel Production Grows.
Steel production, one of the most
accurate gauges of the trend of in
dustry. is increasing quickly anu
steadily. Sheet mills. rail mills and
furnaces are increasing output. in
creasing pay rolls and increasing
sales. Prices have not increased ma
terially. but they have stabilized
Farm products have given convincing
evidence OF the strength of the up
ward price movement. Railroads
with evidence of tremendous freight
and passenger traffic in prospect: are
increasing equipment and facilitleS.
They are spending money by the mil
lions.
Coal has drifted out of it's back
water. Manufacturers and business
men are firmly convinced that any
strike in the coal mines will not be
of long duration. But they are play
ing the better safe than sorry sys-
TEN this year and many industrial
concerns are laying in sufficient re-
serve supplies to insure production IN
their plants, no matter how long the
strike lasts.
Textile Trades Index.
The tenacity with which business
men hold to the prospect of better
conditions is being shown in the
textile trades. The strike of cotton
mill workers in New England has
not served to influence prices for
goods materially.
The tremendous reserve stocks OF
WOOL held ny the government SiucS
war time have now been fully alb
sorbed.
Wool prices are firm and the shear
ing season. just started in the far
southwest. will bring across the
country a flood of ready money to
the sheep growers. who will receive
prices this year nearly half as large
again as obtained in 1921.
Auto Industry Thrives.
Auto production continues to in
crease and sales are marching with
it. With the commissioning of cars
after the winter. tire manufacturers
are speeding up production and there
are indications of a trend toward
higher prices. Gasoline is in better
demand and refineries in some sec
tions are operating additional equip
ment to meet orders.
Furniture shipment from the fac
tories now is over so per cent great
er than at this time last year. Raw
materials are flowing into these fac
tories in equally increased amounts.
Sugar prices are somewhat higher
and prospects are better. Copper is
looking up and lead and zinc are in
crcasing in demand and in price.