Evening star., 1922-10-11
BY J. c. ROYLE.

Special Dispatch to The star. go.
NEW YORK. October lit Is a
poor season for strikes just NOW in
the United States. Representatives Of
the employers. the workers and the
public have agreed that with produc-
ton increasing. with buying power
and willingness to buy improving and
with employers eager to expand their
pay rolls at high wage scales indus,
trial disputes were too costly. - =,
The trend Of events Is plainly shown
in reports from great lake ports.
Twenty-seven lake freighters have
passed Detroit in the last twelve
hours bound for Lake Superior nearly
all loaded with coal. For the week,
more than one million tons have been
Dated to Duluth and vessels are COM
ing back loaded to the margin of safe
ty with grain and ore.
Business men Of the northwest and
the lake region declared today they
were satisfied the strike of the lake
west would get enough coal for Its
winter needs before the close of navi-
cation. The frank statements of w. G.
Lee. president of the railroad: train
men, that q concerted strike tying up
railroad transportation was impossi-
both employers and employees more
than they could afford to lose, found
Immediate concurrence among indus
trial executives and large employers
today.
Trend of Settlements.
Steel and coal men pointed out that
the trend of settlements of labor dis,
putes recently has plainly indicated
the decentralization Of negotiations
h oh TN a1rnPrentS..
One manufacturer. engaged In max
ing automobile parts and equipment
declared that the voluntary increase
granted by the United States Steel
largely unorganized. was the main
factor in bringing about the organi-
unions" formed in. the last few
months on many railroads and % IN
many industrial plants Tor oeaIins
Reports from New England. New
York and the middle west indicated
that points at issue between striking
textile and shoe workers gradually
were approaching settlement and
plants are approaching normal pro-
duction again.
Fuel Situation.
In some sections the unusually
warm weather is hindering instead
of helping the fuel situation. In this
port arrival of steam coal from Eng
land and the lack of necessity for
householders to buy domestic btu
minous sizes for immediate use nave
resulted in some congestion of termi-
nal and storage facilities. Similar
conditions prevail in other centers.
This condition cannot outlast the nrst
cold snap, however.
Some seasonal recession is to be
noted today in building operations
throughout the country, but the VOL
ume of construction now in progress
Is greater than for any other autumn
period OF record. There is every evil
dence that the check to building is
only temporary, however, in spite OF
the fact that material costs have ad-
vanced above 10 per cent since last
spring.
Building Prospects Good.
Large construction companies ad-
vance the opinion that any falling on
| in the amount Of home construction
would be more than equalized by ad-
ditional programs involving pubic.
educational and religious buildings.
Brick manufacturers are back to
capacity production, and they are pill
| ing up supplies, firm in the belief that
any recession in price during the win
ter will be more than wiped out oy
demand next spring.
Paints are on the up trend. Some
ready-mixed lead paints have been
| to equalize the rise last week in lead
prices. Wholesale gTocers report the
| most active business in months
! Farmers from one end Of the country
to the other are complaining over the
prices for grain. but the majority are
using their first receipts from crop
sales to pay old debts. '