The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-01
The Argus
Business
Review
By Consolidated Press.)
Telegraphic dispatches from
nations important centers
giving Business News and
Reviews of Interest and In
pOrtance to Producer and
Consumer.
NEW ORLEANS.

New orleans, La, March l.-Re-
tail trade in every line here has
been greatly stimulated by carni-
val visitors. These outnumber
those who have gathered for any
Mardi Gras season since before the
war. Results have been so salts
factory that the carnival season
may be extended and new attrac-
tions added to bring visitors next
year
Retailers have already begun to
display spring and summer goods
and the mild weather is creating a
demand for them. Sales are holding
up very well and are running only
about ten per cent below those CT
the corresponding period of last
year in money value. Jobbers of
dry goods report distribution for
February was ten to fifteen per
cent greater than for the CORES
ponding period of 1921.
The increase in prices and the
stabilization of markets for agri-
cultural products is having a mark
ed effect on sentiment throughout
this section. Field work is max
ing good progress and optimism is
| returning among the farmers as
! they see an improved outlook for
disposing of their crops. The state
/ highway commission will let con-
| tracts for five and a half million
dollars worth of highway improve
ment work between now and May l.
About $3,00O,000 worth of work is
now under way.
CHICAGO.
. Chicago, March 1.-Outwardly
J business conditions 'in the middle
west are about the same but a
! strong undercurrent has set in, all
| flowing in the direction of general
! Improvement. Merchants and man
ufacturers are beginning to expert
ence some of the optimism which
| farmers and bankers have been feel
! ing since the prices of farm pro-
ducts started to soar upward With
! spring almost at hand, keen OBJ
servers are already able to note
an improvement of the business
morale.
Retailers in the large cities still
complain that trade is dull but the
mail order houses all report steady
and increasing business. One fac
tor which has helped the mail or
! der houses has been the tendency
of the smaller merchants to keep
their stocks too close. Collections
are reported little better but they
have hardly had time as yet to re-
| fleet improved conditions. The cred
| it situation is decidedly easier
Building operations still are light
and preparations for spring con-
struction are being retarded by Ia
Dor disputes.
Steel production in this district
shows a steady gain with railroads
the heaviest buyers. Manufactur.
ers of agricultural implements re-
port a better inquiry from farmers
Continued cold weather has hard
ened produce markets but fresh
| eggs sold this week as low as "a
cents a dozen wholesale.
PHILADELPHIA.
| Philadelphia, March 1.-The East
er demand for cloaks and suits is
commencing to make itself felt IL
this territory and wholesalers ant
| jobbers of drygoods report Sligh'
| increase in sales this week. The
call for mems and boys clothing Il
not heavy, however. Millinery
houses are receiving some order:
| for the spring season which has moi
yet formally opened.
| The local textile mills are vel
occupied as they have been unaf
| fected by the labor troubles which
prevail at some of the New Eng
| land factories. Trading in the raw
wool market has been fairly &C
/ tive with prices firmly maintained
Numerous inquiries are being re
ceived by dealers in cement, lum
ber. glass, lighting fixtures, plumb
| ing supplies and harware in prep
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