Evening star., 1922-01-28
BY J. c. R0YLE.
Special Dispatch to The star. \,

specni Dispatch to The star. +
NEW YORK, January 2S.-The
chanting wheels, the stamping belts,
tho squealing line shafts and clacking
looms Of the mills and factories Of
the United States are sounding q
louder and deeper note iR the SYM
phony Of bu1iness activity. Smoke is
belching In increased volume from the
stacks Of the industrial plants Of the
country and longer lines are forming
weekly at the pay windows.
This, added activity by manufac-
turing plants'is due not only to or. or.
knowledge that orders must be forth
coming later. Projects definitely an
nounced have made It sure tnat q
certain amount Of manufactured
products viii be used. in the next stx
months and the mills and iactorles s
needs. although In some instances the
definite orders have not been placed.
Many orders have been placed, how
ever, and the railroads, which are
among the largest buyers In the coun-
try. ARE IN the markst az adsin rsn.,r 1Sr
material. They are spending millions,
and II their buyinS has been close
and tight, it has been in big volume.
The buying power Of the farmer still
is extremely limited by the manufac-
turer, who is virtually carrying the
cures the money for his next summers
knows that the farmer must buy and
that he can and will pay when he re-
ceives the money for his produce.
Therefore. the manufacturer Is pro-
l~,tS o.. d. or
laying up stock for future business.
Metal Condition Improvea.
The basic conditions in the metal
ment. This trend is plainly shown In
dispatches from various manufacturing
centers within the last twenty-four
hours, and il noticeable in pig Iron,
steel insots, tin and copper.
Coal has shown more active ten-
dency than for some months. This has
been due not only to the cold weather
which has prevailed, but to the fact
that manufacturers are preparing for
any eventuallty which may come from
wage disputes in the local trade. Fae-
tory owners in general do not anticipate
any long .drawn-out coal strike. but they
feel that with business on the upward
path, they cannot afford to be held up
for q single day and are taking steps to
build up a reserve fuel supply In con-
sequence.
Buying Power Increases.
The purchasing power OF salarled peo-
pie IL increasing as moro workers are
workers are sharing directly in the
prosperity which is coming to employ
ers. The Endicott- johnson Shoe Com
pany announced today that $1,000. 900.
half the sum earned by the company
last year over dividends and taxes,
IN
$4,000 workers.
The sales already made by the
American woolen Company in lines
of fabrics for women's wear. which
were opened few days ago,
indicate that the company would sell
lotted to those lines can produce be-
fore next fall. 1t is probable that
orders win have to be prorated.
Retail clothing prices have dropped
~ per cent below the peak OF prices
IN 1890, according to fiEures of the
ton, and> reports from widely sep
arated sections indicate that the pub.
lie IL responding well to bargain In
ducements.
Lumber DemaAd Advances. -
Lumber is advancing in demand and
manufacturers are making strenuous
efforts to hold down prices for fear
that any radical increase will tend
to check buying and construction.
Leather is in great demand, both in
thisr8ountry and abroad, and tanners
hav Increased their output. Lower
pricB forecast for crude oil in somo
sections il having q tendency toward
restricting production.
The cold weather all over the coun-
try has been attended by an almost
universal increase In the price Of
eggs, but the prices Of -four and
bread show q tendency toward gem
orally lower levels. The cuts tn the
prices OF automobiles and tractors
manufactured by the Ford company
are keeping automobile manufactur.
ton is continuing at an increased
rate. The tire business 10 nearing