Evening star., 1922-02-18
BY J. G. R0YLE.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, February 1S.-The
wireless antennae of business have
picked q message out Of the air in
the last few days. It. was not a
message Of distress. but a message
Of assurance. 1t told Of increased
buying power not only in the United
States, but all over the world. That
knowledge Of increased abilitt to
buy and to pay, has spurred manu-
facturers to increased output in q
score Of lines.
Business enterprises which had
started the new year with $he deter
minaion to go slow, to restrict pro-
duction and to sell their goods
before they made them. are
| revising their schedules Of pro-
duction More men are being EN-
the country. machines are being
speeded up and preparations are be-
ing made, not to meet the demand
Of the moment. but the demand of
Far-sighted business men declare
that the increased demand is com
ing. They know that this revival Of
buying will not wait; that II they are
not prepared to take advantage OF 1t
| when it arrives q competitor will
snatch both business and profits, and
| they are making their preparations
| accordingly.
Evidences Of QufckeninE.
The message Of Increased buying
power has been widespread in its ef;
feet. Increased prices for agricultural
products are putting the farmer back
into the list Of favored customers
Money is easier throughout the coun.
try, old debts are being wiped out and
| NYodifa afTAnRth6ned,
Freight trafiio is increasing steadily
The call Is going out for raw ma
terials and railroads are increasing
their preparations to handle them.
The business skies. however. are not
entirely cloudless. Wage disputes still
are casting q shadow over some in
dustries. although in the main en-
ployers and emplov.s are getting
strength Of Improved conditions. in.
deed, Is we'll shown. o. the fact that
these disturbances have had such
minor effect on the genera! situation
Tho strike in the cotton mills OF part
toward to @ settlement, but this has NOT
| served to retard the advance In raw
tcotton or to affect materially the
prices Of cotton goods.
Ad1ustment Of Wages.
The coaf strike still Is probability
for next April. but consumers are
| dfm IN the 0ello1 luhL 6uCn y SITlAo
| would not be of long duration and
| that sufficient mines would operate to
| avoid serious shortage. Proposals OF
| the employers in the garment trades
| in three large centers to cut wages
| and increase working hours Is being
| closely watched, but 1t has not served
| to check the advance In raw wool
! prices or the demand for Woolen
goods. The building trades IN hun
dreds OF communities are adjusting
wages to meet preeent-day conditions
| and gradual stabilization OF prices OF
| materials gives promise OF q boom
| in building. such as this country
| has not seen for years.
Wholesale trade In dry goods u &C
| tive throuRhout nearly every section.
| Retailers. have cleaned their shelves
| and. are in the market for new stocks
| This trend 10 indicated plainly by the
| heavy increase in express shipments
| Spring goods are in demand ana buy
.ers are fiocking to market.
Steel Plants Busy.
Steel plants are not only increasing
production. but are planning ahead.
Coke prices have shown armer
tendency in consequence. The furni-
ture factories in many sections have
enough orders to run on their present
| schedules for from two to six months
II no new business were secured. Re-
tail furniture sales have been very sat
isfactory.