The New York herald., 1922-05-01
Worsteds Show Best Improve
ment i'm q Week Of Gradual
Gains in Many Lines.
WOOLEN PRICES HIGHER
General Situation Irregular,
but Foreign Volume Con-
tinues to Grow.

kets, particularly in worsteds the re-
tention of early advances made by print
cloths and sheetings, a broadening in
quiry for cotton yarns and greater in
terest in wash goods. ginghams, linens
and silks.
| OF the factors mentioned, perhaps the
most significant was the consistent i'm
provement in worsteds. The squirt, small
as it was, stood out In sharp relief
against lassitude which has prevailed
for months. Mill stocks were reported
at rock bottom and accumulation at a
minimum. II the Improvement con-
tlnues there is little doubt that by fall
worsteds will be in a decidedly strong
position.
/ Other classes OF wooden goods also
showed steady gains Trading In gen.
cral was more active. the carpet trade
| coming in for large commitments. The
rise in prices. initiated by tho American
Wooen Company, was followed during
the week by similar announcements from
other manufacturers and agents. A
Western mill sent notice of a rise OF
10 cents a yard on mems wear serges.
Unfinished Cloths Better.
/ In the unfinished cotton cloth market
! the trend of trading continued upward,
but in the finished cloth division the
| improvement was less noticeable. Cur
! tailed production. amounting to slightly
more than 200,000,000 yards. probably
was factor making for q stronger
primary market, but was not reflected
in increased prices in finished goods.
Mills are well sold UP In the domestic
trade for the next two months, but very
little export trade is noted.
The state Of mind of cotton jobbers
and merchants is uncertain, as mani
| tested in the light movement or sea-
| sonal dress and garment fabrics. Print
cloths and sheetings were the strong
est Individual items in this market for
the week. Sales were active and prices
were we'll maintained. Fall River sales
were estimated at 100000 pieces.
The raw silk market again displayed
firmness. and, while prices made no ad-
vance, there was little. inclination evil
denced TO make concessions. Some OF
the best sorts were reported as low IN
stock. The present inactivity OF rib
bon trades has had little effect on the
attitude OF sellers, much of the unused
stock of these factors being readily ap-
sorbed by the hosiery trade. Crepe
weavcs were reported the most active
sellers
Delay on Tariff BiII Looms.
Little was heard in the trade with re-
spcct to the tariff and this was gem
orally reflected in the attitude shown py
! Senators toward the bill. Debate on the
measure got under way on Monday and
continued after fashion throughout
1 the week. The carly enthusiasm shown
ly the senate members to rush the Dill
to passage apparently was lost by the
wayside as tho week progressed ana IL
/ INtl iy1 hn
over until fall.
The Senate subcommittee IN charge
Of the dye investigation practically
ended its hearings on Thursday and
I Chairman Shortrdge announced that
| the committee would confer with the
Secretary of State this week TO discuss
the situation. II is probable that legis-
I latfon will be enacted designating some
agency to import the dyes and insure
receipt by consumers in this country.
Developments in the mill strike CEN
ters were of negligible character.
Practically the only new phase was the
announcement made at the United Tex
tile Workers headquarters in Pawtucket
| on Friday that striking operatives of the
Berkeley, Lonsdale and Ashtown mills
of the Goddard interests would meet Of
ficlals OF the company to-day 10 confer
on tho strike situation. Bomb throwing
featured the picketlng by strikers and
clashes between the Sheriffs and the
workers were frequent.
Fall River and New Bedford are cur
failing a great deal, and meanwhile the
lost production is steadily mounting and
idleness increasing. The garment situ-
alton is still hanging fire. but II is now
definitely decided that there will be no
renewal of tho existing agreement
-.r n
Unusual interest was shown in the
clothing situation following the starting
out on the road of tho various statesmen
with their fall sample lines Tho fact
that woolens have been advanced has
made the trade anxious TO receive re-
ports on TIE consumer attitude concern
ing prices Naturally clothing manu-
facturers do not relish the advances, II
being their assertion that mills are show
ing poor judgment in making increases
when the public has shown disapproval
Of paying higher prices for finished
goods.
Early reports from statesmen, how
ever Indicate that business Is better
than was expected. particularly In the
fall overcoating lines. Rochester cloth
iers have opened the lines at reduced
prices and are doing a lucrative busi-
ness. Both mems fabric departments
ana wolncn'S wear DIVISIONS are holding
up their ends with enthusiasm. The
tweed outlook continues TO form n frc-
quent topic of conversation. and TO date !
the proponents of this fabric have the
better Of the argument
Trade reviews report the general |
business situation continuing irregular |
but still showing improvement Brad
streets report more optimistic tone |
in the jobbing trades. mail order houses |
are moving more goods and collections |
make the best showing since last fall |
Dun's Revieto emphasizes the better re-
tail turnover despite weather draw |
backs and claims that the low oondl- |
ton OF merchandise stocks is an en- |
coura ging feature. Against the favor |
able phases of the business there are
tho strikes in the coal fields and in
New England textile centers.
Foreign Trade Improves.
Government statistics for March show
an upward tendency In American for
eign trade. particularly in textiles. Ex-
ports OF all textiles from the United
states during March are valued at s59.- !
i65, ,59i as compared with exports valued |
at S39, 76i for tho same month in 1921. |
Particularly noticeable Is the increase |
in export OF silk dresses. blousos and
skirts, the figure in March being double |
what 1t was at the beginning OF the |
year.