Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-10-17
BIG HAT DEMAND;
PR|CESADVANC|NC
Further Cuts in LoW-Pricec
Autos LikeIy-MetaI Mines
Speed Up.
BY J. C.. ROYLE.

special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. October 17-whateve:
the American man may have on hi
mind. he is determined to have his heat
adequately covered. Wisely he is at
tending to this at once. Hat sales toda,
are running from 10 to IS per cent il
excess Of those for the corresponding
period OF last year. Prices In some
grades have had an advance Of fully II
Of decided Importance to PRACTICAL,
every male citizen. Still greater in
creases are forecast in the more expen.
sive grades. The great volume of heat
coverings. however. have not yet reg.
istered important upward movements.
and caps in the middle west and south
west are enjoying a supernormal trade
Inc 10 per cent advance in that sec
tion. according to Geographic reports
from st. Louis. is reflex of the scare.
ity OF raw hat fur for felting. Price,
changed and wages. so the northwes
reports. are expected to remain at pres
ent levels
Steady Demand Seen.
In the south and west the immediat.
call Is for scratched or heckled fe.
doras. but throughout the entire coun.
try the big future orders are fol-
seiours. There is a scarcity and con.
sequent price advance in velour
bodies. Bargain buyers are swapping
up all the 1ow-priced offerings in the
wholesale markets. but immediate re.
tail sales indicate that the volume OF
business from Boston to the Pacific
coast will increase UP to January 1.
In the east sales are normal and
prices almost unchanged. but in the
northwest sales are running close Il
the high point Of 1920. In Philadel.
phfa, according 20 reports today, fac
tories are running 90 to 80 per cen;
tions that 1928 will show an addi-
tional increase of 20 per cent The
Stetson factory has just contracted
for four new buildings which will
permit increase of production. De
mand. in the middle Atlantic section
is turning toward the better grades.
Forty per cent OF one recent large
order from a corporation operating
chain of hat stores was for the high.
priced goods.
Attempts TO make sales from empt,
shelves are rapidly being abandoned
The extent to which hand-to-moutf
buying obtained in retail stores is H.
lustrated BY story told today by =
salesman. The he'd of a department
in big store complained to the mer
chandise manager he was losing man.
sales because he was short certain
sizes in belts.
We'll. you have plenty OF collars
haven't your" answered the manager
When they ask for belts. sell EN-
collars" Managers hs- f,anv
come convinced that II cannot be-
done, and. as a consequence. buyer,
the country over are increasing
stocks to point NOT eQualed in the
last three years.
The announcement of a cut of IS,
In Ford cars. with the exception q
-
among automobile manufacturers to-
day, although IL was not unexpected
in view of the increase in employ.
ment and expansion of productior
schedules previously announced IL
this column. Announcement of PLAN
of other low-priced car manufactur
e-s to meet this cut is eagerl,
awaited.
The metal mines are pushing pro.
duction to the utmost. The cause Of
this activity and the reason for the
recent wage advances of so cents 9
day In some of the Michigan copper
mines is shown by estimates compiled
today. indicating that the consump.
ton Of copper in building operations
this year will reach 100000
pounds.
Present stocks of zinc on hand will
suffice for only TWO wee = AZ urese;
rates of consumption. The order Of
the St. Louis and San Francisco rail.
road for $500 freight cars and thirty.
five locomotives is Indicative of the
tremendous volume of railroad equip.
Ypenf hnyipR nnU nnder