Evening star., 1922-11-24
CHRISTMAS TREE
COSTS MAY GOUP
Shortage of Freight Cars and
Labor Likely to Boost
Retail Prices.
II. }. &. ROYLE.

Special pi>rlt'h to The Star.
NEW YORK November 24.--What-
nvrr decorations are hung on Christmas
rrccS this; year, blame for the cost of
he trees themselves will be hung on the
.i.rt.,rc of labor and the lack of rail-
load Equipment.
rns first shipments of Christmas
'rrrS began to arrive i'll the big markets
1T tie country today and other saplings
y" lu transit, but it Will he some time
before sufficient to supply the total de-
llJHi are in the hands OF retail dealers.
TIL" trees. which will go into the
homes in the larger cities have been
rut 'ur three weeks at least The sup
plying of the holiday market no longer
left To individual farmers or woods
,,l"n. hut has been taken over in many
sections by large companies. These
on"arnS organize their own gangs of
wori,Hsn, and cut over the farms and
h-uds of various owners to whom they
pay Il royalty for each Christmas tree
ut.
cutting Is More Expensive.
The larger part of this work is done
III September and October. Usually the
arm hands. released from work in the
a.lTN ST fields. ;,r" available but this
YEAR the Shortage OF labor has been
sltCh that 1he companies Were compelled
P" recruit workers III the cities and pay
arg transportation charges to get
Ill. 3G :" tie S.'@ue of their iahorS.
'rra trees ar" bound in bundles of
'fr'ia tw" To six. according TO size
..'i't usually are shipped on fiat cars.
Tt'' f"ar he companies have been
.'."'', HID ~ utilize box ears or any
p'!ir- stock available. with the re
nit that transportation not only has
.,."u slow. but has been more eX-
g"usiy".
Higher Prices Likely.
Tin" larger portion of the supply for
\'W York ana the Atlantic cities will
'u'." from Canada this year. al
'H"ii-i portion Of the trees Will be
shipped from Vermont. Normally the
trees are cut i'm New E.nslanI, but
N '''rHar@" caused by the presence
cT gSI~E moth on the New England
trees las prevented shipping the
'olIu- !ur> out Of a ma ajority of the
N,w l.r%lana states.
-Nlj "f these factors indicate some
what higher prices for trees this year.
-''H"u-h the advance proha bly, Will
u"t br excessive + shipments can
reach h. markets in time. Last year
t''' ,r''N S.'ht L. retailers at the open
''.-c 81 the season at from So to Sat
na'l advanced /" $3.50 to $4.5o per
bundle.
Other Trade Activities.
Tho Atlantic. coast c~UtcrS are I,ur-
chasing '.rv-on pickles for the first
;lr!,. Tet carloads of pickles started
t"r hh.IIieipiii;t from Portland this
sv"'.N and eight carloads have been
NJ! for delivery in NrW York. There
i.d< been Il bumper crop of cucIm hcrS
s. Oregon and Washington. While in
'En1E 'i'Irr sections "f the country
H' :" is an acut" shortage.
IN" activity Of nufacturerS and
dealers in work Ct"thing is a promi-
r"Ut feature of the mercla ndis,ug &
SITUATION ju'ia.. Demand for work =
M garments is pressing and dealers
.p~" making commitments extending
"r'l iu'" next spring.
Eun~r.fi.I,tiou of eI,ctric current all
ny.? ri- country is increasing and
furf her Indication nj Industrial actjv-
irv is ~-e't in large sales of betting.
;r."Et,--- and other mill and factory
S'ilt,. -.