The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-06-05
BOSTON.

Boston, June 5.-There has been
q slowing up in the last few days
in some lines, notably textiles and
shoes. and slightly smaller sales
among the retail stores but this is
largely seasonal. Industrial con-
ditions in general in New England
continue to show slow but steady
Improvement. Building operations
have gained momentum and there
is constant activity in the metal
trades which were sluggish for
months. There are more factors
pointing to improvement than to
reaction, according to the foremost
bankers here. They consider that
the reduction of freight rates is
bound to have a stimulating effect
for New England pays heavy toll to
the railroads, although its influence
has not yet begun to make itself
felt.
The factor to break the textile
strike in New Hampshire was made
today and the number of emplayes
who returned who under the 20
per cent reduction will have great
effect on the strike situation. The
reports to the federal reserve bank
of Boston show that department
stores here did the largest business
in their history in April and that
this month was the largest spring
month in point of sales ever known
here.
SAN FRANCISCO.
San Francisco, June 5.-The
building boom continues unchecked,
although there is a small hating
in some lines of retail trade. Build
ing permits for the year in San
Francisco up to June l involved
the expenditure of $4,000 900 which
is only S2,000,000 spent in con-
struction here for the year of 1921.
Similar conditions prevail in other
cities.
A survey of the fruit crop con-
ditions by representatives of the
various shipping associations has
brought forth the prediction that
shipments for the year will score
a new record. Frost damage in the
decidous fruits has proved TO be
less extensive than was expected
in the case of apricots.
Wilmer Zeig, manager OF the
California Fruit Distributors, esti-
mates that fruit shipments will to-
tai $4,000 cars as against 72,400
last year. The largest yield it is
predicted. will be in grapes. April
cots and cherries will be Hight.
Sales Of prunes are reported at SIS
cents a pound bulk basis, for equal
quantities of 40's and 70's for ship
ment during September and Octo-
Der. Operators estimate the prune
yield Of the Santa Clara valley at
10000 900 pounds and the crop for
the entire state at It's, 100000
pounds.
Growers predict one of the larg-
est crops of walnuts on record,
but it is somewhat early in the sea-
son to estimate with accuracy.
Lower prices are expected.
FORT WORTH.
Fort Worth. Texas, June 5.-An-
other week Of sunshine will pu,
west Texas in the best condition il
has known since 1919, according to
bankers and officials of the federal
reserve bank Buying by merchants
has begun to approach normal again
and retail stores are beginning to
make preparations for a big half
year. Bank loans have decreased
and an influx of new money will
come pouring in this month with
the marketing of oats and wheat.
The oats crop is bountiful.
Elsewhere in Texas conditions
are not so propitious, although a
gradual recovery from the effects
of the floods are apparent. How
ever the losses in many sections
will far exceed the returns from
crops no matter how bountiful. the
latter may be.
Retail trade in furniture, farm
implements. hardware and building
materials throughout Texas, show.
ed an increase in both April and
! May over the earlier months O!
( the year. There was slight
shrinkage in other retail lines
Building operations continue to ex-
pand with Increased demand fol
cement and lumber.
Green bugs and black rust are
making the wheat farmers in some
! sections panicky. Rust appeared
last week in Denton and Tarrantio
counties. The cotton crop condi-
ton is about 65 per cent of normal
for the entire state. Union machin-
lists in this section have voted to
accept wage reduction of IS cents
an hour.