Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-05-19
LATE SPR|nG,b|G
; BLOW TO TRADE
Brides and Graduates Help.
! ing to Make Up Losses.
Other Business Notes.
ny J. c. ROYLE.


NEW YORK, May 19.-The crop OF
June brides and sweet girl gradu-
ates can be depended on with almost
absolute certainty. according to exc
cutives Of large department stores
here today. The prospective brides
and graduates are off-setting the
check to retail buying which Is gen
eral in nearly every section of the
United States.
They are factors in the trade VOL
ume not only of dry goods. clothing
and shoe dealers, but in the business
of watchmakers and jewellers. Some
idea of the volume of trade attri-
butable to them alone may be found
in the fact that over 100000 wed
ding wells, each containing from two
To five yards of materials, are pur-
chased in this country every year
Buying of trousseau graduation out
fits and presents is in full swing to-
day and is making up materially for
trade lost through thelate spring.
good portion Of the business wnicn
failed to materialize because or un-
seasonable weather in the last two
months never will be regained. how
ever. Trade leaders estimate that the
cold and storms have reduced the
volume of spring goods sales ~ per
cred for April and May sales are
still on the shelves while orders
placed for June sales are continu-
ing to pour In. Buying at wno!e-
sale has been so well judged, how
ever. that stocks will not become ex-
tremely large.
In wholesale lines there is decided
Improvement in the demand for cot
ton and silk sport dresses.
Grocery Business on Stable Basis.
Grocers from all over the country.
gathered in convention at st. Louis.
asserted today that their business
now was stabilized on a profitable
basis for the first time in three years.
They declared that in spite OF the
fact that there have been twice as
many declines in prices of various
lines as there have been advances IN
the last ninety days, and notwith-
standing that the trade is operating
on a declining market. sales show
the largest net profit in years They
attribute the Improvement in bust
ness to the wide general employment
prevailing in this country.
Copper Expected to Advance.
Buying of copper. which has been
at low ebb both for export and for
domestic consumption. Is showing
signs of renewed life. and slightly
quarters. Production, although ad-
varcing steadily, is still far below
mine capacity. Confidence in the stu
alton on the part of mine operators
is indicated by the equipment orders
being placed by some of the large
properties.
The future Of silver. however. is
less bright. as the amount to be
purchased by the director of the
mint at 81 an ounce under the Pitt
man act is extremely small and such
purchases probably will be com
pleted within the next three weeks.
Wool Mt New Hish Figures.
Wool prices. both in Texas and in
the northwest, reached new high fig
TRES for the yehr in the last week
Much of the buying on the ranges
continues to be done by the manu-
facturers. who are eliminating the
calculations.
The English wooden trade is ex
hibiting some trepidation over TIE
fact that America is sending Brad
ford some of the South American
woods bought early in the season by
pering through Americas business
activity, however. for the exports of
wooden goods ard linens from Great
Britain at present are about 40 per
cent heavier than at this time last
year.
Silk Prices Drop Sharply.
Continued reduction of prices in
tie Yokohama raw silk market have
at last been successful in reyiving
buying there. The movement has
been followed by a lowering of prices
As cents pound below the high
OF the wear