Evening star., 1923-07-03
SCHOOLBOYS RUSH
TO WORK IN MILLS
Get Better Pay in 0veraIIs
Than on White Collar Jobs
in Offices.
BY j. C. ROYLE.
Special Dispatch to The star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, July 3.-The lure OF
the dollar is becoming stronger than
the lure of the white collar to the
high school and college boys of the
United States. More high school and
college youths will go to work I'm
overalls Thursday morning than ever
before in the Industrial history Of
this country.
Prospective pay envelopes are SO
large In the mills and factories that
they outweigh any fear the modern
youngster may have, even of twelve
hour days and dirty hands. The steel
plants are drawing hundreds OF boys
who normally would seek office jobs
now that they are through their
school year. But there is an over
abundance Of white collar workers.
while there are plenty of overall
jobs paying from IS to S12 q day.
Factory and mill production will
be cut down this week not only by
the lay-offs incident to the national
holiday, but to the fact that many
plants will seize this opportunity
at the opening of the second half
year to take inventories. and make
plant alterations and repairs.
Metal Mines Curtaii Operations.
The tendency toward keeping
plants closed for some time is espe-
cially noticeable in the non-ferrous
metal mines. Prices for lead zince
and copper all are low and mine own
ers have already shown an inclina-
ton to reduce output. In that re-
spect they differ from the oil opera
tors who have not been able TO bring
themselves to cut production in many
districts, although repeated warnings
nave been given that continued over
production can not but result in still
lower prices.
One bright spot in the situation
surrounding agricultural products Is
the apparent willingness of Japanese
buyers to take new crop -four for
early delivery. The prices the orien-
tails are willing to pay are not high,
but they are based on prices of IS to
80 cents bushel at country's points.
Forage Short i'm Some Sections.
part of the southwest today is
racing feed shortage and this may
prove sufficient to bring the hay crop
to a dangerously low point. In Ar
kansas less acreage has been planted
to feed crops there than for many
years. Strong efforts are being made
to induce farmers to plant cowpeas, su-
dan grass, sorghum seed. Spanish pea
nuts. soy beans and sweet potatoes on
land where cotton will not make a
stand or which was flooded earlier
this year.
Merchants throughout the south
west are aiding this campaign
through their statesmen. who are dis
tributing circulars in all the towns
they visit Bankers and civic bodies
are aiding farmers TO buy seeds for
such feed crops in Memphis. St. Louis,
Texarkana and other markets.
Jewelry Sales Improving.
Continued Improvement of general
conditions throughout the west was
forecast today by Joseph Mayer Of
Seattle, president of Joseph Mayer,
inc. manufacturers Of jewelry, silver
ware and clocks.
up to this time" he said, "our
business since January / has been
80 per cent greater than for the cor
responding period of 1922. Business
shows n big improvement in the mill
towns and lumber districts of Wash
ington and Oregon. Our sales have
been lighter in Montana and Idaho,
but in California they have been most
satisfactory"
Box Shortage Predicted.
Indication of the extent of the fruit
crops of the west Is found in the
statement of G. E. Robertson, vice
president of the Multnomah Box and
Lumber Company of Portland, who de-
clared today there was every indica-
tion of a box shortage this year
Orders from all sections are from 90
to 20 per cent heavier than in 1922"
he said.