The Washington times., 1923-02-23
PRODUCTION Is
/. HIGH DURING
JANUARY
Commodity Output Is Largest
Since 1920. With Increased
Sales.
By HARRY GUsACK.

Reports received by the Depart.
ment Of Commerce during the past
few days continue to show very
large productive activity for Janu,
airy, with new high records made
in many cases for the first month
Of the present year.
Cotton goods, pig iron, steel
ingots, locomotives, zinc. bitutninous
coal, and flooring are among the
basic commodities whose January
production figures show. the largest
output since the boom period of
1890. Sales and untitled orders
show the same upward trend. espe-
cially in metals and building mate
rails. The large car loadings and
eeasonaIly high retail sales, as well
as the general depletion. Of manu-
facturers' stocks, indicate that the
goods produced are quickly pass
ing into consumption. -.
Wholesale prices as a. whole
showed no. change in January but
farm products declined, while other
groups rose. The present increase
IA productivity has thus far been
differentiated from the 1919 boom
by the relatively. small expansion
of commercial credit and the: rela.
lively gradual increase in prices.
The price increase during 1922
amounted to less than, half of the
increases In wholesale prices during
1919.
Cotton consumption by textile
mills In January was the third
largest In our history tofaltng &c.
875 bales. Wool treeeipts at Boston
were very heavy IN January, with
foreign wool receipts the highest
since April. 1921. silk consumption
Increased to 80 $50 bales, while
stocks; declined from the December
high mark.
Shipments Of locomotives from
factories were the largest since Jan
nary. 1921. and untitled orders were
the highest, on record at 1,7SS
locomotives.
Car Loadings Drop.
Severe weather conditions are re-
Elected in the weeks statement Of
car loading, but nevertheless they
continue at the highest point. for
this season OF the year on record.
During the week ended February 10
there were loaded S53, 2S9 cars Of
revenue freight, the latest report
by the car service division of the
American Railway Association
shows.
Total loadings were 1885 less
than for the previous week. The
increase over the corresponding
week Of 1922 was l73,498 cars, and
over 1924 it was 169, 422, cars.
Loadings Of merchandise and
miscellaneous freight. which in
cludes manufactured products, total
under the week before, but an in
crease of 62,279 cars over the cor
responding week last year and sc, 042
over the same week of 1921.
Grain Laadings Lower.
Loading of grain and grain pro
ducts We're 1888, cars, a decrease
of 1877 cars under the week before
and of 1900. cars under the same
week of last year, but TAT cars
over the same week of 1921.
Live stock loadings totaled 3d.
277 cars, 1898 less than during the
pFeceulnS week.. lney were, now
ever. 2.476 cars more than the
same week Of 1922 and 1894 above
the corresponding week In 1921.
Coal loadings totaled 190, $50 cars.
1,O87 above the week before, but
1929 below the corresponding week
last year. They were 38s2gs cars
more than the same week OF 1921.
Loadings of forest products filled
64,310 cars, 5,457 below the previous
week. but 1876 cars greater than
the same week last year and IL ITS
over the same week two years
ago. -. =
Coke 1oadings totaled 1t, 1888 cars,
$50 above the week before, 1857
more than the same week Of last
year and $3.50 over the correspond
ing week of 1921,