San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-26
Recent Advances Cause
Renewed Activity at
Mills.
TREND
South Concerned Over
:: Power Curtailment
Fes at Plants.
Nv Il. &. ROYLE,

New York, Sept. 2S.--The cotton
b;pindles of the United States are
twirling at an increased rat, as re-
suit Of the recent advance in the price
of raw cotton.
Resumption of full time operations
has taken place at practically every
textile plant in the South anC tend
ency toward expansion of production
in New England is clearly indicated.
Increased sales of cotton goods
have stimulated this activity.
Obviously the prices of the manu-
featured products are low in ratio TO
the cost of the raw staple.
There is slight possibility that they
will decline further.
Well informed merchants and dis
tributors predict rise in Gotten goods
prices which will affect directly or
Indirectly to some extent every inhabi-
tant of tins country and are laying
in stocks in preparation.
There was a steady decline IN the
sales of the New Bedford mills to fall
TO a short time ago.
These fell from above 100000 pieces
week last November TO less than
100000 pieces in May.
Production, viewer, slowed no
slackening until late in the spring
and the goods market, in consequence,
was heavily stocked.
Fine goods commenced 10 shew a
moderate expansion in the summer
but it was the coarse goods which
had felt the depression most severely.
FaIl River mills, which make a
speciality o. coarse goods, were dowi
to a production basis of less than
10000 pieces week in the SUMMER
months, but in the last few weeks a
decided recovery has set in, the esti-
mated sales last week totalling around
10000 pieces. an increaTe of 10000
above the preceding week.
Goods Prices Same.
The most significant fact, however,
is that although spot cotton is selling
about s cents a pound higher than a
-ssar ago and mill wages have -ad-
/ vanced Il IL per cent in that time in
New England, goods prices have pot
improved correspondingiys
In fact, during the summer manu-
factureis claimed that the cotton
goods market in general was on a
basis of 17-cent cotton, whereas the
price now is close to so cents.
The public has shown decided re-
sistance to price advances. but wheth-
err this resistance can hold down
prices Of cotton goods under present
conditions is question.
Many buyers do not believe 1t can
and the fact that mauy mills have
been inclined to withdraw goods from
the market while prices of cotton wert
advancing and now decline TO listen
to prices quoted a week ago is evil
depce of the strength o. this posi-
ton.
A more severe test will be given
however, when the present increase i'll
productions begins to be f.lly felt.
Dealers see an indication of an up
ward trend in the fact that the Amos
keag mills opened their gingham lines
for sIralg at the same prices named
a wear ago.
They sa., a reduction was regarded
as Inevitable in the trade un,I lately
Jobbers are understood TO have
placed considerable goods in advance
on that assumption.
Losses in such sales, however, have
been up in the rise in the valre of in
ventory brought about by maintenance
| OF the former prices.
Low Water a Factor.
In the south wore concern is ex
hibited as to whether the low water OF
the streams will permit furnishing suf
1,s.
pacity than in the trend of the mar
ket.
Ut is feared there may have TO be
& fationing of power such as prevailed
last fall in some states.
Disappointment over the fact that
Henry Ford did not take over the en-
. tire Muscles Shoals power project has
been counteracted by the sale by tho
War Department of the Gorgas steam
power plant to the Alabama Power
Company
1t is understood the Germany nlans
to use this as an auxiliary unit &c
supplement- the power ira SHIFTED ove'
their lines to the industries of the
Southeast, in just such emergencies as
exist.
The slump in raw cotton in mid
summer -orced southern mills to store
their products and considerable cur
tailment of production was forced.
These stocks have been moving rap
idly for the last ten days. however. ant
production has returned TO a high
level.
Profit margins are narrow at pres
ent prices for goods and few mills are
anxious TO commit themselves 10 con
tracts running far. into the future al
nrnsenf levnls