Evening star., 1923-07-13
SALES Of CHEWING
GUM BEST EVER
Record Half Year Reported.
New Ship Line Talked.
Other Business News.
BY j. c. ROYLE.

5pecldl Dispatch TO The Sta-.
NEW YORK. July 13.-The laws of
the gum chewers of America devsl-
oped more energy in the first half of
1928 than ever before This energy
mas developed an industry which is
returning millions of dollars annually
to those engaged in it.
William Wrigley. jr.. head of the
William Wrigley, jr.. Company said
today that the first half of 1923
showed the largest business in the
history OF his company for a similar
period Mr.. Wrigley declined to state
the number of packages sold during
the year so far. but they run far into
the millions.
b. II. Bramble. general manager of
the American Chicle Company. said
that the business of that company
was very substantially better for the
first half Of 1928 than it was for the
said period in 1922" Mr.. Bramble
explained that the gum business was
good throughout the entire country.
Prosperity throughout the United
way he explained it. have plenty Of
money in their pockets, and II S
natural for the gum business to be
good under these conditions"
the last year have resulted in a
largely increased trade in chicle. the
basis of chewing gum. Thousands
of additional chicleroS have been en-
Campeche and Quintana Roo, Mexico.
this year gathering this product,
which is produced from the sapote tree.
Prices now are quoted at 60 TO 40
cents pound and importauons are
heavier than ever before.
Ill
Steps are now being taken to or
ganize a ten million dollar cooper
ntive organization which Will either
build or purchase a fleet of ten re-
frigerator ships TO be used in trans
porting California fresh fruits and Vese-
tables to Atlantic and gulf port cities
The major part of the money to finance
this proposition already has been
pledged. according to reports from
San Francisco today.
The project was conceived after
the shipments of west coast South
American fruit to New York through
the Panama canal had proved feast
BILE. 1t is sponsored by Fred Bige-
low, chief of the California state
division of markets, and George
Hecke. California state director OF
agriculture. The plans as at present
outlined contemplate the acquisition
and commissioning of at least some
units of the fleet by January l.
Shipyards More Active.
The tremendous fruit crops and
prospects for large yields of grain in
the west which must be transported
to Europe already have had a stim-
ulating effect on ship repairs and
building on the Pacific coast. De-
mand for forgings for ships and for
sugar mills in Hawaii is so great as
to keep the production of the Pacific
Construction and Engineering Com
pany of Seattle at the peak. a. A.
Hilton. manager of the corporation
asserted today that output now was
above the war peak of November,
1918
we have about all we can do"
he added for we have orders for
heavy forgings for ships which will
keep our plant working at full ca
pacity for long time to come"
Iron Properties Reopened.
Iron mountain. in the Missouri
ozarks. which yielded millions of
tons of ore a half century ago, again
is being mined in the hope Of supply
Ing st. Louis steel mills with cheaper
and better ore than is obtainable from
Minnesota. Engineers say the mines
of Iron Mountain can be counted on
years.
The producing company is headed
by Leonard Busby. Chicago traction
maGnate, and the st. Louis Coke and
Iron Company has contracted Tor the
output. The ore. which runs about 5S
per cent iron, will be concentrated
before shipment to cut freight
charges.
building Projects Jump.
SAN FRANCISCO, July 13 (Spe-
ciaD.-Building projects started here
within the last month involve ex-
penditure of s4.213,346. a gain of
over s1.0O0.000 over last year. The
larger proportion of the new build
ings are, apartments and dwellings;
June post office receipts here totaled
1891. 1.6S2. a gain of approximately
$4,000 over June, 1922.
Build Houses for Employees.
POTOSI, Mo. July 13 (SpeciaD =
Delbridge Brothers. publishers, are
erecting 100 houses here for their
employees in addition to the build
ings for the publishing plant. Own
ership will be retained by the com
pany of these dwellings which will
rent for $3.50 month per room.
Terminal Nearly Done.
ST. PAUL. July 13 Especially. The
St. Paul Railroad. terminal with 500
cars a day capacity will be ready
for operation in the new Ford in
track to the first factory unit will
be completed September /.
Paving Charges Increased.
ST. LOUIS, July 13 (SpeciaD.-Bids
received for street paving and street
improvements in the last two weeks
averaged about 10 per cent above the
estimates made for the work