Evening star., 1923-05-02
PRICE OF ELECTRIC
: LIGHT GLOBES CUT
Action Expected to Boom
Sales All Over Country.
Business Briefs.
BY j. c. ROYLE.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. May 2.-The electric
lights which will glow all over the
United States are counted on to in
crease by at least 20 per cent in 1928.
an q result OF the 10 per cent reduc-
tion in the wholesale price of light
globes, which went into effect today.
Each of the two largest makers of
lamps made the reduction. The i'm
mediate effect of the price cut on re-
tail sales can only be estimated at
present, but in the past each reduc-
tfon In the cost of globes at whole
sale has been followed by an expan-
sion in electric installations and the
substitution OF new for used lamps.
The reduction, according to electric
supply men, was the direct result OF
the adoption of improved methods of
manufacture and the installat tion OF
labor-saving machinery in the fac
tories. Thus manufacturers have
been able to reduce the price of the
products in spite of the higher wage
level paid their employees and the up
ward tendency of the cost of raw ma
rerials.
Expect broader Market.
The percentage of hand labor neces-
sary in the production of lamps has
been reduced materially and costs Of
production have been lowered by IN
'reasing volume Of output. Makers
are seeking to increase volume OF
production still further through the
price reduction, working on the
Theory that lower prices will increase
the use Of lamps and open broader
markets.
The present output of one Of the
leading producers is about 25U,ooo.0Ue
ordinary lamps for house illumination
and 75,000.000 Of the miniature tari-
, aties. In addition about 50.O0o,O0o to
6O.000,000 special lamps are turned
out.
The normal increase in the use of
lamps since 1898, when the illumina- :
tions at the worlds fair at Chicago
gave the industry it's first real I'M
petus, has been about 1o per cent
year. Recently lamp makers have
been engaged in an educational cam
Daign devoted to showing the IN
creased efficiency following proper
lighting OF industrial plants, stores
and Offices.
STEADY Gains in Sales.
This has resulted in Increased sales
and the demand has been still further
strengthened ny the tremendous mum
bcr Of new homes built i'll the last
rear and equipped with large num-
hers of light sockets. Lamp Factories
now are running close to capacity and
are being taxed to meat prompt de-
liveries.
Improvement in demand for elec-
t,'ical household labor-SavinS devices
/, also has been extremely heavy this
spring. due in large part to the num-
berS of new dwellings constructed III
all sections. Manufacturers are
working at rate far in excess OF
1899 production schedules and orders
on their books are estimated aS over
80 per cent greater than at this time
laSt year me order for equipment
10 electrify Il part Of the trdckagt t
Of the Virginia railroad is expected
TO be followed By purchases by other
rarrierS whose plans for electrifica-
ton have long been held in allegiance
Sugar Speculation Checked.
There are evidences in the sugar
markets today that speculation has beer
materially rurtailed The majority OF
traders scout the idea of Decent
sugar and assert that operations for the
rise have about run their course. Oper-
ations for decline have been checked
by uncertainty AS to what effect govern
mental action will have on the markets
and the possible effect of a buyers boy
cott.
Sugar refiHers in the south sold enough
sugar to keep their plants running at
full speed for three or four weeks be-
fore agitation for boycott made any
impression on the futures market. Then
they reduced their prices IL cents a
hundred pounds, but are not expected 70
cut their figures much lower. The 1925
Louisiana crop of cane has been eX-
ceedingly backward, due to weather
conditions.