The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-16
PLACING OF MORE
 ORDERS SERVE TO STEADY DRY GOODS
Mills Are Advised to Sell Free ly-lndex Number Ad-
 Vances Again


 ton cloth markets. There have beer number of inquiries out, and it Is believed that several of the large factories are watching an opportuni- ty to cover part of anticipated re- quirements for the carly summer. Nc general trade IS looked for however and the cotton market could spoil the whole outlook. for the present
 Information during the past week hinted of several sizable operations that had been put through quietly Otherwise. business has compri S ed mostly small lots, which have been numerous and aggregated impress sively.
 In some sections of the New York market real buying wave is ex- pected. In view of this. some ot the most important sellers are eau tioning the mills. for which they act not to expect too much in the way of prices. The advice to the manu- faeturers being given, it is under stood, is that they should sell freely at the going prices instead of fol lowing the customary practice of selling up a certain portion of their future productions and then with drawing from the market and hold ing for higher prices.
 The sentiment expressed by one finished goods factor is indicative
 
 regard the market.
 T would not dare sell cotton short he said, and yet l haven't the courage to buy. Every week We say that the tremendous rate of con sumption cannot continue-and Yc; each week shows an increase. Sta tistically the position of raw cotton has been getting stronger each week, the drawback is the uncer- talnty of the likely effect of the new crop-and when that effect will be felt"
 In the meantime, cotton receipts at the five principal New England mill centers during March, it is re- ported, totalled 119.S57 bales, or close to the average for the same period of the last five years. The figures for that month was exceeded only once before in five years, dur ing March. 1920. when the total re- ceived was 127,70o bales. In March 1921, the aggregate of receipts was 117,757, and in March, 1919, 55,964 bales.
 Comparison of March. 1923, with March, 1922, would be of no particu- lar significance as at this time las, year the paralyzing effects of the mill strike were being felt in all Bedford and Fall River. As mat ter of record the March. 1922 re- ceipts totaled 57,775 bales.
 Considering the additional number of working days in March, as against February. comparison of the two months would indicate that the av craze per diem receipts last month were slightly below the previous month. The February receipts were 117,1S1 bales, while the March re- ceipts were larger by 'only 2676.
 There has been no particular trend in the gray cloth markets during the past week. Print cloths have held very well, considering the lack of in terest. The trade has been watching carefully, believing that several of the large operators would be in the market before long. However, the tendency to watch cotton a little longer (and hope that perhaps it will be possible to buy print cloths at a from coming in.
 The higher count cloths, such as S0xS0, 400 yards to the pound, have been practically dead. The trade seems to have dropped off to the lower counts for substitutes, with the result that the so square is today low in proportion with it's relative numbers.
 The sheeting market has been very quiet. Certain constructions have been rather easy, with prices de- pendent upon bids. The sheeting market is suffering from the lack of export business and also by the fail ure of the bag manufacturers. who are large users of these goods, to purchase. As far as the jobbers are concerned, they have been able to get along with handto mouth oper- ating.
 Pajama checks for the underwear Ii. another class of merchandise which Is on the poundage basis that is low when compared with it's relative con structions, but attracts no interest by this fact.
 Clothing goods have held fairly firm. There have been one or two instances of slight shading. but these have held firm and the quantities offered by second hands for release have been rather limited.
 There has been but little interest in fine combed cloths particularly in the plain goods. Reports tell of more trading in novelty underwear cloths Silk and cottons have been very quiet.
 Finished goods trade generally has been seasonably quiet. Most mer- chants report a good average for the first quarter of the year and the trade now seems content to walt and watch for further developments in cotton.
 One of the quietest branches of the market has been that of bleache ed muslins. While prices on these goods have been considered rather low, as compared with their gray cloth basis, there has been very little interest shown by the jobbing trade. In printed percales there has been steady business. largely for filling in. However, 1t is understood that many jobbers still have been coming out in this class of merchandise, buyers have been taking on trial quantities running into five to twenty five cases, depending upon the jobber.
 New lines of cretonne have been opened. and there are several others to come. The current policy has been to work in some Egyptian ideas in connection with the use of other pat terms.
 Colors are strong. although there is very little heard in the work shirt chambrays. Denims continue to be held at high prices in second hands.
 O o O
 Index Number-1S.196.
 The advance in bleached wide