davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-09-08

A bouffant gown of cerise georg-
cite is trimmed with ribbons Of Alice
blue satin.
Evening star., 1923-12-31
COTTON GOODS

The line of demarcation between a
profitable and profitless season in
the cotton goods business seems to
have been a geographical one. The
rise in the price of cotton was not re-
fiected in corresponding rise in cot
ton goods. Manufacturers seemed
unanimous in their fear of buyer re-
sistance to increased goods prices.
Under these conditions the southern
mills had an advantage over New
England in nearness to source of sup
ply, cheapness of labor and cheaper
power.
In consequence, the southern mills
were heavily engaged throughout
most of the year and most of them
announced satisfactory profits as the
period closed. In New England some
mills continued to operate at profit
on certain lines, while others cur
tailed production and declared they
ran only to keep their organizations
intact.
Ginghams suffered most. The pro-
duction of this line in 1922 yielded
large returns, but in 1923 the public
taste turned to other fabrics and
the market at prices which high raw
cotton demanded. The trend of profits
was amply evidenced by the move
many New England textile concerns
made to acquire or build mills in the
south. Textile machinery was in
active demand for southern mill ex-
pansion.
There is every indication, manufac-
turers state, that with cotton at it's
present figure increased prices for
goods must follow. Some lines al
ready have been advanced, but when
a further move in this direction will
make it's appearance will not be
known until buyer resistance has
been tried out.
Evening star., 1923-12-31
DRY GOODS

The dry goods industry had the
time of it's life in 1923 shivering and
being afraid. The industry talked
continuously of buyers strike,
which would resist all attempts to
advance prices in consonance with
the rise in raw commodity rates.
Nothing of the sort happened.
Cotton advanced materially and
cotton goods advanced with 1t al
though not in the same ratio. No
buyers strike developed.
The silk market for finished prod
ucts were dull and 1t was feared they
would not respond to advances incl
dent to the Japanese earthquake. In
effect, the demand for SILK goods in
creased in proportion to the diffic ulty
with which these goods were pro-
duced
The wooden goods markets were
carefully held down to the lowest
point compatible with operation of
mills at a profit and the gods mar
ket was fairly satisfactory except to
those who failed to recognize Its
trend.
The latter months of the year
showed an increase of IL per cent in
the countrywide sale of dry goods as
compared with the corresponding
period of 1922 and many of the large
companies. including the mail order
houses. hung up records for sales in
these lines in the fall and winter.
Evening star., 1923-12-31
FRUIT CROPS

There were some tremendous fruit
crops throughout the country IN
1928. The returns from these bump
er crops, however. were counteract-
ed in certain varieties by low prices.
This was especially the case In
apples. The production in the Pa
cifio northwest was especially heavy
and prices correspondingly low. For
a time, there was an excellent de.
mand from England, but this market
was gobbled up by producers along
the Atlantic seaboard, who conse-
quently did fairly well on the season:
In some sections of the middle west
the fruit was allowed to rot or was
fed to hogs
Apricots. peaches and grapes also
suffered in some sections from low
prices In the east the peach grow
ers did well, but In California low
prices were obtained.
will be approximately 22,500, ,00o
boxes including grapefruit. As a
whole, the crop is of fair quality.
The Florida crop also is expected to
be of record proportions and OF
splendid quality. Prices in Califor-
mia are approximately 81 q case low
er than year ago. The Louisiana
orange crop was advantageously
marketed in general and the grape
fruit production along the Rio
Grande brought good prices.
The California lemon crop is the
Evening star., 1923-12-31
CLOTHING

The remarkable thing about clothing
prices during the year were that they
were maintained at so low a level.
The industry was singularly unaffected
by labor troubles, but in spite of that
fact the scale of wages was high. Raw
materials increased in price. Yet cloth
ing prices in both mems and women's
wear showed only the most moderate
advances.
This was due, in chief, to the deter
mined efforts of manufacturers to re-
duce manufacturing and selling costs.
Rents were cut down, space was con-
served and the efficiency of office and
sales forces was materially increased.
These betterments enabled the retailers
to sell clothing at only an insignificant
advance in prices. Part of the saving
was due to the effort made to obviate
the necessity of alterations. 1t was de-
termined that retailers would gauge
more accurately the standard measure
ments of the customers in their sec
tions and this enabled the manufacture
ers to so stabilize style that expensive
alterations were cut down.
Overcoats We're the feature Of the
mems clothing trade for the year. This
Is attributed in part to the increased
use of the automobile and to the fact
that the soft materials, not guaranteed
to give extended service, came into wide
The light-weight season of the year
gave promise that the tropicais In
1924 again will furnish a post to
which botn manufacturers and re-
tailers can tie with the certainty
that the profit feed bag will shortly
be tied on.
The National Retail Clothiers' AS
sociation has determined to make an
organized effort to prune overhead
costs both in interests of their own
profits and of lower prices to con-
sumers.
Evening star., 1923-12-31
ELECTRICAL

The electrical equipment manufac-
turers not only were forced to run at
capacity throughout the greater por-
ton of 1923, but they have sufficient
orders on their books to keep Them
going at a similar rate at least until
the middle of 1924. The year for deal
ers and manufacturers has been one
OF tremendous activity and prosper
ity.
Demand for heavy machinery has
been unprecedented. Development or
has been on a tremendous scale ana
gives no intimation that 1t will not
continue. Textile mill expansion in
the south has taxed factories to sup
ply equipment. The Japanese disas-
ter has resulted in large orders Tor
rehabilitation of industries in that
country. The prospective demand
from Germany and Italy Is great and
the programs of the public utility
companies gives assurance of another
banner year for makers.
The building boom of 1928 has
stimulated manufacture of lighting
equipment and sales of household
appliances The radio equipmen
business has progressed faster than
even the most optimistic predicted.
This latter movement has been AIDED
by lower prices, improved products
and greater broadcasting efforts.
The three largest manufacturers-
General Electric. Western Electric
and Westinghouse-toge booked
S576,262,404 worth of business in the
first three-quarters of the year. Or
ders for the last quarter are known
to have been on an equally broad
scale. These figures indicate a gain
of over 40 per cent for the year, as
compared with 1922.
New building has brought nun
ers to the light and telephone COM
panies, and each of these new in
stallations has meant more work for
the equipment companies.
Evening star., 1923-12-31
HATS

There never was a year in the his
tory Of tho hat industry which show
ed less variation and seasonal slump
between seasons. This WAS due In
part to the absence Of critical labor
difficulties and to the change in policy
among hat retailers.
The manufacturers for a time were
panicstricken by the failure OF the
retailers to order in full their spring,
summer, fall and winter supplies.
About midyear they found that while
the orders were small, they were
coming with increasing frequency
and that the new system enabled the
manufacturer to keep a steady force
at work all the time turning out the
requirements Of his patrons. The
added efficiency of the railroads and
express and mail service made this
possible.
The straw hat manufacturers and
dealers had big year. The general
level Of prices was a bit lower, but
there was a decided falling Off in
clearance sales. Then, too, there was
a decided tendency toward the buy
ing Of more than one hat for each
sason. This made itself felt f1rst in
the straws. Customers, instead of
having hats cleaned, bought new
ones. In the fall they bought light
gray felts and later a more somber
shade. The spring trade is looked for
ward to without apprehension by
both manufacturers and retailers.
Evening star., 1923-12-31
st During 1923 Sa,u Greatest Actiuity Ever Has Kno,vn
ALL RECORDS SMASHED
IN MANY COMMODITIES
1900, 900 Autos Built-CIothing Prices Advance
Slightly-Flour Under 1922 Range.
Enormous Fruit Crops

been adequate to fill all markets. The
rise in wages given the anthracite
miner were reflected in an advance OF
10 cents a ton, on the average, in
domestic sizes of anthracite at the
mines. Politics is alleged to have
played large part in these negotia-
tions and charges and counter charges
of extortion were made in the anthra-
cite industry. However, the prices of
anthracite rose until S5 cents hun
dred pounds was declared fair price
at dealers yards in New York for
small purchasers.
The bituminous mines having failed
to capture the anthracite markets
found their production had exceeded
rormal requirement and the end of
the year saw a decided curtailment
of operations in the bituminous fields.
Miners, operators and dealers agreed
that there were 100000 more men en-
gagged in the bituminous industry than
were required and that the possible
production of the mines exceeded de-
mand. Curtailment was the inevitable
consequence and prices for bitumi-
nous fuel dropped sharply.
There is no doubt that the strikes
and threatened strikes resulted in the
wide adoption of oil as fuel and to
this extent the industry lost ground
during the year.
The wage agreement between BIZ
luminous operators and miners comes
up for readjustment during 1924.
There is every probability that the
contest will find both sides stiff -necked
and disinclined TO give ground. The
operators hope to abolish the check
off" system of collecting union dues
and count on the non-union miners
to help them through a fight over
this question. The miners are set to
demand more wages, because in many
mines while the rate is high, the
number of days worked a week has
reduced earnings to a point which the
employees consider below an accept
able minimum.
The railroads have offered better
service in the past year to coal ship
ments than ever before and the year
ends with few localities in acute need
of fuel and with record tonnage
handled over the great lakes to the
west and northwest
Stocks of bituminous aboveground
are now higher than at any time since
1916. The activity in pig iron pro-
duction has stimulated the coke mar
ketS.
Evening star., 1923-12-31
OH

The oil industry has had dis
Quietfng year and the immediate
future holds only little encourage
ment for a change for the better. al
though for the long haul the tre-
mendous increase in consumption is
suring.
Early in the year, a sharp decrease
in production in the Mexican fields
took place, but this was immediately
counterbalanced by the terrific flush
production OF the Huntington Beach,
Long Beach and Santa Fe Springs
fields of California. New wells were
started as fast as drillers could work.
The peak of this output was reached
In rnid-August, when the daily aver
to curtail production were unavailing
for leasers and owners forced the
possibility OF oil being drained from
below their property If they lid mot
in turn sink wells and tap the i'm
mense subterranean reservoirs.
The peak of the California produc-
ton apparently passed in September
for since that time daily production
has fallen from around $4,000 to
around 100000 barrels.
No sooner was the peak of Call
fornia productions passed, however,
than the total output was raised by
the expanding flow from the Powell
field of Texas, which showed in
creases from $4,000 barrels in
September to around 100000. The
reduction in California output of
100, 900 barrels day therefore has
been met by an increase In the
Powell field Of around $4,000 barrels.
As the year closed, however, the peak
Of Powell field production also ap-
peared to have passed.
National daily output, In spite of
attempts at curtailment, Is running
above 2,225,000 barrels, and there
viii be approximately 100000, 900 bar
rels OF crude oil In stock when 1924
comes in. Moreover. the industry et
the moment is in period of seasonal
inactivity of consumption. Even in
Evening star., 1923-12-31
RARkfS .EMAre

put for the first ten months of the
year was approximately 37,250,000
tons. The average daily output for
the poorest month, however. was
equal to an annual rate of 41.000,000
tons, and there is every possibility
that the figures for the last two
months will bring the total well
above the record of 43,500.000 tons in
1917.
Prices for steel products were well
stabilized for the last eight months
of the year. That is, there were few
violent fluctuations, although there
We're some price concessions and
some cases where premiums above the
Pig iron prices fell off sharply from
the peak Of the year, but there was
decided Strengthening OF demand
In the latter months.
As the end OF the year approached
the prospect for a continuation of
the price scale grew better. There
was slight sign of weakening in
some products. compensated, how
ever, by increased demands for 9TH
ers. Composite prices for finished
steel toward the close of the year were
approximately 80 cents hundred
pounds above those on January /,
1929.
There seems no decline in the vol
ume of building operations in pros
pect. The railroads have given as
surance that they will continue their
tremendous programs of equipment
expansion. The carriers consume
% per cent of the country's
steel and while car installations at
the rate of $500 q month may not
continue, the demand for rails, track
materials and bridges will be enor-
nous.
The automobile business absofbs IL
per cent of the steel output and plans
now outlined for 1924 production
give promise Of a year second only
to 1923 in that industry. 1t is pos
sible that 100000 cars may be
produced next year. AS automobile
factories require large percentages o1
the sheet steel and bar steel pro-
duced, the demand for those prod
ucts probably will be great.
The output of sheets was stimu-
lated during the year by the Jap
anese requirements for earthquake re.
placements and this demand has by
| no means been satisfied. The oil pro-
duction of the country is at such 6
stage that tanks will continue to be
built in great numbers, with conse-
Quent consumption Of plates.
The outstanding feature of the year
| in the steel industry was the f1nal
| abolition of the twelve-hour day and
! a readjustment of wages for those
who still work more than eight
! hours.
| Another feature was the abandon
ment in the Chicago market of the
| pittsburgh plus" plan of making
prices by some steel manufacturers.
Evening star., 1923-12-31
GLASS

The demand for plate glass was the
dominating factor in the glass indus
try throughout the year. This was
due largely to the increase in auto
mobile production and the popularity
of the closed type of car as well as
to the volume of business houses and
hotels erected. Throughout the year
factories turning out this product
were far behind orders. Several con-
solidations were made and plants
were acquired by large jobbers in or.
der to assure themselves of adequate
supplies.
The Ford Company made some revo-
lutionary changes in method of pro-
duction during the year and assured
production by it's own plants sufii-
cient to meet the larger part of its
needs.
Window glass was in fine demand.
although the volume of orders fell off
as autumn gave place to winter. H.
Illuminating glass plants were actively
occupied and the number of light
bulbs turned out increased tremen-
dously in response to the needs of new
customers of power and light COM
pantes.
Evening star., 1923-12-31
JEWELRY

The year 1923 was unspectacular
but profitable in general for silver
smiths, jewelers. and jewelry manu-
facturers. Volume of business show
ed improvement and the demand for
higher priced articles became in
creasingly apparent as the year drew
to close. In the early part of the
period. the cheaper goods were in
most demand but quality became the
dominating factor later The trend
was helped by the increase in the
price of platinum. The Tutankhamen
craze provided decided stimulus to
some OF the costume jewelry. The
scarcity of certain cuts and qualities
or diamonds kept prices for those
stones up. So far as the big sales
went, 1t was a pearl year.
Evening star., 1923-12-31
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, December 31-Lead-
ers In the field Of business and bank
ing in the United States are looking
forward to prosperous year in 1924.
Forecasts for next years trade,
prepared by some Of the leading in
dustrial and financial executives of
the country, generally breathe the
spirit of optimism. Opinion among
them is virtually unanimous that the
adoption of Secretary MELONS tax
reduction program would be a great
stimulus to business and industrial
activity. While 1t Is admitted that
the unsettled European economic
situation has an adverse effect on
markets, it is generally agreed that
1t does not control domestic business
prosperity.
Gary Optimistic.
There is nothing in sight to cause
apprehension for the near future, in
the opinion of E. H. Gary. chairman
Of the board Of directors of the
Next year, he said. should be a bet
ter year than 1928. which was char
acterized by a marked revival of
business followed by period of de-
creased activity, and then a period
of renewed optimism and cautious
buying.
"As an indicatio of our confidence
in the business future of the coun-
try" asserted Charles NJ. Schwab,
chairman of the board of the Bethle-
point out the fact that our corpo-
ration is spending s25,000,000 to per-
feet its facilities for turning out
steel and steel products at the lowest
possible prices at our Lackawanna
plants in Buffalo"
Faith in Coolidge.
Business men," Mr.. Schwab add
by the soundness of the views ex-
pressed by President Coolidge in his
initial message to the country.
feel the President, to remark bic
degree. has voiced the opinion of the
American people and that Congress
.Business may be hampered az
times, but the driving force, the com
mon sense and the initiative of the
American people will, in the end.
we are bound to proceed on our pros
porous way"
While expressing the belief that
mo other industry holds quite the
amount Of uncertainty that the Oil
business does, for the reason that
no one can foreteu for any long pc
rfod ahead the course of petroleum
production" w. C. Teagle. president
of the Standard Oil Company of New
Jersey, takes a somewhat optimistic
view of the outlook for 1924.
Overproduction OF Oil.
"Throughout 1929" Mr.. Teagle said
| "the volume OF business has been
good. but much of it at prices that
allowed no profit to the producer
refiner or marketer unless the latter
happened to be a jobber with no la
bilities either as a producer of crude
or a reflner." III
! brought about by flush yields In Ger,
| tain Texas, Oklahoma and California
!, fields, Mr Teagle went on to say
| Contributed so generously to the pro-
duction from older fields as to NEAR
| throughout much of the year a daily
surplus in excess of consumption OF
| about 100000 barrels. In recen,
weeks, the Powell field has dopped on
| TO we'll under so per cent of its
maximum output. and the California
wells have evidenced failing gas
with further gains in consump-
ton probable" added Mr.. Teagle. III
Evening star., 1923-12-31

VIII be in operation in the United
states approximately IA 900, 900 motor
vehicles.
One of the features of the wear was
the number of requirements neces-
sary. 1t is estimated that these alone
VIII account for almost 100000 cars
In 1924 and there is a distinct tend
ency today toward the early scrap
ping of secondhand cars. The in
crease of the population and the
natural increase in income of citizens
OF TINS country, 1T is estimated, will
provide for the purchase of 100000
new cars next year, above the regular
rate of increase.
The year was one of the keeneSt
Kind of competition and saw the de-
mise OF some of the smaller COM
panles while the larger concerns were
enabled to increase sales and output.
Pr1ce changes We're not infrequent
and, in general, the movement was
downward although there were nota-
BILE exceptions. The changes in price,
however. were more for the purpose
or invading certain price fields than
from cut-throat tactics within the
same field
Models, toward the end Of the year,
showed considerable change although
the closed car continued to grow in
popularity. New mechanical features
such as four-wheel brakes and other
devices Were introduced. Seasonable
slumpS in production were notable
by their absence. Each time a falling
off in factory production was forecast
demand made curtailment inadvisable.
The year. so far as the Ford COM
pany was concerned. was marked by
rapid strides toward the production
by the company itself of all ma
terialS used in the manufacture of
Ford cars. The Ford lumber, coal,
iron ore and textile holdings were
materially increased. New glass
plants were added, the foundries aug,
mented and the Ford system of con-
tinuous operation carried into a dozen
other industries.
Sales policies of various companies
were altered to a considerable degree
In a search for new and live retail
agents and distributors and the num-
ber of men engaged m selling motor
cars increased rapidly as the year
drew to close.
Programs already outlined for next
year show that the larger companies
plan to increase rather than diminish
production and efforts are being made
to straishten out the used car situation,
which in some cases was an obstacle
to retail dealers in the past year. The
Ford plants are being adjusted to a
possible production of 10000 cars day
and General Motors schedule provides
an $4,000 car production in January.
Profits have been excellent and the cash
position of the main factors in the in
dustry is good, while inventories are
low The small number of cars in the
hands of dealers would seem to indi-
cate a heavy volume OF orders in the .
early part of 1924.
Evening star., 1923-12-31
POULTRY.

Weather and growing conditions
favored poultrymen during the year
and they raised tremendous Quanti-
ties Of birds. The crop of turkeys
was so large, however, that prices
were materially lower than In 1929,
except In isolated sections. After
Thanksgiving growers of Idaho and
the Pacific northwest entered into
something like trade duel with
Texas and prices to growers drop
ped to the neighborhood OF Is to 90
cents pound on the hoof. which put
the level back to pre-war times.
Growers of other fowls complain
ed that their profits were curtailed
to the banishing point by the fact
that commission men controlled the
principal markets.
In considering profits on poultry,
however. 1t Is well to remember that
most growers count on making their
profit from eggs, and that marketing
of birds is a secondary consideration.