Evening star., 1924-03-21
WILL CUT TEXTILE.
PRODUCTION COST
Manufacturers Plan to Offset
Losses in Profits by Econ
ofny Measure.
ny. j. C. ROYLE.

special D1sp4tcn 20 The star. .s-'
NEW YORK, March 21.-TexitIe
manufacturers, having seen their
margin Of profit curtailed at one end
by resistance to price advances. are
turning earnest attention to broad
ening those margins at the other by
reduction of production costs. This
is. especially true among makers Of
cotton cloths, who. are facing "a crit
ical situation, both in the south and
New England at present.
Uncertainty of the future in pro-
duction and price fiuctuation. OF raw
cotton, together with the development
Of competition and specialization in
manufacture, has made 1t absolutely
essential that cotton mills develop
and maintain the highest efficiency.
both in machinery and labor" D. W.
Holland OF the executive board Of the
Textile Operating Executives of Geor-
gta. Alabama and Florida, said today.
spent large part of this week in dis
cussion OF factory practice and meth
DDS.
Hold Best Is Cheapest.
They agree that in both machinery
and labor the best is the cheapest and
most economical in the long run. AS
result, many plants in the south and
New England are being remodeled on
q more efficient basis. This has been
noticeable recently in Virginia and
North Carolina. where new and i'm
proved machinery is being installed
while mills are on a curtafled pro-
duction schedule.
The great Amoskeag mills OF New
England are adding wooden ma.
chinery In order to take full advan-
tage OF the trained personnel on their
would tend to eliminate overhead
charges. also have been put into effect
and other mergers are in prospect
1t is now rumored in Boston that the
large Arkwright mills and the Ber-
combined.
Conditions in the South.
The south. according to Mr.. Hol-
land. now is reapins the benefit of
money spent in welfare work in the
past. Money so spent and that de-
voted to churches. schools and amuse-
ments,' he added. has kept American
and is now bearing fruit in increased
individual efficiency in southern mills
CONSIDER this factor one Of the great
est in bringing this section to the
front rank in the textile industry"
His attitude is supported by J. J.
Tregoe. secretary treasurer Of the Ma
tional Association of Credit Men. who
Is in close touch with conditions in all
sections of the country. Students of
industrial relations" Mr.. Tregoe said.
strongly advocate closer getting
together of executives and employees
Personally. 1 have felt that this idea
was not only human but exceedingly
practical.
II have noticed in my recent travels
several large enterprises where the
chief executive know their men well
and 1t was interesting to note that in
businesses governed by this direct
intercourse trouble seldom arose. A
mutual understanding will help tre-
establishing closer cooperation for
producing on the lowest basis Of
cost"
Cotton Goods Cnasually Slow.
At present cotton goods are NOV
ing in unusually light volume, prices
are not satisfactory to manufacturers
and mill curtailment is more marked.
Experts attribute this not SO much to
lack of demand by ultimate consum-
ers. although these seem keenly re-
sentful of attempts to raise prices.
but to caution and conservatism on
the part of the retail distributors
However, stocks in the hands of re-
taflers and jobbers are not large and
must be replenished. They look for
Improved business as June approaches
Conditions in Mexico and Central
America, which absorb a fair volume
Of American cotton goods as we'll as
other products. have been most un-
favorable recently. II is true that the
Obregon troops in Mexico are rapidly
scattering the rebel forces, but a Pc
riod Of unrest with frequent inter
ruption OF communication is to be ex-
pected for Some time to come. A
similar condition is affecting trade
with Honduras, while weather condi-
tions in some OF the othe- Latin
American countries have not been
such as to lead to extensive buying.