davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1924-11-20
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from buying-read them carefully
Imperial Valley press., 1924-11-20

The mud slung during a campaign
gathered together would make sew.
eral mountains out of mole hills.
Evening star., 1924-12-31
Aduance in Prices Enabled
Farmers to Cancel Debts
Building Helped Hard,oare-ClotEing
Production Declined Until Late-SIk
Vas Bright Spot-LiUe Stock Strong.

which did occur were concerned more
largely with shop conditions than
wages, the chief complaint being the
production of garments on subcon-
tracts in non-union shops. The ex-
pertinent of employment insurance,
with employer and employees each
standing half the cost, was inaugu-
rated in a number of centers and is
being closely watched by the remain
der of the trade. In the Autumn,
tiles in which wooden and silk gar
and cottons.
tion set the work of clothing manufac-
turers going at top speed. Consum-
er resistance to higher prices dwin-
impressed on the public that raw ma
terial prices warranted moderate in
creases. The pride in appearance
campaign was vigorously waged by
manufacturers and retail alike and
undoubtedly had a marked effect. The
visit of the Prince of Wales, how
ever, which was counted on to
groove style for men and encourage
immediate sales, was ineffective be-
cause the Prince outside of evening
clothes, appeared in only two suits
and they closely resembled each
other.
No easing in clothing prices is ex-
pected in view of the prices now be-
ing paid for still ungrown wool and
mohair by manufacturers in antic-
ipation of 1925 needs.
Evening star., 1924-12-31
Tobacco.

The coffin nall" as the cigarette
was called in the reign of Lucy Page
CASTOR, has clamped the lid on de-
preston in the tobacco industry of
the United States in the last year.
The consumption of this tobacco
product has increased 10 per cent
over 1928, and the output of Ameri-
can factories has been more than
$4,000, 100000 cigarettes in the last
IL months. Consumption of cigars
has barely been holding steady, smok =
ing tobacco has shown slight losses,
but chewing tobacco and snuff are
less used than in years.
Cigarette sales are running at three
times the rate of any prewar year,
and manufacturers have been aided
in piling up profits by the stability of
prices for leaf tobacco and Of the fin
ished product. Growers have bene-
flied as well as manufacturers. The
Georgia crop yielded splendid returns,
and the outturn from Tennessee, Ken
lucky, Virginia, the Carolinas. Mary
land, Connecticut and Pennsylvania
has been sold at prices which as
sured a sound margin~of profit for the
agriculturist.
The adverse trend in cigars has
been felt most by producers of ma
chine-made product selling at a rela-
lively low price. The smoking to-
bacco trade has been helped by the
publicity given various prominent
pipe smokers in the political cam
paigns here and abroad, and the MAX
ers of handmade expensive cigars are
gaining the patronage OF those smok-
ers " no do not turn to cigarettes.
The export trade was hurt by dis
turbances in the Orient, but the i'm
provement in conditions in England
counterbalanced this trend. Cigar
production ran about five and three
quarters billion, with an especial de-
mand for high-grade cigars for the
Christmas trade.
Evening star., 1924-12-31
Dry Goods.

Dry goods suffered severely from
unreasonable weather and from the
slump in business and industry which
hit the country early in the Summer.
The dry goods trade, however, was
among the first to feel the revivify-
ing influence of higher farm product
prices and general business improve
ment. as the year drew to g. close.
Expansion became evident in Septem-
Der and October and the records of
the last months of the year compared
most favorably with previous record
breaking totals. Chain store and de-
partment store business were the first
to show the change in trend, but the
mail order houses responded almost
quickly and their late month turn
overs were well in excess of those of
1928
Merchants were in excellent posi-
tion to take full advantage of this
trend, since they had moved cautious
ly all year, were not overburdened
with stocks and were in sound finan-
cia1 positions. Buyers continued TO
show caution and maintained astrong
opposition to price increases, but 1t
was noticeable as the year closed
that moderate price concessions in
duced rather heavy buying.
The Christmas season was fully up
to expectations both as to volume
and money value, and were sufficient
to bring the totals for the entire year
above those of 1923. The mail order
sales for the year Increased nearly
10 per cent as compared with the
previous period.
Woolen and silk goods took a de-
cided turn for the better as the year
closed and there was some improve
ment in cotton goods demand.
Evening star., 1924-12-31
Oil.

Black gold" as oil field workers
call crude petroleum, was on a some
what debased currency basis in 1924
But experts connected with the indus
try believe the worst is over and
that the next year will show a radical
improvement. The tremendous flush
production of some of the California
fields which upset conditions in the
industry in 1928 was checked, but
output in other sections was heavy
in spite of prorating of pipeline runs
and other measures taken to slack
1t. The total output for the year ran
only about 1000, 900 barrels, or 1 per
cent below that of last year, which was
record breaker. Daily production kept
well up above 100000 barrels toward
the end Of the twelvemonth.
Demand was heavy. Fuel oil con-
sumption increased and the improve
ment in gasoline demand showed an
advance of over 25 per cent as COM
pared with last year. AS the year
closed there were crude oil supplies
in storage sufficient to meet con-
sumption demands for nearly five
months. Gasoline stocks are euuiva-
lent to about two months requirements
Lubricants and fuel oils seem des-
tined to advance.
Price changes are largely domi-
mated by local situations Sharp COM
petition in the retail gasoline field
resulted In marked slashing Of prices
in some sections. but quotations were
comparatively stable for the country
as whole. The situation was bet
tered by the slackening of Mexican
production and shipments, but this was
counterbalance by DEVELOPMENT OF
new properties in Central and South
America.
Evening star., 1924-12-31
Wool.

Woolen manufacturers outguessed
the wool producers in 1924. 1t re-
mains to be seen whether they have
outguessed them for 1925. Prices for
raw wool during the first part of the
year were fairly strong. but produc-
ers in general did not take advantage
of them. Later, quotations fell off
sharply on curtailment of mill opera
tions and discouraging news from the
textile and clothing industries. Many
producers sold at that time
Boston was the lowest market in
the world throughout the year. Con-
sequently, some manufacturers were
in a position to check manufacture,
ship their wool stocks abroad and
sell them at a profit without turning
out a yard of cloth.
Toward the end of the year prices
were extremely strong and manufac-
turers, believing that they would be
still stronger, began TO contract for
their 1925 requirements at an un-
precedented rate. Stocks in dealers
hands are the lowest on record and
about SO per cent of next years clip
has already been bought.
Evening star., 1924-12-31
Auto Market Fluctuated;
Production at 3,5OO,OOO
Iro,, and Steel Had Spotty Year-Bitumi.
nous Coal Trade Suffered, But Antl,ra-
cite Conditions We're Satisfactory.

plus method of basing prices was the
outstanding feature of the year in the
steel industry. This put each produc-
ing center on it's own merits and
greatly increased the Importance of
freight rates. To that extent 1t dis
turbed prices since many producers
absorbed differences in rates in order
to compete with more favorably To-
Gated mills when old and valued custom
ers were concerned. 1t seems likely
that freight rates will set definite
limits on competitive zones around the
various centers in 1925.
Exports fell below lac, 900 tons in
some months of the year and imports
from Europe increased as prices bet
tered toward the end of the year. As
the year ends prices are firm and
likely to advance and more furnaces
are being blown in. Pig iron and steel
bars are expected to show the largest
gains with steel plates, cast iron pipe
and structural steel showing the least
advances. The rate of production has
not reached normal but is expected to
do so by February.
The industry has been almost free
from labor troubles but wages have
been maintained and some raw ma
terials have advanced in cost. Water
transportation will be utilized more eX-
tensively in 1925 than ever before by
steel producers of the West Virginia,
New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana and
Illinois centerS.
Evening star., 1924-12-31
Non-Ferrous Metals.

Industrial uses of the non ferrous
metals increased to a remarkable degree
| throughout the year. Copper produc-
| ton was somewhat higher than in
1928 and the range of prices was uni
tformly higher. From low monthly
u .verage of 12.49 the price of copper
/ advanced to quotations well above IA
cents before the end of the year. This
was due to strong demand from do
mestic consumers in the electrical and
| automobile fields and to improvement
| in foreign demand following the opera
| ton of the Dawes plan in Europe.
| The market was benefited by floods
| in Peru which cut cheap Peruvian
| production.
Lead was in strong demand all year
| Paint manufacturers, builders, battery
men and other consumers fought Tor
| spot supplies and from July on, the
price advanced steadily with puy-
ers paying a premium for immediate
| deliveries.
| The statistical position of zinc was
| far weaker than that of lead through
| out much of the annual period but
| producers in the tri-state field cut out
| put sharply at times and Kept the
| market on a stable basis. Near the
| end of the year, demand Increased es-
| pecially from galvanizers and the price
| advanced correspondlngly.
Silver was unsupported by the pur-
chases which had previously been
made under the Pittman act, but pro-
ducers got together and worked out
a feasible plan for encouraging for
eign markets and domestic use In the
arts and sciences. AS d result, prices
advanced steadily after midyear ana
the silver producers had a Satlsldc-
tory and profitable year.
Tin was in demand and production
was light. Prices, therefore, advanced
and this trend was firmly consolidated
in the late Fall by the strength OF
the tin plate products turned out by
the steel mills.
The volume of building, with at
tendant refurnishing of Kitchens
throughout the country. gave ZIP
TO sales of aluminium ware, and the
prices of that metal showed gains OF
around cents a pound above those
of 1928.
Gold production did not keep pace
in the United States with consup-
ton. Nearly $10,000.000 more gold
was consumed in the arts and sciences
irrespectfve of coinage. than was
mined, smelted and refined In the
country. Since gold is stabilized at
a. price Of $20.67 an ounce, and mas
been for years, while costs of mining
and smelling have increased mate
rally, there has been less incentive
TO increased operations of gold-bear-
ing properties than has been the case
in other sections of the mining in
dustry.
Evening star., 1924-12-31
Cotton Goods.

Means rose from the cotton textile
industry throughout most of 1924
Manufacturers in New England
claimed the business was in a slump
which threatened its very existence.
Cotton prices were high and goods
prices were low. Retailers resolutely
allowed the manufa cturer to hold the
bag, ordering only for immediate re-
quirements, confident that they could
get the goods they wanted when and
as they needed them.
AS a result operations both in New
England and the South were sharply
curtailed. After election, however,
the pains affecting the industry
seemed materially reduced. Wage re-
ductions were effected in many North
ern plants with the understanding
that fuller schedules of work would
be guaranteed employees. Cotton
prices dropped on prospects OF an un
expectedly large crop. Buying in
creased on the better financial condi-
tion of the farmers and a revival of
industry in general and mills in
creased schedules and production.
Print cloth prices were we'll under
those of 1923, however, except toward
the end of the year, and even these
late advances did not suffice to bring
the annual average up to that of 1923,
"nen o44oUS averaged 100 cents
yard.
Sharp recovery in activity Is pre-
dicted for next year. Stocks Of goods
are low and a curtailment Of produc-
tion below normal of 1000, 100000
yards of goods must be made up.
Cotton prices probably will be low,
wages are down and the buying power
OF the country has increased. The
foreign demand is expected to i'm
prove also as the Dawes plan is
worked out. The trend of movement
of mills from New England to the
South continues, however.
Evening star., 1924-12-31
Cotton.

The surprise of the year in cotton
was the Improvement in crop pros
poets which took place after Mid
summer The carry-over at the be-
ginning of the year was small and it
was question whether the crop
would meet world requirements.
Prices in consequence were high. But
weather favored the crop and did not
favor the boil weevil. Acreage plant
ed was high and abandonments
turned out to be low. The Texas out
put assumed unexpectedly large pro-
portions and all these factors were
accompanied by a heavy reduction in
consumption by American textile
mills.
Prices, therefore. fell off at the
years end. Planters, nevertheless,
had a prosperous year. They were in
a position to hold cotton for favor
able marketing and are confident that
world requirements will be such as
to secure additional advances before
the next crop Is on the market. The
exchanges were thrown into confu-
sion by the frequency of the Govern
ment forecasts, and prices were un-
settled throughout the year in con-
sequence.
The latest forecast of 13,153,OO0
bales seemingly will be ample for
world requirements, although the ex-
tent to which supplies from Egypt
and India will be affected by political
disturbances still is problematical
Exports were heavy throughout the
year, running well over the totals OF
1a2a,
Evening star., 1924-12-31
Lumber.

Lumbermen adjusted themselves to
general conditions in a remarkable
way throughout the past year. When
demand was strong in the Spring,
they were ready to meet 1t. When
consumption slumped with business
in general throughout the Summer,
they cut production sharply, and 1t
is a notable fact that production was
kept we'll below new orders through
out the most of the year. Daring the
Autumn, demand again improved and
mills and logging camps have speeded
up activities in consequence. As a
result, prices of Douglas fir and
Southern pine andvanced sharply to-
ward the end of the season and now
are on practically the same level as
at the same time In 1923.
The Improvement in buying of
railroad equipment has been de-
cided stimulant to lumber production.
Building operations next year are
counted on to maintain about the
same pace as this year, but the re-
quirements of the farmers for re-
placements and new buildings is con-
servatively placed at four billion feet
In suming up the situation, 1T is
apparent that prices on the whole
were lower than in 1923, whereas
costs of production did not decline in
equal ration This inevitably spells
lesser profits for producers.
Evening star., 1924-12-31
Drugs and Chemicals.

Denatured and industrial alcohol
and nitrate of soda proved the main
stays of the drug and chemical fields
in 1924. Alcohol advanced steadily
under increased demand, rising at
times more than IL cents above the
1928 level. Soda ash was quiet, but
was decidedly higher than in the pre-
vious year. The general level of nj
trate of soda showed improvement
after April.
Glycerin, after tagging behind for
the first half year, felt the improve
ment in the industrial and mining sit
uation and shot upward over 2 cents
a pound above early year levels. Sui
phuric acid and sulphate of ammonia
were weak throughout. The potash
salts followed the downward trend Of
foreign prices. Quicksilver suffered
a slight slump in the Autumn, and the
trade in general went into the usual
holiday slump in December.
The improved financial condition of
the farmers is counted on to provide a
strong market for fertilizers next
year, although mixers are still eau
tious about taking on raw materials
for 1925 requirements. The weather
was unfavorable for the boil weeVil
CONTINUED on Page 24.S
Evening star., 1924-12-31
Industries Generally Experienced Fairly Successful Year; Reu

industrial and trade activity in the
country and the demand for prompt
delivery of goods occasioned by the
hand-to-mouth' buying of retailers
which has become a fix feature OF
the business situation.
The railroads had placed tremen-
dous orders for the Spring Of this
year. When these were fabricated
and delivered there ensued a lull
when roads were amply supplied The
remarkable crop movement put a
lot of cars out Of commission and as
Fall approached, orders for freight
cars, locomotives, ties, rails, spikes
and fishplates, bridge timbers and
other equipment sprouted from every
headquarters office.
The freight car orders ran we'll
over 10000 a month in the last quar-
ter and the total for the year closely
approximated 10000 cars. Locomo-
tive orders have not been relatively
so heavy and the difficulty expert
enced by the Baldwin works in col
lecting for equipment made for for
eign customers has led to consider
able caution in the export field.
Evening star., 1924-12-31
Fruit.

Unfavorable weather cut fruit pro-
duction in some sections, but higher
prices in most States raised the profits
of growers we'll above those for 1923.
Yields of berries, peaches, pears,
cherries, apricots and some other va
rieties were short, and prices paid by
Gamers high. In California, fruit
farmers realized about S18,000,000
more for their 1924 crops than in the
previous year, the total value of the
California output being estimated at
S176,345, 900. Production fell off 20 to
35 per cent, but prices, in some in
stances, were nearly SO per cent higher.
Grape growers, for example, marketed
225,000 tons fewer grapes than in
1923, but received s109,56S,000 for
them as compared with $94 ,550,000 last
year.
The apple growers had a fine year
especially in the Pacific northwest
where the fruit moved into con-
sumption fast and at high prices.
Georgia peach growers did not do
well. While the crop was large and
of fine quality, it was showed on the
market all at once with consequent
lower prices. Florida citrus growers
suffered to some extent from the
same lack of regulated marketing.
Raisins and prunes made fine re-
turns to growers, as did other dried
fruits, for all of which export demand
was heavy.
Evening star., 1924-12-31
Sugar.

The burnt child breads the fire. and
consumers of sugar in this country
took good care this year not to lay
themselves open to wild fiuctuation
OF prices. Buying was largely on a
hand-to-mouth basis, although 1t was
neavy, and quotations therefore ex-
hibited no wide range. In the early
months of the year prices, for both
raw and refined were higher than in
1928, but toward the end 1t became
apparent that world production
would show a tremendous increase,
ana prices fell correspondence
The chief walls however came
from the Cuban producers. There is
more cane in Cuba today than at. any
time in history. Domestic production
of beet sugars will reach nearly a
million tons, and the European pro-
duction increased over 25 per cent.
The domestic producers, outside
Louisiana, had little to complain of.
Their yield was high. and returns
from the 1928 crop marketed this year
were highly satisfactory. This pro-
duction served to act as a stabilizer
or prices throughout the year, and
the western producers sturdiIy contin-
ued to invade Eastern retail markets
with their product.
The world crop is estimated at IL
per cent larger than last year and
this would indicate no violent ad.
vance in prices in the coming year.
The sugar situation was thrown
into unrest by demands of Cuban pro.
ducers that the American tariff, now
nxed at I76 cents a pound, be re-
duced But there was a large volume
Oh 1ull-outy sugars. paying 2.20 cents
pound, which came in from other
foreign countries, where producers
were able to show a profit on their
shipments. The Louisiana cane cror
was extremely short and sirup was
In keen demand as the year ended
This induced fairly heavy imports
from South Africa.
Evening star., 1924-12-31
Canned Goods.

Weather was prime factor in the
canning industry in 1924. Excep-
tional variations cut down corn and
tomato crops which resulted in small
er packs of these staples and higher
prices. The weather was favora BILE
for peas and the result was the larg-
est output in the history of the in
dustry, aggregating 100000 cases
of two dozen No. 2 cans each, or
100000 cases more than the previous
record.
Production of canned corn is placed
by Western Gamers Association
officials at 12.131 900 cases, or 1000, 900
below that Of 1928. Output of canned
tomatoes was also cut sharply and
-omato- packing States are making
short deliveries on contracts.
In all of these staples, the mark 1t
was practically bare when the year
started and higher prices have fol-
lowed except in the case of peas,
leaving corn up 35 per cent and toma-
toes Is to 20 per cent higher. All
canned fish and fruit had short packs
with consequent active demand Ex-
port business increased greatly Can
ners have marketed their entire out
put at profitable prices.
Evening star., 1924-12-31
Rubber.

1t worked. In spite of the declara-
tions that the so-called Stevenson
plan of rubber production fostered by
the British government to restrict
rubber production when the price fell
below certain level, was impossible
of operation, it actually worked out
In 1924. The price on which this slid
Ing scale of production was worked
out was Is pence, or slightly less than
80 cents pound. Before the year
ended, rubber had advanced from
22S0 cents to above the 37-cent level.
The upward trend, which only be-
came apparent after midyear, was
aided by the steady volume of tire
production in the United States which
accounts for the larger part of the
world supply. For some months, tire
production was above 100000 castings
! a day. The movement was increased
by the undoubted popularity of bal
loon tires, which came to be not
only an additional, but an original
equipment of many makes of motor
cars.
The mechanical division of the rub
Der companies showed high percent
age of operation, with excellent de-
mand. Finished stocks of goods in
the mechanical, footwear and tire di-
year closed. The tire industry does
it's heaviest business in the first quar-
ter of the year, and there is every
reason to expect that replacement de-
mand and call for original equipment
will be large in the next three
months.
There was some price cutting and
cut-throat competition in the last
year, but this is not likely to be re-
peated in 1925. Makers have cut pro-
duction costs in some instances by
buying their own fabric mills, and
profits probably will be better in the
next three months than any time in
three years. Stocks in the hands Of
10000 dealers as the year closed
were below 100000 castings, e re-
duction of 100000 castings since last
June. Requirements will account for
about 25,000,000 tires and new equip
ment will call for probably $4,000, 900
castings in the coming year.