Evening star., 1925-06-20
MUCH GOOD TRADE
NEWS DURING WEEK
Labor Abundant - Retail
Sales Heavy-Fruit Crops
Selling Well.
BY j. c. ROYLE.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. June 20.-The favora-
BILE factors in the weeks news un-
doubtedly outweighed unfavorable re-
ports, but while the bright spots in the
business sky grew brighter, the clouds
over some few industries showed no
signs of lifting. Perhaps the most
gratifying fact made evident was that
employment is thoroughly satisfactory
in the country as a whole. 1t has
dropped slightly from Spring levels,
but the level is still above that of the
corresponding period Of last year.
Plenty of Farm Labor.
This means steady maintenance of
purcha sing power on the part of the
bulk of the population. The call for
farm labor has increased and the har-
vest demand has absorbed large num-
bers of idle workers. In some States,
however, the word has gone out advis-
ing college students who put in the
Summer in harvest fields not to leave
home this year, as the ranks are full.
One of the best barometers of bust
ness is the automobile manufacturing
industry since 1T reflects purchasing
power in a decided way. Detroit, cen
ter of the industry, telegraphs today
that latest reports show an increase
of ! 400 workers in the past week
bringing the total to 1856, a new
high record for this year. This repre-
sents a gain of AZ ,521 since January /.
Reports for the last month from 365
cities show building gains as compared
with the corresponding period of 1924.
Building Materials Higher.
These figures are substantiated by
the fact. that building materials ad
vanced in price Brick shot up 81
| thousand in this city. Linseed oil ad-
vanced cents a gallon. Permits is
sued for construction jobs in % of
the principal cities in the last month
totaled S245, ,734,09s and the value Of
contracts let in the last week for the
country reached S51,554,O00. Lumber
production shipments and sales were
far ahead of this time last year.
Structural steel awards have been
of fair volume, but the Homestead
and Duquesne steel plants have slowed
down. Capacity operation of sheet and
tin plate mills is reported from Penn
sylvania points, and the steel hoop
plants are running full time. The in
dustry as a whole is working slightly
under 70 per cent of capacity, but few
mill executives. expect the regular
seasonal drop to go much further.
Coal Industry Still Down.
The soft coal industry continues in
the depths, but. as was predicted in
these columns, operators are turning
to mergers and consultations to cut
costs and improve net returns. One
such merger has been conSummated
in the last few days. The anthracite
mines are speeding up slightly in
preparation for. any check, to ,produc-
ton through failure to arrive at a new
wage agreement in August.
The textile industry in New Eng
land also continues to feel depression.
The present price of cotton is a
slightly encouraging factor. but the
mills in general are far from capacity
operation. The wooden manufacturers
are in slightly better case Confidence
in the future demand for wool and
woolen cloth is in evidence, as is
shown by reports received in textile
circles that Salt Lake City banks are
financing wool growers to enable them
to hold for higher prices 1t is likely
that growers will not accept, at this
time offers less than 3S to 80 cents a
pound, and some are determined to
hold out for As.
Silk Makers Prosper.
Silk manufacturers are riding high
on the wave of prosperity with a keen
demand for their products in evil
dence. The artificial silk producers
are straining every effort to keep UP
with new business. The shoe indus
try is beginning to feel the Summer
slump, but the laying in Of stocks in
anticipation for the school children
demand of next Fall will begin shortly
The report of the Credit Clearing
House shows that purchases by the
public in the last week advanced 2.8
per cent. The chain stores and mail
order houses are enjoying excellent.
business. The movement of Winter
wheat now is we'll under way and be-
ing handled adequately by the car
riers.
Fruit Crops Selling Well.
Fruit crops are being advanta-
geously marketed and car loadings are
high. Canneries are active and, the
preserving demand in some States
has sufficed to raise the price Of sugar
slightly.
The decision unfolding the lease, to
Harry F. Sinclair of the oil lands in
Teapot Dome is calculated to bring
improved sentiment among producers
in that field, since 1t tends to allay
uncertainty as to the program for
development Of that section. >.
(Copyrisht. l92b.) -