Evening star., 1925-08-22
BAD WEATHER HITS
MANY INDUSTRIES
lroa, Steel and Textiles
Handicapped, But Plants Re-
port Orders Satisfactory.
RY j. c. ROYI.E.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to Tn. star
NEW YORK, August %. The
weather has PLAYED most importan nj
role in the business and industrial
situation of the country this week
Plants enga ged in the production of
IRON steel, textiles. brick. furniture
and other products in the Southeast
have had TO curtau operations owing
to low water in the strea ms and a
shortage OF hydro-electric power. The
plants were polled at the instance of
the Georgia Railway and Power Co.
a link in the big power chain of that
section, and reported una nimously
that they had sufficient orders on their
books 10 keep the plants running at
ca pacity for the next two months,
with no indications of curtailment
through the third quarter.
None the less, il has been necessary
TO ration them as to power. Street
car schedules in Georgia have been
reduced in all cities and in some mu-
inequalities are approaching the mini
mum. Cotton. the hardest of all dry
weather plants. is being damaged in
parts of the Southeastern belt and
fears are felt for the top crop this
Fall Similar conditions prevail in
Southern states east Of the Missis.
sippi.
Rains Benefit Texas.
In Texas. on the other hand. rains
have benefited range and crop con-
ditions. In the Northwest and
northern Middlewest, damage krom
storms was reported. Demand has
not been checked. and the temporary
halt TO manufacture does not mean
loss of sales so much as delay in de-
liveries.
Bus manufa cture received addi-
tionsl NOM en- tum through the order
placed by the Santa F'e Railroad for
vehicles to cover routes over the
scenic and historical portions OF the
Southwest. which will be offered
next Spring as part of their
regular transportation to the Pa
cific Coast This Is following along
the lines now being generally adopt
lines, which have pulled the bus into
lighting bus competition.
There has been no check to the
steady, If slow. advance in steel pro-
duction, and most. producers feel that
this industry is doing all that they
expected of 1t at this season. They
would welcome price advances, but
not. at the expense of curtaiiment of
sales.
Gasoline Price Drop Continues.
Gasoline price reductions continued
to be reported from many widely
separated territories. Strenuous de-
nial is made that price wars are in
progress, but each initial reduction
is followed closely by other .distribu-
tors. The reasons assigned. for the
reduction by the main factors in the
industry are. large stocks over.
production of refined products, pass,
ing of the peak of the tourist sea son
and desire to reduce reserves, Addi-
tional price cuts in automobiles have
served only to stimulate sales, which
are at a high level.
The stable condition Of business
through the country Is indicated by
the activity of the paper box manu-.
facturers, who report decided i'm
crease in sales. Twine also shows
an increase of 10 to Is per cent. Re
tail department store business is
fair, with satisfactory responses to-
closing out sales of. Summer mer
cha.ndise.
Show Steady Improvement.
The merca ntile plants which have
adopted rayon as part Of their raw
materials. have shown steady i'm
provement In demand and some
novel lines for the Spring of 1925
already have been sold up and with.
drawn. Lumber demand and orders
are we'll above production. Lead IL
showing the result of consistent de-
mand and copper is in a position
where producers feel safe in proceed
ing under advanced production
schedules.
The rubber manufacturers. despite
complaints as to crude prices, are
buster than for many months and
heavy additions to plant capacity are
planned by the larger companies.
Wet weather interfered with har-
vesting in the prairie provinces of
Canada.