Evening star., 1925-10-10
BUSINESS CLOUDS
noted | D THIS WEEK
- -
Agricultural. Output Under
Last Year-Higher Prices
:: Had Been Anticipated.
BYJ. {. ROYLE.
Special Dispatch TO The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, October l0.--A cloud
or two began to make appearance
above the business horizon this week.
This was due almost entirely to. the
realization that the agricultural pro.
duction OF the country will be smaller
than it was last year, that prices are
at lower level than had been ex-
pected, and to. uncertainty as to Gov
ernment reports. which have become a
bugbear In the various markets.
These clouds were glimpsed only by
the most far sighted of business men.
1t is probable the less sensitive in
dicators Of trade will not reflect their
presence for three weeks. Normal
sea sonal expansion undoubtedly has
taken place and conditions are above
normal, except in agriculture. But
it has been proved that condition OF
record prosperity can be maintained
even when agriculture is at lower
ebb than exists at present.
Steel Market Strong.
Stability marks the condition Of the
iron and steel trade. Production Is
being closely paralleled by consump-
ton demand and a slight further in
crease in activity is to be expected.
Prices are steady. competition keen
and iron ore movements high. Auto.
mobile factories are working at a
record rate with the Ford plants be.
ing spurred. toward higher production
schedules and other makers keeping
pace Makers sof auto parts and ac-
cessories are busily engaged, but tire
production has fallen we'll below the
years peak. influenced by slackening
repla acement demand and advance In
crude rubber prices.
Fo -, ,ssv ~ ~ Ia Ayu
Bedford and Philadelphia show a
marked improvement with operations
at the high point of the year. Woolen
and worsted goods openings have re-
vealed a demand which has placed
the industry on a more profitable
basis than at any time this year.
Spinners of cotton and wool believe
the volume of business booked pre-
sages a rush OF orders in the near
future.
Some business booked will run well
into 1926.
Car Shortage Noted.
Heavy shipments of grapes and
other fruits from California have
brought about shortage of refrieera.
tor cars. which is checking movement
of potatoes and other farm products
from the intermountain West. Car
loadings are still exceedingly heavy
and revenue freight earnings of the
carriers are approaching the peak OF
the last twelvemonth in many in
| stances.
The volume Of building Is still be
| ing maintained in most centers and
| this has given frmness to prices OF
| lumber, lime, sand. cement. turpentine
window glass, putty and white lead
Lumber orders, however, have fallen
| to below those Of last week, although
still well above the mark set in the
| corresponding period Of last year.
Weather Checks Sales.
| Mail order houses are doing a rec
| ord business and opening additional
retail stores. There has been a sligh,
| check to department store business
due largely to local weather condi
tions. Silk prices and demand fol-
silk fabrics are firm and the vogue
for rayon is keeping producers work
| many textile firms will take step.
in the next few months to produce
their own rayon.
| Secrecy in the deal involving the
merging Of Alaska salmon canning In
terests has led to the belief that the
merger eventually will involve also
plants on the Columbia River. the Fra
Zler. RIVER ana fuset SOunQ. ClOtn
ing manufacturers will open their new
lines in the next few days and a strong
volume of business Is expected, since
prices so far as indicated will show
no material advances. There Is &
shortage of raincoats and slickers II
some sections.
| Heavy Soft Coal Demand.
Bituminous coal production Is at Z
record rate. in spite of the strike callet
in West Virginia unorganiZed fields
This output Is supported by sharper
demand from the anthraci cite.u using
States. Oil production has dropped
slightly in many of the big producing
fields, but still Is at a level which pro
hibits a prospect of any immediat,
lprice advance In petroleum products.
Railroad equipment, electrical equip
ment and machinery buying has beel
unusually heavy in the last week
Some Of the orders have been for ex
port and the foreign trade situation
has frightened appreciably, despit,
the result of the French debt negotia
tions.
l