Evening star., 1925-10-04
new RECORDS seen.
IN 1925 BUSINESS
American Prosperity Faces
Still Higher Marks Dur
ing Rest of Year.
HY HARDEN COLFAX.

IN HARDEN CUlfA IA.
This year swings into the home
stretch with more than a flfty-hfty
chance of breaking all records for
American prosperity. Already half
dozen humping big lines of industry
building, automobiles, the railroads
lumber, petroleum and radio-have
left behind them the good times ianu-
marks of other years ana a dozen
other industries are pressing haro 10
make 1925 their banner year.
AS viewed by Government ofhclais
who keep their fingers on the puSi-
ness pulse, American industry plus
fair to 60 laundering down the lnree
remaining months of 1873 at rate
never eoualled before. No barrier Is
in sight. unless the forthcoming ses-
sion Of a new Congress early IN be-
cenber falls within that class. Even
that comes so late in the year that.
granted 1t will be as obnoxious 10
business generally as the old Con-
cress, its effect will hardly be felt oe-
fore 1926.
EQUAL to Boom Times.
The Government monthly employ
ment report, out In lew DAYS, VIII
show a general era or employiiehI
equal to the best of previous poolh
times with labor shortage hitting It's
The Federal Reserve Board s summary
is no less encouraging. The analysis
which the Department of Commerce
undertakes monthly shows the same
general trend toward greater pros
perity. Tax receipts are big. customs
are flowing In with strong ana steauS
sweep. All in all. 1t would appear
that the period Of general prosperity
forecast almost year ago mas dr.
rived. ,
Perhans the most startling develop
nent of the moment is sudden ana
complete reversal of form shown oy
the radio business. A few months ago
is was despondent, with great occuihu-
lations of stock, a market OF uncer-
tain dimensions and general, tnousn
seasonal stagnation. Almost over
night its huge stocks nave peeIi ',,,,,- smTps
away and the demand for new EQUIP
ment has come with such strength as
to swamp manufacturers.
Overproduction Looms.
They are talking now in the trade
of building 100000 new raalo INST q,
ments this Fall-an unapproaeheu
record. If so, there would seem TO De
grave danger of going into 1870 10
reneat on 1925, so far as huge StockS
are concerned. Something cooi
weather. world series base ball, com
ing gridiron events or the eAceieli.
program of broadcaSting planneu oy
the superstations-ha given Tue -
iio industry a swing over tne s.Ae
and q hmm into the clover field.
Henry F'ords little breathing space
in his factory may tend TO lower
somewhat automobile productloh re-.
ords for the moment, but the L auo
doesn't expect more than pause IN
This activity After that-a new pro-
duction record for the year.
Building at Top Speed.
Euilding contractors have never
eeen ANYTHING like the life OF the
nresent boom. BY the Calculations ol
The industry seers and propnets, Tue
boom should have died a sood gear
or more ago-and here IL IS pIiihS
nm the highest record ever made 1hat
astounding mark of August construc
tion will stand, it is Thought, Iof
nanv wears to come: but that, 100,
is a guess, and after waiting arouuu
for a time for the boom TO ole a
lingering death, builders nave qult
Guessing and gone back to thelr work.
AS for the railroads-thelr latesI
car loading figures were so iarse
as TO cripple the adding machlneS:
With them the year swept over all
,revious records when returns 1or
the week ending September IL came
in few days ago: Thus far they ~
have hauled 36,726000 carloads or
freight, as compared with 80. 'ooo
during the same period in their next
best year. 1923. Million-car weeks are
no longer novelties and the million
and.a.n,arter-car week will probably
come, as a new mark, within the next
30 DAYS. The railroads probably Will
make 1000, 600, 900 net this year
Anthracite's strike poison Is meat
for bituminous in the coal industry;
Output is looking up to the f1ne OLD
records Of 1918 and the Fall OF ls2-'
and, although it is mostly non-unlon
coal that flows into competitive mar
kets, the union mines are rev1vns
somewhat under the stimulant Prices
have stiffened in certain kinds OF
h,tuninous and the trend is upward.
And ahead of today's industrial
fever stand Christmas and the cash
customer crowding the merchants
counter with money to spend as never
before.