Evening star., 1926-12-18
SHOPS CLEANING UP.
CHRISTMAS STOCKS
Retail Merchants Determined
Not to Have Much Left
over Goods.
BY J. c. ROYLE.

SpeCldI DiSpdtcl u Inc CtoT'
NEW YORK, December 1S.-Retail
merchants are determined to have no
unnecessary stocks on their shelves
when 1927 makes it's appearance. AL
ready charge customers are being
notified to come in and view goods
scheduled for special sales in the I'M
mediate future. These are sales such
as commonly are held in January.
No slump in Christmas buying Is
indicated by this. The holiday trade
is the most active ever experienced
be retail merchants, taking the coun-
try as a whole, and the aggregate
business promises to be at least per
cent above that of the 1925 holiday
season. The sales are simply Il de-
velopment of the competitive impulse
which leads to advancing the season
in any line.
Mail order and chain store compa-
MES reported sales at least 10 per cent
better than for the corresponding
week last year. while department
stores are doing per cent more
business than year ago.
Cleaning Up Apparent.
The cleaning up" trend is apparent
in nearly all lines. This is having
slightly restrictive effect on produc-
ton, but this is natural, normal ana
healthy. The L. S. Steel stock divi-
dend was reassuring factor.
Steel mills have ample orders in
advance to assure steady operation
and are taking advantage of the sea
sonal check to make repairs and in
ventories. The same is true of the
automobile business. Dealers are
cleaning up cars on hand and factory
hi hai, ~
to this trend. The outlook is for
better rates Of production after Janu-
ary /.
Actual construction contracts let
are running slightly above those for
the corresponding period Of last year
and work is progressing as never be-
fore in the Winter time. Brick prices
are strong in sections where water
transportation has been hindered by
freezes. Lumber, lime. stone and
cement are steady, but the lumber
industry is slowing UP somewhat.
Mills Increase Dividends.
In general the price trend Of chemi'
Gals is soft, but some large orders
have been placed. Non-ferrous metals,
slightly dull, responded to the domi
mating influence of statistical positions
rather than TO supply and demand in
the last week
1t is notable that none of the
larger textile mills Of new England
have increased their dividends while
many have reduced or passed them
| this year. Akron rubber companies
report a further increase in tire sales
with dealers responding more readily
to solicitation for Spring dating
| orders. Crude rubber is showing no
improvement in price owing to the
ample supply in prospect.
| Production of bituminous coal is
continuing at high rate, bat the
statistical position of this commodity
| is weakening. Some anthracite pro
ducers are said to be shaving prices.
The flush oil fields Of the Southwest
are showing no signs of falling off,
but the demand for gasoline and fuel
oil is extraordinarily high. The
! Phillips Petroleum Co. has entered
into a contract with Humble Oil and
| Refining for the sale of 10000 barrels
| Of crude day over a long period.
| The prospect for sugar prices is eX-
| cellent. although no extreme changes
have taken place in recent days. The
harvesting of the Louisiana crop is
! practically over. Receipts were less
than half those Of last year. but the
crop brought about cent more a
pound.
Railroad freight movement and rail-
road earnings continued to compare
most favorably with those of this time
| last year. silk prices are feeling the
effect of the Withholding of silk from
this market by Japanese exporters
and the slightly improved domestic
demand for silk goods.
! The dairy farmers continue in the
most favorable position of all the
| agrlculturists. Butter fat prices are
| high in most sections, especially In
| the Northwest. In the Southwest
range conditions have seldom been SO