Evening star., 1926-04-10
Conservative Buying Is Seen.


Cotton prices are low. II the weather
favors big crop to add TO the heavy
carry-oyer from last season the check
to buying is likely to take on greater
proportions below the Mason and
Dixon line.
Moisture and sunshine also will de-
termine the financial situation of the
other sections. as it does every year.
The soundness of the agricultural
situation, however, Is shown by the
volume of farm implement sales
There is shortage of farm labor, due
in some measure to restriction of i'm
migration, and power equipment Is
being extensively purchased to offset
this lack of manpower. Recently sales
have been 26 per cent ahead Of those
of the Spring of 1925.
The steel industry has been main
tanning production at high rate, the
only check coming from illness among
employees which cut working forces.
Charles NJ. Schwab, chairman of the
board of Bethlehem Steel, says wage
earners are working in the best spirit
Of peace with employers in 70 years. ,
Auto Trade Is Brisk.
In the automobile field, the Buick
Co. has shipped 1900 more cars in
line was introduced than in any prev.
ious annual period. The plant has
been at capacity since August l, 1925,
and March shipments totaled 25, ,305
cars. Retail deliveries of Fords by
dealers have improved since March 20,
by about l 300 cars a day. Hupp eX-
port sales increased 3S per cent for
the first quarter as compared with
last year. Other concerns are work
ing at or close to capacity.
The railroads are commencing their
Spring maintenance work and are en-
ploying thousands of men in putting
their rails and rolling stock into shape
and keeping them there, all the while
handling a heavy volume of traffic.
The non-ferrous metals have been
quiet. This has been due TO the con
dition of foreign business rather than
slack domestic demand. Copper, lead
and zinc all showed some weakness
during the week.
The demand for tires has improved.
but because of big stocks this has not
materially affected the crude rubber
market, which is steady but slightly
lower than month ago or a week
ago. Tire fabrics are in better de.
mand, but cotton goods are trifie off
in price, rejecting the low levels of
the raw staple.
More buying interest is in evidence.
Woolens have done a little better and
the tone of the recent ioor-covering
auctions improved toward the close
Raw silk prices dropped a trifie and
so did volume of broad silk sales.
Oil Products Stronger.
Petroleum and its products strength
ened their position, but coal showed
little improvement. The radio indus
try is doing better than for some
time. With prospects of crop ex-
ceeding $500, 900 tons of raw sugar
Cuban producers are issuing cries of
distress, but the domestic beet pro-
ducers are going right ahead with
preparations for a big 1926 acreage.
Alfred p. Sloan, president of Gen
eral Motors, told the Delco Light and
Frigidaire sales convention in Dayton
that electric refrigeration was taking
its place with the automobile and
radio as one of three great electrical
business developments of the age.
Refrigerator sales in the last month
were go per cent larger than those
of last year, he said. The Frigidaire
business of 1925 amounted to $4,000
900. and E. G. Biechlor, president Of
Delco, told the statesmen indications
were that 1925 sales would reach
$S0,000, 900.