Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-04
SCHOOL DAYS GIVE
RETAIL TRADE PROD
Quitting of Youth for Col.
Iege Big Factor in Bust.
ness at This Time.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. September A.
School days" sung to the accom-
paniment of changing cash registers.
has become the favorite musical
composition of merchants all over
the country. The Quitting of school
and college students became the
dominant feature of retail trade this
week and VIII continue to exert a
tremendous influence for fortnight
to come.
The keenest effect naturally was
felt in the apparel trades. Cloth
ing of various sorts will be bought
for between twenty and twenty-five
million youngsters by September 20.
This will involve the expenditure OF
more than hundred million dol
lars. 1t is estimated that about
seventy-five million pairs of shoes
are needed for school children each
Fall and Winter. Shoe factories al
ready are engaged in preparing to
meet these requirements.
While this added demand has made
itself felt in all parts of the Nation it
has been specially noticeable in the
country districts. where harvest
money is being distributed and pur-
chases have been liberal. Many mer-
chants We're able to take full ad-
vantage Of the trend today, since the
Saturday closing rule in most cities
extended only throughout August.
Sporting Goods Sales.
The approach of Labor day. the last
of the Summer holidays, gave a final
flip to sales of sporting goods and
resort clothing.
The Fall activity has been preceded
this week by fur and garment bargain
sales, the result of which merchants
declare were highly satisfactory. 1t
was noticeable that the more expen-
sive fur garments were in greater de-
mand than the cheaper coats. Sales of
pelts for trimming purposes have been
exceedingly heavy. Industrial activity
continued at a high rate throughout
the country up to the holiday. and
schedules in some lines neceSSitated
working right up to Saturday night
Steel production is being maintained
at an exceptional rate. with current
orders coming in steadily. The auto
mobile industry Is speeding up as new
models are taking hold. but care is
being utilized that dealers shall not be
5WdIilpCu Will Oil uNCI-SuPply VI NdiS
The oil industry continues one of
the mainstays of the steel mills. but
the growth in production has been fol-
lowed by one or two minor price cuts
in crude.
Railway carloadings show no signs
of slackening. and there is every in
dication that railroad earnings will be
larger this month than in either July
or August. Million-car weeks are eX
pected to continue. The carriers will
shortly begin to feel the revival of de-
mand for both bituminous and anthra-
cite coal.
Machinery Demand Good.
The demand for machinery by va
rious industries and public utility
companies is acting as sustaining
influence in the markets for non-fer-
rous metals, especially copper. Many
hydro-electric and steam generating
plants are being rushed to completion
before Winter, and the electric equip
ment concerns are working at top
speed.
The textile situation has shown de-
cided Improvement in the last few
days The mills of the South are
speeding up under pressure Of new
business and the New England manu-
facturers are squeezing out a margin
Of profit in many instances which has
not existed during the Summer. The
silk mills are encountering increased
demand and governing output accord
ingly.
The Canadian wheat crop is still a
potent factor in the affairs of the
American farmer, but the millers of
this country have been absorbing spot
grain at a remarkable rate. and for
eign demand shows some signs of i'm
provement.