Evening star., 1926-12-11
future IS CONCERN
OF BUSINESS NOW
Planning for New Year Order
of Day-Good Trade
Is Indicated.
BY j. G.. ROYLE.

NEW YORK. December 1l.--Busi-
ness men, knowing now just about
how they are going to come out Tor
the year. are devoting more time TO
plans for the future than to present
activities. Many of the concerns have
had most profitable IL months and
are laying plans to take advantage
of favorable conditions which are ex-
pected to continue after the turn of
the year. This trend has been boil
stored by the optimistic attitude of
Secretary of the Treasury Mellon.
Those lines which have not made
big profits in 1926 are striving for
policy which will correct their
troubles. The trend toward consoli-
dations, SO Enthusiastically shown re-
Gently. is a reelection of this. since
there is no general move to advance
prices. and additional profits therefore
are dependent on reduced costs.
This planning for the future is evil
dent even in retail trade. now in the
thick of the Christmas rush. which is
living up to the most optimistic en-
pectations.
See Good New Year.
Leaders in various ceslters ex
pressed confidence today that indus
trial operations would start the year
in a satisfactory manner and that
many concerns. including some auto
mobile and steel plants, would swing
into hea vier production late in Janu.
ary. Automobile output in Detroit is
still low. but leaders do not expect it
to remain SO. Steel mills in general
are working at o. little better than 70
per cent of capacity.
Coal output is heavy. but there is
certain amount OF nervousness
shown on the part of both bituminous
operators and miners over the signing
of a new working agreement and wage
scale next April.
Petroleum and its products have
not improved their statistical position
during the week, but are in far better
shape than a year ago. Output of
crude still IS heavy. Demand from
domestic wire mills and brass foun-
dries has strengthened and steadied
copper. but the other non.ferrous
metals showed dullncss and a slightly
softer trend
Staples Moving Well.
Wheat and flour shipments abroad
are increasing and fine volume of cot
ton is moving into consumption.
These factors improved the condition
of some of the agriculturists. South
ern business circles are carrying on
systematic campaign to increase the
use of cotton in the form Of tWine
and other manufactured products.
Building contracts let are still run
ming well ahead of those of Decem-
Der. 1925, but the prospective volume
of construction as reflected by appli-
cations for building permits has
shown some falling off in the last
fortnight. Lumber production is be-
ing closely adjusted to demand The
extent OF early Winter building ac-
tivity is indicated by the fact that
the Prudential Insurance Co. in No
vember loaned $40, 0,491 OFT real estate
mortgages in the United States and
Canada.
Rubber Much Lower.
Rubber. now selling about 10 cents
a pound less than a year ago, Is re-
fiecting the feeling that supplies will
be ample for some months to come.
Some tire manufacturers report an
increase in demand which has been
stimulated by the late price cut
Sugar is behaving steadily with the
confectloners using a large amount
in filling the holiday demand
improved sentiment is apparent in
the wool market and in wooen tex
tile circles. Demand is making it.
self felt more insistently with con.
sequent strengthening of the raw ma.
terial position.
Expansion of the sales of manu-.
factured gas is a feature of the utility
situation. Industrial use has risen
above 80 per cent of total output this
month and the use Of gas for house
heating purposes is rapidly increasing.
Gas companies are preparing to push
the sale of refrigerators run by gas.