Evening star., 1927-03-12
BUSINESS IS HELD
AT NORMAL STAGE
Hope of Early Spring Factor
Which Stirs to Increased
Activity.
ny !. G. ROYLE.

NEW YORK, March 12.-Prospect
Of an early Spring has been the lead
ing factor in the last few days In
spurring business to increased activ-
ity. Retail trade, the surest measure
of national buying power, Is feeling
the effect of Easter demand. The
Easter trade up to this time had ar
fected only the manufacturer ana
wholesaler. Sales compare favorably
with those of this time last year.
The farm situation is not entirely
satisfactory, and this has prevented
even greater trade expansion. How.
ever, sowing of Spring wheat has
commenced In the Northwest and wool
shearing has worked as far north az
the Texas Panhandle. No small part
of the 1927 wool clip is already con-
tracted for, and some of these con-
tracts have been turned over TO the
mills at a slight profit, but dealers
are moving conservatively in taking
over further commitments.
Cotton Situation Reviewed.
An easier spot tendency in the
South has placed cotton in weaker
position than it occupied a week ago,
and the obvious determination OF
planters in some districts not to cut
acreage has not mended matters.
Mass meetings are being held all over
the Southwest to promote cattle. hog
and poultry production and crop dl-
versification.
A big business has been transacted
in cotton textiles, and orders booked
are almost sufficient to run many mills
through April. Finished stocks have
dropped Is per cent from month
ago. Sales are running around ) per
cent higher than a year ago. None
the less, some New England mills are
having strenuous times to make ends
meet. Others are running full.
The warmer weather has given
decided impetus to automobile sales,
although this factor has ceased to be
as potent as it was before the wide
advent of the closed car. The Ford
Co. has made the first inquiry at
Duluth for iron ore for 1927 delivery,
specifying 40o,00 tons.
Steel Production at Higher Rate.
Steel production in all sections is
proceeding at high rate. The lead
ing Western steel producer has an.
nounced bookings for second quarter
delivery are to be at an advance or $2
a ton. The Pittsburgh district antici
pates that although the merger OF
some of the independent sheet manu-
factufefS has run lntO ulIncNIIlcS, con
solidaton Of at least minor proportions
lis likely. since competition from the
strip mills Is constantly becoming
keener.
Advancement of the season has been
responsible for decided gain in the
volume of construction contracts let
I'm the last week. This was reflected
In the sales Of some building materials.
notably lumber. The non-ferrous
metals have shown no wide fluctua-
tions, but lead is in a stronger tech.
nical position than the others. Con.
sumers seem well supplied with cop
per and zinc.
4 Efforts to CurfaiI Oil Output.
Strenuous efforts are being made to
curtail oil production, especially in
the Seminole field, but output there is
stiff running around 100000 barrels
a day and new wells are coming In
fast In the meantime. rnidcontinent
crude prices have declined since the
end of last year.
The coal situation shows little
change but the shipments of bitumi-
nous, which are being put on reserve
piles, are aiding to keep car loadings
at a high point.
Preparations are in active progress
for an exceptionally busy Summer re-
sort and tourist season throughout
the Eastern, Western and Northern
sections of the country.