Evening star., 1927-04-28
FLOOD WILL SPUR
TEXTILE DEMAND
Fabric Makers Approaching
Capacity Output for First
Time in Many Years.
BY j. c. ROYLE.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, April 2S.--Cotton tex.
tiles are being turned out o., more
rapid rate today than at tn time a
year ago. A number of m lis are
working at capacity for the list time
in several years. There is s'dl some
surplus of textile workers in New
England, but they are finding more
work than for long time. Sales and
shipments Of cotton cloth have in
creased substantially. running ap'
proxin1ately 80 per cent higher than q
year ago. according to the Association
of Cotton Textile Merchants.
These facts unQuestionably reflect in
part at least the effect of the great
food on the basic raw material.
Whether or not the food will mean a
reduction of / 900, 900 bales in the 1927
crop, as some experts figure, it un'
auestionably will make a decided diff
ference in paintings. What is far
more important is the effect on the
quality Of the cotton which is grown.
Worst Yet to Come.
Cotton men in the Southeastern dis.
trict who are conservative in their
estimates Of the effect of the food on
acreage, feel that the worst is yet to
come from inundation of the lower
delta regions. Late cotton planted on
lands flooded now, they said today,
probably will not grade as high as
''mtddling" even If the demoralized
farmers should be able to undertake
a crop after the waters recede. The
flooded regions are the richest cotton
lands in the world
There is a distinct feeling in cotton
circles that the effects of the flood
and heavier weevil infestation may
tend to restore cotton to higher prices.
The mill men recognize this possibil-
ity So do the consumers or cotton
cloth. In consequence the mill men
are turning out an increased amount
of goods made from cheap cotton and
consumers are buying an increased
amount of goods priced on a OASIS OF
cheap raw material.
Operating ON Full Time.
The cloth mills Of New Bedford en-
gagged in production of cotton and cot
ton and silk or rayon mixtures are
operating their looms on full time.
It is the opinion of observant tex
tile men that the margin of pruf1t Is
widening on special lines. Several In
dividual mills are said to be sold com
pletely for several months ahead.
In Fall River, where production con-
sists more generally of coarse goods,
conditions also are improving. Some
producers Of medium coarse gooos
and print cloths are on full time ana
making a profit. Four out of five
nlants of the Pepperell Manufacturing
Co. at Biddeford, Me-, are at capac-
ity. while the remaining plant at
Lowell, Mass, is being restyied TOT
fine goods and silks in place or the
rinehams formerly made.
Blanket looms OF the LoWeH pianL
are sold ahead several months, ana
are now on a day-and-night operating
schedule. Indicative Of the improve
ment was the resumption of dividends
nv the Nashawena mills of New Bed
ford.
Fear of Heavy Stock.
Fear is expressed in some quarters
that the mills again are accumuiatlng
heavy stocks of goods. Those who re-
gard the situation optimistically say
that even if this is the case these
stocks, made from cheap cotton, Wiil
be increasingly valuable as the effect
OF the floods on the raw material pro-
duction is fully realized.
The popularity of the cotton and
rayon fabrics has caused TREMENDOUS
demand for the artificial fiber. Most
makers have already sold the bulk OF
their output to July /. After four
price advances in recent months, an
other is anticipated in many quarters
when the books are opened for third
quarter business.