Evening star., 1927-06-11
BUSINESS IS GOOD
IN MOST SECTIONS
Agricultural Situation Still
Uncertain, but Retailers
Are Doing Well.
BY. j. C. ROYLE.

Specldl DtspdtcH W ANS ctot.
NEW YORK, June 1.-THE trade
winds Of commerce continue free and
favorable. The agricultural situation
still is uncertain and it will be some
weeks before the prospect is clarified,
but there is little indication of a cur
tailment of farm buying power: On
the other hand. the industrial outlook
is very favorable. Some industries
are finding their margins Of profit mar
rowing, but leading lines are in strong
positions, wages are high and steady,
and employment good. Wise mer
chandisers are notching sales quotas
at the same levels obtaining at this
time last year.
The steel industry is experiencing
nothing like the usual curtailment
normal for this time of year. More
over, requirements of steel-using in.
dustries are due to expand in the next
few months. A large rehabilitation
program will be financed in, the food
zones during the remainder, of the
year.
Tire Plants Are Active.
The situation in the automobile in.
dustry is plainly indicated by the &C.
tivity at the tire plants. The Akron
rubber factories are at high rate OF
a better ratio to sales owing to the
lower prices of crude rubber. The
three Goodyear plants-one in Akron,
one in California and one in Canada
are at peak production for. the first
time in history.
The automobile situation admittedly
is spotty. but the leaders are working
on schedules which are astonishipsly
high, and introduction Of new models
soon to appear is counted on to spur
sales for the next three months.
There has been little change In the
actual volume of new construction
contracts let. but the new permits
have slipped in number. Actual work,
however, has been at high level. Most
building materials are firm except cast
iron pipe and fir timbers. Brick is
flowing in steady from abroad. Sales
Of lead and zinc have been very good
and some buyers of the former seem
to think the bottom has been reached
New business in lumber has been re.
stricted, but untitled orders have in.
creased.
The actual volume Of crude oil pro.
duced has not shown material de-
cline, but a better sentiment now ac-
tuates the industry and this is being
reflected in strength Of some Of the
production is moving along in its mar
row groove.
Commercial aviation has received
probably it's greatest spur in the last
few weeks. Further impetus may
come from the insurance companies
which are considering extension Of the
all-risk policies and accident and
travel policies to cover accidents in
cident to air travel.
Aviation also has turned the atten-
ton of inventors engineward. Their
experiments are not only with en-
gine designs, but with fuels. When a
designer of the reputation of Charles
Kettering of Dayton talks seriously of
running motors on interatomic en-
ergy, the extent of the possibilities
for the future can be judged.
Withdrawals against contracts in
the refined sugar trade have been
heavy. and the volume Of fruit avail.
able indicates high percentage of
use for canning purposes this year.
Textile mills continue to feel sharp
recoveries from conditions which pre-.
vailed year ago. Print cloths, sheet.
ings and drills have risen in the last
week or 10 days. The volume Of trade
in agricultural implements and ma
chinery with foreign nations is most
gratifying.