davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1928-12-31
PAINT

Paint materials in most instances
rose in cost steadily from May onward.
None the less, the paint manufacturers
had what was probably the best year
in their histories-at least the major
producers did.
The demand was insistent not only
as result Of new construction, but for
refurbishing purposes. More house
holders bought and used paint them
selves than ever before. This trend was
emphasized by the development of
brushing enamels and by the sales of
paint in the chain stores. Gains were
recorded from month to month with
great steadinesS.
The automobile industry was largely
responsible for the increased sales Of
spray enamels and lacquers. The paint
makers found ready market for their
by-products, especially in the textile
trades. The furniture industry was a
heavy paint consumer, as were pro-
ducers of household and kitchenware.
Evening star., 1928-12-31
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

New records for electrical equipment
sales were established during the year
Higher records for profits also were
hung up by the principal producers.
In the third quarter, orders booked
totaled $264.419,328, the largest three
months business ever recorded. The
fourth quarter sales are believed to
have been approximately as high, since
the year closed with factories going full
blast to keep up with demand.
The extensive electriflcation programs
announced by the Pennsylvania, the
Reading, the Illinois Central and the
New York Central Railroads are count
ed on to stimulate business further.
The central station equipment demand
has been extraordinary and more
household electrical equipment has been
sold than in any previous year. This
was specially marked in the refrigera-
ton field, in radio equipment and In
household utensils. The gain in profits
for the year for the industry in general
Is estimated as per cent over 1927.
The sales of lamps has been stimu-
lated by price cuts, especially for the
smaller sized lights and for automobile
lamps. The automobile industry has
absorbed a big volume of products, as
have new buildings and the transfer of
industrial plants from steam power to
electric power basis.
Evening star., 1928-12-31
DRY GOODS

Gains were recorded in retail dry
goods sales all over the country in
1928 and in various forms of distribl,-
ton during the year, but the chain
stores and mail order houses registered
the major improvements. 1t probably
was for this reason that wholesale dry
goods sales fell off and the jobberS
did not do so well.
The chain stores and mail order
houses each piled up gains of 20 per
cent or more, while the department
store gains mounted to to per cent.
The chain stores and mail order
houses put extensive expansion pro-
grams into effect. The mail order COM
panies opened a big number of retail
stores in strategic centers and all
seemingly did well. The chain order
houses expanded their list of stores and
some of the smaller units were absorbed.
The smaller independent stores in gen.
eral did not do so WELL but it was
proved over and over again that there
Is still a place in retail merchandising
for such stores.
The department stores benefited to
an extraordinary extent by the holiday
trade, which was the heaviest ever
known, according to the figures so far
available. Sales were helped out by
the trend toward vivid colors In bed
room, kitchen, bathroom and other
equipment and in clothing. But the
real impetus behind record sales was
Evening star., 1928-12-31
FLOUR

Demand for -four has been excellent
in 1928 both at home and abroad, but
it has been accompanied by lower prices
than obtained In the previous year. The
big flour companies, however, were able
to buy wheat In larger quantities this
Fall at comparatively low prices and to
reduce the price of flour to the lowest
point since 1924, at the same time re-
tanning their profit margins. These
price reductions brought out big buying
by domestic and foreign consumers.
Earnings in the flour fiscal year
ended June 80, 1928. were slightly lower
than for the preceding fiscal period for
the more important producers, but the
situation has been reversed in the last
six months. The trade has been helped
not only by the expansion of the baking
industry, but by the fact that many
chain store groceries now are baking
their own bread. The trend toward
crackers and sweet cakes also has
helped consumption.
Production for the first three quarters
of the year was at the rate of 9,050, 900
barrels monthly, as compared with g.
100000 barrels in the corresponding
period of 1927.
Evening star., 1928-12-31
HIDES, LEATHER AND
SHOES

"On top of the world" was the way
many hide. leather and shoe concerns
found themselves at the end of 1923.
Hide prices advanced owing to strong
statistical position and the relatively
small marketings Of cattle. Stocks were
low. This gave firmness to the leather
market.
Shoes were in strong demand, with
orders running 10 to Is per cent
heavier than a year ago. The holi-
day shoe demand was stronger than
for years, and plants began Spring
production in many instances before
the turn of the year
Leather prices, which promise to be
well sustained, were aided by the addi-
tional uses for this product. Bags,
millinery, luggage, sport goods and
garments entirely of leather aided to
use up the surplus stocks. Moreover,
the American tanners have proved
their superiority and there is strong
and growing demand for AmeriSan
feathers abroad. Calf and kid have
led the van in popularity despite the
vogue for reptile feathers, and patent
leather sales have grown beyond all
expectations.
The sole leather tanners have per-
hapS done as we'll as any units in the
VAoOC, tIACAi coll uAlSo USlIlS dlIIIOSI oU
per cent in excess of 1927 for the
year. The shortage of hides continues
and stocks are low despite an increase
of 43 per cent in imports. Stocks
amount to around 3,500,000 pieces
Leather stocks occupy much the same
statistical position
There were about 100000 more
pairs Of shoes made in the first 10
months of the year than in the cor
responding period of 1927. Prices OF
shoes have moved up somewhat, but
not sensationally. November produc-
ton was 28,351 900 pairs, making the
IL months total 324,252, 900. The
years output probably will reach $780,.
1000 and may exceed the previous
high Of 351, ,114,000 made in 1928.
Evening star., 1928-12-31
TRUCKS AND BUSES.

There was a rather sharp demarka-
tion between the automobile truck
manufacturers who made satisfactory
profits in 1928 and those who did not.
Ehe former, however, far outnumbered
the latter, which were confined to a
group of five or six. Truck production
has run over 525, 1000 units, according to
expert estimates just completed. This
compared with 488,000 in 1927.
The feature of the truck field has
been the popularity Of the medium ca
pacity vehicle, with speed and fexi-
bility which would enable 1t to move
freely in traffic and the passing Of the
old-time solid truck tires in favor Of
balloon tires. The truck industry was
dormant in the first part of the year,
but showed marked activity in the last
six months.
Profits have been better stabilized be-
Eause much of the bus business has now
kpassed into the hands of public utility
Goncerns. and few losses have resulted
from failures to pay for vehicles. More
aver the trade has relieved itself largely
Evening star., 1928-12-31
GLASS

Glass did better in 1928 than in 1927,
but the industry still was in an un-
enviable position at the close Of the
year. The plate glass industry benefited
by the increased production of auto
mobiles, since the motor manufacturers
take a lot of glass products for wind
shields and windows.
The foreign producers still threaten
American producers with severe compe-
tition, although the flexible plate now
being developed in American plants is
helping sales.
The big building program insured the
use Of large volume of window glass,
but profits from these sales were meager.
The electrical and radio industry helped
the glass manufacturers and the activity
of the canning and preserving field ad-
vanced the demand for glass containers.
So did the big sales of the soft drink
producers.
Improved processes in 1928 insured
better net return per box for window
glass than in the previous year although
prices were low. Some plate glass works
opened up as the year drew to close
after having been closed since January,
1929
Evening star., 1928-12-31
NON-FERROUS METALS

The non-ferrous metal producers en-
Joyed distinct revival of prosperity in
most cases during the year and mines
were reopened and actively operated,
some of which had been shut down for
long periods and others of which had
been under restricted production. The
advance in the demand for, and price
OF, copper was the feature of the metal
year.
Under careful restrictive measures the
stocks of copper dropped to a low
point Demand advanced surprisingly
and the result was an advance in price
from around 13 cents to above 16. Pro-
duction increased with this advance.
since it enables all except the tre-
mendouSly high cost producers to mine
at a profit. In October production
reached a high Of 149,199 tons of re-
fined copper and stocks dropped below
$4,000 tons. As a result 1928 copper
property earnings are estimated at so to
rs per cent higher than in 1927.
Foreign demand is strong and electrifi-
cation projects and other activities by
consumers seem likely to keep con-
sumption and prices high for some time
to come.
Lead Stocks Are Reduced.
Lead stocks also were reduced by
careful gauging of output and the
statistical position of the metal and
price strength bettered In consequence.
Consumption was heavy, but the foreign
situation complicated matters. Stocks
still are somewhat higher than a year
ago, but profits of lead companies were
higher than in 1927.
The year wound up with prices for
slab zinc at about the best of the year,
and visible supply was reduced to
around $4,000 tons. This would, seem
but capacity of mines is well above con-
Sumptive demand.
= ZIG tin prices showed excellent.
Evening star., 1928-12-31
COAL.

There was a sharp demarkation line
between the relative success of anthra-
cite and bituminous coal operators dur
ing the year. Winter found the anthra-
cite mines operating at capacity, with
a bi-weekly pay roll of approximately
$I2000,000. Moreover, the industry has
made wide installation Of improved ma
chinery and has injected new and vig-
orous blood into producing and sales ex-
ecutive forces. 1t has also conducted a
scientific campaign for education In
fuel and its uses.
Bituminous coal producers, on the
other hand, showed little improvement.
Throughout much of the year many
union mines were closed by the labor
dispute. The non-union mines were
worked fairly extensively and stocks
Evening star., 1928-12-31
FURNITURE

Furniture manufacturers had fine
year in 1928. owing largely to the trend
toward modernistic furniture Of the
skyscraper, or architectural. patterns.
They also were aided materially by the
emphasis placed on color in house deco
ration, which necessitated the purchase
OF new furniture to go with new mod
ernistic color schemes in paper, hang
ingS and decorations.
The manufacturers look with favor
on the demand at present, for 1t Is of
character which spurs buying both dur
ing the vogue of the styles now In ia
vor and after they have given way to
a different type. The Grand Rapids
market has been so busy 1t has been
decided to add additional shows for
buyers who could not reach the semi
annual exhibitions.
The prosperity Of the county, and.
Evening star., 1928-12-31
COFFEE

The restrictive measures put into
effect by the Brazilian government were
sufficient to put and keep up the price
of coffee during the year. AS the year
drew to a close prices were 5 cents or
more a pound above the 1927 level for
the corresponding period.
Coffee was in strong demand In this
country, and while no small amount
came in from other countries the Bra
lillian supply is the mainstay of the
market. Imports, it is believed. will
show decided drop below the 1,432,-
800, ,000-pound mark established In 1927.
Evening star., 1928-12-31
BRICK.

ne $70oo,000,o0o construction year
made the past season fairly prosper
Gus one for the brick manufacturers
Taking the 1923-25 period at 100, the
employment in the brick yards ran from
7 to 35 points higher than a year ago,
but prices were trifle under those of
the 1927 period during most of the
year, running about at an average for
common brick of $1375 thousand as
against an average of $14.02.
Evening star., 1928-12-31

trend away from the fine weaves which
have always been most expensive, and
the color schemes of the bands again
were a factor in sales.
The growing trend toward the wear
ing of silk hats with formal evening
dress and opera hats with dinner coats
aided sales. Labor difficulties were COM
paratively negligible.
Evening star., 1928-12-31

activity In business and industry has
kept demand for Office furniture and
equipment at high pitch and the
building of new schools, theaters and
churches has produced demand for
seating equipment which has been ex-
traordinary. Prices were on practically
a par with those of 1927 during the
major part of the year.
Evening star., 1928-12-31

on the soundness
of a structure looks
first at the sup
porting pilla a r S,
soun din g every
stone and eStin1at-
ing t h e S t 7 e S S
placed upon 1t and
its neighbors.
The following
analyses of the
situation of each
of the chief COM
modities will serve
TO give business
men, both en-
ployerS an G
workers. an oppor-
tunity to estimate
the strength of
the business struc-
ture and formula
1000 accordingly
Evening star., 1928-12-31

the huge purchasing power now pos
sessed by the American people. The
average monthly sales Of the principal
mail order houses for the first 10
months ran about $43,0O000O as COM
pared with SAL 100000 for the entire
wear 1927
Evening star., 1928-12-31
HATS

Manufacturers Of felt hats did a big
volume Of business in 1923. although
the margin of profit was not large. The
withstanding that the prices of raw ma
terials neceSsitated fairly high prices.
The vogue of the 'brown derby" got
no real start and the other stiff hats
did little The straws had q distinct.
Evening star., 1928-12-31
BRILLIANT PROSPECTS
SEEN FOR MANY In 1929
Aviation Movement, New Industry, Has
Only Begm-Foreign Sales Boon
to Many Businesses.

of the burden of excessively high trade
in values and consequent big stocks of
used trucks.
A number Of consultations have taken
place. These have usually been among
companies serving and specializing in
sales in a certain restricted territory.
Evening star., 1928-12-31
BY ]. C. ROYLE.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
N YEW YORK, December 31-The
IN pillars which support the
NJ business, industrial and COM
Il mercial structure of this
Nation are the basic COM
modities produced and consumed. An
engineer or architect called in to pass
Evening star., 1928-12-31

decided increase In the capacity Of
the tire fabric mills.
Evening star., 1928-12-31

ture and formulate their plans fol
1929 accordingly.
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-11-01
RASK0B HURLS
BIGOT CHARGE
Says Republican Associates
Promote Religious Attacks
on Smith

New York, Nov. 1.-(AP)-John
J. Raskob, chairman Of the Demo-
cratic National committee, charges
that persons associated with the Re-
publican party and its National COM
mittee are promoting attacks on
Governor Smith because OF his reli-
gion.
The accusation was made in q let.
ter to DR.. Hubert Work, chairman OF
the Republican National committee.
Mr.. Raskob enclosed material upon
which he based his charges. A copy
Of the letter and enclosures also was
sent to Herbert Hoover.
The material included . photosta-
tic copy of letter purporting to
have been. written by Senator
George H. Moses Of New Hampshire
to "Hon. Zeb Vance Walser, Lexing-
ton, KY" and copies Of affidavits
by four persons who swore they had
received through the mails or at Re-
publican headquarters or meetings
printed anti Catholic material.
The letter purporting to be from
Senator Moses referred to an article
written by native Of South Caro-
lima now engaged in newspaper
work in New York city" which the
letter called "red hot stuff" 1t
asked that Mr.. Walser have the
article printed in North Carolina pa
pers.
Mr.. Raskob termed the article
zone Of the most vicious anti Catho-
lie articles that has ever been penned
for publication"
Mr.. Raskob did not make public
the article to which he referred but
called upon Chairman Work to pro-
duce q copy. Senator Moses is vice
chairman Of the Republican eastern
advisory committee.
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-11-01
Hoover Farm Session
Pledge Called Gold
Brick in Statement

Chicago, NNov. 1.-(P)-Frank
w. Murphy of Wheaton, N. D.,
chairman Of the legislative commit
tee of the corn belt committee, de-
clared today that Herbert Hoover's
promise to call an extra session of
congress is just another bold
brick" His statement was issued
by the Smith independent organiza-
tions committee.
1.-THE statement of Herbert Hoover
to the effect that if elected he will
call special session Of congress to
consider agricultural legislation is
significant evidence of the fact that
he and other Republican leaders are
in desperate straits. The devastat-
ing reaction to Hoover's New York
speech, in which he charged in eff
feet that because Governor Smith
favored the McNary-Haugen bill he
was advocating socialism, h as no
doubt prompted this action on the
part Of Mr.. Hoover"
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-11-01
So .Alimony Sam Spent Three
Years in Prison to Defy
Court
Released at Last When His
Buddies Footed Disputed
Marital Bill

Willows, Calf, Nov. October |
ten years ago saw the 363rd infantry
fighting, Flooding, dying through
the mud, muck and morasses Of the
Argonne and the Ypres-Eys salient.
And the present finds the rem
nants of the 363rd still shoulder to
shoulder, winning objectives-with
the regimental treasury suffering
the casualties.
The regiments latest victory is
winning the four year "alimony
war;" which has almost divided this
county, while the "alimony martyr
DOM of Sam w. Reid gained nation
wide prominence an. brought threats
of everything from appeals to the
governor to storming the legislature.
Reid fought in the 363rd during
the World war. After the war, he
married. A few years later, his
wife sued for divorce here. She was
granted a decree, custody Of their
baby daughter, $40 a month alimony
and $40 month for the child's sup
port.
Reid refused to INV.
"As long as the child remains IN
the keeping Of her maternal grand
parents, I'll not pay a cent" was
Sans def.
you'll pay or you'll 90 to Jail
until you do pay" in substance was
the ukase Of the court.
Reid chose to defy this edict. And
he was adjudged in contempt of
court by Judge Claude F. Purkitt
here, and placed in Jail.
That was in July, 1925. Reid,
defending his position as he saw it,
dug in" at the Jail, preparing Tor
lone stay. The court, equally de-
termined, stood its ground. The case
became widely discussed-and hope
lessly deadlocked.
Someone brought an insanity
charge against Reid. A sanity trial
found him normal.
For more than three years he ate
and slept as the guest Of Glenn
county. There seemed no way OF
breaking the impasse.
Buddies Invite Martyr.
Wartime buddies Of Reid decided
that visit by the "alimony martyr
to the tenth annual reunion OF the
old outfit might take his mind off
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-11-01

with contempt Of court In taking
the prisoner from the county. A date
was set for the hearing.
Attack His Stubbornness
The 363rd felt that It was losing
ground in its fight to rehabilitate
Reid. It's officers summoned m At
torney. and rushed here from San
Francisco to assist Heard. For
hours, the veterans argued with
Reid, attacking his stubborn fight
for q principle, telling Of the sher-
IFS plight through working in
Reds behalf. They pledged the
support Of the old outfit in getting
Sam started again, and in any sort
Of legal action he might later want
to take for custody Of his child.
And just before the sheriff was to
appear in the overcrowded court
room on the contempt charge, at
torneys announced that Reid had
been purged Of the contempt charge
through payment Of the disputed ali
mony by the 36Srd Infantry Asso-
citation.
Fined for Contempt
Heard was declared in contempt
Of court, and was fined $3.50.
The treasury Of the 363rd suf-
fered its second setback Of the day
as it yielded the money to pay the
fine Of the sheriff who braved arrest
to 60 over the top with the 363rd in
breaking an impasse.
And now, "Alimony Sam" and his
three years in Jail here are becoming
q memory; the sheriff is being
hailed rs q real hero, and the rem.
nants Of the 363rd are proving the
truth Of its boast that "This xana
sticks together"
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-11-01
CORN PLAYING
LARGE R0LEIN
I FARM ADVANCE
Growing Contests May Be Way
Of Furthering Interest in
Industry
WEEDS CUT PRODUCTION
Agricultural College Experts
Urge Corn.H Hog C0mbina-
ton for State

Corn growing contests are grow
ing in popularity throughout North
Dakota as means of promoting the
industry, according to experts at the
state agricultural college.
One acre, five acre, 10 and 40 acre
plots are the most favored for the
contests. Corn is introduced into
the farming system because it kills
the weeds and saves the moisture
for succeeding crops, and should be
promoted in every way community
sees fit, the college experts say.
"Corn growing takes the place Of
wasteful summer fallow. First i'm
portance, therefore, is assigned to
freedom from weeds. One grower
may be fortunate enough to get
higher yield than another because
his soil is naturally little richer
or because rains came just at the
right time; his higher yields may be
obtained in field that has not been
kept clean, hence his field should be
scored down for weakness although
scoring high for yield.
"The degree of maturity reached
depends upon the good judgment ex-
ercised by the grower in his choice
Of variety; upon the earliness Of
planting; upon the warmness Of the
soil, largely determined by favor
able location or exposure, and upon
the character Of the season. Since
many good crops Of corn are intend
ed for the silo instead Of the corn
crib, the degree Of maturity is not
rated rs high as some of the other
points. In the most carefully con-
Quoted contests where all growers
start with the same variety, the de-
gree Of maturity reached is Of more
Importance than where the different
varieties are used.
In the best corn contests all
growers should start with seed of
the same variety and having the
same termination test. Any differ
ences in stand that happen are then
due to differences in care exercised
in preparing the seed bed, and in
planting the crop. Poor stands at
maturity are due to several causes
including poor planting, poor seed,
root diseases causing death of seed
lings, and destruction of plants by
carelessness in cultivating.
Fields. showing much disease
should be discounted somewhat; in
dications Of ear, stalk, or root rot,
or of sterile stalks should lower the
score. Severe smuttiness should
lower the score.
"The contests are measures of the
relative efficiency for corn produc-
ton of the soil, the season and the
grower rather than Of the efficiency
OF the variety or strain of corn used.
All fields should be planted the
same day and all should be scored
within the same period of not more
than two or three days."
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-11-01

before the election. Senator Alfred
Steele, jamestown, will speak Sat-
urday night at Gackle at = meeting
arranged BY the women Ut the COM
munity. Thy will entertain their
husbands and other male residents
with the first political rally ever
staged by women in that vicinity.
a radio talk tomorrow night, dis
cussing state issues, and on Friday
night he will again 60 on the air
with . discussion Of the campaign
for judges of the state supreme
court. Mrs. c. w. Moses, Bismarck,
will share the time with Young Fri
day night, discussing state issues.
They will 60 on the air at 7:20
o'clock ahead Of the Hoover speech
at st. Louis.