Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-07
oU|CKEN|NG PACE
IN INDUSTRY SEEN
Shoe and Clothing Business
Better-BuiIding Activity
Spreading.
BY J. &. ROYLE.
Special Dispatch TO The Star.

Spef13I Uspatcn 10 Inc star.
NEW YORK. January 7.--Business
has already caught the pace Of the new
year and Is now under full Roadway.
The period Of inventory taking is over
and so IL the hesitancy which lnev-
itsbiy comes at the close Of the annual
period. There has been little buying
inertia to overcome, and orders for
various types Of products have been
pouring In.
This is noticeable especially in shoes
end clothing. and those two lines of
endeavOr are among the list which
needs encouragement most. The
weather developments have been fav-
orabie- for sales and recorders have
been making their appearance with
gratifying regularity. The shoe con-
ven.ions and shows in Boston during
the past week have emphasized the
fact that stocks are comparatively
Iow and that while material prices are
high. the advance has not checked
consumptive demand.
Weather Aids Building.
The weather also has been favorable
in many localities for the continuation
of Winter building construction. This
has meant additional employment in
the building trades and has helped
sustain the general high buying power
of the larger communities. Building
activity Is spreading rapidly through
the South. but the number Of workers
available IN that section make the i'm
portation Of additional artisans neces-
sary.
steel mills have picked up sharply
and production today compares more
than favorably with the corresponding
period of last year. The railroads
have placed fairly satisfactory orders
and their buying is by no means over.
Automobile concerns have aided in
creased output by the placing Of sheet
orders.
Coal still continues In a had way.
Prices are extremely low throughout
certain of the bituminous fields and
further wage cuts are being seriously
discussed. The:e is general tendency
among the coke producers to abandon
the beehive equipment and turn to the
by-Droduct coal ovens.
Oil production is gradually slack
ening. hut this has not yet progressed
to place where sharp price advances
are in immediate prospect.
The opening OF the automobile show
has stimulated the activity Of the
motor car factories. Five of the lead
ing producers expect to increase their
output in 1928 by so to ZOE per cent
Fruit Crop Suffers.
Fruit suffered from bad weather in
the last 10 days and this NAV have q
later effect on the canning industry
Another factor which may affect
the preserve fruit production Is The
situation in Cuba sugar. Ii is p-arti-
caliy certain that the Cuban cFoo will
he restricted tn <.oo0. oo0 IONS. bur the
thing which still Is uncertain - the
amount which wifi be assigned tn The
American market by the Cuban exIorS
commission.
The high prices obtained for live
stock have stimulated the buyir- Of
breeder stock and there has been sx-
tensive contracting for feeder -a.tIe
tor delivery tate next Spring.
Wool has been I'm good der,ani on
the ranges. with no small porti W Of
the 1878 clip already contracted Cor.
The ncn-ferruus metal markets nave
heen remarkably quiet. bur firm. ST.
yer Is slightly easier. bur pia.snunn
has improved In price. owing 20 Ire
removal of pressure for lrau,.,ais n
safes ny Russian producers
The lumber industry siumped sharply
since the holidays. the decline heinz
not so much in new business. however.
us IN production and shipments