Evening star., 1928-12-28
INDUSTRIES CLOSE
SUCCESSFUL YEAR
Production Is Resumed at
Mines and in Other Lines.
Prospects Good.
BY J. C. ROYLE.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, December 2S.-Indus-
trial activity of necessity dropped as
the year drew to close, with two
major holidays and the minor ones
which workers took Of their own accord
and at their own expense. But the vast
majority of businesses are now closing
UP one Of the most successful years IN
history and there Is every evidence that
the next six months will see the record
Of activity fully maintained.
It was only today that the full swing
Of production in mines, mills and fac
tories was resumed. The anthracite
mines had a full quota at work today
for the first time since last Friday.
Steel mills also were affected, although
to a lesser extent. Work was only
slightly checked in the metal mines,
especially the copper properties, and in
the lumber camps, which were well
away from the attractions Of the larger
cities.
Building Activity.
Builders had their men on hand early
to take full advantage Of the favorable
weather which obtained in many Sec
tions. The work of the extra clerks
hired for the holiday trade In the re-
tail stores is practically over. Some
establishments let their extras 60 Tues
day night, but others who had spent
time and money training these work.
ers are holding them over until Sat-
urday night in an effort to consolidate
the good viii which has been estab-
liShed and to have q force available
at short notice.
The preparations for the annual jan
tiary white sales are in full blast, with
packing cases crowding the unloading
platforms Of the larger stores. The
exodus to the Southern resorts will start
In Immediately after the turn Of the
year and buying Of wardrobes will be
brisk for the next two weeks.
Schedules have already been outlined
for the major industries for the coming
quarter. The automobile industry plans
to turn out approximately 1850, 900
cars and trucks In the next three
months. Selling that number will be
a difficult task, but by no means an
impossible one. Competition will be
very keen, as price cuts announced this
week have foretold.
Steel Production.
Steel production may reach It's peak
IN March or April, although this year
1t was Fall before maximum output
was reached. Prices are firm and de-
n1and Is ample. Building In the first
quarter Of 1929 may not reach the huge
total piled up last year, but It. will close
ly approach 1t.
The farmers spent freely at Christ
mas time, but their pockets are not
empty at the start of the new year.
This Is due largely to the dairy and
live stock industries in the West and
the improvement in the statistical and
price position of cotton In the South.
Lumbermen are optimistic and with
reason, since demand has been main
tanned at q period when slump usual
ly asserts itself.
Two industries are being warned
against overconfldence. These are oil
and railroad equipment. The new
gushers are bringing a huge volume Of
oil to the surface and the equipment
lines show only hesitant moves out Of
their rut of depression. The position
Of sugar Is anything but satisfactory to
producers. American shipping, even
with the loud.voiced aid Of the Shipping
Board, Is distinctly a trailer behind
foreign lines.
Other Industries.
The radio manufacturers have not
caught UP with orders and neither have
the rayon mills. The paper mills have
apparently overrun their quarry, but so
many Of them are selling power as well
as paper that their financial position
has been comparatively little affected.
The real estate business Is prospering.