Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-02
NATIONS WORKERS
WELL EMPLOYED
Advance in Grain Brings Big.
ger Demand for Farming
Implements.
BY J. C. ROYLE.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, August Unemployment
Is running as steady as a well regulated
clock. This means that the purchasing
power OF the Nation is at full flow and
that funds are being stored up for fu-
ture buying.
The wide employment of labor ex-
tends into practically every State in
the Union. The farm workers are
busily employed and at some points in
the Midwest there is still a call for
farm labor. It is likely this activity
will continue until Fall. More men
was expected owing to the harvesting
OF some low yield wheat, which most
farmers had thought would be aban-
doned until the price started upward
Highway construction is doing more
than its share to absorb surplus labor.
Nearly every State has been provided
with ample funds for road building
through gasoline and motor vehicle
taxes and Federal aid is also doing its
part in paying for this work.
Steel Industry Active.
The extremely high rate Of employ
ment is being maintained in the steel
industry. The trend in that great
field OF activity was plainly shown this
week by the report of the United States
Steel Corporation announcing that
earning for the second quarter had
reached the unparalleled peace-time
total of ST. 1895, 46l.
The level of prices for some steel
products has fallen trifle, but in gen.
eral prices are firm and orders are
sufficient to run the mills at a high
rate up to the time when the Fall ac-
tivity begins.
The automobile factories are not run
ming as high as they have been in some
cases. but the first and second largest
producers in the low-priced field are
straining every nerve to meet demand.
The new models shown this week have
attracted wide public attention and sales
so far in these new lines have been
fully up to expectations. The truck
and bus manufacturers also have been
doing far better than a year ago, as
was evidenced by the recent White Co
| report shown gain for the half year
over 1928. There is little chance for
the output Of the electric equipment
manufacturers to drop off in the re-
mainder of the year in view of the
back-logs piled up. The central sta
ton equipment demand is overwhelm-
ing, for the recent public utility mergers
aided demand instead of quashing it.
Railroad identification plans are grow
ing apace and household electrical uten-
sils are in growing demand.
Call for Farm Implements.
The call for agricultural implements
has risen in direct ratio to the adj
vance in wheat and other grain prices
Export sales are also in excess Of those
of last year. The radio set and equip
ment manufacturers are making and
selling more goods than they have ever
done before in the Summer se-son,
which normally is the dull time of this
industry. New receiving sets are meet
| ing with unexpected favor. The same
is true of the new tubes recently put
on the market
The railroads. with fine earnings to
brighten their outlook and car load
/ ings exceptionally heavy. are buying
| far more equipment than they were a
year ago. This has been shown by re-
ports of the builders of freight cars.
tank cars. locomotives. gas and electric
cars and signal equipment. All of these
mechanical lines of endeavor are in the
market for machinery and tools. The
sale of automatic machines used in the
various trades has been very heavy and
has resulted in the material expansion
of capacity and many of the machine
equipment and tool making plants.
There are ample supplies of the non
ferrous metals on the market, but de-
mand. especially for copper. is high
Consumers are taking large poundage,
| but the full effect of foreign demand is
not expected to be felt until Autumn.
Lead and zinc are in a less favorable
statistical position. The main producer
of nickel is known to be far behind with
deliveries.
Anthracite Mines Opened.
A fair number of the anthracite
mines which have been closed have re-
opened this week. The bituminous coal
mines are not making the same moves
as the hard coal operators to bring their
methods and equipment up to date. Oil
output continues heavy. but the outlook
in view of the continuous advance in
consumption. is not gloomy. The cot