Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-15
WORK CONDITIONS
ON UPWARD TREND
Presidents Committee Finds
Industries More Active in
Most Of Al Cities.

An optimistic trend appeares in re-
ports received today by the PresidentS
Organization on Unemployment Relief
from the majority Of the Il cities queS-
toned by the national relief unit .as to
conditions affecting business and en-
ployment.
The reports as made public by Fred
C. Croxton, assistant director OF the
Presidents group. showed that in Pitts
bursh, Buffalo, Chicago and Birning-
ham the steel trade was improving.
These reports were regarded as particu--
larly significant because OF the TACT
that only IA days ago the United States
Steel and other metal corporations re-
duced wages 10 per cent.
Croxton's Buffalo correspondent said
q scheduled five-point advance in steel
operations for the current week Will
place production in the Buffalo district
at the highest rate for any zone in the
country, 40 per cent OF capacity. The
upturn in Buffalo with the lighting OF
the steel works blast furnaces elsewhere
indicates fractional increase in the
general level Of the production.
While the rate of steel ingot produc-
ton remained unchanged in the Pitts
burgh area. the Presidents organization
was advised that the financial relief
plan proposed by President Hoover has
had a steadying influence on business
sentiment there.
Electrical Apparatus Sales.
The Pittsburgh report added that
sales of electrical apparatus have had
an encouraging increase. The seasonal
upturn in demand for bituminous coal
was reported below normal. but 1t was
believed that orders will be spread out
over the Winter months to q greater
eytant than In YYeViOllg VAarR creating
steadier employment for the miners
and more uniform coal car loadingS for
the railroads.
Sheet and plate mills In the Birming-
ham district we're reported running at
approximately 100 per cent capacity,
and the pressure pipe outlook was bet
ter than anticipated. Pig iron. however,
was reported unchanged at recent low
levels. According to Chicago Associa-
ton of Commerce, the business outlook
in that city has taken on a slightly
better tone Steel orders received by
Chicago plants showed pickup, sew
eral large contracts being placed for
railroad industrial and structural steel.
For the first time in the last six
months the Presidents group has re-
ceived a favorable report from employ
ment conditions in New York. Accord
ing to statistics compiled by the New
OIk oIdlC LdUOL OCEalOII1GIlI, CLuPlOy-
ment in the Empire State increased
per cent and pay rolls per cent in
September. as compared with August.
This rise was attributed to seasonal in
fiuences. Most of the principal indus
tries, according to the report, showed
gains in employment ranging from
to IL per cent. New York City alone
reported a gain in the number en-
ployed of per cent due to q pickup
in metals, clothing, fur and rubber
goods industries.
Applications on Decline.
The National Employment Exchange
in New York City reported that during
the last week the number Of applica-
tions declined 1907 per cent, requests
for employees increased 7.59 per cent
and placements made increased sos per
cent. The ratio Of applications for
every 100 Jobs opening during the week
was 2,951. as compared with 1865 dur
ing the previous week.
Philadelphia business executives were
reported looking forward to a steady
volume of trade at a slightly higher
level for the next few months. They
said they do not expect sharp advance
but rather a steady improvement, and
readjustments in the plants and CT
CARNATIONS are being made on this
basis. The report from that city ADDED
that a settlement of the hosiery mills
strike has added 10000 workers to pay
rolls during the last week.
More favorable reports were received
from Atlanta, Mobile, Chattanooga,
Nashville. Charlotte, Charleston and
other Southern cities on business and
unemployment conditions. The Atlanta
report said the general trade situation
has been stimulated by the distribution
on October l of dividend checks
amounting to apprc ximave1y S4,000,00
by various corporations and banks in
the district
Both indianapolis and Detroit report
ei no change in business and employ
ment. the former declaring that en-
ployment had declined per cent since
August. The Michigan metropolis re-
ported that September department store
sales were 10 per cent below year ago,
while sales in other stores were down rs
per cent and collections were off 2.5 per
cent. An improvement was looked Tor
during this month, the report said.
Unemployment was reported increas-
ing in Milwaukee. Kansas City, st.
Louis, Houston and Dallas. Better re-
ports, however, were received from cities
in the Far West.
Whistler was the first great painter