Evening star., 1933-01-03
MAGAZINE EDITORS
SEE IMPROVEMENT
Better Business Conditions
Predicted During First
Quarter of Year.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, January 3.--A majority
of editors Of leading trade magazines
lcok for some improvement in busdness
during the first quarter of this year,
states the National Conference of Busi-
ness Paper Editors in an annual sum-
mary released for publication today.
The report contains the views of men
who edit 80 technical journals in as
many industries. Some Of their COM
ments follow:
Steel Outlook.
E. L. Shaner, editor of Steel, said:
"Steelmakers are recognizing capital
structures. personnel, equipment and
methods more thoroughly than ever
before. Some obsolete and poorly situ-
ated plants are being abandoned. New
products are being introduced. Oper-
ations all a'ong the line are on more
efficient basis. Through rejuvenated
American Iron and Steel Institute more
intelligent thought is being given to
numerous internal and external prob
lens Ct the industry. Progress is being
made in connection with freight rate
adjustments in certain important dis
tricts. These and other details of house
cleaning are serving to place the steel
industry in better shape to fight for
1888 business. A number of the more
enterprising companies will enter a
profit area when operations approach
&c nnff ffu 4rtNn
same companies began to lose money
when operations fell below 65 per cent"
Freight Accelerated.
Samuel o. Dunn, editor of Railway
Age, said: Depression has brought
about rigid economies in operation and
improved transportation service. So
marked has been the acceleration of
railroad freight service that the slow
freight is now thing of the past, while
freight trains in general currently rival
passenger trains in speed As for
the first quarter of 1888, the outlook
is favorable A year-end upward trend
In freight business almost always has
been forerunner Of improvement dur
ing the first half of the following year.
Traffic is still very small in comparison
with what it was in the years of pros
perity. But the recent increases in
freight and in net operating income are
highly encouraging, especially in con-
trast with the steady downward trend
of traffic that prevailed without break
throughout 35 months.
John A Miller, editor of Transit
Journal said Many Of the adjust
ments dictated by economy will be of
lasting benefit. These include extern
sive substitutions of motor buses and
trolley busses in place Of electric rail
cars speeding up Of electric railway
equipment and active research work in
car design. During the past two months
of 1882 transit traffic improved. This
trend should continue during the COM
ing months"
F. E. Schmitt, editor. Engineering
News Record, said: Construction dur
ing the first quarter of the new year
will probably be at least as good as the
closing months of 1882. Better condi-
tions are developing in the residential
building field"
Textiles Improving.
Douglas G. Wcolf, editor, Textile
World. said: THE textile industry
closed 1882 in a gratifying position in
SO far as mill activity and employment
are concerned during the first
quarter Of 1888, textile activity should
be fairly well maintained, and should
be close to the average level of the last
five months OF 1882.
c. K. MacDermut, jr., managing editor
Dry Goods Economist, said The de-
preston has taught department stores
to reduce dollar coSts-by restricting
customer services to essentials. by elm
mating or minimizing improbable de-
partments, by experimenting with new
/ lines, by seeking more productive ad-
vertising media No Improvement II
sales is expected in the next 80 days
Profit will be sought by doirg present
volume ats smaller expense ratio"
Arthur D. Anderson, editor, Boot &
Shoe Recorder, said: Spring always
gives the shoe industry forward i'm
pulse. This year it should provide
double thrust. Easter comes so late
/ that it gives a previous opportunity fol
a l00-day campaign fer the creation OF
work shoe production in the nex
80 Gays may be gre.tly encouraging.
Packers Feel Hopeful.
Paul /. Aldrich, editor, the Nationa
proyisioner. said. Many packers fee
the bottom of the depression has beer
reached. Any improvement in genera
purchasing power will be reflected al
most Immediately in better markets foI
meat and livestock
v. B. Guthrie, managing editor, Ma
tional Petroleum News, said: In le3'
the industry expects a moderate declin'
In gasoline consumption, because moto
cars will be scrapped faster than the,
are replaced"
Sydney A. Hale, editor, Coal Age, said
In some important aspects the Goa
mining industry is in more favorabl
position than many of its fellow giant
OF the American trade. Liquidation o
excess physical capacity started severa
; years before the collapse Of 1929; as
result, coal production was close to 81
! per cent OF 1881 volume and 81 per cen