Evening star., 1933-01-29
TEXTILE AND SHOE .
|. TRADES LEAD WAY
|. IN BUSINESS GAINS
Seasonal Activity Is Also
Noted in Centers of Motor
Industry.
SMALL PLANTS REOPEN
IN VARIOUS LOCALITIES
Reports of Wage Cuts and Reduc-
tions in Personnel Are Becom-
ing Fewer Each Week.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, January 28.-The
heaviest gains in manufacturing opera
tions during the week were reported
In shoe producing centers. where fac
tories are broadening their schedules
to take care OF Spring orders, says
Duns Review. Business thus far
booked gives promise of shoe output
during the first quarter running slightly
ahead Of the comparative record OF
last year, as stocks have been allowed
to decrease to minimum proportions
and in some instances have been almost
depleted by the January clearance
sales. The New England mills are SELL
ing moderate quantities of cotton yarn,
and there has been some increase in the
orders for knitting yarns, with prices
slightly firmer. Mills are buying raw
wool somewhat more freely, and the
demand for piece goods from the ap-
parel trade Is increasing; mems cloth
ing factories are buying more freely.
Better activity Is noted In worsted and
woolen yarns, and the demand from
the bathing suit and sweater manufac-
turers Is active. Jeresy cloth yarns
also are selling well.
Motor Products Activity.
The industrial situation is being i'm
proved by the seasonal activity in mo-
tor products, In preparation for the
Spring buying revival Manufacturers
are doing everything possible, regard
less Of expense and profit, to hasten an
upturn. Production schedules have
been stepped up in number Of auto
mobile factories, resulting in q consid-
cradle increase in the forces engaged
in these plants. This improvement Is
reflected to a somewhat lesser degree
in some automobile establishments and
in rubber tire plants in a few localities.
There has been q slight improvement
in the output Of steel, although current
operations are dependent largely upon
hand -to-mouth specifications, finishing
mills having limited backlogs. Flat
rolled steel statistics reveal but q slight
gain in untitled tonnages during Decem-
ber, and buying over recent weeks has
not been in sufficient volume to increase
working schedules materially, though
some expansion in automotive materials
is anticipated. The demand for plate
and window glass continues slow, al
though there is a slightly better demand
for safety glass from automobile sources.
Bituminous coal production IS at a
somewhat lower rate, and the demand
from both industrial and domestic
sources is light. Although production
Of crude oil Is at lower rate, prices
have been reduced on some grades Of
oil to the lowest point in more than
thirty years.
Small manufacturing companies are
reopening in increasing numbers in va
riouS parts Of the country, and reports
ynAr, ~ v,l Law M ka-
coming fewer each week. Conditions in
the furniture industry are more encour-
aging, and some of the floor covering
manufacturers, particularly those max
ing linoleums and rugs. are planning in
creased schedules during the next few
weeks. Manufacturers of some of the
low-priced radio receivers are continu-
ing operations about at the December
level, which was slightly above the No.
vember record. The chemical industry
has held fair proportion of the gain
Of last Fall.
Other Industries.
Nearly all Of the jewelry manufacture
ers, on the other hand, report current
operations below those of the compare
tive period of last year. The electrical
supply business Is slow in yielding any
indications of progress, and manufacture
ers OF plumbing and heating supplies
find that orders are fewer than they
were year ago. Manufacturers of pa
per, cardboard and envelopes, in con-
trast, have noted an improvement since
the first of the year. and are expecting
a gradual expansion in demand, due to
the better inquiries that printers are
receiving. The thread business has
picked up sharply since the first Of the
year, and manufacturers are looking
forward to a season fully as good as
that enjoyed last Fall, which was q de-
cided improvement over the situation
that prevailed during the Spring and
Summer Of 1882