Evening star., 1933-12-31

half Of the unemployed. these trades
| feel that wear and tear as well as obso-
lescence Of the last four years will bring
sizeable orders in 1894. Agricultural
/ machinery makers, as a result Of farm
purchasing power gains, probably will
collect debts long overdue, but crop re-
striction plans. surplus farm labor and
doubt about export orders make them
feel less optimistic than industrial ma
/ chine manufacturers.
Carriers Need Cars.
! Railway Equipment-Freight car In
quiries at the year end were the largest
since 1880. Carriers in 1882 bought
/ 1853 freight cars and no steam loco
motives. Their purchases in the first
nine months Of 1888 were % locomo-
| tiveS. mostly switching, and 1872
| freight cars. Air-conditioning and
/ the new high-speed trains are vitality
| changing equipment styles.
Meat Packing-SuppleS of beef, pork
and veal, slaughtered under Federal
/ nspection-which is about two-thirds
/ Of the total-were up 1872, S.6 and 81
| per cent, respectively. over 1882. while
lamb and mutton were down "a per
cent. Naturally, the grower got lower
prices Slaughtering was heavy through
out the year, REGARDLESS Of price, as
/ the finances Of the cattlemen and
! forced marketing. Ranchers and pack
ers look for marketing agreement
which will virtually amount to price
fixing with Government cooperation.
Hides and Leather-SupplieS of hides
in this country at the start of 1888 were
less than in 1929, and this was true
Of leather. As a result these materials
we're bid for. here and elsewhere, by
our busy boot and shoe factories. The
from Az to IA cents. Net hide i'm
ports in the first 10 months of 2,148,00
compare with $4,000 in the same 1892
period. Movement into-sight for all
26.9 per cent. Cattle hide leather pro-
duction of 13,825,0O compared with
ll,94,000 in the first 10 months Of
1882. Consumption of all cattle hide
leather in that period rose 145 per
cent. Finished stocks in all hands at
the end of October were 6,13o.ooo,
against 100000 in the same 1882
month. Leather prices reflected higher
hides and tanning materials, much Of
which are imported and therefore
moved against the dollar trend.
Boots and Shoes-Footwear produc-
ton in 1888 was the largest in four
years, around 346,O0o,0oo pairs. Op-
erations reached their peak in August
and tapered somewhat thereafter. In
creased costs were passed along IN re-
tail quotations.
Textiles, Cotton Goods-The cotton
textile industry, largest employer Of
factory labor in this country, faced
disheartening picture in Spring,
viewed either from an economic or
credit position. Employment was at a
depression level. Wages were unsatis-
factory to both mills and workers. De-
structive competitive influences had dis
rupted the price structure. Unrestrict-
ed overcapacity menaced stability.
Consumer market outlook was black.
The industry was the first to submit
and first to receive a code under the
N. R. A. Pay rolls were increased from
S12 100000 in March to s26,000, 900 near
the year-end and the larger pay rolls
increased the purchasing power Of tex
tile workers by $4,000, 900 between
duction costs, such as higher wages,
shorter hours, more workmen and the
cotton processing tax, naturally re-
suited in higher retail prices for cotton
goods. From print cloths to denims,
increased buying caused the mills to
consume vast quantities of cotton-in
fact, at rate not equaled in some
lines before 1929
Wool-Tops here ranged from a low
of At cents pound in January to a
high of $109 in May, or a gain of 81
cents, resulting from the rise in the
price of gold and the gain in clothing
and carpet manufacturing. Wool top
trading was three times as great as in
1882. Use of wool in clothing and car
pets the first nine months gained 40
per cent. The rise in raw material
along with higher costs under the code,
lifted cloth prices and consequently gar
ments. This advance will be reflected
more in Spring wear than 1t was in
Autumn.
Rayon-This material remained the
miracle" textile. Domestic consump-
| ton in 1888 was placed as high as 200,-
100000 pounds, compared with an es-
timated use of 130,000000 pounds in
1882. Early In the year the mills cur
tailed and reduced prices. with the re-
suit that stocks we're small before the
Spring Summer buying rush started.
American rayon exports set record,
though many other nations, notably
Japan. which ranks second to the
United States, also experienced better
buying.
Mems clothing-Stocks at the start
of the year we're ample enough, in view
OF buying, to bring about price reduc-
tions. This trend was reversed late In