Evening star., 1933-02-05
GAIN IN INDUSTRIAL
OPERATIONS HOLDS
At RECENT LEVELS
Number of Small Plants
Have Increased Activities
During Last Week.
RAW MATERIAL DEMAND
is GROWING STEADILY
Textile, Steel and Other Lines
Report Improvement in Orders
and Inquiries.
Special Dlspach to The Star.

spcial Dispach to The Star.
NEW YORK. February 4-Industrial
operations have been maintained at
about the same rate as last week, al
though some Of the smaller manufac-
turing plants are booking better orders
for diversified products, says Dun's
Weekly Review.
An increasing number Of small
plants are resuming operations, and
some Of the larger ones are considering
enlargement Of equipment in expecta-
ton of widening demand. Outstand-
ing this week in the reports Of broader
schedules were the industries identified
with the production of automobiles and
accessories, electrical goods, furniture.
hardware. glass. crockery paper and
stationery, clothing. jewelry and textiles.
Prospects with manufacturers of shoes
are brighter than for many months,
while the chemical business is picking
up slowly, and there is hope for a grad
ual increase in volume as the season
advances. Calls for raw materials from
the battery and tire industries have
been particularly heavy. and the volume
OF orders during January for dry prod
ucts supplies by the pigment industry
Is estimated at 10 per cent above the
last year. A turn for the better is re-
ported in the paper manufacturing
business, including envelopes and card
board. Shipments of radio tubes during
the past two weeks exceeded the COM
parative total of 1882. and was nearly
double that of two years ago. Orders
going to saw mills for lumber have in
creased steadily in volume since the
middle Of January, with demand ema-
mating from the automobile, furniture
and other woodworking industries 1t
Is a highly diversified demand, and all
buyers stipulate prompt shipments on
orders placed, indicating pickup in
factory operations and revealing the ex-
isting low inventories.
Shoe Trade Improves.
The footwear trade reports gradual
improvement, as manufacturers have
been increasing production, and now are
fairly we'll advanced on their Spring
runs. The fact that the new Spring
shoes, particularly in the women's di-
vision, are long on style but short on
leather may have some influence on the
hide market, as other leather products
continue in fair demand. Shoe manu-
facturers have been slow in covering
their leather requirements, the princi-
pal activity at present appearing in kid.
In fact the glazed kid industry is in a
much sounder position than it was IL
months ago. The large quantities of
the lower grades of kid, which were on
hand a year ago at this time, and to
which were added heavy accumulations
during the early months of 1882, all
were cleaned out and consumed by shoe
manufacturers between June and Octo-
az l.
Of these grades.
Continuous gains are being shown by
nearly all divisions of the textile in
dustry. Rayon production practically is
at capacity levels, and nearly rs per
cent Of the March output has been sold
the activity in rayon yarn producing
mills is the result Of large demands for
rayon by weavers and for increasing
quantities by knitters. The demand for
certain types of rayon crepes has
reached point where premiums arc
offered in gray goods markets, with the
result in few instances of disclosing
that mills cannot get rayon yarns in
time to accept good business offered.
Silk mills are making a better showing
and more activity is noted in the wool
trade. It Is believed that the improve
ment in the latter will be steady as cur
rent sales with a number of merchants
are ahead of the total for January, 1882.
The general level Of activity in cotton
mills continues on somewhat higher
level than in most lines of industry.
A seasonal upturn Is evident in the
steel business. with the exception of
heavy railroad and structural materials,
although track fastening sales have vim
advanced little more than l per cent
this week. marking the fourth success
sive gain in a moderate upswing. Inter-
ruption in automobile body construction
at one Of the leading plants was dis
turbing influence, holding back any
possible increase in assembling activities,
and curtailing temporarily specifications
for miscellaneous materials. Buying
from general consuming sources has
picked up somewhat, but expansion in
volume has developed slowly. Tin plate
specifications have been fairly we'll sus-
tanned There has been some improve
heavy equipment still IS dragging. but
there is well-sustained demand for do
mestic labor-saving devices.
Other Lines.
There has been little change in the
output Of plate and window glass, while
pressed and blown glassware have been
in somewhat stronger demand. There
also has been a moderate increase in the
demand for glass containers. In the
tire industry, operations reflect a sea-
sonal increase, but prices still are un-
steady, and retail sales are low. The mild
weather has been detrimental to the
sale Of soft coal for domestic purposes,
and demand from industrial sources
has been slow: prices continue at an
average, with slack SELL
ing at exceedingly low prices. Produc-
ton Of crude oil has fallen of slightly,
with stocks of refined products increas-
ing somewhat, and prices holding at the
low levels of last week.