The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-31
TRADE PAPER
EDITORS VIEW
1885 OUTLOOK
Organs Vision Further
Improvement in
Position.

Editors of leading trade papers
display an optimistic frame of mind
in making their forecasts Of the out
look for their respective industries
in 1885.
American Machinist, Kenneth II.
Condit, Editor-After a disappoint-
ing year the Woodworking indus
try faces a decidedly more hopeful
prospect despite the meager Stats
teal evidence to support this state
ment. Certain factors that have
been working to stimulate the heavy
machinery industries give strong in
dication of bearing fruit during
1945.
This year witnesses a marked re-
covery in the automobile industry
and in the retail field, but, for the
most part, showed a declining trend
in the manufacture of durable
goods. The downward trend was
uninterrupted from Js.nuary to
July, but since then has turned
moderately upward.
Prolonged use of obsolete equip
ment leads to inefficient operation;
the necessity for cost reduction
means an abandonment Of this pol
icy. This is especially true when
design and development of improved
equipment has proceeded as vigor-
ously as it has during the last few
years. The need for modern man
ufacturing facilities should be
strong enough during 1885 to over
come the present hesitancy regard
ing long-term capital commitments.
Coal Age, Sydrcv A. Hale, Editor.
Although bitumnous coal output
in 1884 was approximately only 10
per cent ahead Of 1888, the general
position of the soft-coal industry
was materially improved. Thanks
to code regulation under NRA, basic
wage levels and actual earnings OF
labor have been substantially in
creased; elimination of destructive
price competition has had marked
effect upon the financial position
of the industry and profits-long
existent in the records of hun
dreds of mines-have reappeared.
Textile World, Douglas G. WOoIf,
Editor.-There is definite indication
of an increase in textile mill &C
tivity in 1885 over 1884. A con-
sentative estimate would place that
increase at 20 per cent at least.
This would mean that 1885 would be
about a normal" year based on the
1923-25 average.
The effect of the general textile
strike and also Of a certain amount
of buyer resistance to higher costs
resulting from codes and processing
taxes was noted in the performance
of the industry in 1884 Total mill
activity during that year was some
IS to 10 per cent below that of 1888
Final statistics are not available at
this writing.
So far as profits are concerned,
1884 showed a decline from 1888,
primarily because 1888 financial
statements reflected inventory prof
its to a considerable extent.
would estimate 1885 as a fair profit
year, for a company which has kept
itself in shape both so far as its
plant and it's policies are concerned.
In arriving at predictions for
1885, the following favorable factors
in textiles have been taken into con-
sideration curtailment Of wage
chiseling as a result of NRA; in
lection of somewhat improved trade
practices under the codes; sounder
and more aggressive merchandise
ing policies, and apparently we'll
warranted anticipation Of improve
ment in general business and par
ticularly in the capital goods in
dustries. Against these, the major
unfavorable factors are: possibility
of further labor troubles and addi-
tional buyer resistance to increased
costs created by codes and process
sing taxes. The balance is definitely
on the side of the favorable factors.
Radio Retailing, Ray v. Sutliffe,
Managing EditOr-Set, tube and
part sales this fall are topping last
years record by approximately IS
per cent in dollar volume, accord
ing to Geographic reports received
from radio men all over the country.
1t is estimated that sales for the
first half of 1885 will exceed even