Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-04-14
Retail Buying Stages Rise
on Wide Front Despite
Adverse Weather.
TEXTILE AREAS FEEL
DECLINE IN ACTIVITY
Drop in Coal Shipments Sends
Rail Loadings Down-Steel
and Power Rates Sag.
BY RAIDER WINGET,

ASSOCldIeO fTeSS WIlJcEs
Business sentiment was better than
business last week in most sections
of the Nation, but with the exception
of adverse weather conditions there
were no brakes on the advance into
the Easter trade upswing.
Dust storms in the West and South
cbscured vivid Easter displays Of
many merchants who still are count
ing on a last-ninute buying rush this
week. but retail buying advanced on
a wide front in all sections where
local conditions did not disrupt de-
mand.
Optimism was built up by two
Washington Observation-Disclosures Of
the S4,880 100000 work-relief bill and
the advance in the price Of silver from
64.64 cents to Till cents an ounce by
presidential order.
Some economists have contended
automobile sales have been sustained
in no small part in the past by Gov
eminent relief expenditures, and these
same analysts saw additional demand
from the new relief money which they
believed also would extend in time
to other sections of the business and
industrial community
Grams Reports, Inc. estimated
motor production last week in the
United States and Canada at 109,537
units, compared with 107,895 units
last week and reported no present in
dication of recessions of output in any
of the plants.
The silver price boost. caused by a
reduction in the seigniorage charge
from so per cent to As per cent OF
the statutory price of s1.2929 retained
by the Government, was the signal
for rejoicing in the. Western mining
regions where many had visions Of
revived activity in long abandoned
mines.
Textile Mills Slow Up.
Southern States fell last week be-
tween curtailed cotton textile produc-
ton and Summer movement OF the
new rate cotton crop to the market,
but the reflection on general business
was not marked because it had been
expected. New England and Eastern
sections also were touched by lessened
mill activity
Sharply adverse last week was the
report on carloadings for the week
ended April 6. The drop was 11.6
per cent under the previous week and
"a per cent under the same period
of 1884. Coal shipments registered
the greatest decline. and in the Pitts
burg district coal production was less
than half the previous week. Pro-
ducers had stepped up output IN ad-
vance of an anticipated strike, which
did not materialize, and then out
put tumbled, pulling the car loadings
average with it.
Production of electric power de-
clined during the week of April 6,
but the drop was less than antici-
pated for this time of year. The in
crease over the same period Of last
year was So per cent.
Steel Rate Down.
Steel production. estimated at 43.8
per cent of capaciay, fell fraction
last week from the previous week,
as estimated by the American Iron
e. Steel Institute. Steel makers an
ticipated a slice of the huge work.
relief appropriation, which they hoped
would begin to bolster the order books
by the time demand from automobile
centers eased for the Summer.
Also hoping for work-relief money
through the construction industry
lumber producers, who last week were
cheered when production increased
for the week ended April more than
seaSonally expected. Orders and ship
ments were ahead Of output.
Staples Near 1885 Peaks.
Rising commodity prices, which are
approaching the years high point, were
reflection of adverse Agriculture
production conditions, and farming
communities last week reported optim-
ism as a result Of the anticipated
increase to farm income.
Reports follow from individual Fed
eral Reserve districts:
BOSTON.-Cotton textiles, long in
the doldrunls, showed slight better
ment in the first district while shoe
production, in the Easter cleanup
period. was slightly less than in 1884.
Retailers said trade, while fair, was
off, because of continued bad
weather.
NEW YORK-Retan business in
New York Metropolitan area was
steady, but weather conditions re-
tarded the pre- Eastern recorder squirt
expected from the rest Of the Nation.
PHILADELPHIA distinct up
turn in retail sales was reported. In
duStrial operations held fairly steady.
Richmond Reports Lag.
RICHMOND-Busin sagged ap-
probably in the fifth district with
rain dampening buyer interest and
cotton textile mills curtailing activt-
ties. Debts to individual bank &C
counts were of sharply.
ATLANTA-Letting Of large road
and bridge contracts aided business
in Georgia, and daily pickup in
Easter buying was reported through
out the sixth district.
CHICAGO Despite unfavorable
weather, retail trade responded to
the Easter impetus. Wholesalers re-
ported continuation of demand later
than expected.
ST. LOUIS-Unfavorab weather
held down st. Louis district retail
trade and reacted on wholesale lines.