The Washington times., 1936-02-18


furnishing trades active Heavy rains the Pacific Coast
insure good crops that section The calling off of the dress
strike in New York is helpful. "
In general reports from all sections indicate much regu
lary in business with the Southwest and Pacific Coast
doing best.
.-. --.-a- ..-. -. ~ ....s5-.. ...,.
The steel industry has shown increased activity though
hardly much of gain is the normal seasonal expeca-
ton In view of the tagging automobile sales and retarded
building activity however, the showing is good
The most doubtful symptom the continued weakness in
prices of finished steel In this connection should
that the higher quotation for steel probably due to
weather conditions which make the supply difficult
sharp drop in automobile production week ago may
mark the bottom of the readusment in that industry Pro-
ducton to be in line with Saes and last week the
output was stepped up little.
hard to size up the significance of the decline in "ad
jused" caroadngs While coal shipments naturally have
jumped the of miscellaneous and merchandise
freight has declined sharply and below year ago.
inclined however, to think that this is largely the result of
weather conditions
Retail trade has been distinctly spoty with average
only about equs year ago. Wholesale trade in lines
is SLOW But there appears be little in the situation that
return of fair weather and early Easter will not remedy
Although still irregular wholesale prices last week
Such commodities wheat burlap and cottoneed oil
lower but declines here outwghed by advances
and OATS WOOL cotton silk t rubber hegS pork butter and
eggs The rise in wool and worsed yarns brought 10 per
cent mark-up IN wool blankets.
Two producers marked up price of copper to
cents while others have enjoyed large sales 9N Al
though the foreign market has risen somewhat may we'll be
doubted that domestic demand and supply conditions justified
The Senate passed the soil conservation
farm bill Under the guse of conserving the soil the bill gives
Mr. Wallace great power spend money and to control
unquestionaby evasion of the Supreme Courts
AAA ruling =
One thing be Of that Gin way another
the Administration is going to give farmers their daily pur
chasing power incidentally this going raise the of
daily bread The step will be raise taxes
on various farm products)
The first batch of checks for ocia security payment
out from Washington last week The only 400
000-which like nothing in these blon-dolar days
Moreover these first checks for the soundest part Of the
BILL namely grants Of aid to States for needy children the
aged and the blind The big money will LATER this being
just the entering wedge)
Congress has not done much yet but developments in the
Administrators housing under Apparently
attempt to stimulate private building activity will be the
chief move. 4#s-
Thus may count increased Government spending to
maintain farm purchasing and easy Government credit
for building operations business stmulants this year.
The dollar remained unsettled in foreign exchange ranging
from 9912 to 9982 in gold is undervaued
however and long this is true need fear important
gold drain This will be true until commodity prices rise in
proportion to the mint price" of gold.
Washinqton Stocks 4