Evening star., 1938-12-25
Wide Advances in Industry
Predicted for New Year
Upturn in Lost Months of 1893 to Continue,
Expand, Trade Publication Editors Say

the past year has been increasingly
active in the field Of American mill
tary aircraft construction. Orders
from foreign countries for military
airplanes will continue to keep most
Of our large manufacturing plants
running near their full capacities
during 1899.
The prospect that Congress will
authorize the expenditure of suffl-
cient money to develop our air power
to an extent unparalleled in history
augurs well for the American avia-
ton industry. Commercial airlines
Will take delivery of several modern
types OF air transports during 1899.
The largest airliners in the world
will be put into service for transcon-
tinental and transocean service.
Frank Gould, editor, Manufacture
crs' Record-It is my opinion that
business in 1899 will be better than
it has been in 1888. There are al
ready signs of improvement in what
industry is planning. as evidenced
by the bond issues it is success
fully floating. The needs of the
country have banked up and there is
a vast untitled demand. With any
kind of encouragement. this de-
mand will manifest itself and we
should move forward. AS we do,
the idle will find employment. and,
while we may have to tighten our
belts as the tax bill grows, we can
make progress toward balancing the
budget and paying the debt.
H. H. Brown, editor, Marine En-
glneering and Shipping Review
For the third consecutive year, the
shlptullding industry has set a new
record in the volume of vessel ton
mage under construction. Further
expansion is definitely assured in
1889, for the orders for merchant
vessels so far placed by the Mari
tlme Commission, in conjunction
with private operators or for its
own account, barely meet the min
lmum requirements of the first wear
of the Governments 10-year re-
placement program.
Douglas G. Woolf, editor, Textile
World-The textile industry ap-
proaches 1889 with an entirely diff
ferent outlook from that with which
it entered 1898.
The textile curve of 1888 was
slightly above normal Cl923-25
average), but about one-f1fth below
the record year Of 1887.
Every expectation points to a
continuation of a good rate of &C
tlvity through at least the first six
months of 1899. At a fair estimate.
the monthly activity during thai
period should approximate 100, or
slightly below the rate for 1897.
For 1899 as whole, the best guess
is that it should be we'll above nor
NAL say in the neighborhood of
lis. on the 1923-25 average.
Godfrey M. Lebhar. editor, Chain
Store Age-Chain store operators
will enter the new year feeling far
more optimistic than they did a
year ago. Their optimism will be
based upon two factors: The i'm
proved outlook for business in gen.
eral and the growing opposition in
responsible quarters to proposals
like that of Congressman Wright
Patman of Texas to destroy chain
stores by levying special, punitive
taxes against them.
L. c. Morrow, editor, Factory
Management and Maintenance
The manufacturing industries are
due for better business in 1899.
Principal favorable factors are:
Pump-priming, improved labor re-
lations, more independent Congress,
present-day attitudes OF manage
ment.
Early improvement will result
from the aggregate of a large num-
ber of relatively small improvements
in industrial plants. AS never be-
fore, industry realizes that increased
costs, due to higher labor rates,
higher prices for materials and
more taxes, must be offset by lower
ed production costs. Steps are being
taken to provide better inventory
control, better materials handling,
more effective utilization of power
and equipment
Erik Oberg, Editor, Machinery
The machine building industries,
and the machine tool industry in
particular, have not had an ex-
ceptionally good year in 1898. The
prospects for the coming year ap-
pear reasonably good. It is likely
that there will be a fair amount
of domestic business placed early in
the year; furthermore, the Govern
ment's preparedness program will
reflect favorably on activity in the
machine tool and kindred industries.
Frank G. Steinebach, editor, the
Foundry-The foundry industry an
ticipates a slow increase in orders
during the early portion of 1899. Be-
cause of the basic character of cast
ings in practically every manufac-
turing operation and the improve
ments which have been made during
recent years in the quality of mallea-
BILE, steel and gray iron and nom
ferrous castings. further recovery in
practically every branch of industry
will be reflected at once In foundry
operations.
Machine faoi fo,,ndrIas ,,~.i1.& .