Evening star., 1938-08-10
BUSINESS PULSE
F0UNDSTR'ONG;ER'

IUUNUUInUIluln
Hope for Further Gains This
Fall Revealed in Sloan
| Survey. J
Hy the Assoc. atet. Press.
NEW YORK, Aug. 10.-Twenty
business executives in diversified lines
In various cities reported a general
feeling Of business betterment now
and hope for further improvement
this fall, In a survey made public
by George A. Sloan, chairman Of the
Consumers Goods Industries Com
mittee.
(Thi committee was organized in
1884, during N. R. A. days, at the
request of Gen. Hugh johnson as
one Of two general committees repre-
senting the 5000 code authority
members. The other committee, the
Durable Goods Committee, subse-
quently went out of existence. The
Consumers Goods Industries Com
mittee, at the passing of N. r. A..
urged consumers industries not to
lower wages or lengthen hours, and.
according to Mr. Sloan met with q
fine response" The committee men,
bers serve voluntarily at their own
expense.)
Mr.. Sloan pointed out that the re-
ports in whole reflected IAN eager
ness on the part of business to find
a justification for renewed confidence
and to discern the signs for the way
up and out. However, they also
show the delicacy of the situation as
1t still exists"
Excerpts From Comments.
Excerpts from some of the COM
ments he received follow:
Lammot du Pont, president. E. I.
du Pont De Nemours e. Co., Whining
ton, Del: Since the first of July,
We have been above the standard
something like S per cent above. In
other words our business has i'm
proved about Is per cent"
c. c. Carlton, president, Automo-
tive Parts and Equipment Manufac-
turers, Lansing, Mich: Every one
looking for good business this fall and
better business in the first quarter
of 1889"
Clarence Francis, president, General
Foods Corp, New York: Believe last
half of year, particularly the last
quarter, will give fairly good ac-
count of itself. General employment
should react benef1cially as q result
of the movement Of grain and the
need for increases in inventories"
Clauoius T. Murchison. president,
Cotton-Textile Institute, Washington,
D. c.: Outlook improved. Be-
lieve increased buying is for the pur-
pose OF taking care of actual consump-
ton requirements"
Arthur Besse, president, National
Associs tion OF Wool Manufacturers,
New York: Definite improvement in
recent weeks. - The real lift in
business. If it comes, will be due to
placing of advanced orders for mems
wear fol spring, l939.'
Shoes on Up Grade.
j.. z. McElwain, president, J. F. Nc
Elwain Co. (shoe manufacturers), Bos-
ton. prices raw materials since May
have advanced 20 per cent to 80 per
cent; as result shoe concerns have
gone into the market and production
is being stepped up. Looking forward
to an improvement for industry as q
whole during next six months"
Ernest T. Trigg, president, National
Paint, Varnish and Lacquer Associa-
ton, Washington: Much better feel
ing throughout industry although no
actual Improvement in sales. Contem-
plate better fall business in compare
son with last fall"
j. D. A. Morrow, president. Pitts
burgh Coal Co., Pittsburgh: Whatever
pickup in industrial activity may oc-
cur will have definite effect on coal
purchases and production. Industrial
stocks have been pretty thoroughly
hquidated and depleted so that any
important increase in industrial ac-
tivity will require purchase Of COAL"
Hebert Gutterson. president, 1nsti-
tute Of Carpet Manufacturers of
America. New York: universally con-
sidered In our industry that there will
be real improvement In the fall"
j. H. Williams, president, j. H. Will
liams & Co. drop forgings). Buffalo:
I'VE presume that reduction Of in
ventories, together with the better
sentiment engendered by the improve
ment in the stock market, will prob
ably make for generally improved
business this fall"
Chemists See Increase.
w. N. Watson, secretary, Manufac-
turing Chemists Association. Wash
ington, D. c.: I'VE expect gradual
improvement this summer.
We also expect an increased volume
of business this fall"
Charles w. Boyce, executive secre-
tary. American Paper g. Pulp Associa-
ton, New York: I'VE expect increase
in production Of paper during the last
half of this year-the extent depend
ent upon the course of general busi-
ness"
Axtell J. Byles. president, American
Petroleum Institute. New York: DE
mand for our principal product, gaso-
line. still running ahead of corre-
spending periods in 1887"
Harold Boeschenstein, vice presi-
dent, Owens Illinois Glass Co., Toledo,
Ohio: Reports and inventories from
practically all sections indicate expec-
tation of substantially improved fall
business"
Roy A. Cheney. managing director.
Underwear Institute, New York: 'Ex-
pect fair business during the summer
and that heavyweight merchandise
for fall will be better than anticipated
several months ago. We also antici-
pate splendid forward buying of light
weight merchandise for next springs
delivery"
Fall Buying Budgets Up.
G. H. Come, president, Susquehanna