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Show Definite Signs of Gain Seen J By Ira C. Tichenor ' YYniLE thfre has not been a great gain in the olume of busi-W busi-W ness and general industrial activity, there ha been a definite increase, which forecasts the beginning of better days and the ad-Tent ad-Tent of the promised era of prosperity. Thar haa been In evidence an unevanneaa of Industrial activity, but thla U leu marked than waa the case a few weeka ago. Reporta from tn bis lnduitrla.1 center show that many concerns which had mads draatle curtailment in operations durinc the cloalnr month of li hare materially material-ly Increased their output aa the result of an accumulation of orders. This Increase he not extended to all line In equal proportion, but those which larged behind during- the opening- week of the new year have begun to display Increased activity, until now practically every industry Is howing new life. The greatest Increase In activity is reported to be In textiles, shoes and allied manufactures, but this would appear to be natural, as such Industrie In-dustrie were the first to experience a falling off in demand and should be the first to experience a revival in business. Cotton mills now are reported to be operating at nearly 40 per cent of capacity, aa compared with IS per cent a few weeks ago: In the woolen Induatry approximately (0 per cent f the machinery Is reported to be in operation, as compared with 30 per cent at the low point of the season of depression, while even the silk Industry, which suffered severely from the a (lump In business, has m showed a noteworthy Improvement within the past few weeks. 1 Reports from big clothing centers show that production is Increasing Va la a consistent manner aa the result of the accumulation of orders and g also because of the reduction in the coat of production. f Business waa extremely bad during the winter in the regions tle- voted almost exclusively to the growing of grain and cotton, due principally i to the withholding of the products from the market; but this condition I now Is changing and the situation In thnaa region i improving a ' While the Improvement generally seems to be slow, in reality it la much 1 more rapid than might have been expected; and. too, while It' alow. It is I consistent. |