Show I I I SILK GOODS BACK BACKi BACKON i I ON STABLE BASIS i I Mills Reported Running at 60 Pet Pct Capacity NEW W YORK April 23 The The feeling is general that the silk business is back on a stable basis and manufacturers manufacturers manufacturers I are doing everything to prevent speculative buying or price inflation It Is thought prices of or raw silk re J are also on a firm basis unlikely to ad advance adI advance ad- ad I vance greatly unless through unwise buying by American manufacturers I Mills are running about CO GO per cent capacity which is regarded as normal I r l March business was excellent More than Ihan one ono firm r reported porte the best busi bus bus- i i mesa iness In Its history April business is good but has fallen off slightly due I to the waning of the season of or buying by wholesalers and jobbers Travelers are sending in itt good g business and I sales are noticeably better in Middle I west Vest automobile cities Sales by department de de- de- de stores have shown marked increase and retailers report that al although al- al though yardage sold Is less than last I aI-I year profits are better due to wider margins possible on priced lower goods Little future business Is s done lone by mills mitis Situation in goods for tor delivery during summer months Is peculiar Due to anxiety to book enough business to l keep the mills on profitable basis dUring durIng dur dUr- ing dull season some manufacturers have been running after buyers too hard and have havn shown such eagerness to dS do business tSI g that l fi 1 In some e cases pr prices pricE's on sto k goods have been cut 10 to 15 per cent b below low replacement value This has been done don in spite of or the fact fat that t tb the h. h storks of or retailers and wholesalers I are abnormally low The result has been that customers have delayed bui bu buy buy- i In int Ing- hoping prices might go o still lower Outlook for fall foil business la is bright due due to to excellent fundamental condi but little tendency to do future business Is shown by either mills or I buyers hUYErs ta nf Retailers are arp still pursuing a a. cons conservative policy Manufacturers also alFt are unwilling to sell too far ahead since lInce this would large lago I purchases of raw silk at nt n II time when supplies are arf low which they ire are afraid might result In ITS booming prices prices' to a II I point higher than would b bit be attractive to buyers Retailers arc aro buying buying- be bp- bp bpI I entice cause th they y fei feel that prices ar arc I nt at n satisfactory level and pr gen gen- n- n oral eral desire is to hold them nt at I this I point |