Show Seasonable Influences Begin To Increase Some SOre Activities Outlook Is Declared to Be Unmistakably Brighter Th Than n in Earlier Earler Months of This Year With Wih a a. a continuance ot ef r fluctuating de demand demand de- de mand progress toward better beter business Is gradual and uneven Seasonal Seaonal influenced Inu encO as ai usual at this period now begin to cause increased activities in some branches branche and diminished operations in other lines The latter later phase phae is witnessed In channels where is ls becoming a a factor but retail trade Is moderately stimulated as advance holiday requirements requirement develop and lower temperatures prevail in some sections The Tho net result of or commercial movements movement is not adverse and the announced announced an an- flounced reduction In freight rates on farm ram products adds to the constructive construct ve forces whose ultimate effect will wi be beneficial says Duns Dun's Review Recent declines in prices of cotton coton and grain however have bave tended to increase uncertainty and tion In strictly rl agricultural t l districts I of t the West e and nd South tg and the enlargement t ot buying and gain In collections has been checked In some somo Instances With the sItuation situation sit sit- marked by much irregularity a a broad characterization of or existing conditions condi condl- tons is difficult yet jet et the outlook is 1 unmistakably unmistakably un un- un- un mistakably brighter than than- thanin in earlier months earler this year Evidence of or improvement appears appears ap ap- ap- ap pears in some statistical barometers barometer that measure production and distribution and current decreases In bank clearings are partly party explained by the lower level of ot commodity prices While unsettlement in prices has bas lessened appreciably tion ton for business Is not without Influence In some quarters and Duns Dun's comprehensive list of or wholesale quotations discloses about an equal division of or declines and und advances Financial markets this week reflected in different ways way and In varying degrees the proposed limitation of or armaments at the Va Washington conference with time tho rise In sterling exchange to the highest t point point- of or the year an on outstanding development While the moderate revival recently de developed developed de- de In Iron and steel Is sustained demand demand de de- de- de mand continues uneven and competition is not without effect on prices Published I quotations this week weel disclose few changes chances but concessions are available in some In Instances Instances In- In stances stances and the general price situation Is easier Current and prospective railroad purchases afford encouragement yet et the emergency character of at the buying remains apparent and mill mi operations have slackened slackened slack slack- ened in certain quarters The fabricating steel trade however reflects further Improvement Im Im- im- im provement with new orders order in In October reaching 64 per cent of or capacity In February February Feb Feb- this year the booking rate rato was wa only about 15 per cent Discussion of or the probable Influence on the steel Industry of or the proposed naval disarmament has en engaged engaged en- en attention tills this week but the Iron Age states that naval construction calls for far less steel than Is commonly cals thought and estimates the tonnage at only a fraction of or 1 per of or a. a years year's ears ear's a output The strength of ot hide markets market has bas ha been accentuated but a further general advance of or one half one one-haI cent asked on domestic packer stock has tended to cheek check cheo new orders From the viewpoint of or sellers however the statistical position remains Very sat st- st and quietness in foreign hides has been mainly due to paucity of or offer offer- oter- oter ings logs Uniformity of or demand f ft r lacking In the leother trade bu the Improved sitUation situation sit sit- in sole leather continues and some additional sales salea have been made to En En- England gland In upper leather the condition of dullness and weakness In calfskins persists yet some tanners expect a a revival in this quarter before long As repeatedly stated slated of or late the trend in footwear Is toward the staple and medium and lower priced tines lInes and factories producing such goods are busily engaged engaged The novelty plants in contrast are Inactive With an inventorying period at hand and jobbers buying little primary dry goods markets have ruled quieter during the week Hesitation has ha been Increased by the recent decline in raw raw cotton coton and a a general softening of or prices on unfinished goods has ha developed Following the late upturn print cloths have yielded again to the cent 9 basis and some other leading fabrics have haye also fallen mod moderately On the whole the price movement in textiles ii is uneven a rise In raw silk sik at Yokohama Yokohama Yoko Yoko- hama has ha been only partially reflected here The he cloaking and dress dreu goods trades have been somewhat unsettled by the strike of or garment workers worker in New York City while dullness In the demand for forthe the he finer grades of or worsteds is 1 causing a lessening of or output output output out out- put in that line lne Irregularity of or production tion ton is I evidenced in different quarters but activity at carpet and rug mills mis where large operations are assured for the next few rew months Is la a favorable feature The recent decline In cotton coton prices which was partly party recovered this week has been due to conditions other than those of or domestic do do- and foreign foreign- foreign demand Since the new crop season opened on August 1 consumption tion ton of or cotton by American mills mis has In Increased In In- increased creased substantially and In I October October reached the highest point in many months At bales the October consumption was bales larger than that of or September September Sep Sep- and nearly bales above the time July total The October figures moreover are about bales bale in excess of or those for that month 0 o flast year In exports the gain Is I even more striking From bales in September shipments abroad rose rosa rosl to ba bales es In October and sharply surpassed the bales of October 1920 With comparisons such as these It has been necessary to look elsewhere elsewhere else else- ele- ele where for the cause of or the late setback in prices arid and ard Increased crop estimates have afforded a partial explanation |