ZINES Fie SDS LV BERN Yee * ms RAFTER AOE GMY TKS Ne Ges Aaa a ete eS Pe SNES Nan i a \” G28 KA fe aS) Il. PON ENN AS a RN Sear Ee SD Bae \ Ny ae’ a 8 Rrra Mes ans ew eee ONT 4} SBS ey oz Vip SS Es Nae \Vq Be ae i, A J ee) OH ‘ DA SE < De IP i 3 Gy G4 & < SANG NE) Te OLE WCE LV ae 7 Cae ACES sy eA GE ay ww S S eC x = Zee SE OA NES WD as (Ce Hi ZEN NT EA Ce i a 2 aN LAr’ SANS : us iS PUBLISHED Beets oe 3 SITISOL awe ee Fiftieth Year CSS TRADESMAN COMPANY, PUBLISHERSR< pe WASSSEST. 1883 % CNS a i x ~~ ws SG SG si aiges ———— SRA TOTO NS SSS 42> SENS OS me Prd Number 2569 eure ee emer et ARR ea a6 Hacer ae COM TTT RSA ne ( ¢ ST ES CJ | 5 MUSIC = | = Servant and master am |: servant of those dead, and = | Ds master of those living. Through my spirits immortals = eS S | = speak the message that makes the world weep and laugh, A = and wonder and worship. = I tell the story of love, the story of hate, the story that saves, and the story that damns. | am the incense upon which prayers float to Heaven. I am the smoke which palls over the field of battle, where men lie dying with me on their lips. Ay ANTS ATT I am close to the marriage altar, and when the graves open | stand near by; I call the wanderer home, | rescue the soul from the depths, I open the lips of lovers, and through me the dead whisper to the living. Ue SAT eZ bd \S VP A AUT One I serve as | serve all; and the king I make my slave as easily as I subject his slave. I speak through the — birds of the air, the insects of the field, the crash of waters on rock-ribbed shores, the sighing of the wind in LY 1) Y MES ZT PANTIES 78 Ds | the trees, and I am even heard by the soul that knows me & Dy |S in the clatter of wheels on city streets. KA I know no brother, yet all men are my brothers; | am father of the best that is in them, and they are fathers of UU UL i | Ds "s cS ™~ SI the best that is in me; I am of them, and they are of me. Alle = For I am the instrument of God. I am Music. | ¢ A RATT AAT SALT i 1" SATIS | RATT ATES ATT 4 | AUT STAT iA SA i ibe ie ALOT A! mn LUTTE ATES 1 TOTES ATES SE STE Bs ill on ee — paves way 3 BIGGER: Chase & Sanborn’s Dated Coffee advertising now brings out a scien- tific discovery that means more money to the grocer. This discovery proves that the average man or woman has a “Coffee Tolerance” of 5 cups a day ... . if the coffee is fresh. This new appeal is already developing a stronger demand than ever for Chase & Sanborn’s Dated Coffee, the brand that is always fresh. You can turn this demand into your store by giving this famous brand prominent display . . . recommending it to your customers and mentioning it in your advertising. By so doing, youll gain, in addition to regular profits, all the advantages of the Standard Brands mer- chandising plan under which Chase & Sanborn’s Dated Coffee is sold. These are— frequent deliveries; small, well regulated fresh stocks; small investment; quick turn- E over and speedy profits. CHASE & SANBORN’S Dated COFFEE Product of STANDARD Branps INCORPORATED A SUPPORT MICHIGAN FARMERS! Do you want the money you spend for sugar to help the Michigan wage earner and the Michigan farmer, or do you want it to go to help foreign sugar interests ? There is only one answer for the sensible, thrifty house- wife of Michigan. Buy and Use Michigan Made Beet Sugar Available in 5-10-25 and 100 |b. sacks. For sale at all grocers. Farmers and Manufacturers Beet Sugar Association Bay City, Michigan GRAND RAPIDS PAPER Box Co. G R AN D Manufacturers of SET UP and FOLDING PAPER BOXES SPECIAL DIE CUTTING AND MOUNTING RAPIDS, MICHIGAN { { { { { { { { { { Added Sales With Hekman Grahams HEKMAN’S delicious honey-flavored Graham Crackers are nd a profitable, quick-selling item every grocer should handle. They top all other brands for popularity. Even people who never knew they liked Graham Crackers, revel in the fresh, crisp goodness of HEKMAN’S. During November, HEKMAN Grahams will be advertised state-wide in leading newspapers. Arrange now for your deliveries so you can cash in on this advertising direct to your customers. wns ae ae ae a a a a ee el ee ei a lls allan allt ll ie aad HEKMAN BISCUIT COMPANY GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. eee on el le ee ole te ee pe ete ae se ate anti. thn. tet. tite the tit Peer os ne ve 2 | | | a ae Lio 5 \ RS BAN G ENGI “7 bop ADESMAN Fiftieth Year Number 2569 MICHIGAN TRADESMAN E. A. Stowe, Editor PUBLISHED WEEKLY by Tradesman Company, from its office the Barnhart Building, Grand Rapids. UNLIKE ANY OTHER PAPER. Frank, free and fearless for the good that we can do. Each issue com- plete in itself. DEVOTED TO the best interests of business men, SUBSCRIPTION RATES areas follows: $3 per year, if paid strictly in advance. $4 per year if not paid in advance. Canadian subscription, $4.04 per year, payable invariably in advance. Sample copies 10 cente each. Extra copies of -urrent issues, 10 cents; issues a month or more old, 15 cents; issues a year or more old, 25 cents; issues five years or more old 50 cents. Entered September 23, 1883, at the Postoftice of Grand Rapids as second class matter under Act of March 3, 1879. JAMES M. GOLDING Detroit Representative 507 Kerr Bldg. DETROIT DOINGS. Late Business News From Michigan’s Metropolis. The former Leach Shoe Co. store at 7100 West Warren avenue, operated for a short time as well by the same ownership under the name of the H. and J. Shoe Co., has been taken over by Ted’s Boot Shop. Theodore Gutowski, who was manager of this store under the Leach operation, has bought out the location. Sam Lyon has bought the A. Rafal Shoe store, at 6844 West Warren avenue, from Abraham Rafalowitz, former proprietor, and will conduct it under his own name. Lyon was for- merly in the shoe business in the East. Joseph Kushner, conducting a shoe store at 10523 Mack avenue on the East side, has sold out his business to Joseph Berman. Berman, who is a newcomer to the field a8 an independ- ent store proprietor, will continue to conduct business under the old name of C. Kushner. Detroit-Checker Shoe Stores, con- ducted on the West side at 4713 Mich- igan avenue, has been incorporated under Michigan law with a capitaliza- tion of $5,000. Harry W. Gilberg and Sidney Gilberg, his son, are the own- ers of the enterprise. Sidney Gilberg is well known to the trade as the De- troit representative of H. C. Godman Company. The automobile industry last week sprang from its dormancy into a new and. vigorous life. With the National Automobile Show in New York less than a month away, a wave of produc- tive activity has swept over every unit of the industry. Smoke pouring from factory chimneys and men marching through plant doors give the industry new heart. There is a better optimism than at the beginning of 1932. Evidence of a buying demand in the latter ‘half of this month is rushing new models through a number of plants in a last-minute change of fac- tory policy in some instances. Even some car manufacturers who have not formally announced introduction dates are stocking dealers with 1933 models in order to be ready for any advance demand that may show itself. Chevrolet has fixed its formal an- nouncement date as Dec. 17. Within the next six days the company will ‘have completed the task of stocking 10,000 dealers with the new models. Details remain closely guarded, but it is known that Chevrolet is going to follow the General Motors Corpora- tion policy of longer wheelbase and a number of new, miscellaneous features of unusual merit. The 12,000 attendance at the joint show of the National Standard Parts and Motor and Equipment Manufac- turers’ Association, as compared with a mark of 8,400 last year, is interpreted as a sign of improved outlook in De- troit. Cadillac’s determination to give its sixteen cylinder car a new degree of distinctiveness has attracted wide in- terest. The company’s plan is to limit production to 400 sxteen cylinder units in 1933, each to be built to order and infused with as much individuality as possible. The serial numbers will be- gin at “1” and run through to “400,” and a plate engraved with the buyer’s name will be built into the car. The project looks toward the development of a new pride of ownership among buyers able to pay for exclusive auto- motive creations. Consistent with the National Auto- mobile Chamber of Commerce recom- mendation for concentration upon a smaller array of models, the manufac- turer of a popular line of sixes and eights in the low-medium price field is reported ready to abandon the former. The “Buy American Goods” move- ment has received a healthy and vigor- ous send-off in Detroit by the Ameri- can Legion. The plan as sponsored by the Legion, if carried out by posts Nationally as energetic as the case in Detroit, promises to swell into propor- tions that should lend encouragement to producers of American products. Last week a veritable parade of “sand- wich’ men composed of jobless ex- service men, covered the down-town loop district, carrying banners with varied slogans referring to the buy American goods movement. “Buying American made goods will return American prosperity,” and “Buy American made goods and help me get a job again,” are among the dozens of inscriptions printed on the banners. The campaign is patterned after a similar movement carried on in Eng- land with some success by the un- employed of that country. The plan was proposed at the annual convention of post officers of the Michigan di- vision of the American Legion held in Seginaw on Dec. 3. Mrs. Margaret Nelson, accused of passing a number of worthless checks on local merchants, pleaded guilty to the specific charge of passing a bad check for $18 on Stanton Boggs, furni- ture dealer at 3534 McGraw avenue. She is held in $1,000 bond to await sentence. The Brandau Shoe Co., one of the oldest wholesale firms in Detroit, has reorganized under the style of the American Cash Shoe Co., at the same location, 248 West Jefferson. O. J. Friewald, who heads the new firm pointed out some of the reasons for the new policy, stating that going on a cash basis places the company in a position to meet all competition and to be able to sell their goods at lower prices than is possible under the charge system. Reduced overhead and elim- ination of book losses will contribute largely to this end, Mr. Friewald said. Store hold-ups during the last few days have increased greatly, with but few cases of violence reported. The exception was the robbery of Morris Netzorg, who conducts a general dry goods store at 2166 Grand avenue. Mr. Netzorg was beaten and seriously in- jured, possibly critically, by two men who were seen to leave a few seconds before he was found in the rear of the store. Mr. Netzorg is well known to many in all parts of the state and has been engaged in the dry goods busi- ness for many years. He is 74 years old. The Detroit Mill Outlet Co., 134 Jefferson, West, wholesale men’s fur- nishing goods, was included in the forage for merchandise by robbers Sunday night. Ignoring doors and windows which were wired with burglar alarms, they drilled through the walls and carried away 2,400 shirts, 3,600 pairs of trousers, 216 pairs of overalls, 125 suits of underwear, 125 jackets, 1,200 pairs of stockings and 1,450 ties all valued at $7,000. The Detroit Mill Outlet Co. is one of the wholesale firms which has opened in Detroit during the past two years. —__—_+- Entrance of the Manufacturer Into Distribution. Manufacturers are loath to enter the retailing field. In metropolitan centers direct factory representation has been quite common, but usually could be traced to the need of controlling the territory. When retailing has been tried it left no mark of having been success- ful. Now in many communities direct retailing must be practiced or the ter- ritory left without representation. It is no secret that selling automo- biles has been unprofitable, and par- ticularly so under present economic conditions. Mortality among dealers reflects this so strongly that the fact cannot be dodged. For years, the deal- er organizations have been subsidizing the producer and the consumer and this leaves distribution minus the nec- essary capital to carry on. The answer to the present dilemma is not obvious, but entrance of the manufacturer into distribution seems to be the step decided upon, whether wise or unwise. Matters are coming to a head quickly, hence it is sales and not production which will predominate in news value in 1933. ———_+~++__ “Parasite Banks’’. In a period of formidable con- sideration of ponderous problems —war debts, individual debts, un- balanced budgets, beer or no beer —comes the stentorian voice of the chairman of the Reconstruc- tion Finance Corporation to de- mand why a great many banks in this country are not functioning in a period of positive necessity. ‘Permit me to say, says this authority, ‘that a bank has a dual function. One is to be a depositary for the surplus funds of the com- munity it serves; the other, to loan the money out where it can do good to the community. Now, my hearers, and | measure my words, the bank that is 75 per cent. liquid or more and refuses to make loans when proper security is offered, under present circumstances, is a parasite in the community and de- serves the condemnation of every thinking man and woman. This is no time for financial institutions to refuse to loan their monies, when reasonably secured. The money in their vaults was earned by the people and belongs to them. It is the very life-blood of commerce. What rgiht have they to refuse to loan it back to the people who may need it to em- ploy men needing work to keep their wives and children from star- vation and freezing?” These are brave, forthright words but society in general is dis- inclined to view commercial bank- ing as having a social function. We might say that it has failed to re- member that that is what it was supposed to possess in the older days when Government machin- ery was invoked to fortify the banking structure. We might in- sist now that if it has no social obligation—if it is strictly a com- petitive business institution—then society must proceed to create a banking system that is social, otherwise we will continue to flounder in a quagmire of poverty in the midst of plenty. Banking accommodations which are avail- able only when we are on a pros- perity basis are of no particular constructive benefit to society.— Financial Review. i A woman may not deplore the death of her first husband after she marries, but her second husband often does. MICHIGAN TRADESMAN December 14, 1932 Lines of Interest To Grand Rapids Council. Senior Counselor B. C. Saxton and Secretary H. R. Bradfield were agree- ably surprised Wednesday, Dec. /, when Supreme Treasurer H. J. Percy, of Columbus, dropped in for a short business call! Mr. Percy expressed disappointment in not being able to more of the membership He paid our secretary a meet with while here. very high compliment on his efficiency and said that his rating in heaoquar- ters was very high. We regret very much that Mr. Percy had to make his stay so short, because he is one of the most loyal U. C. T.’s that has the privilege of wearing the emblem of the Order. Harry Nash: “Bob, tax at the garbage men’s ball?” Bob Groom: “How should I know, how much?” Harry Nash: “Ten scents a dance.” Gilbert Ohlman was in Detroit Sat- urday in the interest of the Vanden Berg Cigar Co. His company has pur- chased a new Dodge panel truck and Gil visited the factory to make the selection. We gamble that he selected one that has been equipped with burglar proof locks, so that he can park it without the loss of mer- chandise. Another U. C. T. member has made it possible for seventy-one men to have work for one day. Mrs. A. Bosman has recovered from her illness and Abe says he has to keep a weather eye out once more. Secretary Bradfield has received a letter from A. E. Atwood, who is so- journing at Glendale, California. Mrs. Atwood is with him and they send their best wishes to all their friends. We have not learned whether they are contemplating Hollywood before re- turning, but we wouldn’t be surprised but what they were warming some of those $4.50 seats at the California- Notre Dame football game. Mr. and Mrs. Dollar and daughter arrived at a fashionable dinner and the butler was instructed to announce them. The menial, in his usual serious mien, advanced to the reception room and loudly announced, “three bucks.” what was the will The depression may have some of us down with its boot heel on our neck, but some of our good Democratic friends are waxing fat while the rest of us are sobbing. A. Bosman, representative for the Putnam Candy Co., has just landed a nice check for securing the most new customers. Not only will the check help fill out the corners of the Bosman coffer, but it is a memento of what hard work will do. The Putnam Candy Co. is not accepting any more large orders for Christmas delivery, because they are just about sold up to capacity. This is a heartening condition and sounds like olden times. We hope the recipi- ents of the products of this popular company will enjoy them as we enjoy hearing of the wonderful volume of business they have received. America’s chewing gum bill in the last year was $90,000,000, exclusive of the cost of gasoline necessary to re- move it from the trousers. Martin Vermaire and wife entertain- ed a group of friends at their home Saturday evening. This group meets every second Saturday in the month and a potluck supper is served. Those present were: Mr. and Mrs. Sam Hul- den: Mr. and Mrs. Harold Cam; Mr. and Mrs. Bert Vanden Kelen; Glen 3rodrick, and Mr. and Mrs. Martin Vermaire. Optimism is the ability to speak of “my car” in the face of a chattel mort- gage, six payments still to be made, a bill at the garage and state license-tag time just around the corner. The pot-luck luncheon held by the Ladies Auxiliary at the home of Mrs. Martin Vermaire Tuesday, Dec. 6, was well attended and a enjoyable afternoon was spent at bridge. Mrs. Ohlman secured first prize, Mrs. Hall- gren second prize and Mrs. Vander Kelen captured the booby favor. Many of the ladies were unable to attend, due to sickness. Over three dollars were sceured for the Widows and Or- Announcement of an- very phans fund. other party will appear in these col- umns later. Men and women can get along nicely as life partners if they can avoid being bridge partners. Allen F. Rockwell and H. H. God- frey and their good wives attended the twenty-ninth annual convention and ball of the Michigan Farm Equipment Association, which was held last week at the Olds Hotel in Lansing. This is an annual affair to which our good brothers look forward and we have learned that there was nary a blank on their dance programs. About the easiest way to get train- ing in the latest dance motions is to turn over a bee hive. With the railroads being threatened the same fate as the Dodo bird, they are entitled to some little attention while with us. Quips have flown thick and fast from the axe of the wag, but the old railroads have kept on trying to make a living, despite fearful odds. As they patiently pay their taxes and chalk up losses on their ledgers, we continue on our motor way. Let us pause long enough to place a soothing hand upon the back of our own Pere Marquette, which has carried thou- sands of our travelers while making their territories in the good old days. The daughter of E. C. Scholl, super- intendent of the A. B. Morse Co., of St. Joseph, had an experience last week which is only a reminder that perhaps we have never appreciated the railroads and their service. Miss Scholl was re- turning from a shopping trip to Chi- cago with a goodly number of bundles. When the brakeman called St. Joseph, Miss Scholl gathered up her bundles and alighted. Several hours after her arrival home, she received a telephone call asking her if she would meet the 7:30 South-bound Pere Marquette pas- senger train and identify a hand bag which they believed to be her property. Up to this time she had not missed the purse, which she had evidently left lying in the seat when she left the train. The purse contained money and valuables which the lady was pleased to recover. Upon making enquiry as to the method the railroad officials used in tracing the owner, they found that when the train arrived in Grand Rapids the crew turned in the purse with partial identification and that tele- phone calls had further, aided in trac- ing the owner. The conductor stated it was all in their days work to give the best service possible to their patrons. If this little sketch will induce some of you readers to favor the railroad in question whenever possible, I will have done a good turn to a common carrier which always gave me a square deal. Wonder what the man who names Pullman cars calls his children? Tom Fishleigh and family are mak- ing preparations to spend the holidays in the Windy city. Tom says it isn’t the cost of the trip which enters into the intended vacation, but just how many relatives he can dig up who re- side in Chicago. Every relative means eats and eats will tempt anyone away from his domicile during these times. Tom stated he was sorry he had but a single life to give to pleasure because he could not enjoy the festivities in Chicago and be in attendance at the big New Year’s eve party at the same time. After analyzing Tom’s story we have come to the conclusion that the trip is primarily for the purpose of exhibiting a new chapeau to the popu- lace of the second city. If you remem- ber, Tom lost a perfectly good dip at a dance not long ago and, as it failed to return to its owner, it had to be replaced with the latest in headgear. No doubt there will be some effort on Tom’s part to retain possession of the bennie while visiting with relatives and friends in the aforementioned city. Why doesn’t Chicago come right out in the open and admit it’s a refuge for the protection of wild life? That reminds us. We often wonder what ever became of Jim Golding. Good old Jim. He was a great guy while a resident of our fair city, but after drifting to the series of villages located on the Detroit river we have heard less and less of him. We really felt Jim was too good a chap to be thrown into that terriffe maelstrom which seethes with teeming thousands. We felt that his quiet, unassuming mien would carry him farther had he stayed in the quiet old town, but Jim, with all the aplomb of a headstrong youth, packed his turkey and hied for the border city and now we never hear from him. A good man swallowed up in a great city of activity and wicked- ness. Are yuh hearin’ muh, Jim? It is now permissible in Detroit to say that the neighbors live within gun- shot of each other. Some of our good brothers who have suffered the privations of pioneers in their many years of travel and who have earned a much merited rest from the rumbling and grumbling of modern business have now been overtaken with another pest, which they must endure until such time there is a law against having to listen to all the noise in the world coming from a cabinet. This pest, which has sprung from science, is the hotel radio. We be- lieve anything is useful and enjoyable until it becomes a nuisance and then it should be declared a pest. There is not a traveler who does not enjoy soft, sweet music after a hard day in the whirl of business, but there are few who do enjoy a noisy, blatting, static spewing radio placed in a hotel where everyone in the building must suffer its existence. Soft, low, sweet music soothes and heals the weary soul, but blatant, discordant sounds rouses the animal instinct in a man and he goes off at a tangant which is dangerous to his surroundings. We believe if hotels would use a littie discretion as to the location and control of radios in their building that it would be far more pleasant for the guests. It is hard for the boys to make out reports, write letters or converse with their brothers if the writing room or lobby is filled with screeches, howls and loud talking air advertisers. The hotel is the home of the traveler when out on the territory and he is highly pleased when he finds a hotel which has a quiet homelike atmosphere but he will do plenty of selling against one that seems to ignore his comfort. This is just a tip to hotels to be taken for what it is worth. Sweet, soft music may make a host of pleased guests while the opposite may add to a competitors register. A_ scientist claims the air is full of rubbish but that isn’t any reason the traveling man has to listen ot it. Perhaps it’s just as well from a humanitarian standpoint that no device has been invented whereby radio talent can hear its own voice through a re- ceiving set. Don’t forget to get your tickets for the big New Year’s eve party. Every- one is going to be there. Word has been received by chairman Bentley that the long-expected Dame Prosperity will be there and that she is desirous of meeting the council as a whole. We have not learned who will play the role. What appeared to the scribe as a wild sea saga as told by Gil Moore, proved to be a commercial interest story happening within our own com- monwealth. South Haven to most of the Wol- verines is just a smell town located on the East coast of Lake Michigan. A careful survey of lake ports and the cargoes landed proved her to be a sea port. We have followed the news of the deep sea waterway with interest and perhaps thought little of the effect it might have on our own destiny, yet, without the vast expenditure of mil- lions to accomplish this vast proposal, we are brought face to face with the reality of the thing. Tang of the salt seas is being wafted to our very own nostrils. South Haven is the closest port of call to the vast paper industry of South central Michigan. These huge fac- tories devour thousands upon thousands of cords of pulpwood. Pulpwood is a vast industry in the Scandinavian countries and they must have a market for their product. They have taken advantage of our markets and are ship- j { | | & & stad a December 14, 1932 ping vast quantities to our country and a great amount of this wood is landed from ocean going vessels at South Haven. There has been as many as eleven ocean steamers docked at the piers at one time. This activity uses nearly 350 men, a great many trucks and large storage sheds. It is well that many men are employed but it is not a good thing for us, generally speaking. Michigan can furnish pulp- wood and should be given the prefer- ence. We should buy American for America. 3rother Moore stated he always had a desire to see an ocean, but that he had been denied that privilege. How- ever, he boarded one of the ocean freighters while docked there and then let his imagination run wild. We thought he had a peculiar roll to his walk when we met him recently. Mrs. A. T. Heinzelman was removed last Wednesday to Butterworth hos- pital for a very serious operation. Mr. Heinzelman reports that she is getting along as well as could be expected. The Council joins in wishing her a very speedy and permanent recovery. The average life of a paper doll is nine months and the Government, we understand, is experimenting in an ef- fort to make it more durable. Perhaps eventually they’li make one that will last from one Saturday to the next. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Nash have re- turned from their trip to Pennsylvania. They say they are very well satisfied with Michigan after seeing some of the other sections of the country. Harry says we are pestered with liquor boot- leggers here and the Quakers are both- ered with the coal boot-legger, so he doesn’t see where one place is any bet- ter off than the others. We are glad the Nashes are sold on the old home town. Lest we forget the activities of the Michigan Committee of the National Committee of Engineers for trade re- covery. These boys are doing a great amount of good and are looking to every in- dividual to help in their work of in- fluencing public officials in recommend- ing public works for the relief of un- employment.’ Many of our important cities in the state should have sewage disposal plants, etc. Now is the time, when labor and material costs are down, for them to do this work which they will be forced to do later. The money they are now spending for dole could be used to promote self liquidiz- ing projects and thus save money for the municipalities and bolster up the self respect of labor. It is a splendid movement and we should all get behind it with all our energy. If you want detailed informa- tion of this movement, call Gerald J. Wagner, chairman of Michigan zone three. His office is 319 Home State bank building and his telephone is 69484. Messrs. Ghysels, Holman, DeHaan, Colgrove and radio held a food show in Allegan at the store of S. Wise & Co., Saturday afternoon and evening. The boys are doing a nice business and are doing the merchant a good turn by helping him merchandise his stock. MICHIGAN Twenty-five baskets of groceries were given away. You can get along at Christmas time without holly, but you must have the berries. L. R. White, for many years office manager for Cutler-Dickenson Co., of Adrian, passed on to his reward last week after an illness of more than a year. A sincere and genial greeting to many salesmen who called on him will be greatly missed as he enjoyed a wide and favorable acquaintance among traveling representatives of this state. The Salesmen’s Club met Saturday noon in the Elks Club and were enter- tained by a speech from Robert J. Wil- son, of the law firm of Norcross, War- ner & Judd, located in the Michigan Trust building. Mr. Wilson spoke on the Refinancing Corporation. He de- fined its activities and pointed out the good it was doing. The Club declared a recess for three weeks. The recess was called on account of the holiday activities. Announcement of the next meeting will appear in these columns later. } Don’t forget the big “Blow Out” to be held at the Browning hotel New Year’s eve for United Commercial Travelers and their friends. Get your tickets at an early date and be set for a grand and glorious time. Telephone Raymond W. Bentley for further in- formation. —_——_~+ 2. ___ When On Your Way, See Onaway. Onaway, Dec. 13—Forty-nine years old and. still going strong. The Tradesman was born five months be- fore I arrived in Michigan, being the spring of 1884. I rode for miles and miles through dense forests of virgin pine, white and Norway and fished for grayling on Pine River, at that time called “Away up North.” Grand River, Flat River, Muskegon, and in fact all the rivers at that time, were navigable for lumbering, and log-driving was the order of the day. Hardwood logs had litle value. It is none too early to prepare for Mr. Stowe’s fiftieth edition of the for USE YEAST LIBERALLY The TRADESMAN Tradesman. Let’s make it a whopper. With the material already assembled by Mr. Stowe and the additional mat- ter he will secure during the next twelve months he will be able to pre- sent a very valuable volume—a living monument to a living man and a book without an equal anywhere. My shelves contain copies of the Tradesman for many years. back, properly filed and indexed for ready reference and are referred to quite frequently. “Church Union.” How many times have I said that very thing. Why commercialize religion? That is about what it amounts to with all the differ- ent denominations and still being add- ed to; is it not creed and certain im- aginary beliefs instead of true Chris- tianity? Eight churches in our little city of 1,500 inhabitants—too many. They are not self-supporting and if obliged to pay taxes on the invest- ment could not possibly exist. But what a glorious big union they would make; no rivalry, no jealousy and all worship the same God in the same way and call it good. Would not the Savior be just as well pleased? The next thing we know these different denominations will be demanding sep- arate cemeteries. Carloads of Christmas trees and the slaughter continues—a useless and ex- pensive waste; an expensive and al- most a criminal waste and even more so during such times as people are complaining of at present. Supposing a little sacrifice was practiced at this time. Use a substitute for a Christmas tree; try it this year anyway and put the same amount of money into legiti- mate channels where it would be ap- preciated and do the most good. Don’t you believe it would make a merrier Christmas all around? How about that word “economy”? It may as well be eliminated from the dictionary. Squire Signal. ——_+ + Exceptional Achievement. Ludington, Dec. 11—I heartily con- gratulate you upon the forty-ninth an- niversary edition of the Michigan Tradesman—a _ record never before achieved by any trade paper publisher. Comparing it with other trade journals in various lines, I believe it is the livest and best edited paper in its class in the world. I wish you a Merry Christmas an da Happy New Year. Louie E. Courtot. Fresh Compressed RED STAR YEAST Grown From Grain Increases Your Sales and Profits A month long “two cent sale’ on blanket staged by a New One double wool covering was done for $1; two for $1.02. One single cotton was laundered for 30 cents; two for 32. ——__» laundering was Jersey laundry recently. Charity that begins at home is oftei out when anyone calls. « \ p CATESSEN ER ———— DELICATESSEN PAPER HAT final ''slap" of a KVP Delica- tessen Sheet—dainty, white and ap- petizing—is often the touch of service that goes far to build a steady trade. Housewives know that the food, itself, is protected and the package can be carried without danger of seepage. KVP Delicatessen Paper is an all-round utility product; air-proof, moisture- proof, odorless and grease-resistant. It comes in rolls, boxes and neat wall cartons. Let us send you working sheets and information on other KVP Papers which will increase your profits through increased trade. Kalamazoo Vegetable Parchment Co. Kalamazoo, Michigan Place Your Order NOW NEW LARGE CAKE of Price 20c a DOZEN, DELIVERED Selling at 2 Cakes 5¢ you realize 50% PROFIT on Cost Ask, or Write, About the New Thrift Ticket Plan It will build Good Will for you — It brings Customers back to your Store and helps to convert transient Trade into regular Buyers. RED STAR YEAST and PRODUCTS CO. Main Office, MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN Strictly Independent—Since 1882 4 MICHIGAN TRADESMAN December 14, 1932 MOVEMENTS OF MERCHANTS. Foster City—S. J. Peterson & Co., dealer in general merchandise, has de- creased its capital stock from $45,000 to $10,000. Cadillac—Clarence Larson has sold his cafe, South Mitchell street, to Clem and Franklin Howe, who have taken possession. Dearborn—The General Hardware Co., 21903 East Michigan avenue, has been incorporated with a capital stock of $3,000, all subscribed and paid in. Detroit—The Rich Tool Co., 9771 French road, has been incorporated with a capital stock of 100 shares at $10 a share, $1,000 being subscribed and paid in. Kalamazoo — Building Materials, Inc., 230 East Kalamazoo avenue, has been incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000, $40,000 of which has been subscribed and paid in. Detroit—The Northwest Chemical Co., Inc., 10398 American avenue, has been incorporated with a capital stock of $10,000, $3,000 of which has been subscribed and paid in. Detroit—The National Corn Beef Co., 1420 Farnsworth avenue, whole- sale and retail meats, has been incor- porated with a capital stock of $2,000, all subscribed and paid in. Lansing—Paul Seibert. local phar- years, has purchased the i. ©. Beck ton pharmacy at Washington and Grand River avenues, North Lansing, taking immediate possession. Detroit—William E. Lore, Inc., 515 Central Detroit Warehouse, has been incorporated to deal in groceries and specialties with a capital stock of $1,- 000, all subscribed and paid in. Grand Rapids—The Bowne Cadillac Co., auto sales and service, has been incorporated with a capital stock of $125,000, $100,000 of which has been subscribed and $16,000 paid in. Detroit — The Liberty Co., Inc., 12511 Woodrow Wilson avenue, has been incorporated to deal in groceries at wholesale with a capital stock of $3,000, all subscribed and paid in. Detroit—The Economy Millwork & Lumber Co., 6428 Epworth boulevard, has been incorporated with a capital stock of 2,500 shares no par value, $1,000 being subscribed and paid in. Detroit — The Purity Dairy, Inc., 6102 Seneca street, has been incorpo- rated to deal in milk and dairy prod- ucts, with a capital stock of $50,000, $10,000 being subscribed and $8,000 paid in. Grand Rapids—The Globe Clothing Co., Inc., 302 Bridge street; N. W., has merged its business into a stock company under the same style with a capitalization of $5,000, $2,600 of which has been subscribed and paid in. Mt. Pleasant—The Earl D. Burt Co., 114 Court street, has been organized to sell and service power vehicles, trac- tors and farm implements, with a cap- ital stock of $10,000, $2,200 of which has been subscribed and paid in. Kalamazoo—Willard A. Cackler and Ralph A. Monk have formed a co- partnership and engaged in the gro- cery business in Parchment, under the style of the C. & M. Grocery. Both men are experienced in the business. Dowagiac—The Dowagiac Farmers Co-operative Association, Inc., 311 South Front street, has merged its business into a stock company under the same style with a capital stock of $45,000 common and $5,000 preferred. Detroit—Alex Kunin, 8419 Hamil- ton avenue, has merged his delicates- sen, wholesale pickles and spices busi- ness into a stock company under the style of Kunin’s Delicatessen, Inc., with a capital stock of $1,000, all sub- scribed and paid in. Detroit — The Standard Michigan Sugar Co., 2432 Market street, has been organized to distribute “Argo Sugar” in Michigan for the Corn Products Refining Co., with a capital stock of 1,000 shares at $5 a share, $5,000 being subscribed and paid in. Eaton Rapids — The semi-annual dividend of 10 per cent. was paid Nov. 30, to stockholders of record, by the Davidsoon Woolen Mills. Not once since the company was established in 1921 has it failed to pay a dividend of 10 per cent. yearly, nor has it ceased operation for a single day because of the depression. At the present time the factory is being operated on a twenty-four hour schedule and pros- pects for the future are said to be bright. The company manufactures woolen and merino yarns exclusively, for which it finds a steady demand. Hon. John B. Davidson, head of the factory, was defeated for a second term as senator from the Eaton, Clin- ton and Shiawassee senatorial district in the democratic landslide of Nov. 8. Since the sound of that battle died away, citizens of Eaton Rapids have prevailed upon him to become a can- didate for mayor of that city. As 924 votes were cast for him as_ senator in Eaton Rapids, the largest vote ever given a citizen of that city, it is be- lieved his nomination is tantamount to election, although he will have oppo- sition at the polls. Manufacturing Matters. Detroit—The Boldt Cigar Manufac- turing Co., 3430 Michigan avenue, has decreased its capital stock from $15,000 to $4,000. Hillsdale—The Hillsdale Manufac- turing Co., manufacturer of boys’ pants and jackets, has increased its capital stock from $345,000 to $360,000. Detroit—The Plymouth Radio Co., Inc., 7405 Grand River avenue, has been incorporated to manufacture and sell radios, with a capital stock of $1,000, all subscribed and paid in. Detroit—The Huron Products Co., 3323 Conger avenue, has been organ- ized to manufacture and sell foods, with a capital stock of $50,000, $1,500 of which has been subscribed and paid in. Detroit — Bilz-Em Toys, Inc., 2690 West Grand boulevard, has been in- corporated to manufacture and sell toys with a capital stock of 1,000 shares at $1 a share, $1,000 being subscribed and paid in. Detroit — Freez-No-More Labora- tories, Inc., manufacturer of anti-freeze solution, etc., has been incorporated with a capital stock of 100 shares at $100 a share, $10,000 being subscribed and paid in. Detroit — True Alloys, Inc., 1820 Clay avenue, has been organiznd to manufacture and sell non-ferrous al- loys, etc., with a capital stock of $20,- 000, $13,100 of which has been sub- scribed and $8,000 paid in. Detroit—Safety Products, Inc., 247 McDougall street, has been organized to manufacture pressure stoves. with a capital stock of $10,000 preferred and 500 shares at $1 a share, $10,500 being subscribed and $1,000 paid in. —_22>—_ Further Drop in Food Prices. A further drop of 2.2 per cent. in food prices occurred last month, ac- cording to the monthly index of whole- sale grocery quotations prepared by Dr. Lewis H. Haney for the National Wholesale Grocers’ Association. Al- though a decline in prices is a normal development for November, the drop last month was much sharper than usual, and carried the index from the October level of 68.3 to 66.8. Items which averaged higher in price last month were sugar, tea, peas (stand- ard), peaches, red and pink salmon, lard. cornmeal and oats. Lower aver- ages were shown by cheese, macaroni, codfish, corn syrup, raisins, beans Maryland corn, tomatoes, flour and Alaska peas. —_++ > Blanket Prices Hold Firm. Despite the fact that the guarantee on wool blanket prices ended on Dec. 1, quotations are holding firmly and the market’s strength leads buyers to believe that there will not be substan- tial changes in the 1933 lines, when they open after the first of the year. Few stock goods are available appar- ently, and consequently there has been no unloading by mills. Very little in- terest has been shown in new lines and mills have given no indication of prices, but it is expected that possibly the advances put into effect since the opening in February will be wiped out and the new lines will be priced at the levels prevailing the early part of this year. —_~+-+—____ Stationery Sales Goods Featured. Sales merchandise which can be re- tailed in 19, 29 and 39 cent ranges is being assembled this week by station- ery manufacturers. The assortments put on display are intended for the in- spection of buyers due immediately after the holidays to purchase goods for coming promotions. Writing paper lines for the regular Spring trade are being prepared at his time, but color and style choices are being closely guarded by individual manufacturers. The trade is in agreement that demand for regular goods will be confined to the 50 cent and $1 retail ranges, and the new merchandise is designed with those price levels in mind. ——_-> Fair Buying of Spring Dresses. Fair showroom activity has develop- ed in the buying of early Spring lines of dresses during the past week. The beter grade lines draw more attention. Buyers’ acceptance of the new models which feature novelty fabrics is de- scribed as assured, although a sub- stantial number of buyers have yet to view the initial offerings. Indications are said to point to active volume pur- chasing of the lower-price lines after the turn of the year. The weeks of Jan. 9 and 16 are expected to see a heavy concentration of popular price dress buyers. — Await Spurt in Gift Buying. The expectation that the next ten days will see a heavy increase in pur- chasing of Christmas gifts is buoying up the hopes of retailers that results for the month will be much better than the volume achieved thus far. Actually some departments which or- dinarily do not make a good showing this month are having a smaller decline than those featuring gift items. In one store, for example, the millinery and corset departments are only 10 per cent. behind, as compared with about 25 per cent. in the departments offer- ing holiday goods. The sale of oc- casional furniture pieces also stands out favorably. —___ --o——. Fall Underwear Prices To Be Same. Prices on the 1933 lines of heavy- weight ribbed underwear will not be any higher than those prevailing as the current season draws to a close, with the possibility that downward revisions may be put into effect. The new ranges will be opened about the last week in January, according to present plans, and possibly slightly later, un- less an upward movement in cotton de- velops to spur forward buying. Mills plan to improve the cheapest range of union suits, which have apparently not been entirely satisfactory to distrib- utors and stores during the present season. ——_+<- + —__ Poncho Blouse For Bathing Suit. The poncho blouse has been adopted for use with women’s knit bathing suits in a line just opened by one of the leading manufacturers. Another novelty in this line is an adjustable strap which is brought forward at the waistline as a belt. Very few skirts are shown. A wide variety of new knitted fabrics are included, but the materials are not as heavy as last year. A beach dress to replace pajamas is offered. The dress has one button in the front, with a wrap-around skirt and sort of a jumper top with a tie- cape collar. —_—_+ + —____ Glassware Demand Slows Down. The demand for pressed and blown glass tableware and specialties is start- ing to slow up with the approach of the holiday season. This is customary, and it is expected that the holiday lay- off will be observed more generally than was the situation prior to 1930. It is anticipated by some that replenish- ment orders after Christmas will be comparatively large and factory pro- duction will increase after Jan. 1. Likelihood of early action on legalized beer sales is interesting the bottle and container industry. It is reported that quite a few large contracts for beer bottles have been placed. —_>++—____ Four New Readers of the Tradesman. The following new subscribers have been received during the past week: W. K. Booth, Jackson. Lee & Cady, Flint. E. J. Meyer, Detroit. P. J. Behan, Portland. —_2-.___ Keeping up a front isn’t mere vanity. The world is glad to help you so long as you don’t seem to need it, Ah srenpees erie snore pe cope tenons rs si 4 8 ‘ Fe 5 4 parewarenpmenenermenaoy : December 14, 1932 Essential Features of the Grocery Staples. Sugar — Local jobbers hold cane granulated at 4.65c and beet granu- lated at 4.55c. Tea—The primary markets during the week have shown considerable fluctuations both up and down, but in this country prices are about steady without any material change. De- mand is rather moderate. Figures covering imports of Formosa teas into this country for the current year have increased about 1,000,000 pounds over the year before, due mainly to lower exchange, which made this tea more appealing to buyers. Prices for For- mosa tea this year have been the low- est on record. The consumptive de- mand for tea is about as usual. Coffee—So far as future Rio and Santos, green and in a large way, is concerned, the week started with frac- tional declines. Later in the week, however, futures advanced about %4c per pound, due to news from Brazil that the export tax was not to be changed. Actual Rio and Santos is perhaps a small fraction lower for the week, but as futures advanced, the feeling in spot coffees became a little firmer, especially on Santos. Mild coffees are about unchanged. The jobbing market on roasted coffee, speaking generally, is about steady. There is nothing in what happened during the week to change the fact that the undertone on Rio and Santos is heavy. Consumptive demand for coffee is fair. Canned Fruits—The Florida grape- fruit canning season is just about ready to get under way now and pro- ducers have nothing to guide them as far as future business on the books is concerned. More definite information regarding the pack, as well as the firmness of prices will have to be forthcoming. There is one thing cer- tain, however, and that is that dis- tributors’ stocks at a low ebb and new buying cannot be delayed long after the first of the year. Canned Vegetables— Prices hold seady this week in the face of inter- esting trading. Although there was a short pack of pumpkin and squash, as well as other holiday items, the supply will now be adequate for trade require- ments, it seems apparent, but at least there will be very little goods carried over worth worrying about. While the Southern tomato market is still about the same, it appears that No. 10s are working into relatively short supply and are showing a stiffer price tend- ency. Probably what keeps the mar- ket from doing so is the fact that all distributors do not appreciate the posi- tion of gallons, else they would be more concerned about getting stocks. Peas and corn are unchanged. Tomato juice has been a good seller, with packs moving out consistently in a re- placement way. This comparatively new item has enjoyed a well sustained and even increasing consumer prefer- ence, backed up by health propaganda on the one hand and improved: quality on the other. Canned Fish—Salmon is not doing much, but fancy grades are in light supply and will undoubtedly be short. The pack of canned shrimp showed another decline in November accord- MICHIGAN ing to the statistics of the shrimp sec- tion of the National Canners’ Associa- tion. Production totaled 61,827 cases, as compared to 68,662 cases in Novem- ‘ber last year. Production since August 1 totaled 446,155 cases, as against 557,069 cases during the same period last year. Dried Fruits—The dried fruit mar- ket continues rather slow this week, with a lack of consumer interest ap- pearing to be at the bottom of the trouble. There has been a _ narrow market for dried fruits, affecting not only the staples, but even holiday lines. How much this latter is merely a hold- ing off until last minute covering re- mains to be seen. Jobbers and dis- tributors have had much experience with final scrambles for goods and this year promises to be no exception. The spot prices are right now to attract consumer to dried fruits. Such prices would not be possible on the basis of the present Coast market, but are largely due to the fact that goods are coming in on contract at the low prices which prevailed early in the fall. The question is, if dried fruits do not move at present levels how are they going to move at higher levels later on? Small lot orders are still being received from the local and interior trades, but at the prices now existing and the manner of trading the difficulty of profitable trading is apparent. In the meantime prunes and Thompson raisins are be- ing well maintained on the Coast and first hands seem content to await a better turn in the market after the first of the year. Apricots, too, are steady and well controlled. Beans and Peas—The tone of the dried bean market is very weak and unsatisfactory with a poor demand. Practically all grades are either frac- tionally lower than the week before, or very weak and easy. Dried peas neglected without very much change for the week. Nuts—The market continues to drag along, with most lines slow, although there has been a good sale of pecans from first hands, as the supply has been scarce, particularly so in some popular grades. The paper shell crop is very short, so much so that most sellers have little difficulty in finding a market. As for Brazils, walnuts and almonds, there has been only a routine movement. The shelled nut market likewise is inactive. Olives—Little change marks the olive situation. Locally there are suf- ficient supplies to handle the restricted needs of consumers. Steady prices are being paid, large size queens offering at $1.40. Advices from Spain indicates a very short crop of new queens. There is a fair Manizales crop. Thus ship- ment prices ruled firm. This has not been reflected on the spot because of the lack of replacement demand. Olive Oil—The olive oil market con- tinued to show an easy trend in Italy last week while the Spanish market was quiet and unchanged. With the new crop ready soon, the chances of a pick up soon are negligible. Trading here is showing a fair volume, with Italian oil getting the most attention. Pickles—No important developments show in pickles. The demand has been rather quiet in spite of the known scarcity of most lines. Thus TRADESMAN prices have failed to respond to the strong statistical position. Very little is to be had in the way of domestic dills, most packers having disposed of their supplies. Rice—The market is still fairly busy, but much less active than it was a month ago. rice has slackened, but domestic dis- tributing centers are not overburdened with supplies and a fairly satisfactory situation prevails. In the South the new rice is now all under cover. There is little evidence of forced selling in the rough market. ing their requirements more closely. Salt Fish—The market for mackerel and other salt fish is unchanged. Prices are where they were a week ago, but with a firm undertone. The demand is better than it was around Thanks- giving. Prices are still favoring ‘buyers. Cheese—Quiet demand is reported for cheese with prices fairly steady. Syrup and Molasses—Market for sugar syrup is steady with a moderate demand and no features. Compound syrup is selling in a routine way with- out change in price. The demand for grocery grades of molasses is also very moderate without change. Vinegar—Vinegar remains on an even keel. Production was light, it being the in-between season. Cider maintains a good turnover, and is ex- pected to do so until the end of the month, after which a seasonal letdown usually shows. —___ 0» Review of the Produce Market. The movement of milled Millers are cover- Apples—20 oz. Pippin and Red Mc- Intosh, $1@1.25 per bu.; Wagner, 85c @1.25; Spys, $1.50 for No. 1 and $1 for No. 2; Baldwins, 75c@$1; Green- ings and Russets, 75c@$l. Bagas—Canadian, 60c per 50 Ib. sack. Bananas—5@5%c per lb. Beets—€0c per bu. Butter—The market is “%c higher than a week ago. Receipts are rather limited, but still enough for the busi- ness done. Jobbers hold plain wrap- ped prints at 24c and 65 lb. tubs at 23c for extras. Cabbage—35c per bu.; 50c for red. California Fruits — Bartlett Pears, $3 per box. Empress Grapes, $1.50. Carrots—35c per doz. bunches; 50c per bu. Cauliflower—$1.75 per crate contain- ing 6@9. Celery—20@30c per bunch. Cocoanuts—90c per doz. or $5.50 per bag. Dried Beans—Michigan jobbers pay as follows for hand picked at shipping station: ©. H. Pea from elevator $1.15 Poe fom tieter 95 Light Red Kidney from farmer __ 1.60 Dark Red Kidney from farmer __ 1.35 Cranberry beans to farmer ______ ZS Eggs—Fresh eggs are lower on ac- count of increased receipts. Jobbers pay 28c for 56 lb. crates and 29c for 57 and 58 lb. Pullet eggs fetch 18c per lb. Jobbers sell candled fresh eggs at 33c. Cold storage are offered on the following basis: eX camara 92 28c XM candied =) = ee 25¢ Checks 2250 Fo 24c Cranberries—$2.75 per 25 lb. box for Late Howe. 5 Cucumbers—No. 1 home grown hot house, $1.20 per doz. Grape Fruit—Present prices are as follows: Plorida More fistce $3.00 Florida Sealed Sweet _.__....__.. 9.25 sEexas, Choice 2 0 8 3.50 Wexas. faney 2) Green Onions—Chalots, 50c per doz. Green Peppers—60c per doz. Honey—The market is weak and un- certain, because of over supply. Lettuce — In good demand on the following basis: Imperial Valley, 6s, per crate __$2.25 Imperial Valley, 4s and 5s, crate 2.50 Etot house, 10 Ib. basket | 65 Lemons—The price is as follows: oO Sie $6.00 weer UGE 6.00 wu Mee Ha 5.00 ae Ned Ua 5.00 Mushrooms—28c per one lb. carton. Oranges—Fancy Sunkist California Navels are now sold as follows: P26 $3.50 TSO 3.50 175 ee ee 3.50 7\0 ee ee 22 350 7A ee 3.50 262 — 350 200 2 ee 3.50 S44 325 Red Ball, 50c per box less. Onions—Home grown, 50c per bu. for medium yellow. Domestic Spanish, $1.50 per crate. Parsley—50c per doz. bunches. Potatoes—Home grown 35c per bu. on the local market; Idaho bakers, 25c for $5 ib. sack. Poultry—Wilson & Company pay as follows: Pléayy fewls == 050 5.0 10c Distt faye... 8c Beko 20 8c Light Broilers, 2 Ibs. 92 7c Rock Broilers, 214 |bs. up 9c PEWEKeYS =. et 13c Geese 6 7c Radishes—30c per doz. bunches hot house. Spinach—$1 per bu. grown. Squash—Hubbard, $2 per 100 Ibs. Sweet Potatoes—$1.50 per bu. for kiln dried Indiana. Tangerines—$2.25 per box. Tomatoes—Hot house, 90c per 7 Ib. basket. Veal Calves — Wilsno & Company pay as follows: for Southern Boney 20. 6@7c Good oe 5c Medium 2 0 5c —_¢—___ Red and White Start Saturday. Thirty local grocers who have or- ganized as the Red and White system will open their doors under the new auspices Saturday morning of this week. All are home owned stores, no one but the actual owners having an interest in the emporiums. Lee & Cady, who will be the supply house for the group, will give the members a complimentary dinner at one of the local hotels Thursday evening, when four members of the advisory board will be selected. ——__+--___ Greatness comes only to those who seek not how to avoid obstacles, but to overcome them. 6 MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE Will Your Office Records Be Assets or Ashes? When your office burns will fire find you ready? Will you collect insurance promptly and resume business without delay bringing in outstanding accounts? Will your records have come safely through the blaze? They must if you survive the blow. After your office fire you must back your claims with records to collect insurance, deal with cred- itors and those who owe you, and main- tain your credit standing unimpaired. Upon records depends the very ex- istence of your business, when fire has struck. You must save your inven- tory. The adjuster uses it to fix in- demnity. Without it, insurance set- tlement becomes a compromise. In- voices must be preserved to prevent unjust creditor claims; to prove addi- tions to stock. Sales-slips—in ashes— will be valueless. the facts of sales. Sales-slips establish For deductions from inventory. For collection purposes. Books of account will be sorely needed One cannot trust to To realize on ac- after the fire. customers’ memory. counts receivable you must have back- ing. Valuable documents—securities, deeds, contracts, leases, policies, patent papers, irreplaceable documents — you will need them more than ever after the fire. Correpondence and _ sales records—letters are first-rank evidence. Sales records capitalize on good will. Much better to have all this valuable data. There is no sure way of securing immunity from fire. Every office, every factory, every business structure is surrounded by so many possibilities of successful attack by fire that it is impossible to be sure of safety. One-half billion dollars is the an- nual fire loss in the United States. A fire is starting somewhere in the coun- try every minute of the day and night. While you are reading this article, a dozen or so fires have sprung into being. Statistics prove that over 66 per cent. of all fires are on business properties. Business suffers an appalling direct and immediate money loss from fire. In addition, fire takes the life of work- ers, wipes out profits, destroys good will, sends business to competitors, and plays havoc with organization miorale. One can insure buildings, stocks, etc., but one should insure, with ade- quate safe protection, business records. Buildings, stocks and the like can more or less be easily replaced. But valu- able business records never. If fire sweeps through your offices to-night and burns your books of ac- count, bills, invocies and other vouch- ers, how would you collect the money owed you? Thousands of business men have learned in after-the-fire experi- ence that it is almost impossible to collect if their records are destroyed. A Fall River, Mo., firm was able to collect $385 out of $3,200 owed it. An Ackley, Iowa, company had outstand- ing accounts of $1,800 and collected only $600. Thousands of others have MICHIGAN suffered serious loss or have been forced out of business because of fail- ure to collect bills after a fire. Costly experience proves that 43 per cent. of business concerns whose rec- ords are lost in disastrous fires do not resume business. When fire destroys a company’s important records, serious loss may result in one or all of the following ways: 1. Fire insurance cannot be collect- ed in full, due to inability to prove loss. 2. Accounts collected in full, in many cases not even to 50 per cent. of their value. 3. The business or professional man is in no position to resist success- receivable cannot be fully unjust claims of various kinds. 4. Resumption of business is seri- ously interfered with, due to the ab- sence of miscellaneous records such as cost, purchasing, inventory, sales, etc. One hundred representative con- cerns, ranging from a two and a half million dollar manufacturer down to cross-roads stores, which have lost records in destructive fires, were in- vestigated by a leading safe manufac- turer in co-operation with R. G. Dun & Co. It was shown that 74 per cent. suffered a serious reduction in credit rating. Forty-three per cent. of them were unable to resume business. Ask yourself these questions and get the answer. 1. What fire hazards threaten our building? 2. Are the vital records of our busi- ness protected? 3. Is our protection adequate for all our records? 4. What is the probable condition of our business if a disastrous fire should destroy our building? 5. If fire swept our crowded of- fices in the day time, could we save our records then in use? 6. Are we combining protection with the greatest efficiency of our records in use? Every executive responsible for the profitable management and _ preserva- tion of his business should know the answers to these questions. In those answers rests assurance of the safety of your business—or a warning to urgent action. Protection of business records against fire is adequate only when ef- fective twenty-four hours a day. When day-time fire forces its way into crowded offices, the rush to protect human life may leave business records exposed to flames if their only pro- tection is a distant vault. But if pro- tection of records is instantly available at the point of use, safeguarding them is only a matter of seconds. Danger of fire loss is greater than danger of failure loss. Every business man owes it to his business to do everything he can to foil fire. He should prevent fire in every way he can. He should insure all property values. He should protect what he can’t insure—his business records. Robert K. Doran. —_>->____ The secret of success in the grocery business is a two-letter word that rhymes with snow. TRADESMAN See Rise in Bankruptcies. A sharp increase in the number of business failures occurring during January is looked for among credit men. Even though business does show further signs of improving, they said, creditors will press for payments of debts and a revival of activity would probably be accompanied by a flood of defaults. Several current factors are expected to be mainly responsible for a large number of suspensions. Retail sales will be off anywhere from 20 to 25 per cent. below the December, 1931, total, depending on the type of store, and many retailers, who have been depend- ing on the Christmas business to pull them through, will be compelled to suspend. Furthermore, the rent situa- December 14, 1932 + tion is being steadily aggravated with the decline in dollar volume, particu- larly among men’s wear stores, and many of the larger units may be forced into bankruptcy to escape burdensome leases. 2-0 An Eastern utility company and several leading department stores are trying a new co-operative plan in mer- chandising electrical appliances. The utility provides a skilled sales crew, under its own sales supervisor, which follows up leads furnished at all times. > 2-2 Merrifield & Twitchell, dealers in hardware, farm implements, etc., at South Haven renew their subscription and write: ‘We certainly enjoy read- ing your paper. Let the good work continue.” OUR FIRE INSURANCE POLICIES ARE CONCURRENT with any standard stock policies that you are buying me Net cots 0% Less Michigan Bankers and Merchants Mutual Fire Insurance Co. of Fremont, Michigan WILLIAM N. SENF, Secretary-Treasurer ™ GRAND RAPIDS MERCHANTS MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE CO. A LEGAL RESERVE MUTUAL COMPANY 23 YEARS OF DIVIDENDS TO POLICYHOLDERS Affiliated with THE MICHIGAN RETAIL DRY GOODS ASSOCIATION 320 Houseman Bldg., Grand Rapids, Mich. panies. Standard Policy. Dwelling risk. Finnish Mutual Fire Insurance Company Of Calumet, Michigan Has paid dividends of 40 to 68 per cent for the past 40 years and have accumulated more assets and sur- plus per $1000.00 of risk than leading stock com- We insure at Standard Rates and issue a Michigan We write Mercantile, Garage, Church, School and Write for further information. JACOB UITTI, Manager 444 Pine Street Calumet, Mich. : PSR LIMB Meenpeten December 14, 1932 MICHIGAN TRADESMAN IN THE REALM OF RASCALITY. Questionable Schemes Which Are Under Suspicion. Bowling Green, Ohio, Dec. 8—A very clever crook recently visited Bowling Green and passed some clev- erly forged checks. Up to the present time two of them have turned up. The checks in question were made out on the Clear Creek Valley Banking Co., Amanda, Ohio. The printing at the top of the check is Clearport, Ohio, with further printing as _ follows: Clerk’s Office, Madison Township, Fairfield County, Ohio, The check in question was made out to the order of Wm. Klinger for $28.70 for school supplies out of school fund in the depository, Appropriation J2, signed by A. C. Vance, Township Clerk-Treasurer and tad three signa- tures for township trustees—F. M. Jones, Thos. Crawford and Larry W. Miller. When cashing the check William Klinger put down his address as 304 American Bank building, Lima, Ohio. As we recall, the party in question was around five feet ten inches tall, about 35 to 40 years old, had dark brown hair, clean cut and good look- ing, weighing about 175 pounds. In Bowling Green he worked his game identically at both places. He visited the store about ten days to two weeks previous to the time of his pur- chase and in our particular case looked at topcoats and introduced himself the second time he entered the store by saying, “Have you still got my top coat?” In the case of the garage where he passed the other check, he bought a tire on ‘his first visit and on his second appearance addressed the proprietor by his town nickname of “Pete.” He then made a small purchase and cash- ed the check. At the garage we learned they had his license number, which is Indiana 385-411. We thought you might possibly like to publish this in your Realm of Ras- cality. We would not only like to warn our fellow merchants, but at the same time we would like to assist in putting this crook where he belongs. F. W. Uhlman. Sharpers worked an _ advertising racket on several Lowell merchants recently, taking quite a sum of money from the community. They claimed to represent the official publication of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen and the advertising was placed on the strength of this claim, as there are quite a number of the Brotherhood in this terirtory. It now develops that their publication is not an official pwb- lication of the Brotherhood. F. E. Malone of Grand Rapids, a representative of the Brotherhood, has been in Lowell investigating the mat- cer. In a statement to the Ledger Mr. Malone declares that the publication referred to has practically no circula- tion except to the advertisers to whom space is sold. “The racket has been worked over a wide territory covering many states and countless thousands of dollars have been gathered in from unsuspect- ing merchants and_ institutions,” de- clared Mr. Malone. “Some idea of the magnitude and thoroughness with which money was obtained under false pretenses can be understood,” continued Mr. Malone, “when it is stated that the scheme was worked all the way from Southern Michigan to the Straits and to points beyond. To date I have records and reports showing collections of over $7,000 in Michigan for just two issues alone—February and November of this year.” In Lowell the solicitors made direct contact with prospects in order to ob- tain orders, but Mr. Malone declares that another scheme of the promoters was to run an advertisement without ever calling on the advertiser, and then billing him for it. This scheme was worked in Grand Rapids and strange as it may seem, hard-headed business men are said to have fallen for it. Mr. Malone also states that particu- lars regarding the matter are being turned over to the United States Gov- ernment, The Ledger has suggested on sev- of Trade should have a permanent advertising investigating committee to pass upon the merits and demerits of all advertising propositions, with the understanding that no merchant or in- stitution is to patronize any proposi- tion unless pronounced sound and worthy by the committee. Such a committee would have required the parties referred to in this article to produce official credentials backing their claim.—Lowell Ledger. The swindle referred to above is not a new one. It has been worked by labor union officials of Grand Rapids for the last thirty or forty years. It seems almost impossible to break up the gang because they do not use the 7 get them on a charge of misuse of the mails. They are very sharp and shrewd people. Although we have denounced them repeatedly in the Tradesman they appear to thrive, de- spite all we can do or say, because of the utter disregard of good business principles which too many country and city merchants observe when they are approached by swindlers of this ilk. Hezekiah N. Duff, secretary and manager of the Lansing Merchants’ Association, Inc., Friday warned local merchants of a swindling “scheme” successfully worked in Saginaw re- cently, and which it is believed, might be atempted in Lansing. According to Mr. Duff the swindle eral occasions that the Lowell Board postoffice department, so we cannot comavena Ti ichigan ee: ©€ © ¢ The Problem of the Railroads THE difficulty of solving the railroad problem has been greatly increased by the development of competing means of transportation by highway, waterway and airway, which are aided by subsidies by our national and state governments, and oy exemption from such regulation as is applied to the railroads. The importance of the railroads to the economic welfare of the country is such that constructive 2fforts to solve the problem must be made at once, confronted as we are by evi- lence of the effects produced upon the entire industry and commerce of the coun- try by the decline in railroad earnings. THE SERVICE OF THE RAILWAYS IS [INDISPENSABLE FOR HAND- LING THE GREAT BULK OF OUR COMMERCE. HERE are the facts as to the decline in railway earnings during this depres- sion. The gross earnings in 1929 were $6,360,000,000 while in 1932 they will approximate only $3,200,000,000. Railroad operating expenses are 45 per cent less than they were in 1929, a decline of $2,052,000,000. This was effected by the reduction in the number of employees by about 620,000 and in the total wages paid them about $1,325,000;000. Purchases of fuel, materials and equipment have been cut about $1,430,000,000. The total reduction in wages paid, and pur- chases, exceeds $2,750,000,000. THE recovery of the railways is essential to the recovery of national pros- perity and they cannot recover under government policies that promote every kind of competition with them and at the same time impose every kind of restriction up- on the steam lines to prevent them from meeting this competition. EXPERIENCE AND COMMON SENSE DICTATE THAT EQUALIZA- TION OF TAXATION AND EQUITABLE REGULATION ARE NEEDED IN ALL BRANCHES OF TRANSPORTATION. IMMEDIATE, vigorous action by national, state and local executives and legis- lators is required. They alone have the opportunity and the power to enact and enforce the remedial legislation on taxation and regulation so necessary in this extreme exigency. THROUGH forthright action the tide can be turned, and by bringing back the railroads’ purchasing power, and by their larger employment of labor, all industry will be quickened simultaneously. Every man, woman and child in the country would be benefited by this correction of basic causes. MICHIGAN RAILROADS’ ASSOCIATION (Continued on page 23) YEAR-END DULLNESS. National and international problems, further recession in commodity prices and the usual year-end dullness in all but retail activity have combined to bring some further reaction in the busi- ness. situation. Sentiment remains hopeful concerning what the new year will bring and even more cheerful in view of the emphasis which Congress is placing upon its determination to balance the budget and largely through economies. The weekly business index has be- gun to reflect the let-down which took place after the war debts question jumped to the front. All but the car- loadings series lost ground in the latest week reported. Temporary delays have held up expansion in automobile production on new models, but opera- tions should finally show a good gain over last month. The clean condition of dealers’ stocks has been emphasized by trade leaders. Commodity prices have finally lost about all the gain which was made last Summer. The Annalist index is at 87.0, which is a new low point for the de- pression. The previous low mark was made last June. Dun’s list of whole- sale quotation showed some improve- ment, since it listed fifteen advances for the week, as against ten in the preceding week and thirty-seven de- clines, which compared with forty-three in the former period. Worthy of note was the failure re- port for November. This disclosed the lowest number since September, 1931, and continued the improvement which took place in September and October. Liabilities were a little over the Octo- ber total, but with that exception the lowest over quite a period. Inventories now being taken among manufacturers and wholesalers are re- ported to show the clearest condition in years. Raw materials are still in excessive supply, but for the most part manufactured goods are well liquidated. OPPOSE THE SALES TAX. Following on the heels of Pres- ident Hoover's budget message, which contained a proposal for a general manufacturers sales tax, the National Retail Dry Goods Association last week reported on the results of its referendum on the subject. The organization, which represents 3,800 leading stores throughout the country, voted against all sales taxes and thus reaffirmed its position taken on several other occasions. In submitting the referendum to its membership last September the organization included the strongest arguments made on both sides of the question. The actual vote was not made known, but it is probably safe to say that the retail sales tax was overwhelming- ly defeated and that a manufac- turer's levy was not favored by a majority. The strongest point made against the tax in the summary of objections was that it would prevent necessary reductions in the cost of government. Further down this list appeared the dec- MICHIGAN laration that this tax would place the tax burden upon those least able to pay. It is this latter argument which seems to impress Congress most in the opposition to the tax, and it is worthy of a great deal of study. For instance, if it is true that maldistribution of income is at the bottom of our economic trouble, then a further charge on low earnings will only aggravate that trouble. While millions in tax-exempt securities are available to the high. income group, it scarcely seems wise to put addi- tional burdens on mass purchasing power and reduce consumption by the amount of a new tax. DRY GOODS CONDITIONS. Holiday business made fair headway in the stores during the past week, but, according to reports, the character of buying is somewhat different from what is customary. It has been noted before that the public was shopping very care- fully with the evident purpose of ‘tstretching” gift budgets as far as pos- sible. Now there is some evidence that typical gift items are not getting their usual response and that other articles are faring better. Clothing and acces- sories sell fairly well and a particularly good call is reported for hardware, oc- casional furniture and jewelry. Department store sales last month, according to the Federal Reserve fig- ures were 20 per cent. under the same month last year for the country as a whole. On a daily average basis, the month having one more business day, the decline was 23 per cent. These percentages compared with a drop of 21 per cent. in October and 18 per cent. on an adjusted basis. The Richmond reserve district reported the smallest loss, 16 per cent., and the San Fran- cisco area the largest at 26 per cent. The drop in New York was 19 per cent. A compilation of chain store reports for thirteen systems indicated a decline of about 8 per cent. last month under the total for the same month last year. This put the loss for eleven months at 91% per cent. The wholesale merchandise markets were busy chiefly last week in getting out deliveries Early Spring apparel lines were shown and the design pro- tection movement in the dress field has spread. If retailers, however, are given the right to refuse goods which they claim are copies, some manufacturers believe returns will be greatly increased when trade falls below expectations. ENGINEERS AT ODDS. Events of the last few years have not dealt kindly with the “engineering approach” to National problems. The chief reason given for this, of course, is that the human element is not al- ways amenable to facts and figures. Where the business of the country is concerned, perhaps the same variable must be considered. Nevertheless, it does seem a little strange that engi- neering viewpoints can differ so widely on the identical question. Thus, General James B. Harbord last week before the American Society TRADESMAN of Mechanical Engineers endorsed the plant rehabilitation program and took pains to point out that new equipment should be installed not on the basis of machine for machine but on the basis of total product. He waved aside the argument that technological im- provements mean the employment of fewer work men. All history, he pointed out, indicates that new jobs are created elsewhere. On the other hand, the long study made by a group of engineers at Co- lumbia University offers proof quite to the contrary in its startling array of data dealing with the machine age and known as technicracy. Certainly the layman is bewildered but leans, never- theless, to the theory that increased machanization does mean the loss of jobs, particularly if costly service func- tions are being reduced as they are at present. As in the case of caprice goods, the fluctuations in our business cycles are more than likely to grow wider as greater flexibility is possible in service demands... Men may be released to these service branches in good times as machine production eliminates them, but they are left without work when the pinch comes. DEFLATION AND INFLATION. Although hope of bringing back prices and valnes to higher levels has not been wholly abandoned, the drift at present seems toward an acceptance of the lower basis. This means, of course, that there will have to be a wholesale readjustment of debt and of debt payment arrangements. It has been pointed out that 1933 is likely to be the year of great deflation. On the other hand, it is still possi- ble that some other means will be found to deal with the situation. Ad- vocates of the shorter working week explain that general adoption of time schedules which would cut unemploy- ment to a minimum might very well prove the remedy needed to raise pur- chasing power and advance prices all along the line. To the argument that this would not help the farm problem, the reply is made that, once industry was in full operation, there would not only be a “return from the farm” and a larger market provided for agricultural products but that taxes would be avail- able out of which to finance the do- mestic allotment plan which now finds so much favor in the farming regions. Under the domination of reactionary banking and business direction, there has been a continuing downward spiral of wage reductions, lower purchasing power and restricted markets. It has been continually urged that industry must see a profit before it can go ahead and that this profit can only be secured through cutting wages. The influence of the machine in modern industry, which has upset this prin- ciple, is apparently ignored. CHICKENS BY AIRPLANE. When regular airplane services first linked the Eastern and Western coasts of the United States and brought Latin America into much closer contact with the United States than had previously December 14, 1932 been possible, one could not foresee in what forms of transportation these new services would prove especially useful. Obviously the airplane was particularly adapted for mail, for light perishable freight and within Jimits for passen- gers. The development of air travel and transportation in these respects has more than substantiated the claims made for the airplane in the days of our somewhat belated awakening to its commercial importance, and its uses are constantly broadening. The air lines of the Pan American Airways Sys- tem, for example, are now conducting a thriving business in the transporta- tion of newly hatched chickens and ducklings from Texan hatcheries to Mexican, West Indian and Central American farmers. The first trial shipments of the chickens proved so successful and were made with so low a mortality rate, as compared with that of all other methods of transpor- tation, that a new export trade be- tween the United States and Latin America has virtually been created wholly through the airplane. This ex- pansion of airplane service is bound to continue as the air lines discover new possibilities of development. It will have its effect in this and neigh- boring countries upon trade, upon so- cial customs and in many ways of which the pioneers of aviation could not have dreamed. FOURTH IN THE AIR. Modern military establishments must include an adequate air force or else their utmost effectiveness is below that of armies and navies which have wings. Fourth place in the air for the United States, therefore, is not good enough. Reckoning the full active and reserve strength of the Nation’s aircraft, Sec- retary F. Trubee Davison puts this country behind France, Italy and Great Britain in aerial defenses at the end of the five-year period which was appointed for the development of an adequate air strength. Last June 30 there were only 1,814 planes available for the regular army, National Guard and organized reserves, a seriously in- sufficient force under any emergency conditions. Five additional pursuit squadrons are to be organized to com- plete the five-year program, delayed beyond schedule by lack of appropria- tions. New types of planes have lately appeared in the flying ranks, including bombing craft capable of more than 200 miles an hour with a 1,000-pound load of explosives. But the most earnest advocate of reduced armaments cannot argue that the United States is overarmed in the air. If armies are for protection and for the preservation of peace, the present strength of our air fleet is entirely inadequate to its re- sponsibilities. “Free electricity for three months” helped electric refrigerator sales in Kansas City, Mo. A coupon good for approximately 100 kilowatt hours was given with each refrigerator sold. ed A new light-weight and economical veneering brick is applied in conjunc- tion with steel strips. It can be used to modernize old frame construction or to veneer new work. whe RNP eR SeaRAI rEg NB SELLE LAME SIE BI MICHIGAN TRADESMAN 9 . December 14, 1932 intbnencmaiiosor OUT AROUND. Things Seen and Heard on a Week End Trip. Michigan is certainly very fortunate in having two representatives in Wash- ington who are so well informed on the proposed improvement of Grand River that they can discuss the matter off hand on a moment’s notice and: ac- curately describe conditions as they are without spending much time in consulting the official records. Two days after my appeal for assistance along that line, which appeared in the Tradesman of Nov. 30, the following letter was mailed by Senator Vanden- berg: Washington, Dec. 2—I am _ very glad to answer your letter of Nov. 19 with respect to a renewed interest in Grand River navigation. As a young man I lived all through the era of transportation hopes upon Grand: River and I distinctly recall the enthusiasm with which I supported the loyal and aggressive and effectual activities of my dear friend, the late Senator Smith, in this behalf. You are even more familiar than I am with the disintegra- tion of that ambitious adventure. The Federal project in Grand River, as you know, ‘has been abandoned as a matter of law. I believe this abandonment starts at the mouth of Bass River, al- though I am not sure about this de- tail. At any rate, to renew the project would require under the law, first, a survey by the Board of Rivers and Harbors Engineers; than a favorable engineering recommendation from this source to the Congress; than an au- thorization act by Congress restoring the project; then a subsequent alloca- tion of funds by the Board of Rivers and Harbors Engineers out of their annual lump sum appropriation in be- half of this particular undertaking. The first unavoidable step which thus appears would be the re-survey. I have had considerable experience with the Board of Rivers and Harbors En- gineers during the last four years in connection with various Michigan har- bor developments—because contrary to what seems to be your expressed belief, I have persistently taken an in- timate and emphatic interest in every one of these localized aspirations. I know the type of proofs which are re- quired to impress the Board of En- gineers with the commercial feasibility of any project which it shall endorse. It is a far different situation than it was thirty years ago because there are entirely new transportation elements which have ‘to be considered. For example, the first question which would have to be settled in re- spect to Grand River—in my humble judgment—would be whether it is not more economical to deliver freight by trucks from Grand Rapids to adjacent local ports (like Grand Haven or Hol- land or Muskegon) than it would be to pay compensatory rates for the main- tenance of self-sustained river ttrans- portation. I have been told by some Grand Rapids traffic officials that the highway offers a far cheaper outlet to the lake than the river could. Be that as it may, I am simply personifying the type of problem whitch would be involved in attempting to reclaim the interest of the Board of Engineers in the river. Of course, it is impossible for me to pursue the subject to a finality within the limits of this letter. But as a practical proposition I should say that if Grand Rapids wants to re- new its appeal for river navigation, the place to start the movement is at home rather than in Washington. The first necessity is the accumulation of defi- nite proofs ‘to justify an appeal for an official survey. These proofs would have to deal with a rather definite dis- closure of freight that is available for provements. river transportation and which would use it if river ‘transportation were created. Then it would have to demon- strate that this use involves a concrete commercial economy as compared with other existing methods for commer- cially reaching the Lakes. It would further have to show the willingness of boat operators to consider servicing such a route if established. Whether we like it or not, these are the types of evidence which are required to-day to enlist the co-operation of the Board of Engineers. I have said nothing about the navi- gation difficulties and the channel dif- ficulties which were encountered in the previaus undertaking. I have not dis- cussed the necessary depth of channel to produce a commercially useful waterway. I have simply undertaken to “think out loud” to you in a prelim- inary response to your letter. I shall be more than pleased to hear from you again on the subject and to be of any possible service in connection with local proofs to sustain such an under- taking as you have in mind. . H. Vandenberg. The next day ‘the following letter was mailed by Representative Mapes: Washington, Dec. 3—I do not know how familiar you are with the modern way of authorizing river and harbor improvements. There are several steps to be taken before ‘the actual authorization is made and work begun on an improvement. Ist. Congress enacts a law authoriz- ing the Chief of Engineers or the Board of Engineers of the War De- partment to make a survey; 2nd. The Engineers make the survey in the course of their work and, through the Secretary of War, report their findings to Congress, recom- mending for or against making the improvement. 3rd. If the recommendation is in favor of the improvement, Congress usually passes legislation adopting the project and authorizing the work to be done: 4th. Congress makes a lump sum ap- propriation for general river and har- bor improvements, which is expended by the Board of Engineers according to the relative importance of the work throughout the country. From time to time the Board of Engineers have surveyed Grand River and reported thereon. A few years ago it made a survey for improvements around the harbor at Grand Haven and back into the river and reported against making any additional im- Subsequently Congress passed another act authorizing an ad- ditional survey of the harbor and a part of Grand River. The Engineers after survey authorized by that act, which was about 1927 or 1928, recom- mended the existing project up to Bass River. That was subsequently adopted by Congress and’ the improve- ment has been made, as you know. I do not think the Engineers have ever estimated the cost of a channel running from Bass River to Fulton street at a depth of twenty feet. Speaking of the Grand River im- provement, the report of the Chief of Engineers in 1915 uses the following language: “The original project was adopted by the river and harbor act approved March 3, 1881, which appropriated $10,000 for ‘improving Grand River from its mouth to the city of Grand Rapids.’ The project provided ‘for dredging, where needed, a channel 100 feet wide and 4 feet deep, low stage from Grand Rapids to deep water.’ (Annual Report for 1881, p. 2224 to 2230). Between 1881 and 1886 $50,000 was expended in dredging narrow channels across the bars to a depth of four feet. “The river and ‘harbor act approved June 3, 1896, adopted a project for a channel 100 feet wide and ten feet deep below standard low water of ticle in 1889 from Grand Rapids to Grand Haven, requiring the removal of 4,- 000,000 cubic yards; for enlargement of channel at Grand Rapids to form a turning basin, requiring the removal of 70,000 cubic yards; for wing dams and training dikes, if found necessary; all at an estimated cost of $670,500. (H. Doc. No. 197, 52nd Cong. Ist Sess.) “The project was amended by the river and harbor act approved June 13, 1902, which provided for extending the improvement as far North as Ful- ton street, in Grand Rapids, an ex- tension of about one-half mile, and the estimated cost was increased from $670,500 to $774,000. (Annual Report for 1903, p. 510).” Subsequently the Board of Engineers thas recommended the abandonment of the improvement from Lamont to Grand Rapids, or from Bass River to Grand Rapids, or both, as I recollect it. I am not sure how thoroughly you care to go into the matter. I can dig up the different reports of the Board of Engineers for you here if you care to have them, although they are get- ting very scarce. I am quite sure, too, that you can go over the whole matter and find the reports in the office of the United States Engineers there at Grand Rapids. The recommendations of the Board of Engineers now have a great deal to do with making river and harbor im- provements. In fact, it is practically impossible to get Congress to adopt a project unless the Engineers recom- mend it. It is generally thought that this is better and more business-like and does away tto a large extent with the pork barrel feature of river and harbor legislation. Even though the Board of Engineers have recommend- ed the abandonment of the project above Bass River or Lamont, they could any time, of course, change their recommendation after a new survey if they thought the present or prospec- tive traffic justified the improvement. Let me know if I can get any ad- ditional information on the subject which you care to have. Carl E. Mapes. A few days later I received the fol- lowing supplementary Representative Mapes: Washington, Dec. 7—When I wrote you the other day about Grand River and the Board of Engineers, I had not seen vour letter of Nov. 29 or the ar- the Tradesman on the same subject matter. Since then, too, the Board of En- gineers have submitted to Congress two adverse reports in regard to some further improvements on Grand River and the harbor at Grand Haven, one relating to the breakwater in the har- bor and the other relating to the de- velopment of power in Grand River and certain improvements therein. These were adverse reports and there- fore not printed as Congressional documents. In fact, I have not had a chance to look them over very care- fully, but I have asked the Board of Engineers for typewritten copies of them and I shall be glad to send you either the copies which I get from the Board of Engineers or send you re- written. copies, I am afraid you have given me a prettv big assignment to get Grand River improved as you suggest during the next Congress. However, I shall be glad to discuss the matter with you at any time. Carl E. Mapes. letter from A day later another letter was re- ceived, accompanied by copies of offi- cial reports from Major General Brown, Chief of Engineers, and the Senior Colonel of the Corps of En- gineers, reporting adversely on the ex- penditure of any more money on the improvement of Grand _ River, as follows: Washington, Dec. 8—Enclosed are copies of the two reports of the Chief of Engineers relating to Grand River and Grand Haven harbor, to which | referred in my letter of yestarday. These reports of the Chief of En- gineers are based upon hearings and findings by the District Engineer and the Division Engineer. Their reports, however, are so voluminous that the office of the Chief of Engineers de- murred to making copies of them. I hope the enclosed will answer your purpose. I am not making copies of these, so I am going to ask that you return them to me when you are through with them. I do not think that the Grand Haven interests seriously object to the find- ings of the Chief of Engineers in re- gard to the breakwater. I am not so familiar with the i in regard to the other report. Carl E. Mapes. These reports are so comprehensive in detail and so emphatic in disapprov- al that I am disposed to accept the situation without further effort, be- cause it is very apparent that the War Department is so prejudiced against any further expenditure in the matter that a continuation of the subject would be time and money wasted. I am not disposed to change my mind concerning the necessity of a water connection between Grand Rapids and the lake and on the completion of sur- veys now being made I will present an alternative plan which may meet with a better fate at the hands of the War Department. I am acting under the assurance that we have hearty support in both houses of Congress in any reasonable plan we may be able to present to secure the relief Grand Rapids must ‘have if she is to continue to grow and prosper. Before returning the official reports to Representative Mapes I will copies of them made for my files so that any one wishing to peruse them can do so by calling at the Tradesman office any time during business hours. have Among the authorities I wrote to in regard to the importation of foreign goods to this country—described in the Tradesman of Nov. 30-was Merle Thorpe, of Washington, editor of Na- tion’s Business. He sends me a very comprehensive reply, which I am glad to share with my readers, because it points the way by which the abuse I described can be avoided. The letter is as follows: Washington, Dec. 6—Replying to your letter of Dec. 2, the National Chamber of Commerce during the past two years has been giving careful con- sideration to the increasing competi- tion from. imported merchandise. Much of the present competitive ad- vantage .\by foreign producers can be traced to depreciated currencies. I think you would strike a very sym- pathetic note in your magazine if you would come out strongly in support of new legislation to meet this type of competition. I think you will be especially inter- ested in the enclosed report of the Foreign Commerce Department Com- mittee of the National Chamber sur- veying the extent of such competition and setting forth certain principles to be observed in framing the needed laws. The competition you mention from Japanese sources is especially of this character. On the other hand, changes in other factors, contributing to the cost of pro- (Continued on page 23) 10 FINANCIAL Analyzing Industrial Securities. Working capital is the net quick free assets of a corporation. Investors will not find this on the balance sheet but can arrive at the figures by subtracting the current liabilities from the current assets. This working capital is of ex- treme importance to most industrial corporations. They require large amounts of free capital. This is quite different from utility companies which do a cash business. Investors should working capital depends largely upon the character of the business. A chain store corporation, doing a cash busi- remember that ness, should require very little credit. In contrast to this U. S. Steel Cor- poration requires a large amount of working capital. Investors will find some corporations grouping these items as working and trading assets and they are also group- ed as inventories on the quick asset side of the balance sheet. The working capitals of firms who do an installment business and sell on open trade are large and this asset in- creases as inventories, accounts re- ceivable and notes are liquidated and at various times of the year, investors will find these balance sheets present- ing this picture due to liquidation of assets. In checking capital some of these these statements, _ working should increase normally year by year. It should not be seriously depleted for dividends nor should it be used by the company excepting for a good cause. The failure of large corporations years ago was due to the fact that this cap- ital was depleted through unwarranted dividends, If a company is short on working capital, it hampers its progress. In acquiring control of various industries, consolidations and in taking over other plants, funds must be provided for this purpose and must be obtained from past profits. The paying out of the dividends in excess amounts of current earnings prevents an expansion of op- erations and weakens the concern. This has been proven during the last few years. Investors should carefully check corporations to find if they have existing floating debts; in other words, more current liabilities than current assets. If this is the case, these cor- porations may run into serious trouble, especially in times of poor business. Jay H. Petter. 2+ Balancing the Budget the First Big Problem. Seldom has the outlook for business in ‘this country been more directly re- lated to Congressional action than it is at the present time. Seldom, too, has the public been more aware of this fact. To-day, to an unusual de- gree, every appraisal of the outlook not only for the next few months but for some years in the future, must start with a conclusion of what Con- gress will do. Unfortunately this is an extremely hard conclusion to reach. There is the possibility of such a deadlock in the present short session that nothing but the necessitous legislation, such as re- newal of emergency acts, will be ac- complished. On the other hand, there MICHIGAN also is the possibility that with the political campaign out of the way some real work will be done on the path to business recovery. The first one of the steps Congress could take would be to bal- ance the budget. There perhaps will be no. single problem confronting Congress the satisfactory solution of which would be of more aid to busi- ness and the financial structure than this. Once it is done it will become possible for the Treasury to eliminate much of the huge short-term Govern- ment debt now held by our commer- cial banks, and this will give an im- petus to the long-term capital market. This, however, is only one of several! major tasks which Congress must face. The plight of agriculture, our trade barriers, the millions of unemployed, the future of the Reconstruction Fi- nance Corporation and inter-govern- mental debts all are problems of major importance. Every one of them de- mands immediate attention and every one of them involves both political and economic difficulties. It is hopeless, of course, to expect this entire program to be dealt with in an effective manner. From the point of view of getting some improvement in ‘trade, also, this is not necessary. Improvement can come as we work toward a solution of one after the other of such problems. Complete re- covery, nevertheless, will not be ac- complished until each of these sore spots is corrected. At present, unfortunately, the out- look for favorable action is not es- pecially bright. Rather it appears more likely that there will be long de- bates over reducing Government ap- propriations, new taxes, modification of the Volstead law, etc. If this proves to be the real case it will mean simply that we shall have to struggle along for more months before such governmental i which action as is necessary for business recovery becomes an ac- complished fact. From the economic point of view this will mean an ab- solutely needless delay. There is no economic reason to-day why we should not have a positive turn toward better conditions. Ralph West Robey. [Copyrighted, 1932.] ———_-- + _-_- Proceedings of the Grand Rapids Bankruptcy Court. Grand Rapids, Dec. 5—We have received the schedules, order of reference, and adpudication in the matter of Thurston Gentry, Bankrupt No. 5069. The bankrupt is a resident of Niles, and his occupation is that of a laborer employed by the “Dry-Kold”’ Refrigerator Co. The first meeting of creditors will be called short- ly. The schedules of the bankrupt show assets of $100, with liabilities listed at $613.63. In the matter of Ernest A. Trafford, Bankrupt No. 5059, the sale of assets has been called for Dec. 16 at the premises formerly occupied by the bankrupt at the premises formerly occupied by the bankrupt at 138 N. Rose street, Kalama- zoo. The assets consist of fixtures and equipment used by the bankrupt in a restaurant, and stock in trade, appraised at $735.30. All interested in such sale should be present the date above stated. In the matter of Vincent Crinzi, doing business as Vincent's Cafe, Bankrupt No. 9056. The sale of assets has been called for Dec. 16, at the premises formerly occupied by the bankrupt at 1973 Divi- sion avenue, Grand Rapids. The assets consists of culinary equipment, furniture and fixtures in restaurant, and one 1932 Chevrolet coach, appraised at $2,122.64. All interested in such sale should be pres- ent at the date and time above stated. Dec. 6. We have received the sched- ules, order of reference and adjudication in th matter of E. G. Rice, doing business TRADESMAN as Rice’s Boot Shop, Bankrupt No. 5071. The bankrupt is a residerrt of Cadillac, and his occupatio is that of a shoe mer- chant. The schedules of the bankrupt show assets of $9,280, of which sum $4,750 is claimed as exempt to the bank- rupt, while liabilities are listed at $6,- 529.23. The list of creditors of said bankrupt is as follows: Taxes: Cadwlac 2 hbi eS $100.00 Albert EB. Olson: Cadillac ....--- 20.00 B. F. Goodrich Footwear Corp., Ciienee — 68 ee 338.67 Nunn, Bush & Weldon Shoe Co., Malwaskec, AWis. 222 85.97 Shelby Shoe Co., Portsmouth, Ohio 30.27 Bob Smart Shoe Co., Milwaukee __ 306.68 Ideal Shoe Mfg. Co., Milwaukee -_ 176.42 Natural Bridge Shoemakers, Lynch- eure a 162.94 Virginia Lee Shoe Co., Milwaukee 112.14 Julian & Kokenge Co., Columbus, WOhnig ee 260.89 Daniel Green Felt Shoe Co., Doisevile, No Ye 222 93.49 Dyer & Hall, Inc., Auburn, Maine 113.84 Herbst Shoe Mfg. Co., Milwaukee 142.12 Hoge-Montgomery Co., Frankfort, Og ae 61.25 W. W. Warner Mfg. Co., Cincinnati 10.79 J. W. Carter Co., Nashville, Tenn. 40.26 Bloom Bros. Co., Minneapolis, Minn. 33.25 Ault-Wiliamson Shoe Co., Auburn, Maing 20683 oe 42.55 IKreider-Creidelling Co., Boston __ 22.26 Mich. Bell Telephone Co., Cadillac 9.50 Consumers Power Co., Cadillac __ 15.00 KKlesner, Cowin & Williams, CAagiing 28050 16.00 Peoples Savings Bank, Cadillac 4,280.00 Wom. Cassier, Cadiiac 2 55.00 We have received the schedules in the matter of Leon G. Agon, Bankrupt No. 4754. The assets of said bankrupt, ac- cording to the schedules, are $66,477.30, with liabilities listed at $92,042.28. The list of creditors of said bankrupt is as follows: Doxes: GranG Rapids 2 $4,078.65 Nick Zalaoras, Grand Rapids ____ 5.00 Vera Rood, Grand Rapids =. «1900 Alex Sam, Grand Rapids 50.00 Schouten-Hoogesteger Co. INVESTMENT BANKERS _ We serve those who desire to improve their investment position. Phone 96111 911 Mich. Trust Bldg., Grand Rapids December 14, 1932 Michigan Trust Co., Grand Rap. 20,000.00 Old Kent Bank, Grand Rapids 30,000.00 National Cash Register Co., G. R. 75.00 Wm. Wurzburg & Grace I. Wurz- burg, ©. Grand Rapids. 1,100.00 Martin E. Simpson and wife, lnOweu e e 5,000.00 Albert Pick Co., Chicageo 22... 5... 11.00 Ahrens Pub. Co., Chicago =... 3.00 American Laundry, Grand Rapids 30.00 Blue Valley Creamery, Grand Rap. 183.45 Bradley Laundry, Grand Rapids__ 31.09 Benjamin-Usher Agency, Grand R. 33.40 Burroughs Adding Machine Co., Grand: Raping 2.52 250 Browns Seed Store, Grand Rapids 3.60 Wm. Blyerveld & Son, Grand Rap. 20.00 Buehlers Bros., Grand Rapids ____ 123.09 Becharas Bros:, Detroit —.. 24.60 Consumers Power Co., Grand Rap. 74.44 Coffee Ranch, Grand Rapids ____ 217.67 Daane & Witters, Grand Rapids__ 41.89 Decorative Studio, Grand Rapids__ 42.13 Klis Bros. Co., Grand Rapids _.___ 82.95 Gorham Printing Co., Grand Rapids 14.45 Herald; Grand Rapids =| 19-80 G. RB. Gas Co., Grand Rapids _ 140.50 G. R. Coat & Apron Service, G. R. 377.77 Press, Grand Rapids 11.70 G. R. Window Cleaning Co., G. R. 20.00 P. B. Gast & Sons Co.. Grand R. 6.72 WS West Michigan's oldest and largest bank solicits your account on the basis of sound poli- cies and many helpful services . . . OLD KENT BANK 2 Downtown Offices 12 Community Offtices Established 1860 Incorporated 1865 THE ONLY NATIONAL BANK IN GRAND RAPIDS The Largest National Bank in Western Michigan December 14, 1932 MICHIGAN G. R. Insurance Co., Grand Rapids 3.00 Himes Coal Co., Grand Rapids __ 45.15 Herpolsheimer Co., Grand Rapids 25.00 Hoekstra Ice Cream Co., Grand R. 200.98 Hekman Biscuit Co., Grand Rap. 18.04 Hecht Produce Co., Grand Rapids 27.50 Hirsch Bros,.& Co. Detroit. ....- 15 irwin Bros., Chicago, 9222s 8.27 Kirk Wicks. Grand Rapids __---- 25.00 Wm. Kooiman, Grand Rapids ____ 41.66 Lee & Cady, Grand Rapids ___-_- 217.98 H. Leonard & Son, Grand Rapids__ 19.50 Wm. Muller Co., Grand Rapids __ 416.55 Kd. Meeter Cigar Co., Grand Rap. 10.08 City Treasurer, Grand Rapids ---- 39.69 P. D. Mohrhardt, Grand Rapids —~ 300.00 Mich. Tourist & Resort Ass’n., Grand: Rapides ee 10.00 Nat. Cash Register Co., Grand R. 75.00 Otter, Inc. Grand Rapids 2-2-3" 5.50 Ouendag & Son, Grand Rapids __ 446.07 Princess Bakery, Grand Rapids __ 88.47 Pastoor Bros., Grand Rapids ____ 341.33 Portfleet Bros., Grand Rapids ____ 426.74 Geo. Reader, Grand Rapids ____-_-_ 46.85 Rothenbergers Bake Shop, G. R.__ 17.39 Rolfe Elec. Service, Grand Rapids 6.80 Ryskamp Bros., Grand Rapids __2,456.55 Paul Steketee & Sons, Grand Rap. 49.22 Abe Schefman, Grand Rapids ____ 28.45 Security Storage & Transfer, Grand Rapigs 222 oa 30.00 Sanitary Milk Co., Grand Rapids __ 336.07 John Sexton & Co.: Chicago _._ ao.oD Henry Smith Floral Co., Grand R. 10.00 Ter Molen & Hart, Grand Rapids__ 7.45 Tunis. Johnson. Cigar Co. G. R..._-.- 14.00 I. Van Westenbrugge, Grand Rap. 26.28 Vanderstel’s, Grand Rapids _____- 1.25 . C. lee & Coal Co., Grand Rap. 15.00 Van Driele & Co., Grand Rapids__ 37.60 J. H. Van Dommelen, Grand Rap. 8.13 Man Claire's, Grand Rapids 5.00 Bellema’s Pharmacy, Grand Rap. 65.32 Worden Grocer Co., Grand Rapids 30.75 Wolverine Spice Co., Grand Rapids 3.50 Community Chest, Grand Rapids __ 75.00 G. R. Ass'n Commerce, Grand R. 25.00 M. J. Dark & Sons, Grand Rapids 10.00 John Smolenski, Grand Rapids ___. 22.50 Standard Builders & Sup. & Fuel Cos, News Yorks ¢ 2 as ee 20.00 G. R. Creamery Co., Grand Rapids 150.00 General Realty Co., Grand Rap. 6,592.27 G. R. Savings Bank, Grand Rap. 4,22.29 Hull Construction Co., Grand Rap. 356.99 Pappas ‘& Alex, Chicago =... _ 1,000.00 Kowener Co.. Michgian City, Ind. 450.00 Amer. Home Security Bank, G.R. 800.00 Joseph Renihan, Grand Rapids __ 5,380.60 Mrs. Ella DeHaan, Zeeland ______ $00.00 Mrs. Clara L. Agon, Grand Rap. 4,000.00 A. W. Johnson Co., Kalamazoo__ 10.00 Wurzbure’s, Grand Rapids — 2. _ 32.62 G. R. Gas Light Co., Grand Rapids 125.00 American Home Security Bank, G.R. 55.00 Sept. 26. Final meeting of creditors was held in the matter of Henning Mfg. Co.,. a corporation, Bankrupt No. 4795. Trustee present in person. Certain cred- itors present and represented by Travis, Merrick, Johnson & McCobb and Hilding & Baker, attorneys. Trustee’s final re- port and account approved and allowed. Bill of attorney for bankrupt reduced and allowed. Final distribution was delayed pending receipt of certain cash value on life insurance. Made order for payment of administration expenses and secured claim; no dividend for preferred or gen- eral creditors. Meeting adjourned with- out date. Files will be returned to dis- trict court in due course. In the matter of Elbert G. Rice, Bank- rupt No. 5071. The first meeting of cred- itors has been called for Dec. 23. In. the matter of Thurston Gentry, Bankrupt No. 5069. The first meeting of creditors has been called for Dec. 23. In the matter of Leon Agon. as Royal Lunch, Bankrupt No. 4754. The first meeting of creditors has been called for Dec. 23. In the matter of Charles G. Porter, Bankrupt No. 5064. The first meeting of creditors has been called for Dec. 22. In the matter of Charles Hodges, Bank- rupt No. 5063. The first meeting of cred- itors has been called for Dec. 22. In the matter of Harold E. Thomas, Bankrupt No. 5065. The first meeting of creditors has been called for Dec. 22. In the matter of Clifford M. Mehrtens, Bankrupt No, 4948. The first meeting of creditors has heen called for Dec. 22. In the matter of Quality Wood Turning Co., Bankrupt No. 4878. The first meeting of creditors has been called for Dec. 22. Dec. 7. We have received the sched- ules, order of reference and adjudication in the matter of Harold Edward Eveland, Bankrupt No. 5073. The bankrupt is a resident of Kalamazoo, and his occupa- tion was that of a painter and decorator. The court has written for funds and upon receipt of same the first meeting of cred- itors will be called. The schedules of the bankrupt show no assets, with liabilities listed at $983.44. In the matter of Henry Gildemeister, Bankrupt No. 4882, final meeting was held under date of Nov. 2. Fred G. Tim- mer, trustee, was present in _ person. Bankrupt was represented by Irving Cone, attorney. No creditors present or represented. Trustee’s final report ap- proved and allowed. Balance bills, notes and accounts receivable sold to Roman F. Glocheski, of Grand Rapids, Order was made for the payment of expenses of administration, preferred claims and a first and final dividend to creditors of 3 per cent. No objection to discharge. Files will be returned to U. S. District Court. In the matter of Dirk J. Vander Werp and William Folkertsma, individually and as copartners doing business as Vander Werp & -Folkertsma, Bankrupt No. 4803, final meeting of creditors was held Oct. 7. Trustee present by A. N. Branson; certain creditors were present and by G. R. Credit Men’s Association. Trustee’s final report and account ap- proved and allowed. Claims proved and allowed. Order made for payment of administration expenses, preferred claim and first and final dividend to creditors of 12.5 per cent. No objection to bank- rupt’s discharge. Final meeting adjourn- ed without date. Files will be returned to district court. Dec. 5. On this day first meeting of creditors was held in the matter of Vin- cent Crinzi, doing business as Vincent’s Cafe, Bankrupt No. 5056. Bankrupt pres- ent in person and by Francis L. Williams, attorney. Certain creditors present in person and represented by Kirk E. Wicks and Hilding & Baker, attorneys. City of Grand Rapids represented by Robert S. Tubbs. Claims proved and allowed or objected to. Fred F. Timmer, Grand Rapids, trustee; bond $100. Bankrupt sworn and examined before’ reporter. Meeting adjourned without date. Dec. 5. On this day first meeting of creditors was held in the matter of Ernest A. Trafford, Bankrupt No. 5059. Bankrupt sworn and examined without a reporter. Claims proved and alolwed. M. N. Kennedy, Kalamazoo, trustee; bond $100. Meeting adjourned without date. Dec. 6. On this. day first meeting of creditors in the matter of Donaldson Motor Sales Co., a corporation, Bankrupt No. 5060, was held. Bankrupt present by Albert L. Donaldson, president, and rep- resented by Travis, Merrick, Johnson & McCobb, attorneys. Claims proved and allowed. Albert L. Donaldson sworn and examined before reporter. Fred G. Tim- mer, Grand Rapids, trustee; bond $500. Meeting adjourned without date, In the matter of Alton F. Petrie, in- dividually and doing business as Pierson Elevator Co., Bankrupt No. 4772. The sale of assets has been called for Dec. 22. The assets consist of machinery, equip- ment, real estate and buildings, and one international truck, all apprased at $4,- 382.25. All interested in such sale should be present at the date and time above stated. In the matter of Donaldson Motor Sales Co., Bankrupt No. 5060. The sale of assets has been called for Dec. 23). The assets consists of office and show-room furniture and equipment, stock! room equipment, machinery and tool equip- ment, automobile parts and accessories, oils and greases, ete., appraised at $1,- 418.60. All interested in such sale should be present at the date and time above stated. In the matter of Leon G. Agon, indi- vdually and as Royal Lunch, Bankrupt No. 4754. The sale of assets has been called for Dec. 28 at the premises formerly occupied by the bankrupt, at 20 Division avenue, Grand Rapids. The assets con- sists of building fixtures, store fixtures, kitchen furniture and utensils, dishes and silverware, all appraised at $1,484.67. All interested in such sale should be present at the date and time above stated. In the matter of National Oil Service Co., Bankrupt No. 4876. The final meeting of creditors has been called for Dec. 29. The trustee’s final report will be approved at such meeting. There probably will be a dividend for creditors. In the matter of American Bakery, Bankrupt No. 4884. The final meeting of creditors has been called for Dec. 29. The trustee’s final report will be approved at such meeting. There may be a small dividend for creditors. In the matter of Charles E. Brown, Bankrupt No. 4848. The final meeting of creditors has been called for Dec. 29. The trustee’s final report will be approved at such meeting. There will be no divi- dend for creditors. Dec. 8. We have received the sched- ules, order of reference and adjudication in the matter of Julius Kramer, Bankrupt No. 5074. The bankrupt is a resident of Muskegon, and his occupation is that of a laborer. The schedules of the bankrupt show assets of $1,373.34, with liabilities listed at $2,226.02. The. sum of $3850 is claimed as exempt to the bankrupt. Dec. 9. We have received the sched- ules, order of reference, and adjudication in the matter of the Roach-Montgomery Co., Inc., Bankrupt No. 5076. The bank- rupt concern is a resident of Grand Rap- ids. The schedules of the bankrupt show assets of $3,727.84, with liabilities listed at $10,012.34. ‘The list of creditors of said bankrupt is as follows: Amer. Furn. Co., Batesville, Ind. $108.00 Associated Truck Lines, Grand R. 1.54 Baker Furn. Factory, Allegan ____ 473.50 Binbys,-Grand Rapids =. 4.35 Carrollton Furn. Mfg. Co., Carroll- OTE IR se ee ee 40.38 Century Furn. Co., Grand Rapids 1,362.00 Columbian Storage Co., Grand R. 1.78 TRADESMAN 11 @€ron-Kills Co:. Piqua, Ohio ______ 29.00 ¢. H. Reach, Grand Rapids ____.. 124.68 Dutch Woodcraft Co., Zeeland __.. 98.00 D. Swets. Grand Rapids —...____ «ta istey Mie. Co.. Owosso _._____. 168.00 Gerald Roach, Grand Rapids -----. 64.80 Fine Arts F'urn. Co., Grand Rapids 13.00 Grace U. Tacey, Wssexville _._.._. 33.00 Brankiin FPurn. €o., Columbiana, O. 63.15 W. H. Westley, Grand Rapids ___. 10.00 G. R. Bedding Co., Grand Rapids __ 597.97 Dec. 9. We have received the sched- Imperial Furn. Co., Grand Rapids 133.33 ules, order of reference and adjudication —. 21.70 in the matter of Peter Wiersma, Bank- Edw. M. Johnson Co., Detroit Johnson-Handley-Johnson, G. R.— 551.50 rupt No. 5075. The bankrupt is a resident Knapp & €Co., Grand Rapids... 1.00 of Grand Rapids, and his occupation is H. Leonard & Sons, Grand Rapids 263 that of a laborer. The schedules of the Loyal Order of Moose, Grand R.__ 150.00 bankrupt show assets of $189, of which Eue Burn. Co., Grand Rapids __2,113.68 $179 is claimed as exempt. The schedules Mich. Bell Telephone Co., G. R.__ 21.55 list liabilities at $5,447.73. The court has Mich State Industries. Ionia _____ 17.00 written for funds and upon receipt of Mueller Furn. Co., Grand Rapids__ 77.00 same the first meeting of creditors will Paalman Furn. Co., Grand Rapids 11.00 be called. yaprite 2 Ynrine ( iane ' wens a a. M04 es 20.35 : In the matter _of Charles G. : Porter, Richard, Pick & Heller, Chicago 2.95 Bankrupt No. 5064. The sale of assets Rockford Chair & Furniture Co = has been called for Dec. 23, at the prem- : : a ises formerly occupied by the bankrupt > 2 ~ 7 ~~ ee ed ea ck Tat at We S. Main street, Vicksburg. The iochier@, Wh Se ee eee a oes tes e eee aa eo dashery < aised < $1,675.25 < s ; ae eee 115.64 erage ADEA es at - anterented Tennis Transfer, Grand Rapids __ 133.96 12 sueh sale should be present at the Western Union Telegraph Co., G.R. oe date above set forth. White Baggage Co.. Grand Rapids 16.44 In the matter of Roach-Montgomery Widdicomb F'urn. Co., Grand Rap. 116.66 Co., Ine., Bankrupt No. 5076. The first E. Wiener Co., Milwaukee _...._ «47.00 meeting of creditors has been called for Wolverine Upholstery Co.. Grand R. 139.25 Dec. 30. YVopstant: Reed Co. Ionia _. =... 3775.04 G. R. Savings Bank, Grand Rapids 175.00 McDonald Estate, Grand Rapids__ 1,651.73 W. R. Montgomery, Grand Rapids__ 607.89 Analysis of any se- curity furnished up- on request. AMERICAN : ~HOME SECURITY ° BANK ° Under the Tower Clock On Campau Square J. H. Petter & Co. Investment Bankers 343 Michigan Trust Building Phone 4417 SYMPATHETIC Bankers who take a sympathetic interest in the business of their customers help more than by mere loaning of money. Such an interest has helped many a company prosper and grow far beyond the amount ]} loaned. POLO GRAND RAPIDS SAVINGS BANK “The Bank Where You Feel at Home” 17 Convenient Offices 12 RETAIL GROCER Retail Grocers and Meat Dealers Associa- tion of Michigan. President—Paul Schmidt, Lansing. First Vice-President — ‘Theodore J. Bathke, Petoskey. Second Vice-President — Randolph Eckert, Flint. Secretary — Herman Hanson, Grand Rapids. : Treasurer—O. H. Bailey, Sr., Lansing. Directors—Holger Jorgenson, Muske- gon; L. V. Bberhard, Grand Rapids; John Lurie, Detroit; E. B. Hawley, Battle Creek; Ward Newman, Pontiac. Remember the High Cost of Selling. Because we are all inclined to be de- ceived by the promise of extra margins —always called “profit” by the seller, though, as we shall see, a loss is quite liable to result—I ‘condense the fol- lowing from Printers’ Ink, signed by W. M. McCormick. I omit quotation marks for convenience. Not anytime in the last decade have conditions been more embarrassing for bankers to know how far to go with food manufacturers, wholesalers or retailers than in the last three years. Before that the aggressive made money easily, but with depres- sion many cut prices even below cost to maintain volume, thereby thinking they were cutting overhead. ones The private label campagn was en- tered forcefully and many bought those brands, most of which are sec- onds and thirds notwithstanding com- pliance with the pure food law which, as you may know, is a purity law only. Quality does not enter; hence the consumer gets goods not satisfac- tory, refuses to buy more and retailer finds himself with stagnant stocks, goods declining in price, deteriorating with age, sapping profits. This is one cause of failure to discount bills. If misfortune necessitates a forced sale of such merchandise, experience shows it will bring 17 to 25 cents on the dollar in contrast to advertised staple brands—well known and used daily—which under forced sale bring from 90 to 98 cents on the dollar. Through this alone bankers have sustained heavy losses because of ill- advised buying. It costs 5 to 20 per cent. more to pack private label goods, depending on quantity. Supplies cost more because bought in smal] lots and labeling and packaging is by hand against machine work on large lots. The extra cost falls on the purchaser. It takes more time ‘to handle private labeled brands—more explanations— larger stocks. These are losses sel- dom realized. There may be articles which lend themselves to private labels, but they are few. For more than twenty years we packed private labels and made money. Often more can be made on them than on staples because if the market advances the manufacturer can sub- stitute lower quality whereas on his standard brands he must maintain quality regardless. This has proved expensive at times, but inasmuch as the maker spends hundreds of thou- sands annually in advertising, he dares not substitute seconds or thirds or anything inferior. Such as have tried substitution have closed their plants or lost dealer and consumer confidence so they are hanging to a dwindling busi- ness. MICHIGAN One characteristic pitfall of private label buying is the temptation to angle for lower costs. The private label man does not see it through. Under such chiseling his grade hope- lessly disappears, quality vacillates, goods do not repeat. Private labels are not stabilized by advertising, sell on price and appearance only. The housewife spends 94 per cent. of her husband’s money. Our slogan for this fall is “Get Your Money’s Worth.” We must get back to fundamentals. These are cruel facts, but they must be met. The banker is realizing that he jeopardizes the bank’s money when he lends to a merchant whose stock is largely private label. If the banker will insist that those to whom he lends shall stabilize their business on sound merchandise and get a just profit, less risk will be run and more profit real- ized in the end. I transcribe that article not because what Mr. McCormick writes is new. It is really old stuff. But he has re- stated certain fundamentals with ex- ceeding skill and clarity. It all re- minds me of thirty-five years ago, when the Findlay store was long established headquarters for the Ty- coon Japan Tea. That was bulk tea, as was all but Tetley’s, which was first, and Lipton’s which was second among branded teas to be widely dis- tributed. Temptation came on me to try to “save” a bit out of my cost of tea. Probably I should not have gone far, fortunately, a hint halted me be- fore I started. It was a tea salesman for another house who told how any number of country merchants tried to pit their judgment of tea against that of the Chicago experts. They first took on somebody’s tea which they felt was a “good match,” saving maybe two to five cents per pound. Soon another house offered a “perfect match” for still two to five cents less. “Before he knows it,’ concluded that salesman, “that man’s grades are gone absolutely to pieces. He has not a standard item in his stock.” Years ago the chains stressed the price-appeal, now happily passing out of the picture, until a point was reach- ed described by their advertising counsel boldly in a talk I also con- dense. He said: “To offer private labels in compe- tition with national brands already ac- cepted and wanted is to double the necessary effort and multiply selling cost. Public preference is so well es- tablished on these leading sellers that it cannot be overcome without a cost greater than you now pay for known merchandise. With $1.45 quoted against $1.65 you have a false profit of 20 cents a dozen to equal the same rate and 20 cents more to keep it going. “Advertising working as a_ sales power house has saturated the consum- er mind with preference that will not be denied. The people will have what they want and if chain stores don’t give it to them some more scientific system of retailing will. It is retail suicide in this age of consumer in- telligence to offer brands of unknown stability with the claim that they are TRADESMAN ‘just as good’ as nationally advertised standards.” “Time—tradition—the years of ad- vertising repetition is the essence of the consumer’s preference. The peo- ple are convinced. The intrinsic values have reached the depths of the Na- tion’s understanding. You cannot rock the solidity of this subconscious foun- dation with your single-handed effort. “T want to ask: Who cut-priced the profit out of nationally advertised lines? Not the manufacturer. Not the solo grocer, for he didn’t have the price. You used the hammer until it got hot. Each time the manufacturer yielded he awoke next morning to find the eduction in two-inch headlines. You wouldn’t keep the margin when you earned it. Now you Say there is no profit in nationally advertised goods. If there is no profit in them, you sold it out and it is up to you to put it back where it belongs!” What do you know about that kind of talk? What would you—“independ- ent grocers’—do to a secretary or other official in your association who talked turkey that way to you? My impression is that he would immedi- 9, EGGS - December 14, 1932 ately become so unpopular among you that he would have to hunt an- other job. Now, the chain men did not special- ly “like” that talk, but they took it to heart. They grasped its plain logic and ever since they have been “beating back” to sanity in pricing, so that to- day—several years later—any grocer can make a fair margin, all the margin proper on such items as are so com- pletely pre-sold, on advertised grocery merchandise. And that gentlemen of the trade, is what I am trying to emphasize in what I have written above. Paul Findlay. —_——_+++—____ A New Orleans taxi company is wooing trade by equipping its twenty cabs with radio receivers. Drivers proffer passengers their choice of stations, SALESBOOKS NOW is the time to order. We save you money. Battle Creek Sales Book Co. Battle Creek, Mich. KENT STORAGE COMPANY Grand Rapids, Michigan _ EGGS - Now shipping finest quality APRIL and MAY Candled Whites or Browns Wire or Write us for prices. % Ss EGGS G [ HE realization that this com- pany has been making golden-crisp POSTMA’S RUSKS for 50 continuous years brings deep satisfaction to the POSTMA BISCUIT CO. Grand Rapids Arve the canned foods you feature grown and packed in your home state? W. R. Roach & Co., Grand Rapids, main- tain seven modern Michigan factories for the canning of products grown by se Michigan farmers. eband (Epa you Rnow ane t aT REG.U.S.PAT. OFF A complete line of canned vegetables and fruits * * December 14, 1932 MEAT DEALER Michigan State Association of Retail Meat Merchants. President—Frank Cornell, Grand Rapids Vice-Pres.—E PY. Abbott, Flint- Secretary—E. J. La Rose, Detroit. Treasurer—Pius Goedecke, Detroit. Next meeting will be held in Grand Ranids. date nat decidad. Price Policies in Meat Trade Yield To Other Influences. As is true in all businesses, those in the meat field seek to obtain prices for their product which will represent cost plus a profit. It happens that there are other factors entering into meat prices, and they are of greater influence than the policy itself. But before discussing these other influences, let’s see what items enter into cost. In general there are eight. The first is that of overhead of in- vestment. It represents what amounts to rental on buildings and equipment necessary for the conduct of business. The second might be called adminis- tration or management. This is an item which mounts in total as the breadth of a business increases, be- cause the more employes and the far- ther apart they are scattered the more supervision is necessary. The third is taxes, and at this par- ticular time it is hardly necessary to delve deeply into that subject. At all times ‘taxes are a considerable item of expense, and when a depression is on and counties, states and the Federal Government are all seeking to balance their budgets, taxes become of great importance. In the same class with taxes might be placed the moneys which have to be expended in dona- tions to community chests, etc. Number four is raw material. This item varies in different businesses, for the raw materials of some are of com- paratively little consequence, while in others they are of great consequence. In the meat field, for example, the cost of raw material is by long odds the greatest single item of expense. Furthermore, it is an item which fluctuates in value from month to month, from week ‘to week and even from day to day. Price policies, there- fore, have to take into consideration the varying cost of the raw material, and bids for raw materials must be based on selling prices of the finished product. Labor is a fifth item in those making up cost, and labor charges vary with volume. Transportation is the sixth item on the list. Meat is perishable and requires special equipment and special attention. Selling expenses constitute the seventh item, and they are influenced, as are labor costs, by the volume handled and the service that accompanies selling. A number of intangibles constitute the eighth and last group. These intangibles include spoilage, changes in style, shrinkage, breakage and bad debts. The style change item doesn’t apply very broad- ly to meats, but all the others are im- portant, even though they are at times overlooked. All of the foregoing in varying de- grees enter into the cost of meat. Profit has not been an important fac- tor for some time. Back in what we call “the good old days” 3 per cent. on turnover was regarded as a fair and reasonable profit. Since the war and MICHIGAN the depression that followed it, 2 per cent. on turnover has generally come to be regarded as a satisfactory return, but in the last several years most any- body in the meat business would have cheered if he ‘could have made 1 per cent. It has to be conceded that meat deal- ers cannot expect to make as long a profit margin as do the dealers in vari- ous other commodities. Meat is an item of everyday consumption, and is in the class of necessities, and people simply will not pay as much for the things that they have to have every day as they will for the things that they do not have to have, and which fall into the luxury class. Policies are not very important in determining meat prices for few and far between are the concerns in the meat business that could anywhere near make what policy would desig- nate as a fair return. The competition in the industry, plus certain peculiari- ties applicable to it, make price a mat- ter of conditions rather than of policies. Following are some of the peculiari- ties of the meat industry which ren- der it difficult, if not impossible, to determine price by policies: Meat is highly perishable. It can- not be theld successfully for any long period of time. It must be moved into consumption at approximately the same rate that livestock comes to mar- ket, for it is the experience of the men in the business that almost invariably when they hold back product, even for the short time that such holding is possible, they sustain a loss by reason of having done so. Meat is largely a natural product. That is, it reaches the handlers in such shape that comparatively little value is added to it by the work that is done along the way. No dealer, therefore, is able to give any great individuality to his product. Beef is beef and lamb is lamb, and while there are carefully guarded secrets of curing and smok- ing which tend to produce superior ham and bacon, the great bulk of pork product is very similar to beef and lamb in that it has little individuality. The chief difference between prod- ucts of different firms lies in the con- tainers. Third and most important peculiar- ity of the packing business is its lack of definite and precise information on cost. The raw material of the pack- ing industry is a finished product from the farms, and while it is possible to determine exactly the cost of steers or lambs or hogs, it is not possible to determine with equal mathematical ac- curacy the cost of any one of the numerous items into which the live animal is broken up. No one knows definitely the cost of a beef loin, a lamb rack or a ham. The only method of determining the cost of the individual item is the arbi- trary one of using the going market for such items as a basis. In other words, if it is possible for a meat pack- er to buy green hams on the open market for 10c per pound, then it is assumed that the green hams that he himself produces cost him 10c per pound. The same method is applied as far as is possible to the other cuts in the meat animals. TRADESMAN It is easy to see that under this sys- tem, and because of fluctuating mar- ket prices, two different packers could have two entirely different cost figures for the same product, and insofar as costs influence selling prices the sell- ing prices would differ. A fourth and likewise important peculiarity of the meat industry is that it has little or no control over its vol- ume. The Nation’s farmers produce meat animals without apparent regard to consumptive demand for meat, and they send the meat animals to market with faith that the meat packers will buy them because they have always bought them in the past. Probably this method, or lack of method, will always prevail, because many of the things which the farmer raises are of no value except when converted into livestock, and crops cannot, or at least they are not, regu- (Continued on page 22) 13 FRIGIDAIRE ELECTRIC REFRIGERATING SYSTEMS Pp RODUCT OF GENERAL motor WITH FAMOUS COLD CONTROL AND HYDRATOR All Models on Display at Showroom F. C. MATTHEWS & CO. 18 E. Fulton St. Phone 93249 Phone 93401 ASSOCIATED TRUCK LINES The Outstanding Freight Transportation Line of Michigan. State Regulation means Complete Protection. ASSOCIATED TRUCK LINES 108 Market Ave., Agency Offices in Principal Cities of Michigan. Grand Rapids, Mich. B E sure to keep stocked up on this popular seller. Made by the Valley City Milling Co. Grand Rapids, Michigan and BUCKWHEAT COMPOUND Anchor Red Salmon Rademaker-Dooge Grocer Co. ~ Distributors of Red Heart Med. Red Salmon Surf Pink Salmon Bull Dog Sardines Red Crown Sliced Beef The House of Quality and Service HARDWARE Michigan Retail Hardware Association. President—Chas. H. Sutton, Howell. Secretary—Harold W. Bervig. Treasurer—William Moore, Detroit. Last Minute Suggestions For the Christmas Trade. Some merchants adopt the policy of reserving what they consider their strongest and most spectacular Christ- mas window trim for the last few days before Christmas. If there is a dummy Santa Claus, it is put in the window then; if there are any spectacular “properties” they are saved for the last few days. This is a mistake. After the middle of December, everyone knows that Christmas is coming. The Christmas spirit is in the air. So the time to use Santa Claus and the spectacular and colorful Christmas effects is early in the season, when it is still necessary to get the public thinking along Christ- mas lines. Of course, all through the season Christmas accessories should be used in connection with all window trims, and as far as possible they should be worked into interior displays. But they should not be used to such an ex- tent as to distract attention from the stock, The form a window display should take may be determined by a clear un- derstanding of the attitude of the buy- ing public. Early in December, the average individual is still thinking of other things than Christmas. Hence, you have to emphasize the Christmas idea. After December 15, the average indvidual is asking himself: “What on earth can I buy for $2 that will make a nice present for So-and-So?” or “How can I stretch $25 to cover all the gifts I ought to buy?” It is up to the dealer to meet this attitude by proffer- ing the practical suggestions which will answer such perplexing questions. Hence the “stocky” window display is advisable for the last week or ten days before the holiday; with just enough in the way of decorative Christmas accessories to give it the requisite Christmas touch. As a general principle, any window display should perform a double func- tion. The window as a whole must attract attention and cause people tc stop for a closer look; and the indi- vidual items on display should be of such a nature and so arranged as to induce the passer-by to go inside for a still closer look. What will most interest the average individual right now is the goods which answer ‘the question: “What can I possibly buy for So-and-So?” So- and-So may be mother, father, sister, brother, husband, wife, daughter, son, baby or neighbor. So right now the most effective window trim is one which presents a wide variety of specific gift suggestions for all sorts of people. If you ‘have more than one window, you might devote one display to gifts for women and another to gifts for men and the biggest of all to gifts for children. Or if ‘there are only two, give one to children and the other to grown-ups. There should be the most absolute co-ordination between the window and MICHIGAN the store interior. The interest of the observer must not be aroused by the window only to be dissipated the mo- ment he steps inside the store. Give your store the same Christmas touch, and have your salespeople familiar with the articles featured in the win- dow trim, and the range of prices. I have known occasions when I went into a store, asked for some ar- ticle on display in the window and was referred from one mystified clerk to another; and ultimately had to point out the article—merely because the salespeople didn’t know what was be- ing featured. That might be due to forgetfulness or lack of interest on the part of the salespeople; but more usually it was due to the fact that the man responsible for the display sud- denly decided to make a special of something and forgot to tell his stafi about it. It is up to the merchant to see that his salespeople know what lines are being featured, in window display and newspaper advertising and at what prices. Even the clerk most eager to find out these things is apt to miss something if left to his own resources. An important feature right now is to see that the Christmas window and the store interior are properly lighted. Light is always essential to effective window display; but never more so than when the days are short and darkness sets in early. It is too late now to alter your window Lighting for the present season. But see that the “dead” electric light bulbs are replaced by live ones, that bulbs and shades and reflectors are cleaned and kept clean, and that the illumination is A-1l. Try to so arrange your display that no item in it interferes with the effective lighting of the whole. It pays to keep the windows lighted through the evening even when the store closes early. People are more apt to stop and look at a lighted dis- play after dark than in the daytime. Take a few minutes to study your lighting effects with a view to deter- mining how they can be improved for next Christmas. It pays to look and plan ahead in such things. In these last stages of the Christ- mas season, it will pay you to push the sale of gift lines for all they are worth. The present year calls for methods somewhat more aggressive and ener- getic than in a normal year. Price tickets should be liberally used in your displays and larger show cards to emphasize some particularly strong selling point of the individual article on display or the entire group. See that your salespeople are prepared to make practical gift suggestions to cus- tomers. You will probably have printed or mimeographed lists of gift suggestions. These can be enclosed in parcels and handed out to customers, and will bring quite a few repeat orders. But what the salesman can do in the way of personal suggestion will be still more potent. It is far easier to sell to a man who is already in the store than to bring him back after he has gone out. Hence it will probably be worth while for you to talk over this phase of Christmas selling with your staff, and get them keyed up to rather ex- TRADESMAN ceptional efforts in the way of sugges- tive salesmanship. Try to get tthe whole staff working along these lines, of suggesting suitable gifts to cus- tomers and of pushing the sale of your Christmas lines. Victor Lauriston. —_+--____ A Business Man’s Philosophy. Neatness, thoroughness and exact- ness are qualities that the business must laboriously Stenographers, after graduating from high school, are unable o spell, and office inculcate. transcription of their notes reveals that they have no comprehension of the basic rules of grammar. Further, the typing of the beginner usually is slov- enly, indicating a lack of discipline in the school of training. The general attitude is that the ability to spell, ob- serve rules of grammar, compose in- telligible sentences and _ enunciate clearly are secondary considerations in an education. The college boy or girl who knows historical dates, or can do a problem in higher mathematics, or can translate French, or can perform an experiment in chemistry thinks 1i is a waste of time to bother about “trifles’ that were “learned” in tthe seventh grade. December 14, 1932 Yet success in real life often hangs on the mastery of these trifles. The engineer who cannot write an under- standable, much less a readable, report usually works at a modest salary for a man who enjoys a large income, be- cause the latter has the ability to make an effective presentation verbally or in print. At one time a university man was distinguished by his ability to talk and write English. To-day a clerk in a first-class haberdasher’s shop is often his superior. The clerk, like the ele- vator and telephone girls, has been drilled in correct speech by the em- ployer. William Feather. << H_-- __ Retailers’ organizations in two Minnesota towns have cut members’ overheads through co-operative deliv- ery services. Pick up and delivery is made over regular routes, on strict time schedules. Two deliveries are made in the morning, two in the after- noon, and an evening delivery on eves of holidays. The delivery service as- sumes responsibility for C. O. D. orders. Perhaps some children are naughty because they have heard that the good die young. AWNINGS, TENTS, COVERS and SAILS Complete Line of Camp Equipment For Sale or Rent. WE MAKE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE MADE FROM CANVAS. CANVAS BELTING MADE TO ORDER. Call us for Awning Storage. GRAND RAPIDS AWNING & TENT CO. 500-508 Monroe Ave. Phone 85145 Grand Rapids, Mich. A 32 Year Record of Saving Consistently year after year the Federal companies have returned substantial savings to policyholders. Savings return- ed during 1931 were $4,622,- 767.87, which brings the total amount saved since the organ- ization to over 42 million dol- lars. This reduced cost has been made possible through selection and inspection of property insured, capable man- agement, and economical op- eration. Everyone insured with the Federal Mutuals has Federal Hardware & Implement Mutuals Retail Hardware Mutual Fire Ins. Co. Minneapolis, Minnesota associated his property with other select property and has benefitted by yearly savings. You too may join the ranks of satisfied Federal policy- holders if your property qual- ifies. You will receive the safest of protection at the low- ° est possible cost. It is unwise to pay the maximum cost for fire and windstorm insurance when the best can be had for 30 to 40% less. you to investigate today! It will pay Hardware Dealers Mutual Fire Ins. Co. Stevens Point, Wisconsin Minnesota Implement Mutual Fire Ins. Co. Owatonna, Minnesota a Pgitiiaesi Ber ie et aces aca December 14, 1932 DRY GOODS Michigan Retail Dry Goods Association. President—Geo. C. Pratt. Grand Rapids. First Vice-President—Thomas P. Pit- kethly. Flint. Second Vice-President—Paul L. Proud, Ann Arbor. Secretary-Treasurer—Clare R. Sperry, Port Huron. Manager—Jason FE. Hammond, Lansing. To Push Rugs as Holiday Gifts. As a means of clearing stocks for inventory and of increasing dollar sales volume, retailers ‘throughout the East will start this week to experiment with the promotion of room-size Oriental and domestic rugs as holiday gift items. Featuring them as useful gifts, merchants are prepared to stress the desirability of rugs and in many cases arrange for time payments from pur- chasers. The rug sections of large stores, formerly turned over to toy de- partments, will be kept intact in sever- al Chicago and Boston retail establish- ments this year while merchandise managers attempt to demonstrate the feasibility of doing a volume Christ- mas business on rugs. In other years only scatter rugs were promoted in a large way for the holidays. —_—__+ <<. _____ Men’s Holiday Goods Active. The usual last-minute rush for holi- day merchandise enlivens activity in the men’s wear markets this week. Fur- nishings are outstanding, with main demand centered on flannel and rayon bathrobes, plain silk crepe mufflers with initials, ensemble under- wear sets and pigskin gloves, on which deliveries are slow. Silk shirts, whole- saling at about $21.50 per dozen, are being sought, as are plain wool ties and plaid wool scarfs. In suspenders a new style has been brought out which gains favor. It has wool plaid insert with backing of imitation or real leather and with leather ends, re- tailing at 79 cents and $1. Some goods for January sales also are being or- dered. rayon ——_+~+.____ Small Appliances Sell Freely. A substantial increase in the demand for electrical appliances is apparent in the wholesale market this week. Most of the calls have been for small kitchen appliances priced to retail in the $5 to $9.50 ranges. Buyers from local stores have replenished holiday stocks, while both retailers and wholesalers ordered goods for January and February pro- motions. Percolators, irons and toast- ers continue outstanding sellers in popular price merchandise. Electrical- ly operated batter and juice extractors are in fair demand in ‘the retail ranges up to $18. Although fig- ures are lacking, manufacturers of washing machines said yesterday that unit sales of their products to date are on a par with the 1931 holiday season. —_>-+____ White Stone Jewelry Selling. The interest shown by retailers in white stone novelty jewelry is a high- light of the demand for this merchan- dise, according to Carl Rosenberger, president of Cohn & Rosenberger, Inc. Rhinestone types are selling well, par- ticularly in short collar and pendant styles. Rhinestones, combined with colored baguettes, have also been out- standing im a brooch formed of two clips, which may be worn separately if desired. Mr. Rosenberger estimated mixers MICHIGAN the sale of earrings at retail as being about twice the number bought in 1931. Chokers in short and long lengths are active. A long, thin cig- arette case, designed to hold twenty cigarettes, has been in demand. —__¢ + .____- Holiday Pewter Orders Off. Holiday purchases of pewter hollow ware and other types of metal hollow ware have proved a disappointment to manufacturers so far this month. A large volume of business expected from stores immediately after the first of the month failed ‘to materialize, and producers see little chance of obtain- ing the. orders now. Purchases of pewter are reported from 15 to 20 per cent. below the volume for the corre- sponding period last year. Only prod- ucts in the retail ranges of $1.95 to $7.95 are moving. Sales of stering silver in the medium and better price ranges also fell below expectations, but calls for extreme low-end goods are close to normal. —_—_+ Glass Trade Awaits Beer Bill. Believing that enactment of the beer bill by Congress is inevitable, manu- facturers of table glassware are look- ing forward to a sharp improvement in their trade early next month. The prospect of a revived demand for beer tumblers, goblets and mugs ‘has put new life into the industry, and pro- ducers are ready ‘to go into the pro- duction of glasses as soon as Congress acts and the details of the mew bill be- come public. Tax and sales restric- tions incorporated in the measure will govern the type of glasses produced but the majority of manufacturers, ex- pect that the nine-ounce goblet will be in greatest demand once the law is changed. ——__+-+ +. Clothing Rise Seen Possible. While Spring clothing lines have all been priced, manufacturers are pre- pared to put into effect any advance necessitated by a rise in the wage scales of tailors. A 15 per cent. in- crease in the wage scale might mean an addition of 50 cents to $1.50 a suit to the wholesale price of the cheaper lines, it was estimated. Charles Jaffee, president of the New York Clothing Manufacturers, has called a meeting of the membership of his organization to study the wage question more careful- ly and expects to have a report ready within another week. Mr. Jaffee said possibilities of a rise in prices has not spurred retailers to place more than ordinary advance business, >» Black and Blue Lead For Spring. Very concentration on the black and blue shades is indicated for early purchasing of coats and suits for Spring. About 65 per cent. of orders for volume selling merchandise should be concentrated on these hues, accord- ing to an analysis made by the color committee of the National Retail Dry Goods Association. Ranking next in importance is the beige family com- prising being, tan and brown, which should have about 20 per cent. of the demand. Grays on the order of Ox- ford and warmer tones are rated as due for about 10 per cent. of the de- mand. The remaining 5 per cent. will be spread over assorted colors. heavy TRADESMAN Delayed Sheet Orders Worry Mills. Sheet and pillowcase selling agents are considerably disturbed by the fail- ure of retailers to place orders for January white goods While some business has trickled in during sales. the last few weeks, which would have nominally been placed in October and early November, the total is far below requirements and the opinion is ex- pressed that stores are outstaying their market. Selling agents admit that re- tailers are expecting lower prices, but declared that the market has firmed up considerably in the last week and that no further concessions can be ex- pected. ——_+-<___ Expect Shoe Orders Next Month. Spring buying of volume shoe styles is expected to start shortly after the first of the year, when new prices will have been made by leading producers on men’s numbers. Some advance business has already been placed on women’s numbers for Southern wear and on the higher price men’s lines, but such orders ‘have been scattered. The men’s volume styles will be cut about 5 to 15 cents per pair by lead- ing producers, making prices during the third week of December, it was indicated yesterday. Some of the high- er price ranges have been reduced 25 to 75 cents per pair. ———_> + Cosmetics Industry For Sales Tax. The cosmetics industry will lend strong support to the movement for the enactment of a general manufac- turers’ sales levy. The present levy of 10 per cent. has greatly reduced the volume of toilet goods sales and has 15 done much harm to the industry. The effect has been to raise prices in a period in which increases run counter to the normal trend and against con- sumer purchasing views. He indicated a low general sales tax would not act as a handicap for the industry. —__ ~~. ___ Dinner Ware Volume Down. Manufacturers of popular price din- ner ware estimate that sales volume for the current year will fall 12 to 15 per cent. below 1931 levels. Current sales, they say, are good, but the de- mand is not sufficient to make up for the abnormally slack months experi- enced through the late Spring and early Summer. Some manufacturers who have sufficient stocks are pressing customers to purchase _ substantial quantities of merchandise for later promotions, and are reported meeting with fair success. Regular Spring lines, which will be exhibited at the Pittsburg trade show next month, are complete, but the work of pricing the new goods is still in progress. ——_ + _____ Zephyr Swim Suits Cut Sharply. Sharp-reductions in the higher price lines of zephyr bathing suits, bringing them into closer relationship with the plain worsted numbers, are expected to stimulate business on these num- bers for next year. Downward revisions of $2 to $3 a dozen on numbers orig- inally priced at $18.50 and $19.50 a dozen have been put into effect and permit the offering of these numbers at the lowest retail price ranges on record. —_+--___ Spreading work spreads revival. Mutual Building DETROIT OFFICE Transportation Bldg. Phone Randolph 0729 TRENGTH COMPANIES REPRESENTED HAVE Assets $65,931,787.14 Surplus $23,396,338.15 ERVICE Correct Insurance Coverage Engineering Advise AVINGS 1214% To 40% According To Classification of Property THE MILL MUTUALS AGENCY LANSING, MICHIGAN Phone 20741 GRAND RAPIDS OFFICE Grand Rapids Trust Bldg. Phone 95923 16- HOTEL DEPARTMENT How the Rancho Golf Club Looks To Verbeck. Los Angeles, Dec. 10—Several times recently I have enjoyed the hospitality of the Rancho Golf Club, at Westwood Hills—within the Los Angeles city limits—through the courtesy of its manager, Dave Barker, who, by the way, was a brother-in-law of the late Abe Frank, president and general man- ager of Hotel Ambassador, one of Los Angeles’ most pretentious hotels. The Rrancho golf club is a subsidiary of the Ambassador, and Mr. Barker hap- pens to be ripe in hotel experience, having been associated with various Michigan institutions. He started out in his early youth at Hotel Sherman, in Chicago, then under the manage- ment of Mr. Frank, working his way up from the kitchen, or back of the house, to a position as bell boy, from whence he was transplanted to Rec- tor’s world famed Chicago restaurant, thence to other positions, and from there to Hotel Oliver, South Bend, and from there on to higher positions, but alway swith the fund of hotel knowledge gained through his associa- tion with the aforesaid Abe Frank, also well known in Michigan affairs. Hence his knowledge in this line has made him an important factor in the wondrous country club, one of the most important in California, if not in the entire country Naturally, I have been interested in these visits I have made to his domain, and it has been a great satisfaction to find “parking space’ where I could be in touch with an up to date hotelier, with such an agreeable disposition. Rancho golf club has an area of nearly 200 acres with a most spectacular setting in the very heart of Westwood Hills, its buildings being of the pure Spanish type, and its equipment consisting of spacious dining and grill rooms, beau- tiful- reception and service rooms. It boasts of a Ladies’ Auxiliary unequal- led in importance anywhere, and for the reason that its sporting activities are under direct charge of Arthur Clarkson, an international professional, is the scene of many a contest with which the fraternity at large is familiar. Ifitook occasion, on a recent visit, to interview this very agreeable and in- teresting individual, who has _ been connected with this institution ever since its establishment, twelve years ago. “When I first came to America from Carnoustie, the birthplace of so many expert golfers who have made this country their habitat,” he inform- ed me, “I recall how the average American gazed and how many laugh- ed whenever I walked along the street adorned with my knickers, and when I’ accentuated the ensemble with my golfing implements, the ridicule was even more intense. Few knew what they were intended for. I recall one dear old lady telling her red-headed boy who happened to be traveling on the same street car with me, that my clubs were some sort of Indian toma- hawk and that I-was presumably a wild man from the Far West. ‘And he’s no more tha- a mere boy,’ she said. ‘See the short pants he wears.’ On another occasion when I was changing from one station to another, in Chicago, I heard Gne newsboy say to another: ‘Look at the burglar, will ya? He’s carrying his jimmies in a bag and don’t seem to care who. sees him.’ To-day the sight of golf clubs in any part of the world, means nothing. We see it on every side, and the game has assuredly become Amer- ica’s own, and the lads who used to play baseball on the vacant lots, are now carrying at the regular clubs, and the business man who, twenty years ago, considered a golf player as a fit subject for an imbecile asylum, does not play to-day: because of physical disability. Golf has greatly improved the health of the average American man and woman. It-has come as a MICHIGAN Godsend to countless thousands and equally as many owe their very exist- ence to exercise taken on the links of the world.” I have before me a letter from a Tradesman reader who asks me for the actual low-down on employment con- ditions in California. Of course, I am answering same, as I do all such com- munications, but for the benefit of the public at large, I am taking advantage of the occasion to repeat what I have manv times told my Michigan friends, and others, that there isn’t absolutely a chance on earth to get a job of any kind out here, especially for an alien. If perchance there happens to be an opening, which is very rare, the “native son test” is applied, and the beans are spilled. I have in mind a Michigan acquaintance who came here over two years ago, filled with the assurance tha the could “get a job anywhere.” He is still in the bread line, and the worst aspect of the case is that he has become inured by his condition, and is a veritable hobo. An official of the Greeters told me a short time ago that = believes there are 500 individuals here looking for hotel jobs. As I have frequently stated: If you have a return ticket, or money to keep going, Cali- fornia is an ideal place to spend the winter, but for this very reason, there are thousands here who hope to “piece out” by finding something to do. They are all doomed to disappointment. I note that a large number of hotels throughout the East have given pub- licity to the fact that there will be no New Year’s entertainments in their various establishments this year. They cater to the “decent” element, but ad- mit that the New Years carousals by this same ultra class “gets their goats,” as it were, and the game is not worth the name. Funny how perfectly re- spectable people will slop over at holi- day time, and in fact at any other time, when they think they are putting one over. Once in a while somebody condemns some particular hotel because of some omission in service or something that happened therein. Every organization unknowingly harbors a few “slackers.” The hotel has its troubles, and there are also a few hotels which do not de- serve any consideration because of the things which occur, the correction of which they will never undertake. But the hotel which corrects its errors and discourages their repetition should be encouraged in the good work. How the chef in a restaurant or ho- tel kitchen “keeps house” cient manner, interests a great many people, whether their duties are con- fined to the domestic kitchen, or in public service for which they have not been previously trained. One of the leading department stores here shows a sense of realization of this condition by conducting a sort of information bureau which gives frequent matinee exhibitions to which those interested have entree. The idea of supplying cards on which recipes are printed, representing the dishes served on the particular occasion, uniform in size so they may be filed in card indexes, with- out cost, is a winning card. I believe it could be adopted to great advantage in Detroit, Grand Rapids and other metropolitan centers in Michigan and elsewhere. It is good advertising and extremely practical. False economy is as extravagant as wastefulness. When a well paid em- ploye takes valuable time to save string, wrapping paper and paper clips, he is not only a direct financial loss ibut also sets an example of pettiness which is bad for an organization. Years ago-there used to be sort of a standing joke concerning the use of alfalfa for human food. First it was tried out on the poultry contingent and in an effi- TRADESMAN found to meet the bill. Now it, has become a figure in the ordinary bill of fare in the so-called health restaurants. At that it probably contains more nutriment than some of the various forms of sawdust and nut shells under the guise of breakfast foods. Quite recently an airplane pilot celebrated his millionth mile of flying without an accident, accompanied with a sigh that improvements and safety measures are taking the adventure out of the air. However, at the same time he was making his lament, an airplane was lying like a patch of snow on one of the New Mexico hills, with a dead pilot in the vicinity. Some may con- clude that thrill is still left among the clouds. There is adventure in taking the railroad train, or even in riding in the car of your friend. Of course modern precaution has done much to eliminate these elements of danger but every day we read about these fatali- ties. It is not always recklessness which brings about these disasters, al- though stunt flying has brought down its harvest, but there are the natural handicaps which present themselves withoyt warning. The daily arrival of the air mail is no longer a novelty. The aviator fully realizes this and he no longer looks for notoriety. He plows his way regularly through clouds and sunshine as part of the great work of the world. He no longer thinks it clever to fly upside down, and he has no consuming desire to fill a watery grave ‘by ocean flying. They just come and go on schedule, and ought to get pleasure out of the knowledge that they are performing a real public service. And when one fully realizes he is doing this for a purpose, and for- gets all about adventure, he may be said to have arrived. A domestic relations court has been established in Los Angeles. For a long time this city has carried the sweepstakes for her divorce activities and it has seemed almost as though the grists turned out have been really greater than the raw material provided for the hopper. Now it is proposed to dam the water before it reaches the mill—sort of regulate it, as it were. So far the statement has been made that if all the in-laws could be barred from the new-founded home at the time of the marriage, many corners in domestic economy could be safely turned. In-laws seem to be the center of disturbance. They are often guilty of making bad matches in the begin- ning and then kindle the fires that burn the ties in two at the end. The future quality as well as quantity of the human race might be improved by their elimination or legal regulation. Store, Offices & Restaurant Equipment G.R.STORE FIXTURE CO. 7 lonia Ave., N. W. Phone 86027 Hotel and Restaurant Equipment H. Leonard & Sons 38-44 Fulton St., W. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. December 14, 1932 ALL — a — TO THE REED INN Excellent Dining Room Rooms $1.50 and up MRS. GEO. SNOW, Mgr. CODY HOTEL GRAND RAPIDS RATES—$1 up without bath. $2.50 up with bath. CAFETERIA IN CONNECTION “A MAN IS KNOWN BY THE COMPANY HE KEEPS” That is why LEADERS of Business and Society make their head- quarters at the PANTLIND HOTEL “An entire city block of Hospitality’ GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. Rooms $2.25 and up. Cafeteria -i- Sandwich Shop MORTON HOTEL Grand Rapids’ Newest Hotel 400 Roums -% 400 Baths RATES $2.50 and up per day. Park Place Hotel Traverse City Rates Reasonable—Service Superb —Location Admirable. GEO. ANDERSON, Mgr. ALBERT J. ROKOS, Ass’t Mor. New Hotel Elliott STURGIS, MICH. 50 Baths 50 Running Water European D. J. GEROW, Prop. Se Occidental Hotel FIRE PROOF CENTRALLY LOCATED Rates $2.00 and up EDWARD R. SWETT, Mgr. Muskegon oe Michigan Warm Friend Tavern Holland, Mich. Is truly a friend to all travelers. All room and meal rates very reasonable. Free private parking space. GEO. W. DAUCHY, Mer. ~~ ree — amend Columbia Hotel KALAMAZOO Good Place To Tie To HOTEL ROWE We have a sincere interest in wanting to please you. ERNEST W, NEIR MANAGER December 14, 1932 MICHIGAN TRADESMAN 17 Preston D. Norton, general manager of Hotel Norton, Detroit, and the Nor- ton-Palmer, Windsor, was made man- aging director of the latter at a di- rectors’ meeting last week. Jack Lind- sey, of the front office force was ad- vanced to the position of assistant manager. Mr. Norton is certainly a “comer” and deserves all the good things showered upon him. This mod- ern Pooh Bah is now president of the Windsor Hotel Association, chairman of the board of the Detroit Hotel As- sociation, secretary of the Michigan Hotel Association and a member of the executive committee of the Great Lakes Tours Association. And in ad- dition to all this is a goldarned goo fe:low. Harold A. Sage, prominent in De- troit hotel circles and recently appoint- ed promotion manager of the Detroit- Leland, was recently very severely in- jured in an automobile accident, and is in a Cleveland hospital with an as- serted skull fracture. H. L. Lawson, Detroit representa- tive of the Hotel World-Review, gives a biographical sketch of Ralph T. Lee, proprietor of the Lee Plaza and Lee Crest hotels, in Detroit. Born at Britton, in the Wolverine State, in 1890, and brought up in hotel service in the Colonial House, in that little village, Mr. Lee has achieved great- ness because of his cleverness, and is now a leading figure in Detroit hotel affairs, all of which is gratifying to his numerous colleagues. John Dignan, who was active in the management of Hotel Vincent, Benton Harbor, in its earlier existence, is now manager of the Buena Park Hotel, Cheago. Charles H. Schnell, steward at the Book-Cadillac, Detroit, and trustee of the Detroit Stewards’ Association, last month ‘started a series of twelve week- ly lectures before the students of ho- tel administration at Michigan State College, Lansing, sponsored by the Michigan Hotel Association. The meetings which feature these lectures were held every Thursday. The disturbance of guests at down- town hotels, in Detroit, by various street noises at night is receiving the attention of the Detroit Hotel As- sociation, and an effort will be made to minimize same. The suggestion has been made that signs prepared reading: ‘“Quiet—Hotel Zone” be erected in the downtown hotel section with a view to reducing the noise to a minimum, and assuring guests that the hotel keepers are doing everything possible to make their stay more pleas- ant and comfortable. The co-opera- tion of the police and various trans- portation lines will be sought. Federal Judge Wilkerson, of Chica- go, proposes hereafter to know before- hand whether receivers he appoints to hotel jobs are familiar with such work, and with that end in view will appoint an advisory committee with whom he can confer before making such ap- pointments. It would be a good thing for hotel investors if other judges would adopt such a policy. Miss Flora Baars has taken over the operation of the coffee shop in the Hotel Janis, at South Haven. Paul T. Kilborn, assistant manager at the Detroit Statler, present incum- bent, and Joseph Denowitz, clerk at the Book-Cadillac, have been nomin- ated for the presidency of Detroit Greeters, Charter No. 29. Other nom- inations were: for vice-presidents, Leon Deglman, manager of Hotel Ojibway, Sault Ste. Marie and Ed. Lee, of Hotel Elliott, Sturgis. Will H. Rademaker, of Hotel Norton, Detroit, was nominated for secretary. At the National Hotel Exposition, recently held in New York, a first prize of $50 for the slogan best describing the duties of the executive hotel house- keeper, was awarded to Mrs. Mary Hugh Magee, executive of the Oak Grove Club, at Flint. Mrs. Margaret Pichler, wife of J. H. Pichler, resident manager of the De- troit Statler, died last week of heart failure. They were married in Chica- go, in 1920, and became residents of Detroit five years later. Mrs. Pichler was an accomplished pianist, and prominent in Detroit social affairs. Are we coming to state owned and operated ‘hotels? I notice in Wiscon- sin the clerk of one of the counties has on his hands for operation a_ hotel which was in default of taxes. It will be interesting to know if this class of competition is enjoyed by other similar institutions in the community. Whether there is or is not such an individual as Santa Claus may be demonstrated practically, if they ac- complish the object in getting beer for Christmas. Certainly a few pud- ding heads in. Congress tried to throw a monkey wrench into the legislative mechanism, but it clearly demonstrates that they were “lame ducks” because they ought to be. In line with the efforts of hotel men to restore public confidence are ad- ditional evidences of their good inten- tions. In many communities bread lines have been established, they and “the restauranteurs have organized ef- ficiently for feeding the hungry. Din- ing rooms have been thrown open periodically where good, substantial food has been dispensed to the hungry without money or without price. In some of the larger cities like Detroit, local caterers have organized effective- ly for this work and have systematical- ly disposed of their surplus stocks of food by charitable offerings. God bless them all. I am proud to have been of them, and while I may have offered a little ‘honest criticism from time to time, I am ready to maintain the ‘statement that the rank and file are far-seeing, charitable to the core and they have a wonderful faculty of overlooking the meal check at such times as these. Now that Professor Einstein ‘thas secured his visa, or whatever you call it and will soon be taking up his win- ter quarters at Pasadena, the problem suggested by Will Rogers as_ to whether drug store lunches or an ex- cess of “sympathetic” gin is respons- ible for tired tummys of active business men and not less active blonde sten- ographers, may be threshed out. Also the learned scientist may be able to explain why hot water bottles, oodles of them, sold on the last day of the year by the energetic drug man, are gathered up in windrows in parking fields adjacent to night clubs, New Year’s morning, with hundreds of en- forcement officers on their jobs the night before, watching for evidence of law violation. Frank S. Verbeck. Not Exactly Friendly To the United States. Grand Rapids, Dec. 12—Five years ago I spent eight months in Europe in ‘the leading hotels. I had daily ac- cess to the jleading mewspapers of England. There were frequent reports of happenings in America, accom- panied ‘by comments playing up the boorishness of American ‘society, and never any friendly comments, but gen- erally slurring references to ‘American ways and opinions, always distorted with exaggerations, having much the appearance of political propaganda, deeply imbued with old-time prejudices or jealousies, due to the rising im- portance of America in the world’s finances. If such was the popular feeling in those days, it must now amount to a rage of bitterness, with thoughts of Shylockism ‘and attributing to America an increased interest in the world’s economic troubles. a If there is a source for obtaining copies of their newspapers of recent date, it might be interesting to note their sentiment toward America now. I had a Detroit friend, once Mayor, who always referred to England as “Perfidious Albion.” Gaius W. Perkins. —_++___ Items From the Cloverland of Michi- gan. Sault Ste. Marie, Dec. 13—Not many years ago, the Sault was a lead- er in winter weather. We could boast on having the most snow and cold spells, but this winter we seem to be the ideal spot escaping the severe snow storms and low temperature which have visited Southern Michigan and almost every other part of the coun- try. We had only three cold days last week and very litle snow,. but not enough to call out the snowplows. Not only are we thankful for the fine winter, but also for the small share of the depression, as compared with other parts of the world. Still we are fur- nishing Florida with the Sault colony as in former years. John I. Bellaire, Manistique mer- chant, recorder of Upper Peninsula history and friend of the Indians, is now an ‘honored member of the Choc- taw tribe. This favor was bestowed in November by Ekuskini Sachem, of Tellico and Sagamore of Kalispel, hereditary chief of the Cherokees and the Choctaws, now living in Poland, Ohio. The White Star Refining Co., of De- troit, has asked for a permit to con- struct a $12,000 gas station on the cor- ner of Ashmun and Dawson streets here. The application for the building permit was made by James Hender- son, local attorney, who represents the refining company here. Two things which stand in the way of enforcing the liquor laws are the bootleggers and the drinkers. The Fair store, at Escanaba, is ob- serving the forty-fourth anniversary of a business which now serves the third generation—a tribute to its founder, Herman Gessner. The first store was located in the 800 block on Ludington street and was known as the Fair Store. In 1893 Herman Gessner open- ed up the Savings Bank department store in the 1000 block on Ludington street, consolidating in 1895 with the Fair Store, to be known as the Fair Savings Bank department store. Mr. Gessner has always been interested in all activities for the betterment of the community in which he lives. In 1915 he helped to organize the Escanaba Chamber of Commerce. In 1910 he arranged for the first county fair to be held in the Fair Store. After a yearly event at the fair grounds it finally became the present branch state fair. In 1922 he initiated the farmers’ market, held near the Fair Store. The Fair Store is one of the largest independent home-owned de- partment stores in the Northwest, Be- tween sixty and eighty people are em- ployed. Many employes have been with the firm from twenty-five to thirty-five years. The entire store was remodeled and provided with beautiful walnut fixtures in 1928. Prominent in the list of Mr. Gessner’s accomplish- ments for community service and wel- fare is his work for the crippled chil- dren of the community. He is a great believer in printer’s ink and attributes the satisfactory volume of business done by his store to consistent adver- tising. It must be with a great deal of sat- isfaction that Mr. Stowe can look back forty-nine years and realize the great good work accomplished through the Tradesman, which has done more to promote a better understanding in business circles and solve the prob- lems of the merchants than any other publication. Many of our old reliable merchants attribute their success to the advice and information taken from the Tradesman. The courageous vision of Mr. Stowe has had its reward. The merchants of Cloverland unite in ex- tending to Mr. Stowe congratulations and hope that he may be spared for many more years to continue the good work. Carlton E. Siddall, of Scottville, and Kenneth Musson, of Edmore, have purchased the Howbridge drug store at Manistique. The new firm will be known as the City Drug Store. Mr. Siddall is a graduate of the Ferris In- stitute at Big Rapids and is a regis- tered pharmacist. Mr. Musson is a young man of considerable business experience who is now teaching at Melstrand. He will take over his new duties at the close of school in the spring. So far, none of the hopeful brewers seem to have applied to the R. F. C. for self-liaquidating loans. James McKenzie, who has been con- ducting a grocery store in the East end of the city, has closed on account of the building having been sold. Mack, as he is known by his many friends, expects to get back to his first love as traveling salesman, which has been his hobby for many years. William G. —_ +. ___ New Retail Standards. The twenty-second annual conven- tion of the National Retail Dry Goods Association, to be held from Jan. 16 to 20 at the Hotel Pennsylvania, New York, will “be devoted to the vital task of revaluation and of reorganiz- ing the mechanics of retailing in the light of new standards which must be set up to insure consumer satisfaction and a reasonable profit to those who make and distribute merchandise,” ac- cording to an announcement. The general opening session of the convention on the evening of Jan. 16, following the keynote address of A. O’Connell, will be given over to consideration of “ Tapert. vital economic prob- lems, the trend of commodity prices, unemployment and taxation.” On the next day there will be a session de- voted to problems of the store of smaller sales volume. Tuesday eve- ning will be featured by address on the cost of distribution from the stand- point of the economist, the manufac- turer, the retailer and the consumer. The association’s fashion show will be held on Wednesday evening, instead of on the closing day of the convention as heretofore. —_2->___ Cautious on Linen Purchases. While the men’s clothing trade is looking forward to the largest volume of business on linen suits next year ever experienced, desire to keep cloth inventories at a minimum is forcing manufacturers to place the bulk of their linen suitings orders subject to cancellation. A steady flow of small orders is coming in from cutters-up to cover immediate requirements, which are only a small proportion of the busi- ness manufacturers promise importers. Linen stocks are so low that any spurt in demand would cause a 20 per cent. price advance both here and abroad. A slight firming of prices has taken place in the last week in the Belfast market. ———_>+.___ A new double-headed shipping drum permits shipment of advertising or other matter with the drum itself. The removable protective head, lithograph- ed, serves as a dealer sign. DRUGS Michigan Board of Pharmacy. President—Clare F. Allan, Wyandotte. Vice-Pres.—J. W. Howard Hurd, Flint. Director — Garfield M. Benedict, San- dusky. Examination Sessions—Three sessions are held each year, one in Detroit, one in the Upper Peninsula and one at Ferris Institute, Big Rapids. Michigan State Pharmaceutical Association. President—F. H. Taft, Lansing. First Vice-President—Duncan Weaver, Fennville. Second Vice-President—G. H. Fletcher, Ann Arbor. Secretary—R. A. Turrel, Croswell. Treasurer—William H. Johnson, Kala- mazoo. Nationally Advertised Products. A unique window display conceived by the president of one of New York's large drug chains draws the deadly parallel between two well known brands of a household remedy. Side by side, in the windows of the operated by the appear Disparaging eleven drug _ stores Pennsylvania Drug Company, chemical analyses of the two brands. In these analyses, it is shown that a formula almost identical is used in the preparation of both products. Yet the price of one brand is 39c for each hot- tle, while the price of the other is 74c for the same quantity. The Drug Trade News offers the following very apt editorial comment on the above saying: “If such a plan is carried through, its effect will be to disparage National advertising and impair its influence in creating a consumer desire to buy the things that people see advertised. This prompts several questions. “If such a thing could be accomplish- ed, what would be its effect on drug volume? Wouldn't the drug heavily from loss of vol- store store suffer ume? “Is it a fact, or isn’t it, that the chain stores, as well as the independent stores are dependent for their volume on national advertising? “Before national advertising tied in its force with drug store products, the druggist was a much smaller merchant than he is to-day. He lived over his store or back of it. He enjoyed few comforts. His sales were limited and his net profit was sufficient to provide him with only the modest kind of a living. There was no such thing as a drug chain, because there was not enough volume in the field to support a chain. “With national advertising there came volume. This volume brought with it opportunities that never before existed. Without this volume no drug store operator could pay present-day rents or make the fine store showing he does to-day. “National advertising has not been without sin. It has encouraged evils that are hurtful and irritating—preda- tory price cutting for instance. But as a force it has been constructive for the drug field. It has created millions of additional customers annually for the drug store- and has helped bring hun- dreds of millions of dollars into the drug store cash registers, that never would have gone there without this advertising. “Are we now to destroy the effec- tiveness of this force which has helped the drug store grow? Is this wise to do? Will throwing mud at this force ‘from the standpoint of MICHIGAN i —making it appear as a public gouger —help the drug store? If this mud sticks and creates prejudice in the pub- lic mind against nationally advertised products in favor of unadvertised or moderately advertised products, what will happen to drug store sales? “What will happen to the drug store as an institution? “The non-advertiser creates no busi- ness for the drug store. “He sends no customers into the drug store—creates no new desires— does nothing to stimulate the buying impulse, makes no contribution to drug store growth. He lives off the work of others. “In extolling the value of advertis- ing as a sales building force, we of course are offering no brief for those who capitalize such advertising to cut prices to a point that takes away from retailers the opportunity to earn a liv- ing profit on the nationally advertised products they sell. “Advertising which sends volume into a drug store but sends no profit along with that volume, is of no value. That’s another story. “What we are concerned about here is the danger to drug store volume that is presented by attacks on na- tionally advertised products designed to show that it is ham-stringing the public for more money than it ought to pay for a product. Advertising costs money. Every dollar invested in it creates customers for the drug store. That investment must be paid for. Don't we want it? “Such atacks persuade us to ask if we are not killing the goose that lays the golden egg.” —_»--____- New Drug Stores. Ambrose Hunsberger, chairman of the executive committee of the N. A. R. D., in his report when discussing the burning question of an influx of new drug stores, hit the nail on the head when he said it is a well known fact that a substantial number of new stores are being opened throughout the country, the inspiration in most cases being the extremely low rentals that the demoralized realestate market has brought about. There is nothing objectionable, of course, about estab- lishing a new business enterprise in a community that is in need of addition- al or better drug store service by a druggist of experience having adequate financial resources. This picture, how- ever, describes very few of the new ventures that are being undertaken. In most cases the locality chosen is already oversupplied with drug stores, but the hopeful aspirants seem to an- ticipate that the low rental investment in a business bolstered up by the ad- dition of a multitude or unrelated side- lines will see them through. If volume fails to show, price cutting is resorted to in order to encourage it. The pre- viously established stores respond in kind and demoralization of business in the affected localities is soon complet- ed and the specter of bankruptcy ap- pears. This is bad practice not only the suicidal competitive conditions which are bound to develop but also by reason of the fact that the identity of retail drug stores must ultimately become entirely submerged in the interminable inclu- sion of additional sidelines. When TRADESMAN that situation eventuates the prestige and the special privileges now right- fully accorded to the practice of phar- macy as a dignified, distinct and essen- tial vocation may be seriously jeopard- ized. Therefore, it seems that the ad- dition of more drug stores should be discouraged from every angle by re- questing real estate men, wholesalers and manufacturers to refrain from en- couraging such ventures in com- munities already well supplied with drug store service. ——_----o Destroyers Going on Rocks. Under the above heading the Bulle- tin of the Southern California Retail Druggists’ Association says: “Tt has been the habit in the past for certain types of chain stores to engage in business close to established inde- pendent merchants where another store was not needed and engage in a price cutting war with which the small- er merchant could not cope. In some cases rent the room over the head of a merchant and establish un- reasonable rental values, not only for December 14, 1932 chants. In still other cases buy the property and force the merchant to move. Now some of the chains en- gaged in these tactics, and other chains are going into the hands of receivers to try to break their leases. They put up the cry that their downfall is due to too high rents. “Their greed for power and control and determination to wreck individuals got them into this mess. They claim to be much more efficient than ordin- ary folks, but with all their secret re- bates and better business qualifications they still go on the rocks. Somehow the law of compensation does work, and the devil can’t prevent it. Un- fortunately, many honest merchants have been ruined in this damnable war. After all, what is the excuse for exist- ence of chains.” as A New Mexico ice company is go- ing into the frozen food business ex- perimentally. On its own wagon routes and through a number of re- tail stores it is selling frozen oysters, fish, shrimp and frozen orange, to- themselves, but for the other mer- mato, cantaloupe and grape juices. YB Last POPULAR SINCE 1865 Distributors of PUTNAM FACTORY CHROELS.. NATONAL CANDY CO,, INC. Grand Rapids, CHocoLaAres Michigan HOLIDAY GOODS NOW ON DISPLAY Best Line We Have Ever Shown We Invite Comparison as to Price and Quality Goods That Sell the Year Around and some of the best imported and domestic items for retail trade. We have merchandise to suit every purse. Come—see—and believe. All goods marked in plain figures, and we have sold some good size orders of Holiday Goods this year—and we expect a good year. You can't sell unless you buy—and some are always buying. This is your invitation to look it over. Displayed in our own building 38-44 Oakes Street—Second Floor Hazeltine & Perkins Drug Co. Grand Rapids , Michigan & seamen ; >. ; 4 | i : oe aS ne 1 en ohana at December 14, 1932 MICHIGAN TRADESMAN 19 MICHIGAN BEET SUGAR. A. No. Both sugars have the same WHOLESALE DRUG PRICE CURRENT ——— sweetening power. Why Michigan People Should Use Q. Is there any difference in the Wiis qaseid ate neseical. faced can cassie the daw of tee Michigan Sugar. purity of beet and cane sugar? foe : ie Maes. ws a 00@2 25 7 ee : ci u é a 2 5 The “buy, use and boost Michigan- A. Beet sugar is pure sugar. Cane Acetic, No. 8, lb.06 @ 10 Aloes, Barbadoes, Heml’k Com., Ib. 1 00@1 25 made beet sugar” campaign, now being sugar, when properly refined, is pure ro a or 08%@ 20 mc o : tee Wa 1 seat = conducted by the Farmers and Manu-_ sugar. Carbolic, Xtal.,lb. 36. @ 43 Aloes, Socotrine, Lav. Flow., lb. 4 00@4 25 _ ; spat f G or z f ce FE heme 9 See Acces si Wk eens combine fom SO eS i 8 BR Laon me "3 eas organization representing more than sugar or sucrose? Ibo 2 Oa @ «610 ae first, + @ 50 ee a ozs. @1 " Ls : i c Ee ' 5 Mustard, ae i 35 14,000 Michigan farmers and practical- A. Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. oo We TT e 7 Z ae aber ie 15 : - Orange, Se. ‘4 004 36 ly all of the beet sugar companies in Q. Can beet sugar be used in mak- Sulphuric, Ib. -. 03%@ 10 Arabic, Gran., lb. @ 35 Origanum, art, es 3 : i 5 ‘ : : ic, Ib. 22 45 Arabic, Pd, Ib. 25 @ 235 1 1 00@1 20 Michigan, is attracting Nation wide ing preserves, candies and frostings? Toe lee e* Asafoetida, ih. Me 60 Pennyroyal, Ib. 3 25@3 50 attention and comment. A. The United States Department Denatured, No. 5. : aoe Po., Ib. “> . not been entirely dispelled and many A. No. Practically every pound of Muriate, Po., lb. 20 @ 30 “° Pow., lb. -___ 1 25@1 50 Wisteanees consumers continue in the belief that C@Me Sugar consumed in Michigan is Arsenic Honey Birch _ Ib. ee a ee Spanish, ozs. @1 25 Amber, crude, Ib. 75@1 00 wt2"» Ib. ---- 03%@ 10 suet tow O00 ee If we were asked to name the Pormaldenyde, Bulk Amber, rect., lb. 1 5@2 00 Xtal A. Since both sugars are identical we s ' Pound ______ _@6 @ 6 aun ih 1 00@1 25 a oY oN x @ 22 t is impossible to distinguish beet su- greatest dividend producer year in, Fuller’s Earth Ss 4 00@4 25 Rochelle, Ib... 21 e = f : cane sugar by either looks, year out, we would} unhesistatingly Powder, "a ee 0% @ 10 aoe = he o Soda. 1 02%@ 08 a place good nature at the head of the pouna 55 @ 65 Caraway S'd, Ib. 3 00@3 25 Soda taste or by analysis. 1 thi = = Cassia, USP, Ib. 2 25@2 60 Ash ---_-_---- 03 @ 10 ili list. Good natured people get things Glue Bicarbonate, Ib. 03%@ 10 Q. Is it true that cane sugar wl! : Brok.. B 1b. 20 @ 30 Cedar Leaf, Ib. 2 00@2 25 é t : : 112. done, and it is only deeds accomplished as N02, | 2D- Cedar Leaf, auStic, Co’l., Ib. 08 @ 15 jell and that beet sugar will not je : Gro'd, Dark, lb. 16 @ 22 ~Coml., Ib. ---. 1.00@1 25 Hyposulphite, lb. 05 @ 10 To: r that ever pay. Even though we must Whi. Flake, Ib. 27%@ 35 itronella. Ib... 78 @120 Phosphate, Ib. 23 @ 28 A. Neither beet nor cane suga dation laid White G’d., lb. 26 35 ee ran oan 95 Sulphite ‘ells. The pectin in the fruit. is re- never forget that the foundation lai White AXX light, Grate i. aeea || Nth. OU is by intelligent thought gets the ma- th 2 @ 40 Gubeb, Ib. _... 5 00@5 25 Dry, Powd., Ib. 12%@ 20 sponsible for the jelling. hi : it is good nature that Ribbon -------- 42%@ 50 friseron. Ib... 4 00@4 25 Silicate, Sol..gal. 40 50 Q. Is cane sugar sweeter than beet chinery going, g Giveaiina Eucalyptus, Ib. _. 75@1 20 Turpentine keeps it oiled. Pound 2.22 18 @ 36 Fennel --------- 2 00@2 25 Gallons _______- 52 @ G6 sugar? MICHIGAN TRADESMAN December 14, 1932 GROCERY PRICE CURRENT These quotations are carefully corrected weekly, within six hours of mailing and are intended to be correct at time of going to press. Prices, however, are liable to change at any time, and merchants will have their orders filled at mar- ket prices at date of purchase. For price changes compare with previous issues. ———a = ADVANCED DECLINED Head Rice AMMONIA BROOMS Pears Parsons, 64 oz, ______ 2 95 Leader, 4 sewed _--_ 3 45 Pride of Mich. No. 2% 2 25 PATEONS, 32 0Z. —___-_. 3 35 Hustlers, 4 sewed ___ 5 50 Parsons. 18 0z. ______ 420 Standard, 6 sewed __ 7 50 Parsons. 10 oz. .._._ 270 Quaker, 5 sewed ____ 6 25 Parsons, 6 oz. ___._. 130 Warehouse 6 50 : Rose 2 ae 2 75 ae — ee. = Winner, 5 Sewed __.. 3 70 4N9-_ 4 -------------.-- Th; ” ny z - Pride of Mich. No. 2__ 2 45 APPLE BUTTER Whisk Noe. 3 2 2 2 Quaker, 12-38 oz., doz. 2 00 pies — et Amsterdam Brands BAKING POWDERS _ Royal, 2 oz., doz. 5 Roval, 4 oz., doz. __.. 1 80 Royal, 6 oz., dozi ____ 2 45 Royal, 127.07.; fez 4 85 Koyal, 2% lbs.. doz.__ 13 75 Royal, 5 ibs., dez.____ 24 50 KC, 10c size, 10 oz. -. 3 60 KC, 15¢ size, 15 oz. ~. 5 40 KC, 20c size, full lb.-_ 6 80 KC, 25¢ size, 25 oz. -- 9 00 KC. 50c size. 50 oz. -- 8 50 mm. 5 ib. size 6 50 KC, 10 ib. Size _ __ § 50 BLEACHER CLEANSER Clorox, 16 oz., 24s -. 3 00 Lizzie, 16 oz.. 125 ___. 2 15 BLUING Am. Ball, 36-1 oz.,cart. 1 00 Boy Blue. 18s. per cs. 1 35 BEANS and PEAS 1 00 lb. bag Chili Beans —.._.______ 5 00 Dry Lima Beans 100 lb. 7 25 White H’d P. Beans 2 50 Split Peas, Yell., 60 lb. 4 10 Split Peas, Gr’n 60 lb. 4 25 Scotch Peas, 100 lb. -- 6 25 BURNERS Queen Ann, No. 1 —_ 1 15 Queen Ann. No. 2 -_ 1 25 White Flame, No. 1 and 2 few 2 ze 2h BOTTLE CAPS Dbl. Lacquor. 1 gross pkg., per gross ------ 13 BREAKFAST FOODS Kellogg’s Brands Corn Flakes, No. 136 Corn Flakes, No. 124 Pep, No. 224 Pep, No. 250 Krumbles, No. 412 ___ Bran Flakes, No. 624 80 Bran Flakes, No. 602 5 Rice Krispies, 6 oz. .. 2 26 Rice Krispies, 1 oz. __ All Bran, 16 oz. All Bran, 10 oz All Bran, % oz. Kaffe Hag. 6 1-lb. Te 24 Whole Wheat Fla., 24 1 90 mm DO bo tt DO et et a DO OD bo n > Gold Bond Par., No.5% 7 60 Prize, Parlor, No. 6. 8 00 White Swan Par., No.6 8 50 ROLLED OATS Purity Brand Instant or Regular = i Ege Vermicelli, 6 oz. 2 00 oa , ---- ( So a aes -____- Egg Alphabets, 6 oz.-- 2 00 Peoriies Halle. Ges daa, 30 PROVISIONS % . ester, No. 4, doz. 50 Bulk Goods Barreled ne aa F. 0. B. SALT ee noo No. 3, doz. 2 09 : Clear Back -_ 1 rand Rapids pe - . , re 5 : oe Almonds, Peerless ---- 15% Colonial, Ce ie ee lL CCE WOODENWAR Brazil, large —~-...-- — 12% ma Todized, 24-2 1 35 ic aie 1 35 Bask = Fancy Mixed _...... 11% Dry Salt Meats ed. No. 1 Bbls. ____ 2 90 oo = Bunks GI Pearl Barley Filberts, Naples patoateR Ds Bellies 18-29@18-10-8 Med. No. Le 100 lb. bk. 1 00 gone . 3% ee ne wees hl Band, ae ee a ee 7 00 Sect Vir. Roasted 6% a, Spec. oA 7 , o Witcher Houauet 4 50 Market, dics acne gy ’ = Barley Grits .____-_- 5 e Ani Jumbo __--_ Te Lard Cream Rock for ice — Laurel Leaves ---—-- 20 Market, single handle 95 Chester: 222.) ee 35 habia : Star 22s. 25 Pure in tierces pee 5 cream, 100 Ib... each 85 Marjoram, r Of, 90 Market, Cmte 1 60 ees ieee oe a 60 lb. tubs __--advance %4 Butter Salt, 280 lb. bbl. 4 09 Savory. 1 oz. -------- 65 Splint, large -----____ 8 50 Walnuts, Cal. “Bet 50 lb. tubs -.--advance %4 Block 501)... 49 ++—___ Taxes and Sales Taxes. An organized effort will be made to put over a sales tax law at the next legislative session. The Michigan Re- tail Hardware Association has gone on record, again and again, as opposed to a retail sales tax and the officers arc duty-bound, because of convention ac- tion, to continue that opposition as energetically as is possible. Our mem- bers will be called on to assist in the fight. The reasons against the enact- ment of a sales tax are many and potent. In this letter there is only space to show, by practical example, what passage of a sales tax law means. Read every word of the following let- ter from a Mississippi hardware dealer —it is packed full of interest: “My impression is that 95 per cent. or more of the dealers and 85 per cent. of the people in this state are very much opposed to the sales tax, but it was promoted as an emergency measure and has been accepted as such. The propaganda sent out of the state of the great success of the sales tax is pure bunk and is nothing but the efforts of political factions in the. state to try to popularize the tax to save themselves politically. We are collecting the sales tax on ap- proximately 25 per cent. of the goods we sell and absorbing it on 75 per cent., not because we choose but be- cause we must, making it cost us about $150 a month more in taxes than we have ever paid before.” H. W. Bervig, Sec’y Michigan Retail Hardware Association. —_+<->_____ From a Long-Time Saginaw Patron. Saginaw, Dec. 13—I received your forty-ninth year old Michigan Trades- man and considering the very strenu- ous times which have confronted us for some years, I wish to congratulate you on the makeup of this anniversary trade journal and sin¢erely trust you may enjoy forty-nine years: more of prosperity, the same as you have in the past. We certainly have no com- plaint to make in regard to the make- up of this trade journal. From our point of view, considering the strenu- ous times, you are very well patron- ized by the different distributors of food products and kindred lines. We feel just a little put out for the reason you did not solicit us for an advertisement to appear in this par- ticular issue of the Tradesman. No doubt you will apologize for this the next time our Mr. Cimmerer has the pleasure of giving you a call. In looking over the price current of this particular issue of your trade journal I find that your quotation on cider vinegar is too near the cost of production for the manufacturer to bring about a healthy condition for himself. The retailers throughout the country are the only ones in the vine- gar industry who are making any money on this product. J. A. Cimmerer, Mer. Oakland Vinegar & Pickle Co. —_222s____ Congratulations From an Old House. North Muskegon, Dec. 13—It is our privilege and pleasure to congratulate you on the forty-ninth anniversary edition of the Michigan Tradesman. We hope to be able to do this many times in the future. We also wish to express our ap- preciation to those who forward’ ar- ticles to the Michigan Tradesman regularly or at intervals. We appre- clate and enjoy the articles on business, finance, civic and moral topics which are not presented in such a fine array in any other publication we have had presented to us. Our wish is that you may be permitted to carry on your work for many years to come. Buwalda Bros. Christmas Volume Gains Slowly. The outstanding feature of Christ- mas shopping thus far is the fact that while most of the stores are attracting large crowds there has been no cor- responding gain in dollar volume, local retail executives report. Much shopping from store ‘to store is being done on comparable items and there also seems to be an increase in the ratio of “shopping for amusement” to actual purchasing. The size of the average sale is running substantially below a year ago, and to offset this many stores are pushing special values in home furnishings in price brackets higher than the usual run of gift lines. —_2+-<.__ Hew to the dotted line. ee ee t a 4 i : i | i 7 = .