Business Gain For 1930 Foreseen By Credit Men

New York, Jan. 6-Gradual improvement of business during the early months of 1930 is foreseen by the National Association of Credit Men, whose January bulletin was sent to members today.

Reiterating his statement mad'e a month ago, that real business is good and is going to be better, Dr. Stephen I. Miller, executive manager of the association, said that the most favorable factor in the present situation is the improved purchasing power of the farmer.

"According to Department of Agriculture figures," Dr. Miller said, '161onr raised in the United States this year were worth about ffi5,000,000 more.than last year, in spite of a decrease of about 5 per cent in total production. Grain and cotton were down, but yields from fruits, vegetables and sugar were larger. The farmer is apparently going into 1930 with improved purchasing power, which will mean much to both wholesale and retail trade, as well as to manufacturers of equipment.

"Money and credit continue under wholesome control. Brokers' loans are down to the lowest level reached since September, 1927. The stock market adjustment is continuing in good order, and thus far without causing a really conspicuous failure."

fmprovement in automobile manufacture as the spring advances is expected to react favorably on other lines. It is noted that the Ford Company is now on a schedule of 4,500 cars a week, and that makers of the lower priced models are, on the whole, more active than manufacturers of the higher priced cars.

The bulletin includes a survey of trade and credit conditions in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland, states lying close, both physically and tempermentally, to the scene of the late unpleasantness in Wall Street. Manufacturers and wholesale houses in these states reported a negligible decrease in sales from the same month a year ago, when business was said to be booming.

Wood Box Manufacturers To State Association Committees Meet January 28-29 Meet in San Francisco

The First 1930 Tri-Annual Meeting of the Pacific Coast Division of the National Association of Woodeir Box Manufacturers will be held at the Palace lfotel, San Francisco, California, on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 28th and 29th, 1930. An invitation to attend this meeting will be sent to all Wooden Box Manufacturers and others interested in the welfare of the industry on the Paci'fic Coast.

The first day of the meeting, Janaary 28th, will be open to all Wooden Box Manufacturers and others interested in the industry. The session to be held the second day, January 29th, will be open only to members of the association, or their representatives. All motions passed at the January 28th session are subject to ratification by members at the session to be held January 29th.

This will be a "round-table" meeting similar to previous meetings held by this Association. There will be a cabaret dinner the evening of January 28th.

National - American Wholesalers Annual

W.W. Schopner, secretary of the National-American Wholesale Lumber Association, announces that the annual convention will be held at Atlantic City, N. J., April 9-10, with hotel headquarters at Haddon Hall.

In the recent survey among the Association members Atlantic City was favored as the convention city by most members from all sections. The convention will-be iargely attended. Lumber wholesalers will come from all over the United States and Canada to exchange ideas and get the news on latest developments and prospects in the distribution field. The Convention Committee is arranging an attractive program and members are urged to send the secretary their suggestions of matters to be considered.

Members of committees of the California Retail Lurnbermen's Association held a series of meetings at the Palace Hotel, San Francisco, on Friday, December 20.

President Harry A. Lake, Garden Grove Lumber Co., Garden Grove, presided and the following were in attendance: Ralph P. Duncan, Merced Lumber Co., Merced; W. B. Dean, The Diamond Match Company, Chico; M. D. Bishop, secretary, Co u n ti e s Lumbermen's Association, Watsonville; Ed Galpin, Peninsula Lumbermen's Club, Palo Alto; Elmer Ellis, Palo Alto Lumber Co., Palo Alto; J. O. Handley, Murphy Building Materials, Carmel, and F. Dean Prescott. Vallev Lumber Co.. Fresno.

Cinder Damage To Lumber A Serious Menace

Boston, Mass., Dec. 25.-A representative of the National Lumber Manufacturers Association learned from the freight claim agents of two New England railroads that claims for cinder damage to cars of finished lumber in transit will probably be 20 per cent to 25 per cent greater this year than they were during 1928. Several instances were cited where western mills are covering the contents of the cars, and battening the doors with paper, to .prevent the infiltration of cinders. This has eliminated the damage to a large degree. As a possible solution of the trouble, they suggest a clause in the contract between the retailers and the manufacturers, specifying the covering of the material, prior to shipment. The claim division of the American Railway Association is compiling an additional file on the subject and it was intimated if these claims continue to grow, that the railroads will be forced to demand a greater freight revenue for transiting such material.