Mohawk Industries, Inc. said it has been able to navigate its way though "weaker industry conditions and rising raw material and energy costs" to post solid first quarter gains in sales and earnings. The company said it saw first quarter net sales of $1.49 billion billion this year compared to $1.38 billion in 2004 for an increase of 7 percent. Quarterly net earnings, meanwhile, where pegged at $70 million, a 6 percent advance from $66.3 million last year. Earning per share rose to $1.03 from $0.98