The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-19
INDUSTRIES OF
COUNTRY ACTIVE
Conditions Everywhere I'm
prove According to Man.
ufaCturerS' Journal.
TRADE SHOWS AN INCREASE
MACHINERY MANUFACTURED OF
ALL KINDS REPORT EXCELLENT
BusINEss-THREE THOUSAND
SOUND OPTIMISTIC NOTE.

BusiNEss-THREE THOUSAND
SOUND OPTIMISTIC NOTE.
New York, Oct 19.-That the coun-
try's industries are slowly but surely
recovering from the effect of the de-
preston of some months ago, and also
that immediate prospects are more
than reassuring, is the conclusion
reached by American Industries, a
semi-monthly publication of the Nat
ional Association of Manufacturers,
after classifying the thousand letters
received during the last two weeks,
In response to a circular inquiry.
Four questions were asked every
one of the 5000 members of the asso-
citation, whose factories are situated
in all states of the Union, and the re-
sponses of one-third Of the members,
divided into various trade classified
lions, occupy more than thirty pages
of the current issue of the magazine,
bearing the date of Oct. H.
The letter sent out by - magazine
follows:
Gentlemen-We believe from all
reports that trade conditions continue
VIII you not assist us in confirming
the general, reports by giving us a
statement of conditions in your par
ticular industry, based upon the exper-
fence of your concern?
Will you kindly send us at your ear
lest convenience a reply to the fol-
lowing questions:
Present conditions of your trade.
Percentage of increase in business
df any over first part of present
year
Trade possibilities in your particu-
lar industry for the coming year.
Any brief suggestions which may
help in promoting general prosperity.
We urgently suggest that you OBJ
lige us with this brief statement CIV
ing your opinion on the speedy return
of prosperity, especially in connection
with your particular trade.
Iron Trade Increases.
Taking the steel trade and the
movement of pig iron as the most re-
liable barometer of trade conditions,
the digest of the replies from the in
dustries devoted to the production of
iron and steel is found to show that
20 per cent of the plants in the mem
bership of the association report con-
ditions good IS per cent have had
an increase of business during the
last ten months and S5 per cent have
reason to believe that prospects for
an immediate future are reassuring.
Machinery" says the editor, 'by
which is meant all classes of machin-
cry in all parts of the country, shows
present conditions 6S per cent good,
and that 76 per cent of the members
dealing in machinery have had an in
crease In their trade since Jan. and
6S per cent believe in future improve
ment."
Every member of the association en-
gagged in the manufacture of agricul-
tural implements who replied to the
circular reported good present condi-
tions and an increase of trade during
the last ten months and only one
sounded pessimistic note in connec-
ton with future possibilities.
Seventy-seven per cent of the re-
plies from manufacturers of tools and
hardware show that trade conditions
are good Eighty-seven per cent tell
of an increase during the last ten
months and 80 per cent believe posi-
bilities for continued increase are
good.
Food products rang next to agricul-
tural implements in degree of prosper
ity. Eighty-nine per cent of the replies
from members engaged in this branch
report trade in a prosperous condition,
95 per cent of the replies report an
increase during the last ten months,
and all believe the coming year will
show an increase in their business.
Leather Third Highest.
According to the table, leather and
its manufactures follow agricultural
implements and food products; lum-
Der and its manufactures come fourth;
tools and hardware, fifth; drugs and
chemicals. sixth; paper and printing,
seventh; machinery. eighth: iron and
steel, ninth: textiles, tenth and vehic-
les the lowest
AS to vehicles. in this classification
automobiles and fine carriage manu-
ACCOMPLISHMENTS to considerable
extent-the percentage shows favor
able trade conditions. But IS per cent
of the answers from vehicle manufac-
turers are optimistic enough to be-
lieve the prospects are good
Some of the concerns replying to
the circular letter contented themsel-
yes with simply replying briefly to
the queries propounded. others enter
ed heartily into a discussion of trade
conditions affecting their individual
industries and the mass of informa-
tion the association believes will
prove valuable reading for the men,
bers of the organization.
A canning company of indianapolis
writes:
Our trade is in splendid condition.
but there is tendency on the part