Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-12
LOOKS MIGHTY FINE
Big Bunch of Prosperity Re-
ports Arrives Today.
PROVIDENCE OR THE TARIFF
Business Activity in Pittsburg
Nearing Record.
LABOR IS NOW IN DEMAND
Chicago Also Sends Word That Is
Most Encouraging to
Financiers.
PROVIDENCE OR THE TARIFF
LABOR IS NOW IN DEMAND

Financiers.
Another fat bunch OF prosperity re-
ports came over the wires today. bulging
with good news of business activity.
smashing big crops. expansion of indus
tries employment o! labor, prospect of
dividends and all that sort of thing. The
glad tidings do not come from one par
ticular section. but their sources are
widespread.
Lay it to Providence or the tarIn. airy
one or BOTH say the business interests:
Its fine
Probably the most significant item in
the report was the announcement that
there is an actual shortage of labor in
the coke and iron regions and machine
shops therein-actually scarcity that, in
View OF the activity of business, makes u
serious situation. Labor is at premium.
of course. In the wheat belt at this sea-
son. but it Is regarded as a remarkable
indication of returning good times that
eastern industries should find themselves
short-handed
Pittsburg makes a magnificent showing
in the returns Of today. A canvass of
the Pittsburg district brought out the
statement that 225.uOO laborers, skilled
and unskilled, are at work. this figure
being within % 600 Of the higfl-water
employment of the boom times in 1907
1t is prophesed that by November the
boasted pay roll of a million dollars a
day will be In effect again in the Pitts
burg district. Detailed instances of the
increased employment are mentioned
The Westinghouse companies. which were
n
$500 men; the Carnegie Steel Company
is working double turn in all except the
rail mills. which are running single turn;
Jones e. Laughlin. the independent mills.
than a year ago and are farming out
some contracts; the National Tube Com
pany is behind In it's deliveries, though
10000 men. and the American
Steel and Wire Company is running full
time.
To Fight Steel Trust.
In this connection another dispatch
states that the Jones & Laughlin Com
pany, in connection with other indepen-
dent steel companies, has closed
So. 100000 contract for ore docks at Ash
tabula, so as to fight the steel trust in
ore shipments from the lakes.
Chicago came forward with glowing ac-
counts OF improved conditions For one
thing, President Underwood of the Erie
railroad announced from there that his
had earned an increased S5,0O0,-
600 In the past year which would be put
into betterments to take care
Of the expected increased business.
The news from Oh cago went on to say
that everything purchased seemed to be
for immediate consumption with no dis
position to accumulate stock ahead. Tele-
phone and electrical supplies, machinery
equipment, railroad equipment with all
kindred lines of industry were sharing
the favorable conditions.
Running Full Capacity.
The Pullman Company was said to be
sold ahead in its manufacturing depart
ments for a twelvemonth, the Pressed
Steel Car Company has booked business
sufficient to keep plants employed for
nine months, the Car and Foundry
Company is running at capacity. the
Illinois Steel and Gary mills are booked
to December, the Pneumatic Tool Com
pany is to be running full time by Sep
TENDER Is. the Steel Foundries Company
are sold ahead into next year. the In
land Steel and Republican Iron and
Steel are operating full handed.
The Iron Age and the Iron Trade Re
view. which are the gospel of the metal
indus rieS. gave out their weekly sum-
maries this morning, both agreeing in
reports of notable increase of act witty
in the allied industries. Included in the
reports were announcements of new blast
furnaces and structural mills being es-
tabished by the Independent steel COM
panieS.
The A Iantic Coast Line and the Balti-
more and Ohio placed big orders for
rails. and the announc ament was made
of about $6,OOOOOO worth of cars of all
kinds. rails and other equipment to be
contracted for by the Baltimore and
Ohio.
Big Railroad Orders.
In addition to the 100000 of car orders
placed last week by the Pennsylvania
Ra lroad Company. announcement was
made OF the award by the company
lines west of Pittsburs for contracts for
81, 100000 worth of freight cars. The
Burlington made inquiries for 10000 tons
of rails and 1000 freight cars. The Bes
semer and Lake Erie has almost doubled
its passenger equipment and laid add
tional mainline double tracks.
The Cleveland Electric Illuminating
Company au horized a bond loan of $780,
900 for improvements and acquist ons.
The special wheat bulletin OF the publ
cation the Commercial West, regarded as
an authority. says:
1.-THE northwest is harvesting phe-
crop Of wheat-2;3O. 100000 bush
els-the most remarkable crop, in fact,
in is his ory.''
Hold Up Warning Finger.
Another indubitable proof OF the arrival
of good times, with better expected. Is
the note of warning sounded this week
In New York financial circ:eS against d s.
the returning pr sporty by over
speculation. Already the big men who
have to take the respcns bility of furnish
ing tho money for carrying on the bust
ness and to keep down f1urries in the in
yestment market that invariably react
upon the legitimate business are begin
ming to hold up an admonishing finger
at the festive spectators.
After a long famine and a great drought
among the speculative interests the con-
servatlve mone-ed men fear a tendency
to overdo the good times and check the
natural growth. The temptation is said
to be greater from the fact that undoubt-
eddy there are good bank balances in the
savings institutions throughout the coup-
try. the result of the hedging of the past
three years.
LEONARD PLAYING FAIR.
Judge Advocate Defends Govern
ment Inquiry.
BUFFALO. August 12-Replying To a
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