Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-01-22
SLACKENING IN
GENERAL TRADE
Nervous Feeling Over Effect of
Continued Cold Weather
On Live Stock.
UTAH BUSINESS OUTLOOK.
Increase i'm Gold Output Assigned as
The Reason for Advance i'm
Cost OF Living.

In banking circles the local market
Is satisfactory, with the demand for
money still brisk, and the banks un-
able to meet all calls. But money is
increasing in volume. so that the
prospects are that all legitimate de-
mands may soon be met There is
some nervous feeling over the con-
tinued cold weather over prospective
loss In live stock, while the freezing
up of the streams has curtailed the
water power. The same view is taken
here as in financial circles elsewhere
that the enormous increase in the gold
output is a strong factor in the ad-
vance of the cost of living. Or as
one bank official puts It, when there
Is little gold and plenty of potatoes.
the potatoes Will be cheap. When
there Is plenty of gold and few pota-
toes, potatoes viii be dear" The cleo
ton of bank officers took place this
week, the result being that the for
mer officials were found so satlsfac-
tory that they were retained for
another year.
HIGH COST OF LIVING.
Henry Clcws in his last circular
letter says, relative to the high cost
OF living.
General trade shows some slacken-
ing. as Is usual at this season of the
year. The situation has also been
somewhat affected by the revival of
labor and tariff agitation. as well as
by the increasing cost of doing busi-
ness. A good deal of discomfort is de-
veloping from the increased cost of
living, out of which more or less
political capital Is sure to be made.
All meat and animal products are
now selling at abnormally high prices.
with little relief In sight until next
season. when an increase In the supplv
OF both cattle and hogs Is promised.
Groceries generally are selling at
lower prices than year ago. although
retailers are not always giving their
customers the benefit of lower prices
clothing Is high owing to the tariff
and increased cost of manufacture;
the result being that the average man
is obliged to accept an inferior suit
for the price he Is accustomed to-
pay. Shoes are advancing. Rents arc
high. and there is little prospect of
their declining until the cost of
building Is reduced or the supply of
homes increased. Nevertheless. a
great deal more is frequently made
Of the increased cost OF living than
Is justified. especially when ii affords
plausible reason for an advance of
wages. The cost of living is a matter
largely within the discretion of each
individual. Cheaper and equally Of
1icient foods can be had, and many
individuals have become accustomed
to luxurious standards of living which
they can easily moderate without de-
tr1ment Extravaganza has more to do
with the increased cost of living than
many are willing to admit A little
economy and patience VIII In due sea-
son mitigate the situation and en-
courage corrective influences
HARDWARE OUTLOOK.
The hardware trade reports oomple-
ton of the annual inventory, indicating
the close OF a successful year. though
with business not as voluminous as In
former years, but more substantial, and
with a fairly good profit The losses
were so small as to be inconsiderable
This year starts off with conditions in
dicating prosperous year. While only
part of the territory contributory to
this city has in the past been covered.
the trade will this year send their trav-
cling men over the entire district Sub
stantial orders have been received this
month from Idaho. one being for S., 900
worth of goods. In fact orders for
spring delivery are being received FREQ
ly Goods being shipped now are of
the variety of staples generally called
for at this time OF the season, including
sheet metal goods and stocks required
Tor Interior work. There Is a lull in
builders hardware on account of the
severe weather. which forbids out-of-
door operations,
SHIPMENTS TIED UP.
The lumber trade reports shipments
slower. with much trouble In getting
stuffS started from the mills on ac-