Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-12-31

a. , ~
Ink conditions, says in this weeks cir
cular letter;
The close OF the year finds general
business in a very quiet condition.
Conservatism prevails everywhere. Tho
steel trade is still running Mt bout one
Malt its capacity IN the cruder forms
/ and there are no signs of early revival
Il IN sight, Everything depends on tho
railroads. Possibly If the latter place
their bonds satisfactorily. orders for
cars, equipment. etc, will be forthcom-
Ing. The textile trades are also quiet
and efforts are being made for general
and concerted curtailmcnt. There is
nothing unsound in the situation, but q
gradual settling down process has be-
gun which must run its course before
real recovery can ho expected. Econ
omy is now being practised not only in
business. but at the home. and III nearly
every direction curative tendencies are
at work which will in due season pave
the way for Il fresh forward movement
The stock market does not always
move in sympathy with business ar
fairs. It often discounts events in
advance. The present depression In
trade has doubtless been fully anttc-
pated on the stock exchange: hence the
latter is more or less cheerful while
pessimism prevails elsewhere. Should
no unfavorable developments take place
still further Improvement is possible.
HARDWARE TRADE.
The hardware trade reports the year,
asa whole. unsatisfactory. The condf-
tons for the first six months. were very
good. the jobbers finding sales crafty
Ing; but aftcrward, as tho season grew
apace, and the public realized the
shortage of the water supply. and the
corresponding shortage In crop outputs,
&aness operations began to curtail,
and payments in the shape of collec-
tons suffered. In Idaho, the depression
was largely due to the fact that large
amounts Of money had been sent out
Tor feed for live stock, and particularly
Tor sheep on account of tho shortage
IN the winter ranges, antk the holding
back by the shecpmen Of their wool
clips The hardware men say the
banks had to carry the sheepmen, so
mat members Of the hardware trade
we're unable to secure desired advances.
Inc retail trade was forced to withhold
credit. ana general conservatism pre-
vailed The result has not been an nm
mixed evil, for merchants arc buying
conservattvely, and not rushing into
debt, in over-optmstic hope. There has
oeeil no new extended construction
work or railroad building affecting ia
Sorahly this section. the San Pedro re-
building being largely controlled from
the Los Angeles end. There is no new
development In the mines. no new plant
engagements The spirit OF retrench-
meht and conservatism appears to OBJ
IAN everywhere. Prominent members
q the trade estimate that this years
business will fall 10 per cent behind
mat OF 1909. The goods going out nj
present are slcds. skates, and household
supplies. with the December record
Keeping up better than November.
LUMBER TRADE.
The lumber trade reports no change
OF any consequence from the situation
OF last week. The year has not been
satisfactory to the wholesale trade,
being disastrous particularly to the
manufacturing interests, and to n GER
IAN extent the retail. However, dealers
are hopeful, and are not inclined to re-
gard the dark side Of things. One rea-
son for the failure to realize expectn-
IONS has been the light demand of the
railroads., their consumption OF lumber
generally being one-third of the output.
However, in Salt Lake conditions have
not been SO unfavorable There Is no
complaint Us to local trade and con-
sumption. aid in fact, dealers believe
ms may be held as characteristic of