The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-08-14
TRADE OUTLOOK
IS REALLY BLUE


There is not much encouragement
left now for a revival of business on
the mainland this year. For some
time past, readers of the Star will re-
call, such authorities as Bradstreet's,
Dun's Review and Henry Clews have
been trying to cheer the country with
prospects of large crops in the main,
the harvesting of which would set all
the wheels of industry and commerce
whirring again. An extract from one
of Henry Clews' special letters was
printed in this paper eleven days ago,
and in a local contemporary eight
days later, which was intended to re-
assure the country with regard to the
unfavorable crop reports from differ.
ent sections. Mr.. Clews mentioned the
enormous acreages of wheat and corn
producing territory-52,000,0 and
116,000,0O0 acres espectively-and
said when these were considered ii
would readily be appreciated how
damage in quite extensive areas could
be severe and spectacular, how it
could cause concern and disappoint.
ment among the inhabitants of those
unfortunate sections, and yet, in a
broad sense, how this damage should
only be considered as local and, from
a 10 VT tot Nf An 1
harvest conditions, comparatively un-
| important. He further remarked:
Our wheat fields and our corn fields
are continental in reach and scope
and it must indeed be a nationwide
damage that shall cut down our final
agricultural output to proportions
spelling agricultural adversely"
And now it would appear that just
such nationwide damage as Mr.
Clews says would spell agricultural
adversely is what has happened The
| following press cables of only -four
days ago tell the story and it will be
interesting to note the comments Of
mainland commercial authorities upoI
the facts which the mails will bring:
WASHINGTON, August 10.-The
monthly crop report of the bureau Of
statistics, issued yesterday, shows the
worst conditions throughout the coun
try as a whole since 1901. The report
asserts that the damage to crops Of
all kinds is countrywide, due in mos
instances to the continued hot wave
and dry weather.
KANSAS CITY, Missouri, Angus
10.-The states of Kansas, Missouri
and Oklahoma are suffering from {
heat wave which, following the recen,
hot spell, is causing tremendous loss
to the farmers"
Bradstreet's of July 20 begins it's re
view of the week then closing with
the following remarks, which, read be
tween the lines, are not cheerful so as
to be noticed and, taken in connection
with the cabled crop news just quot
ed, will give mainland business pros
poets sombre tingle, at this distance
at any rate:
Sentiment as to the future seems
to be undergoing a change for the
better, even though a number of re
ports continue to tell of quiet business
and caution as to distant buying
Cooler weather, good general rains il
the western corn belt and the very ex
cellent condition of cotton have ap
parently made for the development o.
somewhat better feeling, which, al
though not yet reflected to any grea
extent in current business, gives prom
Use of improving things as the fall
season approaches While midsummer
quiet still prevails in many lines, thu
vacation period is passing, and alread!
some travelling statesmen are. back OIL
the road. They have met with fai
success, and moreover, fewer cancel
lations are noted from sections wher,
the crop outlook earlier appeared t,
be gloomy, while some reinstatement
or orders previously held up are noted
Withal, there is enough irregularity t,
divest the favorable reports of abso
lutte uniformity. For one thing, retail
) trade, though improved a trifle b,
, cooler weather, is not stimulated yer,
; much by clearance sales"
> Shortage of crops on the MAINLAND
will likely mean still higher cost o
living. This will be Offset in Hawai-
only partially by banner crop of su
gar marketed, in considerable portion
at prices better than for some year
mast