The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1912-01-04

5ur. except ID 1a1ts o the lc-ta-
wez: ~he-e Hast Gregg hare see.
dcac:e-T I'D sran ti.a ecu ~toss
.o1-prt.ea cotton ATE IN ms yeer
r~erressed boy:.a purchases end pay
lnenls, 70 real concern seemed yis..-
BE. Vet or mild weather retarded
retail trade in l-acember, but toii-
day trade was OF oood volume.
COMMODITY prices Justly oue in
jor blame as hampering some indus
l.ies. Thus. h%ish-nrlcea cotton and
Gailu.e 10 pace goods made there
RON qaaaed much short dine from
Januaty wal into September La
Ter, uncertainty as 10 the event OF
the decline hampered dealings. Ell
forts 70 sell iron and steel were not
crowned with success until low.
perhaps cost. prices were reached in
some instances. Then, however,
consumers acted promptly, and al
though the railroa3s were out OF the
market carly IN the year, their pur-
chasos Of cars and equipment !ate:
ON was = welcome support 10 the
market. Building was q~uieter taan
in the preceding Two years. bat still
expenditures bulked large in the
yea. : operations. Foreign trade
made new records. Exports espec-
tally were helped early by lower
prices Tor foods. and European mar
kets we're reopened 10 our cereals
and meats, while iron AMI atel and
cotton also swelled the balance OF
trade in this country favor. La
ter Oh low prices for COTTON reduced
Tho favogable balance Slightly, In
ports, despite reduced purchases OF
manufacturers materials. were on
q shade below the 1910 record. La
Dor came through the ear quite
we'll, reductions in working time
rathe. ta..an IN wages paid peins tie
chief characteristic. The number OF
strikes and Of strikers vas less than
OF those in business increased large
nall OF these OF 1910 The number
OF those in business inc.eased large
" during the year. but the number
failing was not greatly enlarged, ana
liabilities ia TACT fell of.
Looking Forward.
One OF the most notable features
IN many lines OF trade ana Industry
as the year draws 10 4 close in tho
air OF conservative c~heorfulness in
evidence. While there is testimony
10 this having a solid basis in &C
tual improvement al.oady registered,
it is plain chat some OF it has had
its rise in the feeling that there
have been many worse years in the
countyy's paar history, and in the
very apparent belief MAT some Of
the years doubtful questions have
been settled. 1t may be Well, how
ever. 10 call attention TO 4 few eau
tlonaIy signals that are visible. The
coming year will in all probability
witness an actively fought ii rot.
indeed, q. very exciting presidential!
campaign, efforts by both the par
ty in power ana that in oppoa it.on 10
play politics and incidentally tinke7
with the tariff, and it nc coubt Will
see continued efforts TO pat the anti
trust act 10 further use in n legal
way. Then. 100, present and prob
ably future high prices lor feed viii
constitute a bar 10 fullest buying Of
The secondary accessories Of life.
Finally, tho effects upon %consun,p-
ton of shortened agricultural yields,
or, as at the south OF much reduced
financial crop returns, are yet 10 be
reckoned with. On The other land,
ii is PROBABLY true that under exist
ing conditions neither a presidential
election nor q prospect OF tal.ff re-
vision create the feeling a unset
tlement that Ii formerly ia. l'uI-
thermore, The basic facts came be
obscured that stocks OF goods are
down TO hard pan; that any change
after two years OF repression and of
growing up 10 the country's pro-
ductlve capacity is likely to be in
the direction OF expansion that
money is and promises TO be reas-
onably easy, thus inviting new in
vestfnent. and that new crop pros
poets il the spring are a source CT
possible stimulation. 1t has already
been found in several industries that
given right prices an excellent trade
IS possible OF development. There
are problems atill TO be net aud
solved, but the c~heeriu!noss after
trial shown By the people a. large
augurs well Tor safe methods OF
trade expansion, for saner views CT
possible political progress and of lc-
sal regulation OF business, and for
real national conservation and up
building in Tie year 10 ~