Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-04-23
OCEAN DISASTER
CONTINUED From Page One.)

lC8llSm ID 8 0Ope1ul 1edtuEeSs Uut LUZ
some time to come the market will be
subject to political uncertainties.
Big Crop Needed.
BY far the mast important factor In
the future is the crop situation. This
country, and in fact the whole world,
is seriously In need Of series of big
harvests. Granting that the increase
in the gold supply may have had
some effect upon values. It still re-
mains true that the high prices Of
food are mainly due to relative scar.
city; population having for some
years grown more rapidly than the
output of the farm. A poor harvest
this year would mean not only poor
business but still higher prices for
food, followed by corresponding pub
lie and political discomfort. A good
harvest, therefore, is pre.eminently
the one thing to be desired.
Soil Conditions Good.
Fortunately soil conditions in near.
ly all parts Of the United States are
ideal. Spring is late, but few days
Of warm weather would quickly COM
pensate for this disadvantage. There
has been serious injury to winter
wheat in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio,
but abundant time remains either for
partial recovery Of the cop or for tho
replanting of destroyed winter wheat
acreage with other crops. There Is
no doubt that the loss thus far in
winter wheat will be abundantly made
up In other ways
IN Labor Dihicultles.
The difficulties. with the coal min
ers promise to be settled by an early
compromise. The engineers, however
threaten to strike without delay If no
further tovertures are made by the
railroads; and this may pove serious
factor A feature which has gener.
ally escaped recognition is the large
number Of new capital applications
announced this month.
" Money Situation Good.
The money situation is satisfac-
tory. Funds are plentiful 1T moderate
rates. Bank reserves are rising, tenn
porarily at least, and important
amounts of foreign loans have been
repaid, the effect of which is to re-
lease such funds for use at home.
Our foreign commerce is in excellent
condition the exports for the month
of March being $205, 00O, 900, which
Is rs per cent in excess of a year ago
when they were at high record fig.
ures. Cotton was the most importan.
factor in these increased exports, the
largeness in quantity making up for
"a hot ~
year ago. 1r. ~,
Our imports during the same month
were $156, 100000, leaving an excess
of exports for the month amounting
to $49,0O0,000. These are very en-.
couraging returns and show furth-
or strengthening Of our credit abroad.
Iron Trade Active. = 4.
The iron trade continues very &C.
tive. In spite of increased capacity
nearly all plants are fully occupied.
vancing, and the net results to the
Prices have been low but are ad-
steel industry appears to be compar
atively free Of labor troubles, main
~ for the reason that upon the whole
| labor H. well treated by its employ
ers. Much Of the proceeds of new
security issues will ind its way into
the steel industry. .~.~
General 0uslnsss Good
General business II fairly active
and confidence appears to be steadily
growing. There has been some dan.
ger Of an rover-rapid growth Of optt.
mism and the outbreak Of an exces-
sive spirit. This however, has been