The farmer and mechanic., 1913-12-30

in the New York Sun. The presi- |
dents and chief officers Of more than |
100 Of the leading smaller manufac- |
turing concerns. with plants rang |
ing in value from 100000 to $1,000 |
900, have written careful analysis of !
the condition of business as affected |
by currency. tariff and other legisla- |
ton. The Sun presents today quota |
tions from their letters.
No such complete and frank discus
sion Of the effect of present legisla-
tion on business, backed in many
instances by figures and by business
estimates of q personal and private
nature, has been published since the
tariff law went into effect. The let
terS have been closely examined by
The Sun. The correspondence was
received by #. M. Simmons Of so Wall
street, who deals in manufacturing
plants and who sought information to
present to Senators and Representa-
tives. The letters were written short
~ before the passage of the currency
bill.
Get currency legislation out of the
way, pass bill, however short OF per-
feet, as soon as possible, and business
will go ahead" was the dominant note
in practically every letter which men
toned the subject directly or indirect
ly. The larger number referred to it.
Of forty companies which discussed
ii directly, thirty-eight, or 95 per cent
approved Of the bill itself as help
full one, despite the belief that it could
be better. BY some there was serious
criticism.
Some Industries Feel Depression.
The present state Of business varies
widely. Basic industries. like steel
and it's manufactures; lumber and
kindred industries, sugar and leather,
feel the depression keenly. The build
49, nryrlx nj cd
other industries founded directly on
basic industries feel a trade recession
not so heavy, but still marked, as in
clothing and shoe manufacturing.
The machinery and machine tool
manufacturers have been exceptional
ly hard hit. The duty on their pro-
ducts was cut in half. The centre Of
the industry in Ohio about Cincin-
natl. Alliance, Salem and Hamilton.
which suffered from the floods OF last
spring, reports business almost para
lyzed Hundreds of mel have been
discharged.
Lumber business depression is re-
ported from Wisconsin, Michigan
New York and the South as amount
ing almost to panic conditions. Labor
is being dismissed to the last point
of economy. Lumber and it's prin-
cipal products were put on the free
list.
Beet sugar manufacturers in Colo
RADIO, California and Utah say tina,
they must go out OF business; Seveaa
material plants have shifted theal
production to plants established Ol
newly erected abroad.
There is however, an opposite side
The trade depression has by no mean!
become so general that many import
ant industries are not now enjoying
prosperity. The large number report
SrD hnc
specialties But of fundamental i'm
portance is the fact that the tremen
dous value Of the big crops ha.
brought prosperity to great industrle
founded directly on the farm. Agri
cultural implement concerns report
ed excellent business despite the plac
ing Of their product on the free list
Foreigners with the possible excep
ton Of Canada, cannot compete II
this industry. and the great crops hav
brought much work.
Prosperous, Though On Free List.
Specialties like sewing machines
which went on the free list; firearms
stoves soap, salt, have not been al
fected by the tariff changes and re
port excellent business. The price Q
sewing machines has been advance
and no importations have been made
In talking machines there is boon
due partly to the holidays
Out of Seventy-Slx replies on u
condition Of business forty-tWo con
Germs, or S5 per cent. find bushes
bad. Good business is reported b
thirty-two concerns, or AZ per cen
In predicting for 1914 ten out
eighteen look for worse times Th
tariff law was reported injurious
about 80 per cent of those Whlc
wrote about it, thirty-six out OF forty
six finding 1t harmful.
The fundamental factor in the dis
cussion by most OF the manufactul
ers as initiating against buslne:
prosperity was the general undermir
ing OF confidence which, they asserte'
had come through constant tinkerin
and hammering by the legislators.
1--WE can stand the tariff and tf
currency legislation will help sal
the manufacturers to the Adminlstrs
tion and legislators generally. 'b'
for the sake OF prosperity stop a
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