The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-02-04
he Business and Financial Outlook
Prominent Financial Institution Says That General Bust
ness Not Only Continues Good, But That In
dications are That It Will Be Much Better

The Fourth Nation. bank Of New
York City has issued a letter EN-
Dodying the views of business mer
concerning the commercial outlook
and the possibility of slowing down
In general trade owing to the uncer
tainty over probable tariff revision
AS a result of this informal INQUIRY
1t is stated:
e First: 1t is evident that business
men of the country are not looking
forward with serious forebodings to
the new administration. It is expect
ed that the president-elecs will give a
safe and sane administration and one
calculated to build up rather than to
tear down enterprise. This feeling
is almost universally held.
Second: Uncertainty because OF ex-
pected tariff revision is unauestion-
ably holding up business in a few in
dustries, but these are industries that
would be vitality affected by lower
ing of the duties. The feeling Of man
ufacturers is not at all one of fear
that their business will be ruined.
but, on the contrary, the opinion is
that revision will be conducted sane.
ly and with view to disturbing bust
ness as little as possible. The knowl-
edge that the schedules are to be
changed within few months, how
ever, leads naturally to some cautious
buying. 1t is generally felt that the
work of revision should be pushed as
rapidly as possible SO that the period
of uncertainty may not be prolonged.
Third: Taking the country at large.
1t may be said that the area of dis
turbed business is relatively small,
and such branches of industry as are
affected represent but small proper
ton of the whole 1t is significau.
that from some centers where local
Industries would be affected by re-
duction, comes the assurance that
tariff revision has been largely dis
counted, so that when new schedules
are actually announced there will be
little further adjustment required.
The disclosures of this investiga-
ton, therefore, go far toward refut-
Ing the theory that the country is
witnessing gradual slowing down or
business in all lines. Such theory
is unfounded, and the information
which this bank has received shows
conclusively that general business not
only continues good but tina. merch-
ants. manufacturers and corporation
managers everywhere expect it to be
much better
From the south come assurances
that labor is fully employed, tina. fac
tories are booked ahead with large
orders, and that, except for small
section where the crops have been
bad or where local conditions have
been unfayorable, the expectation is
for satisfactory year.
The lumber industry is active IN
der the impetus of increased building
and heavy railroad buying.
In the sugar territory there is nat
urally feeling of uneasiness as to
how the tariff provisions will affect
that industry.
The open winter has adversely af-
fecsed few branches of .rade, but
this. of course, is only temporary and
not of great Importance.
It is evident that business interests
generally speaking are not looking.
for any material change in condi-
tions to attend the transfer of the ma
tional government from one party to
another.
The record Of bank clearings shows
that the country is doing a larger
business than It did at this time las.
year. weekly figures indicating gains
of from ter per cent. for the whole