Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-01-03
Chamber Of Commerce Re-
ports on U. S. Conditions.
Textile Industry Adjusting Itself
Meat Demanded as Food.
Mercantile Business Good In Vol.
ume..Exports Largest In History.

Washington, Jan. 2.--"Any general
statement as to condition of manufac-
turing throughout the United States
would at present be both misleading
and inaccurate, since this condition va
ries according to the locality and the
nature of the product" says sympo-
sium of business conditions issued by
the Chamber Of Commerce of the Unit
ed States and compiled by the COM
mittee on statistics upon reports of
one day-Nov. 90, 1913. which were
taken to be fairly representative.
1.-The textile industry is adjusting
itself to changed conditions resulting
from the deceased tariff rates." con-
tinues the report, but the effects so
far do not justify previous apprehe1-
sions. The paper manufacturing busi-
ness is below normal, while shoe man
ufacturing is coed with prospects OF
an advance in prices. This IS true,
likewise, of the leather tanning busi-
ness All manufacturing connected
intimately with the railroad and with
the steel and iron industries is neces-
sarily feeling the depression of these
two great branches of business.
1.-The great increase in the popula-
ton of this country and consequently
the increased demand for meat as
food, coming at the same time as the
decrease in recent years in the num-
Der of cattle and sheep, has naturally
brought about the present high price
of meat.
A careful study Of the facts, how
ever, indicated that it Is one Of those
economic problems that is likely to
solve itself and that the number OF
ccattle in their relation to the num-
ber of inhabitants moves rather In a.
series of circles than in a straight
line. For instance, the number of cat
tie per 100 Of population Is the asme
now as it was in 1870 and 1900, but we
are evidently facing a great change
in the cattle raising industry.
"An important survey, therefore, or
the situation seems to warrant the
statement that while the price OF cat
tie will probably continue high in the
future. the various agencies mentioned
will gradually work for more abund-
ant supply and more reasonable
price.
Throughout the Central West, de-
spite the draught, there is a general
feeling of hopefulness for the future.
Throughout the Southeastern At-
lantic states, merchantile business Is
in good volume, and this is true in
general throughout the West and the
| South"
The nations foreign commerce Tor
1918 approximated 250.0oo,00o, the
department of commerce estimates. Or
that amount s2,500, ,0o00 represents
exports and s1,750, ,OOO, 900 imports, maxi
ing the balance of trade in favor or
the United States $3.50, 100000, which
exceeds the record of any previous
year.
The years exports were the largest
in the history of the country while the
imports are exceeded only by those OF
112. The decline in imports is attrio-
uted in part to reduction in prices OF
certain articles imported.
The increase in food stuffs exported
was chiefly in wheat, corn, barley,
oats. flour, bacon and lard; in manu-
features exports. increases are record
ed in automobiles, railway cars, cleo
tric machinery, manufactures OF iron
and steel, lumber, copper and mineral
OIL