The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-10-30

compared with slightly over ST mil lions year ago. August, 1913, will be remembered as a very unsatisfac- tory month in the matter of railroad earnings, so that the figures on met earnings for August of this year are not so encouraging as they appear on their face. So far as reported, Sep teTnber gross earnings are per cent below September of last year. As the operating expenses of the railroads are now out of proportion to their re str1cted earnings, further rate in- creases would seem inevitable or the holders of railroad securities may have to wtthou dividends for some time. The proposed rate increase, if allowed, together with a general to come. should enable the railroads to put themselves in good shape with in a year and create a real demand for railroad securities. Such de- mend must come before financing of any consequence can be undertaken.
 With 131 thousand Idle cars on the first of October, the employment of thousand additional cars is shown. although the present number idle is 120 thousand more than year ago.
 The lumber cut for August was 1.090 million feet, which was exact ly the same as in July, but more than 100 million feet less than in August a year ago. August shipments were 971 million feet compared with 1,059 in July. The August shipments for this year were about 100 million feet less than in August last year, MilT- shipments of western pine in August were nearly S4 million feet compared with ST million feet in July and s1 million feet in August of last year. The lumber trade, a1though dull, iss not depressed and prices are steady.
 Cotton consumption for September in this country was somewhat less than a year ago. stocks held in manu- lecturers warehouses 50 thousand bales less than a year ago and in in dependent warehouses there were 1,662 thousand bales compared with 1,295 thousand at the heginning of last October. The number of active spind1es in September was, FS0,662 thousand compared with 3o.634 thou sand for September, 1913. indicating that little, if anything. has as yet been accomplished in taking care of or manufacturing our raw cotton into something which Europe can use. Loaning money on the cotton we have raised this year is a temporary ex- pedient and manufacturing 1t ready for home consumption and the export market would seem to be wise move if not an absolute necessity.
 In September we produced 1888
 
 with 2,506 thousand tons in Septem- Der of last year. This is the low re- cord since July, 1911, and the small est September output since 1908.
 The unified tonnage of the Steel Corporation at the beginning of Oc- tober was S,788 thousand tons com pared with 4,213 a month ago and 5,004 year ago. Steel mills a whole are operating at less than 50 per cent of capacity.
 The worlds visible supply of tin on the first of the month was nearly 15 thousand tons compared with some thing over 12 thousand tons a year ago. Our imports for September were 4,176 tons and our visible increase 776 tons for the month.
 Lead exports have been in evidence since March. the total for the six months from March to August amounting to nearly 73 million pounds. Less than sone-half as much Mexican lead is coming through this country as formerly and our domestic exports of lead are on the increase. Receipts of zinc and spelter at the leading market for the year to date total 3,345 thousand slabs compared with 3,SS6 a year ago, and shipments have been 3,219 thousand slabs conn pared with S,497 for the same period | last year.
 Anthracite coal shipments for Sep tember were 6,246 thousand tons compared with 5,572 a year ago. an in- crease of nearly 700 thousand tons. This is the largest September output ever reported and the record month 1 for this year to date. Shipments so far this year have been 50,,O6a thou sand tons compared with 51,282 thon- sand tons for the first nine months of last year.
 The production of Gold at the Rand mines was 6,233 thousand fine ounces for the first nine months of this year compared with 6.730 for the same pe- riod last year. The average pro- duction for five years has been S. 296 thousand fine ounces for the first l nine months of the ye1x.