The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-01
PROSPECT BRIGHT
FOR COMING YEAR

The American National bank In its
monthly letter brings out these facts:
The business gloom OF a month ago
has been transformed into an .atmos-
phere Of cheer. The pessimist OF De-
cember is the optimiSt OF January.
occurred In four weeks has made the
whole business world look brighter and
business men generally feel more
hopeful.
1t Is estimated by some leading sta
tisticians that at one time about .
week before the holidays. somewhere
between one million and one million
and half Of men were idle, which
would be approximately or per
cent OF the men employed In the coun-
try. The entire number Of tie am
ployed includes the presidents OF the
railroads as well as the conductors OF
the trains. the officers of steel COM
panies as we'll as the mill employees
and, in fact, includes all men who de-
vote their time to any business, re-
ceiving a remuneration therefor. AS
from l per cent to per cent q the
country's male adult population Il al
ways idle, the added number idle a
month ago was not SO unusual as was
generally supposed Even an extra
100. 900 idle men. however, affects the
whole business fabric and one factor
Ia doing more to create an optimistic
feeling among business people gener-
ally than the returning to work Of
thousands Of these men. Within six
days about $4,000 men returned to
work In the iron and steel industries.
This means living income for $50, 1000
moro people dependent on these men.
Every time another thousand men are
added to the payrolls, business gener-
ally is given a boost. and II the present
rate of unemployment continues, the
number OF idle men on February LIST
viii not be greater. II as great. as the
average number idle on that date for
the past ten years.
Dividend and interest disbursements
for January totaled 266 million dollars,
a gain Of eighteen million dollars over
the same month last year. Although
some important dividends were passed
declared on number OF issues and
interest payments increased because %
new loans.
Building operations for December
were slightly less In the western
States, considerably less IN the South
ern States and much heavier In the
Eastern States than for December,
1912. Building operations In sixty
principal cities werc per cent less In
1919 than in 1912, and almost 10 per
cent less In the twenty leading citfes
OF the country. There ID every promise
Of considerable building In the early
weeks Of this year and lumber ship
ments for the first ten days Of January
were ~ heavy as for any ten days IN
recent years II this proves to be 4
real revival In the lumber business Il
viii probably extend 20 all building
materials In time.
Although the weather has been I'M
seAsonAble in most sections. crop and
coil conditions IN all parts at the
country are excellent. Tho big fruit
districts are hopeful OF Z better thar
average crop a. they have fortified
themselves this year especially against
sudden temperature drops
Even though business totals FOL
1914 may not exceed those Of 1919
the condition Of bueiheae kenerAily Il
healthier ana this year. in - far y
judgment can ~ rendered on pre1ent
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