The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-12-02
General Trade Conditions
 and
 Business Forecast (Issued by The Connecticut National Banlk)
Business Forecast

Tremendous increases for the month were recorded in Troy, New York: Wilmington, Delaware; Lawrence, Massachusetts; Springfield, Ohio; and Syracuse, New York, in the order named, each of these cities showing an increase from 100 per cent. to 1000 per cent over last year. Ma terfal increases are also reported from Haverhill, St Louis, New Orleans, St. Paul, New York, Cleveland and Co., lunnbus, Tn the order named.
 AeOctober pig iron productions. was 1,zSs thousand tons compared with 1889 the previous month and 2,546 in October, 1918. The thrilled tom mage of the Steel Corporation at the close of October was S.461 thousand tons compared with a.7ss a month ago and 4,514 a year ago. Steel and iron industries have been operating at. only about 40 per cent. of capacity ons the average but are now increasing operations at several points, promin- ent among these being Gary, Indiana, which has been practically idle since the beginning of the war.
 Copper has experienced a real up- turn, heavy sales having been made for export accompanied by an increas- ed demand and inquiry for home com sumption. The Improvements has brought about harder prices with d slight advance Europe is buying our copper at a very low figure and Ia further advance in price would be beneficial to American business inter- ests.
 Anthracite shipments for october were more than in September or in. October a year ago, amounting to 6,644 thousand tons. the second 1arg- est months shipments on record.
 2 The production of gold at the Rand Mines for October was nearly S,744 thousand ounces, the highest months output since the middle of last year and an increase of Is thousand oIln-s ces over the previous October. Amer ican business men should note that Europe. shipped us our usual quota Of goods during October regardless of theSwar and that South Africa pro- ducsd more gold than in any month in the past year in spite of sthe rebellion in that Countrys Those countries seem to realize that they must do business in spiteEof the war ana this power. should be making the most of it's present enviabIe position.
 $ Commedity prices were lower on the first of the month than at the be- ginning 9f this year and averaged lower than at any time during 1912 or 1918. The trend will naturally soon be upward
 The lumber cut for septenlber was 1.035 million feet as reported by 636s mills showing q decrease in cut of 9e 1SGL7 compared 5W1Ehs last year and the decrease in ship1nents was TO million feet.
 9Cotton ginned to November first to- ta1ed ,s29 thousand bales compared with 8. 1880 last year, indicating that planters have secured sufficient mon ey for ginning purposes and are not holding back the crop. Stocks of cotton in manufacturing establish nents on the frst of the month were only 713 thousand bales however, cornpared with 1,o23 thousand ayear ago, while Independent warehouses held 3,780 thousand bales compared with 2,51O a year ago. Active spin dles numbered 80, ,B62 thousand conn pared with s0,86B a year ago.
 One by one the trade barriers are being removed and things are right ing themselves rapidly, although it really unfortunate that because Of conditions during the past few months many American manufacturers are Rot now in a position to accept orders which are being offered them by bro- kers representing the warning na tions. Many orders have been dec1ineds be- cause of the probable inability of the within the specified time Present conditions surely prove that '.Prepar-. edness is the secret of success
 It is reasonably certain that no 1egislatien will be proposed or at least passed at the regular session of Con gress which will tend to hinder the re- turn to normal business The Ad- ninistrtion stands pledged to favor no legislation which could in any way disturb business.