The Washington times., 1914-06-14
IN LOCAL FINANCIAL CIRCLES

While the trade reports for the week
show that within this period, under
FtimuIation of a nearer realization of
he prosperity incident to the enormous
,rops in prospect, traLe has shown g.
r'ndency to actual improvement there
las been no real incentive to business
Z -tiyity. On the contrary there haVe.
thin the past few days, arisen several
pressing influences.
With condition of business lethargy
ContiRuing in this country and the
: eople remaining in IL. state OF ''Iaent-
81 mourning the foreign situation.
eretofore equally as discouraging as
'.at which prevailed in America, has
Gown more gloomy. Friday witnessed
ne downfall of the Felix Ribot minis
~r before the premier mad been forty
shit hours in office, and the event
e,arted wild rumors as to Frances cha
&c financial condition. England has
I 10 solve its Ulster problem, with
assurance that the means will not
found through bloooshed. And the
test but none the less imminent of
re depressing factors is found in the
-rko-Grecian controversy, with these
lWo countries, only recently cleared OF
Earclouds, again at sword points.
Many students of business conditions
ave come TO a realization that the in
activity in the United States. the cur
,aflment in output and the reduction
n wage scales. is noL altogether an
rect of politics and legislation. They
;race the cause. in measure at least, to
ne state of international markets, and
nd the effect here simply reflection
Of the worlds condition
In this manner Is accounting found
rlr the failure Of general business 10
rekpond to the harvest outlook. Not only
have the continued reports furnished by
= Government and individuals as TO
the prospect of record-brsAK.ng Yields
used merely tbs slightest ripple in
, reduction and consumption LUt the
ublic and the business man have turn
cd their faces in anothe' din ertion, TO
cck a rainbow n the Interstate Com
q cree Commissions freight rate report
Forese..ing small possibility CT stimu-
.ntIng trade abroad. despite the size of
.his country's CROPS beyond the meas
- Of necessity, The producers of this
COCntry, IL is said, arc pinnl1S lheir first
. upe TO revival OF aOme tra1G. In the
ate increase they sFe means TO ac-
. onpllsh their end. For with railroad
venues augmenteT, the transportation
aes will be in q position TO make i'ur-
rases Of supplies and general equip
GcDt. and thus reflect benefit generally
o all industry.
BY many, however, the freight rate
81 . ease IS regarded as = mere mirage,
80 far as general industry IS corcerned.
his Gill doubtless prove ot value 10
. hc railroads, if granted, ana nay cause
. temporary squirt IN all lines If bust
-ess and send prices soaring in the
~ manufacture ami commerce Is only
, Ice found, these rommsnt"rs declare,
through the crops which are nov r!pen-
1g.
Though the railroad managers have
cen devoting the greater part OF their
me recently in I.einE the rate in
-ease, they have not overlooked the
-usperity which bumper crops will bring
. them. Orders have been sent out
-"m the general offices Of all tie great
INK Iires traversing the grain belt for
~ rushing of car repairs. Il has been
=tiInatei that within two months l.gOo,-
. cars Will be engaged in moving
. rain.
This preparation on the part of the
transportation systems, while II has not
stimulated the steel trade,
as, at least, lent that industry a
-tTonger tone, and already there is
llnt OF further commitments.
In the general wholesale and retail
business reports from the trade reviews
thOw general increase in buying, ]
PARTICULARLY in those sections of the
rOuntry which will reap largest rewards
from the agricultural wealth. Once the !
LAA< way TO markets, ths farmers VIII