The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-29
Neutral Powers Won't Be
Ruu1ed by the Great War
Economic Conditions Disturbed but Business Men Look
With Confidence to Future-Lack of Work.
men flinders Some Industries.


same was done by ali industries depend
I ing largely upon exports first being the
! sugar refneries, whose main outlet IL
england. France. India md Egypt. In
! Austria-Huneary only one-third OF the
sugar production Is for home consump-
non two-thirds going to foreign markets.
/ In the Dual Monarchy great quantities of
raw sugar are now being stored up. When
peace comes, as some day IL must come,
an urgent demand for sugar will make IL
self felt throughout the world. especially
IN England, where the price OF sugar has
already risen TO a very nigh figure. Ii is
IN view OF this coming demand that these
great preparations are being made In
Austria Hungary by the sugar refineries.
Business is very bad with Industries
, for the manufactures OF luxur!es such as
furniture. glass, clay products. embroid-
cries. &c. The building trade II practi-
cally at standstill In Berlin. Vienna and
Budapest. Large contracts have been
given for the building of barracks for
war prisoners. the wounded and for con-
tagious dseases. But these are all
wooden buildings
Prosperity for Some.
on the other hand. factories turning out
war material are op rated ght and
day. To those that manufacture ord
, nance. powder, sc. the war has. OF
course, brought an era of prosperity be-
yond the fondest dreams of their owners
Rut factori manufacturing woollens and
clothing are also exceedingly busy The
army with it's several millions of soldiers
II the field requires unlimited quantities
of underwear, shirts and many other
articles that give protection against the
elements Leather goods factories. espeCi-
ally shoe factories. now employ more
hands than they ever did before. The
wooden box manufacturers too have
large Government orders. All munitions.
provisions and other war materials are
sent to the field n picking cases. and
they cannot be turned out fast enough.
Then hundreds OF thousands OF small
wooden boxes are required by the soldiers
families. who are sending their kin winter
clothing and prov sions
To many other Industries some OF
them almost unknown. the war has been
an unexpected wirdfall. and one sees
little manufacturers grow ng rich while
big ores face distress.
But even the busy factories have
troubles ~ Their own owing to the d.ri-
culties OF getting raw materials; wool
cotton. jute copper. zlNc and chemicals
are all scarce---and So is coal.
The coal outpu, OF Upper Silesia has
sunk TO 30 per cent. If its normal pro-
duction and the reduction Of the output
N other coal mines IN Germany and
Austra-Hungary presents corresponding
decrease In the coal mines. az well 1s
IN other busy industries. thcre is naturally
% lack Of compet.n NJ workngm"1 Com
mon lahorers are easier % get. but skilled
" rkmcn are ~ = premium II must he
remembered that IN Germany and Austria
Hungary about two millions = the best
Ialor re ire now on the ha 'tlehslds
The export trade r. al Al st4nIStln For
the .rade Of tho 'wo central European
Powers the ocean highway has prac-
Ideally .el cd 20 KS. and only hy means
of III. eVpsnsiv- railroads can goods bs
shipped from one country to the other
Trieste, FUN. Hamburg AMI y omrn are
ucsolate. aud y is small comfort for thes-
ports hat Lond n, Hayre. Rotterdam.
Amsterdam and even Genoa fare but little
hotter than they. Antwerp was one ~
:. greatest commercial cities in the world
me fuurt on million tons of merchandise
passing through 1t every year. This en-
poTium - now in German hands bu, for
tho present II IS completely paralyzed
interior commerce in Germany ana
Austria-lluugary in the first months Of
me war was confined to goods needed for
military purposes, but gradually things
are improving. In he department stores
crowds are once more moving, but M.
nitug" OF goods purchased by tn public
has changed There il no dem and flr
Injuries ana the consumers. be they rich
o. poor buy economically. in small guam
titles, and require durability IN prefer
en'a to appearance.
The farmers had a prosperous yelr.
Everywhere the crops were good. Moro
avcr. the produce is being sold at record
prices. Women have supplanted men on
farms and In m ny Instances Industrial
llborer~ past military age who ar out
Of employment on account OF the war
md opportunities for work on farms
Cattle, poultry. butter and eggs are
bough: for the army in tremendous guam