Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-10-17
SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

III SPlte VI the SO-CdlIeu INTERRUPT
ton of ocean trade, our exports for
three mid-october days were $3.50
95s. For the same period last year
they were s6.56O.s66.
The New England textile industries
are receiving enormous orders from
abroad, enough to keep them boom,
ing ali winter. One concern must sup
ply 100000 pairs of socks a week until
the end of the year. Others have or
ders for 10000 dozen flannel shirts,
100000 rolls of bandage gauze, 3OO.-
600 yards of cotton duck, 100000 yards
Of crash, 100000 pounds OF absorbent
cotton.
It will take % or 80 OF the nations
biggest knitting mills to supply the
rush order for 100000 wooden sweaters
which has just come in from England
The auto trade is simply thriving
on big orders from abroad. Just as
an example. a Detroit factory is fill
ing an order for $50 trucks valued at
about 100000; a Cleveland concern
has an order from France for 500
trucks; orders for more than 1000
ers' representatives at Bethlehem, Pa.
Other reports from that steel city in
dictate that 5000 men are working in
the plants, and 1000 more will soon
be taken on.
OF our enormous wheat crop, il is
estimated that $500 600. 900 worth Will
be exported to the warning nations.
All the millions and millions of
dollars that Europe must pay for
these exports of ours will come into
the United States to stimulate pros
perity, or will stay in Europe TO build
up a favorable balance for US there.
II isn't only the nations at war
which are coming after our goods.
The Merchants association of New
York announces that orders and in
quiries for American manufactures
have come in from 80 foreign coun-
tries in about one week. Electrical
goods are demanded by Australia and
South Africa; foodstuffs by India, and
by Canadian provinces; South Ameri-
ca is buying our machinery. hardware
and glass. John r. Silliman, President
Wilson's personal representative in
Mexico. states that close to 100 per
cent of Mexico's foreign trade will
soon be coming TO the United States.
But it is not only the export bust
ness that has begun to throb with
new life From Cincinnati there come
glowing reports OF universally liberal
orders for boots and shoes. placed by
iealers all over the country. Marshall
Field & Co. of Chicago. says that book |
ngs of orders for spring delivery are |
ar ahead OF what they were last year. !
n the New York clothing trade, a |
Years truce has been arranged be- |
ween striking employees and the !
This means that close !
O 100, 900 workers will be kept busy |
n this line through the winter. The |
chicago printers find that business is I
picking up TO such an extent that their !
entative plan for a ive-week day |
las been abandoned. and nearly 1000 |
Inion members are now finding en-
,Ioyment for six days a week.
There are still other and more gen.
raj indications OF the dawning pros
erity. The American Railway asso-
iatfon's report shows that since Aug
over $4,000 idle freight cars have
cen nut 10 use. and the number OF
die cars is now less than at any time'
18th one short exception. since Jan. l.
his IL one of the surest signs OF big
usiness prosperity.
The huge western crops alone as
ure us an unprecedented prosperity.
. famous New York financial observ-
r has Just stated that there has 1T
rally been dug up out of the earth
] the form products. in the past sea-
on 10000 900 900 OF new wealth."
his staggering sum is now being
urned into cash or its equivalent and
being distributed far and vide
trough the arteries of trade. impart-
lg new impulses TO financial and
enterprises which could
OF possibly be arrested by the de-
ressing influences Of foreign war.