Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-12-21

believe that times are going to the bad
and that worse is yet to come.
Naturally, such conditions in the
commercial life of large country are
reflected in the more remote portions,
but the effect is not 50 great nor the
depression in business activity so badly
felt as in the larger centers which are
the cores Of this commercial life O."
lem, in this regard, may count itself
extremely fortunate for its stu,
for its varied interests, for its wide
contributing territory, which places it
practically independent of how things
may go in other less favored places.
1t is true, if the question is faced
squarcly, that buying and selling in the
city has fallen off considerably during
the past fall, but this condition is be-
lieved to show but slight effect Of the
general poor outlook elsewhere. Christ.
mas shopping, in the main-that is, the
buying of useless but pretty trinkots,
Of jewelry, Of extra clothing-is much
less than heretofore. But this fact
cannot be taken as the real criterion
Of business conditions. 1t shows that
people are not inclined to part with
their money for useless gifts that only
carry the Christmas message of good
cheer without proving Of some intIin,
sic value. In contrast to this falling
off, the regular buying of drygoods,
for example, is about average aud the
people are not sighting the necessalics
! Of comfortable existence.
outlook Is Promising
Business men, therefore, are not at.
tributing the present dullness to any.
thing being seriously at fault with the
economic conditions Of the country. II
is u recognized fact that commercial
opportunities are good here and else.
whore and that the restraining influ.
ence is mainly lack of confidence. And.
although it seems like trading in the
lives and suffcrings Of other human be.
ings, the war conditions in Europe can.
not help but have tendency to emily.
en- American commercial activities gen.
orally, and so bring home to Salem n
I part of the prosperity that must even.
tually result, With the destruction Of
European manufacturing interests com
merce will seek n home on this side Of
the water, and this transplanting of
many kinds of industrial activities
cannot help but be reflected in every
town and county in the United States.
And in this awakening TO larger com.
mercial life Salem viii undoubtedly
share.
Salem has over 20 institutions that
have II monthly payroll Of over n 900
/ per month. In this list is included in.
stitutions that have puyrolls Of from
$4,000 to $4,000 per month, with the
average running from two TO five thou.
sand for the larger ones. There are "
distinctive commercial interests oper.
ating within the corporate limits Of
Salem with from three to eight com.
panics or business houses represented
under each.
Salem Fine Payroll,
Salem = monthly payroll amounts. MS
far as can be osccrtaincd, tO grand
total Of Sljl,1Sl,S5.
The work Of ascertaining the number
Of employees and the amount Of wages
d pulu ny lHc lOHONlnE NUlpm concerns
was done by Ivan Mcdaniel, assistant
secretary Of the promotion department
Of the Salem Commercial club, and he
only completed Il last evening for the
Christmas edition Of the journal
1t will be noted in this list that the
state and federal institutions bring in.
to Salem an average Of S72Sll.l0 each
and every month. Among the mnnufac.
turing industries the lumboring brings
the greatest amount, while the canning
companies come close second. The
$l2,O5O that is paid cach month by the
lumber concerns Is the most stcady Of
them all while the canning companies
though bringing in $4,000 each month
Of work, are only seasonal.
Ranking ncXt In importance Is the
printing industry which distribute,
, sS,7Oi each month 10 employees. The
! public service corporations come IN
. third with n distribution Of ss,3Ol .lj.
The following is the tabulated list
, as prepared by Mr.. McDaniel Gig