Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-06-01
BUSINESS IS IMPROVING.

The dinner pail of the nation is
gradually regaining it's rotundity is the
report given for the week just passed
by Bradstreets which says
Cool, wet weather over a wide area
has reduced retail trade in Seasonable
goods; pending international political
matters, though not given much prom :
inence, make for caution in financial
circles, and winter wheat and corn
crop reports are not so glowing as
heretofore. On The other hand. the
large distributors of staple articles
seem lo,a be doing quite we'll; mall
order trade is large: manufacturing
certainly is more active; complaints OF
scarcity of skilled mechanics are
numerous; business in war materials
is rushing; shipbuilding yards are fill
ed with orders; railway traffic is
heavier; buying of rails has enlarged;
the United States stands In unique
position, in that it is the only coun-
try in the world favored by increased
exports; money is easy; buying OF
commercial paper is freer; collections
are about fair save in the agricultural
south and in the lumber manufacturing
parts of the Pacific northwest; cotton
good and stock market operations,
though checked by uncertainty as to
Germany's reply to the remonstrance
made by our government displays
fairly steady undertone.
Reports from most centers agree that
buying of dry goods for forward ship
ment is in excess of last years. but in
certain branches of wearing apparel.
mir in
are disappointing. and manufacturers
of agricultural implements and jewelry
and brewers and distillers of liquors,
as we'll rs furniture plants. are work
ing on subnormal basis. Lumber
seems to be in slightly better shape ex-
cept in the Pacific northwest, and If
vessels were available at moderate
rates it is probable a smart squirt in
export trade would ensue.
Fundamentally, conditions affecting
the future, as distinguished from those
prevailing at the moment, grow more
favorable as the year wears on. Har-
vest time in the winter wheat sections
is approaching, and barring great dam
age to spring wheat, the country can
easily raise another bumper crop. Pay
rolls are increasing, overtime is COM
mon in a number of lines, and the
spread of progress seems to be reach
ing out to all but the most unfavorably
situated industries, while enterprises
born of the necessity Of supplying ar
ticles cut off by the European war are
coming into view. Eventually these
forces will have their play, and the
spending power o. large numbers will
be greatly increased.
Excessive moisture ha., rather taken
the place of insect damage as source
of complaint in the wheat-growing
sections, both winter and spring, but
while there is perfect flood Of rain
damage reports from the southwest, 1t
is noted that jobbers of merchandise
are buying freely for fall, an indica-
ton that men on the ground look for
favorable crop conditions.
Texas harvesting starts next week
and will be on in Oklahoma June Is.
There are reports that corn planting is
delayed by rain in the northwest. and
that some corn in the regular corn belt
has rotted in the ground from rain and
cold weather. A good deal Of replant-
ing is reported necessary in the south
west. Iowa and Nebraska.
Oats too would be benefited by dry,
warm weather, and hay and pastures
have had all the moisture they need
for time.
There is an abundance of moisture in
the middle Atlantic and New England
states and warm growing weather is
now most needed In the Connecticut
valley crops promise well Very low
temperatures with ice in some sections
of Pennsylvania, New York and New
England have hurt early vegetables.