The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-07-23
Business and Finance

rate at ) per cent. There seems a
concerted movement on the part OF
English banks to keep up their money
rates. One reason is their desire 10
attract funds from the United States
and thvs place a handicap upon the
lmpor!atlons of gold irto our country
II our banks can get rlore than 4 per
cent lCI their surplus funds in Lon
don II wall he greatly to their al an
tage to carry part of their surplus
abroad at that rate, instead of being
compelled, as at present, to have such
funds remain idle in New York or
loan them out on call at, say, Ia to
ZIc. In this way it is not unlik ely
that the establishment of a normal
credit in this country for the purchase
OF supplies by the British government
may be still further delayed.
Wholesale Trade.
For the most part, the general body
OF retail merchants throughout the
United States buy their stocks in the
City of New York. which is thus the
headquarters Of the wholesale trade of
the country. Obviously, therefore, the
existing status of business at any
given time is reflected by the whole
sale trade of New York. 1t is interest
esting, therefore, to not the present
conditions of this trade as far as it is
possible to make an accurate calcula-
ton. In each year there are two
wholesale seasons: the winter-spring
season of April and the summer-au-
tumn season commencing Immediately
alter the Fourth of July and coming to
a close about the first of October. 1t
will thus be seen that the summer-fall
period Of wholesale activity is now
beginning.
In this connection it may be re-
marked that there is always prelim-
mary period of partial activity in June
as to which comparisons may be made.
According to the New York Daily
Hotel Reporter, which publishes the
arrivals at the hotels every day
throughout the year. the merchants
and buyers coming to the city in June
of this year exceed the aggregate of
last year by p per cent. While this
is substantial increase it will not do
to indulge in any rainbow chasing over
these figures In the first place, June
1914, was period of extreme dullness
and so an increase of p per cent over
such month is not strikingly remark.
able, although it is gratifying that the
increase has occurred
Already thus early in July the Skin
msh line Of the advancing army of
merchants and buyers is in town and
the hotels are heavily taxed to ac-
commOdate the arrivals. 1t seems
likely that by the first of August the
hostell'tS &C the city will be 1vcrrun
with guests and that they will ,,rd It
difficult t. take care of the arrivals.
his is IrdCcJ gratifying ,itIat Oh
since 1t !psr,lCs he conclusion tina.
the volume of wholesale business done
this season will reach a very large
total and that the retail business OF
the country during the coming autumn
and winter will reach high-water mark.
This is very healthy situation, since
the demands of the retail trade are
normal and healthy and are wholly in
dependent Of war conditions and the
large trade in war supplies which will
cease when peace is restored.
This will be pleasing news to the
business world in this country, since
it affords evidence that the period
OF dizziness and of apprehension for
fear OF future upsetting conditions has |
ceased and that no class in the COM
mercial or industrial world is alarmed |
about anything: During the past few
months the press has been indulging |
in forecasts of coming prosperity and |
predicting the speedy revival of trade |
These pleasing representation have |
been repeated so often that the gen
eral public is becoming weary Of PRO-
phesy and is longing for statements
about the prosperity that is here and |
wishes to see something of this pros |
perity and to see the present tense |
substituted for the future in these rosy
statements.
Fruit dangling on the trees of prom
Use looks beautiful to the eye, but you
cannot eat 1t; and the great majority
Of people who deal in facts and not in !
dreams want to see something that |
they can eat. Well, p per cent in
crease in the June arrivals of mer-
chants and buyers is the breakfast Of
the day which has opened.
Money Market Conditions.
The Circulation statements of the |
Federal Treasury Department and the |
statements of our banking institutions |
indicate that there is more idle cash |
in the United States than is necessary