The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1915-10-14
N-PoLITIcAL VIEW OF "PRos.
PERlTYn


Although war orders have turned the
balace of trade in favor of the Unit
ed States and this country Is enjoying
prosperity in spots, there Is accumu-
hating evidence that this sort of pros
perity Is OF no permanent value to the
people Of the United States The spot
ted character Of the revival OF bust
ness activity Is shown In the latest re-
view of business conditions. issued by
the chamber of commerce OF the Unit
ed States. non-politicai body. The
review says:
Lumber interests ARE everywhere
very quiet. A general dearth Of build
Ing outside Of the large cities Is hav-
Ing very depressing effect on the sale
OF all building material Coal mining
Ia everywhere dull. largely because Of
slack demand from the railroads and
the slow business In most manufactur-
dng. Slate mining In Pennsylvania Is
at a low stage because Of lack of de-
mand. Unfavorable reports come alike
from the fisheries of Oregon, Wash
ington. the gulf, and along the Atlantic
coast.
Manufacturing varies much accord
ing to the articles made, though in
general 1t lis very quiet. Steel and
iron business shows distinct improve
ment with increasing orders Bust
ness of cotton and WOODEN mills is only
fair. Those manufacturers in different
sections who have orders for war con-
tracts are exceedingly busy. Furniture
business in Michigan. northern Indiana.
and Chicago Is alike duh. Paper mills
are running only three-quarters tdme
Cement factories and those making
bricks and tile report only fair busi-
ness. The OIL industry as whole is
exceedingly duh. There is very little
demand for railroad ties"
In general. the agricultural outlook Is
good, owing to favorable weather con-
ditions, but with manufacturing at a
low level the farmers win have to look
to Europe for their market.
Victor Morawetz one OF the ablest
economists In the United States, sees
no cause for congmtulation in the huge
war orders that are pouring into this
country. ''It Is plain that UP to the
present time the war in Europe has
not increased material prosperity In
the United States" he declared. This
is shown by the widespread unemploy-
ment Of labor. by the large falling off
In the production of basic raw ma
terials of industry-such as iron, STEEL
coal and lumber-and by the prevailing
general depression OF business.
"a large foreign trade balance In
favor of the United States will not Of
ttself bring us prosperity. In tho flu
ture as at the present time large
trade balance may be more than offset
by lessening of production of forms
of wealth that do not enter into for
eign trade. In thas connection 1t should
not be overlooked that an increase OF
the prices of foodstuffs and other prod
ucts does not represent gain to the
people of the Uni ed States, except as
to the small portion Of these foodstuffs
and other products that can be export
ed.
'Most of the foodstuffs and other
things produced by us are required for
consumption at home. and any increase
OF their prices must be paid by the peo-
pie of the United States. Thus, IL 20
per cent of our wheat crop should be
exported. SO per cent increase of the
price OF wheat would represent a gain
to the United Stafes OF the increased
price OF only 20 per cent OF the crop.
The profit received by our farmers
from the sale Of four fifths of their
crop at the increased price would have.
TO be paid by consumers in the. United
States. and principally by the Iaboring
classes