The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1915-03-30
LITTLE CHANGE
IN BERLIN LIFE
Business Is Better Than Was Expect
ed and Shortage Of WOrilmen In
Factories Is Noted.

BERLIN, via London, March 30
The business situation IN Germany IL
regarded as fuIrly satisfactory and
considerably better than might have
been expected In view Of the war All
Industries, of ,OIrse are running on "A
restricted scale chiefly because Of the
virtual cessation Of overseas exports,
but as large proportion Of the skilled
workmeu went into the army, the
sharp curtailment In production was
not attended by corresponding In
crease In unemployment
More women and girls are seeking
work Ia some branches Of industry
than can find employment, but this ls
far from being the case with men. On
the contrary the leading industries Of
the country are seriously embarrassed
by the scarcity of skilled workmen.
This Is true " the coal and iron trade,
shiphuildlng and certain sections VI
the chemical industry
4 pronounced scarcity OF wOrkmen
Is reportcd from the great Industrial
district about Essen. The demand for
coal Is greater than the mines can
meet. although It's export has been
prohibited Last month conditions I'm
the iron trade were reflected by IN
advance I'm prices The production Of
pig iron running about 81 per cent "
last year would be- still larger II the
necessary labor could be- obtained.
Many branches oi machinery manu-.
fcturc. an important branch Of Ger
man Industrial activity are working
full time or overtime but here also q
scarcity NJ wurkmtn is felt
Locomotive car shops are busy while
car shOps evidently are working on
biz government orders Two compan.
les have stated In their annual reports
chat they have work ON hand to last
until 1915 aud complain Of a lack Of
help
The export NJ potash was forbidden
two months ugu because Of the belief
that exports to neutral countries were
being used ~ manufacture explosives
for France and England The pruhl
hltlon resulted iu sharp contraction
/ lu this tudc. especially with the Unit
cd states Mine owner, ARE seeking
government permission to Increase the
/ price o. ,omprU-uir them for their
/ loss.
Textile factories engaged I'm turning
uuI rhr cheaper lines " goods are
umwwd by O shortage " raw ma.
'uru THE import NJ wool virtually
. lGs uuusrd aud woulen rugs are In
-r.at demand Tor the making NJ shOd
dN Some mills have taken to spin
ming ,hoddy yarns
Inadequate receipts NJ American
cotton have raised the prices ~ cotton
yarns and cloths Wcaycrs ARE trying
To place long contracts for yarns be
lirying prices will go higher
The SILK trade Is doing fairly we'll
good sized American orders resulting
I'm higher raw slk prices The liner
trade IL humpcred by lack " flal
which comes from Russia Bayariar
peasants are planning to devote con
siderable land to this hitherto neg
leCted crop.
The retail trade Is active only II
articles Of necessity LuNurles very
largely have been dispensed with
nrcssmakers are less pressed viii
spring orders than Is usual Cigar
and chocolates are In good demand a,
they are extensively used for gifts {,
soldiers nt the front Some book am,
music publishers reports that thel
sales are good
Farmers are among the busiest peo
pie In the empire the task Of rcplen
ishlng the food supply deyolveS upOl
them and they win have to accom-
plish II with diminished number O
abOrers Conditions have been ma
terlRlly allevlNted by the transfer o
city industrial workers 10 the coun
try II is reported that the usua
acreage OF grain viii be planted an,
preparations are being made ON
large scale for spring and summe
! uprl