The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-01-04
General Crop And
 Business Conditions
 In The United States

Reported as ofz December F. 1914, by
 the Comnaittee on Statistics and Standards of the Chamber Of Com
 merce of the United States. Pros
 poets for first three months of 1915
 Washington, Jam. 4-The Committee on Statistics and Standards of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America. has just 1ssued a re- port on General Crop and Business Conditions as of December F, 1914 The report is accombanied by map giving graphic illustration of condi- tions in the various industries and of the prospects for business during the first three months of 1915.
 Commercial.
 While acknowle ging the widespread and depressing effects of the European war on industrial and commercial con tfftions, the report is generally reas- surfing. economy naturally prevails among all classes, though remarks have been noted that this does not ex- tend to automobiles. Purchases of goods for future delivery are far smaller than usual Collections are uniformly reported as poor. Lately. marked change has been noted in a lessenfng of the earlier difficulty of ob- taining loans from banks and in an easing of interest rates. It is stated
 
 Slowly improving, still present serf- ous 4sproblenn. Elsewhere the feeling gathers strength that a steadily i'm prov future is immediately ahead. Crop Yields Large.
 Crops in general have been good The entire wheat crop shows an i'm crease of l2 1-2 per cent over that of 1 last year, and in some southern points l the increase is over 100 per cent. The [report states that all indications are that the amount of wheat being held for higher prices is much, less than is generally supposed It is especially worthy Of note that some sections arc planting winter wheat for the hrst time in their history and 1t is predict- ed chat if the war contin1zesl rnti spring, the acreage planted in grains will exceed that of all former years l The sugaf cane crop promises to be l a good one and to command remunera- tive prices The report points out l that while we ordinarily get most of 1 our supply from Germany, there seems to be mo difficulty in obtaining the necessary seed and a larger acreage of sugar beets is expected next spring | than in 1914. t but a large portion is being held dD many localities as prices have beer low and in the main unsatisfaetory Apples in particular have been stored until prices are more favorable. 1T hi Icondition applies also to the potate crop ss
 Cattle Business Handicapped
 Ta1e cattle business is confronted b. a serious handicap in the fact tna: there Is great difheu1ty in obtaining loans on cattle Tke industry is fur. lthef unfavorab1y affected in the cen tra1 west, owing to the quarantine re suTting from the fot1t and mouth dis Tr1 f5lr,Jc also prevalent, though not so destrtic five as last year. The sheep ant woo1 industry is reported as in excel , lent shape. I1arge purchases of horse at good prices have been made b. European governments but the mar :. lket for mules continues slow and drag .s Iging. The report states that the Tads ling of poultry as a commercial propo : sita9n is assuming large proportions | Iall sections. I. .f.
 Factories Picking Up
 There is encourag genent in the state lment that many factories which hay lbeen idle are preparing to start up an Ethat more men are being taken on b ,, tfactories which have been rI1nin with decreased force. The report state that the flour mills have been forum ] late in being affected only slightly b ; the general depression Some cotbo ! and textile mills are also favored t
 
 Y though cotton mills while fairly bus 4 are said to be accommodating goods. t Depression in Mining,
 I General mining conditiors are sta5 ed as generally poor. This is especia, $ ly true of the phosphate mines P Florida which formerly shipped nos i of their product to Europe. Man
 mines are closed down and the r, e nlaander running from -quarter 1 g one-half time. An exception to tn 0 general depressfon, according to tF
 report. is zinc which is quoted as ba # ing in excellent condition. Lead lf also reported as being in better cond ,r tion than is true Of the other line
 The oil business is stated as varyir s- ffrom poor to fair because of low prfc.
 and the falling off in demand
 The lack of building has causs 1. many 1umber mills to close down ar ip Iothers to run only two to four Sia, |. of the stone, slate and marble qua s T1es. However, these conditions a
 now Beginning to mend and orders a
 Ishowing some increase.
 The Committee on Statistics al
 Standards of the National Chamb
 which prepared the report1 is cornpc
 led Of the following A " DougIs ie (chairman. St Louis; A Ross HdH c Id t1onbfas Mo; Byron w Holt Nt s4- York city: e. J. McPherson Fran " font Ind; Dan Norman. sChicago I<er ac is W. Parker, Greenville, S. C.. and
 [ Stone, New York city.
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