The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-09
SIGNS OF BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT SEEN
Confidence Is Growing. Saw
Reports to I. :. Chamber
Of Commerce.
MORE CATTLE BEING FED

WASHINGTON. Aus. s-The feeling of
apprehension because NJ the European
war has almost disappeared in this
country. according to a special report
submitted to-day by the committee on
statistics and standards OF the Chamber
Of Commerce OF the United states.
There IL evident now, according to the
report. a strong belief that business
will improve.
The committee hnds that In the main
the thoughts and interests Of the pro-
ducers. whether In lily or country. are
in local rather than international prob
lens. There still continues, however,
much conservatism in buying and In
new commitment The feeling seems
to be that it is best 10 wait until the
results Of the crops are known before
v~enturing further. AS a consequence
stocks Of merchandise throughout the
country continue light.
Lumber interests are everywhere
quiet. A general deirth of building
outside Of the large cities is having n
depressing effect on the sale of all build
ing materials.
Copper mines are running full time
and new ones are opening Zinc and
lead mines are exceedingly busy and
the mining OF iron ore is improving.
Coal mining is everywhere dull.
. largely because of slack demand from
the railroads and the slow business in
most manufacturing. slate mining in
Pennsylvania is at a low stage. Silver
mining suffers because Of low prices OF
silver, and gold mining is not much
better save in a few favored localities.
There Is little business in naval
stores. Phosphate mines still remain
closed because of the European war.
Unfavorable reports come alike from the
fisheries Of oregon, Washington. the
Gulf and along the Atlantic coast.
Improvement in steel and Iron.
The steel and iron business shows dis
tinct improvement. Business of cotton
and woollen mills is only fair. Those
manufacturers In different sections who
have orders for war contracts are ex-
ceedingly busy. The furniture business
In Michigan. northern Indiana and chit
cago Is dull. Paper mills are running
only ~three-auarters time. Cement fac
tories and those making bricks and tile
report only fair business. The oil in
dustries as a whole are very dull There
10 little demand for railroad ties.
In general. because OF abundant feed
and low prices. the raising OF Livestock
10 a growing industry In all sections of
the country. From the South Gene re-
ports OF increasing numbers of
In every section the dairy industry is
growing. Mules and horses are in de-
mand at good prices. This industry has
been favorably affected by the European
var.
Stimulated by the abnormal demand
Of the warning nations the wheat acre
age increased beyond any previous
planting. 1t was approximately 12ia
per cent. greater In winter wheat and
10 per cent. in spring wheat than in
1914. The continued wet weather de-
layed growth. harvesting and threshing.
Much damage was lone to standing
grain in the lowlands.
Many fields were WASHED away and
subsequent damage accrued in shocks be-
cause OF sprouting and too much mos
ture. These accumulated results have
made necessary a somewhat reduced
estimate of both spring and winter
wheat. the probable yield being put at
s4e, 500. 900 bushels.
While Indian corn needs an abundance
Of moisture, it has rad a superabundanre
his season. In the bottoms the crop in
many sections is hurt beyond repair.
On the uplands and the hill country
conditions, however. are of the best.
Rain Reduces the Corn Crop.
In the northern sections. especially in
Minnesota. Wisconsin. the two Dakotas
northern Nebraska and the peninsula Of
Michigan, the growth OF corn has been
much retarded by continued cool, wet
weather. The present estimate is for
a crop Of approximately 1885, OO. 900
bushels, or about 10 per cent greater
than last year. OF this amount the ff-
teen Southern States will produce about
30 per cent, as against an average yield
OF 30 per cent. South of the southern
line OF Missouri the corn crop suffered
little. save in extreme southern Texas,
Where II was cut short by drought dur
Ing June.
Oats are particularly susceptible TO
damage by wet weather. but despite this
the outlook now is for a yield of about
400. 900, 900 bushels, closely rivalline
the record breaking products n of 1912.
The production of minor grains will he
about normal and the potato crop will
closely approximate that 4 last year.
The reduction in tho cotton acreage
Al compared with last year Is approx
imately is per cent. vita about 40 per
cont. decrease In the use Of fertilizers.
A tentative long distance forecast indi-
Gates a production + about -. OO0, 900
bales, exclusive Of linters, which will pos
sibly run about 600. 600 more bales. As
a whole the crop has done well and is
in general good c ndlticn. Enforced
economies have everywhere prevailed
and the cotton crop will be the cheapest
raised in many years.