Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1915-06-11
WAR ORDERS MAKE
BUSINESS BETTER
TACOMA BANK TAKES OPTIM-
ISTIC VIEW OF GENERAL CON-
DITIONS IN COUNTRY.

Inc erect or the heavy war
orders" from European countries on
American prosperity, the gradual i'm
provement Of business conditions in
the United States and the compare
tive figures from many industries
showing the improvement over last
year, are the principal subjects dis
cussed in the June letter and bust
ness forecast issued by the Fidelity
Trust company of Tacoma. Regard
ing the war orders" the letter sets
forth that If all the goods ordered
could be delivered Immediately, a
period of the most unbounded pros
perity would follow.
Discussing other features of gen.
eral business conditions, the bank
says:
THE export trade, commonly re-
ferred to nowadays as war orders
means approximately that the same
amount Of domestic trade will imme-
diately follow it. We are even now
beginning to feel a considerable
growth in domestic demand which
can reasonably be depended upon to
steadily increase.
Bank clearings for April exceeded
$15,000,000,000, an increase of
nearly 1 per cent over the same
month last year. This is in the face
of the fact that the establishment of
the federal reserve banks would nat
urally make a material reduction in
the showing of bank clearings be-
cause of the new method Of clearing
in the federal reserve cities.
1.-THE lumber cut for March was
700, 100000 feet, compared with 509,-
100000 feet in February and 1871
100000 feet in March of last year.
were 772, 100000 feet COM
pared with 495,OOO,0OO feet in Feb
ruary and 669,O0O,OO0 feet in March,
1914. Mill shipments of western pine
for March were 100000 feet, ex-
actly the same as year ago.
1.-THE national crop situation, TAX
ing all crops and all sections into con-
side7ation as a unit, has probably
never been better.
"The best business conditions of
the country are found through the
central west, and the poorest condi-
tons in the southeast and on the
Atlantic coast from New York to-
Florida"
The National City bank, the largest
in the country, with the best means
for gathering first hand information
from everywhere. reviews business
conditions as follows:
"The general business situation
must be regarded as slightly better
than a month ago, notwithstanding
the disturbing influence of the great
ocean tragedy.
1.-The Middle West is optimistic,
Influenced by the prosperous condi-
ton Of the farming population and
the prospects for another good crop.
Reports from the crops since the
middle of the month have not been
so favorable, wheat having suffered
from insects, and corn planting being
delayed by cold and wet weather;
there is plenty of time yet for both
to make good. The winter wheat
yield may be short of last years. but
the spring planting promises larger
crop.
Bank deposits from Texas north
are higher than ever known before
and money conditions are easy. The
rate of interest on farm loans Is
lower than a year ago, and there Is
some movement in farm lands, at a
further advance in prices. Cattle
and sheep are bringing better prices
and the wool clip is bringing the
best prices known for years.
at is a relief to hear complaints
of labor shortage. The Iron Age
says that the scarcity of skilled me-
chanics, particularly machinists, has
reached an acute stage in some parts
of the country. War orders at
Springfield and Bridgeport are a dis
turbing element in this line through
out New England, for these two cities
are adding something more than TO-
900 men to what would be consid-
cred their normal working forces in
ordinary good times.
"In the region from Pittsburgh to
Detroit the automobile people are
also using all the machinists they
can get.
"In Pennsylvania and West Vir-
ginia there is a cry for common labor.
The usual spring immigration from
Europe did not come, and 1t is feared
that if the Italians go home in large
numbers a serious shortage will be
fo1t