Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-02
PROSPERITY OF
The COUNTRY IS
TOLD IN RESERVE
Reports of Agents From All
Over Nation Summed Up
in Announcement.


improvement for November, according
to information from these sources pub
lished today by the reserve board.
Boston. one Of the least optimistic
of the II reserve district cities, says
that there business has improved but
slightly, if at ALL" but that the econ
omies of the past months are not now
being so rigidly observed and that the
public generally is spending money
more freely than in the past, due, pre-
sumably, among other things, to the
fact that labor Is more generally en-
ployed.
Demand Increases.
Activity and improvement in trade
and industry continued during the
month, New York reports. Retail and
department stores have found business
very much better with an increasing
demand for higher grade goods. Steel
orders are reported as very heavy not
withstanding steadily advancing prices.
+! Philadelphia says that conditions
throughout that district are gradually
! becoming better and substantial I'M
/ provement is being reported in nearly
all lines with mills and factories OF
all kinds working at nearer capacity
/ for some time, with voluntary wage
increases by some concerns and re-
duced working hours and larger pay
rolls than ever before.
| Steel Shows Activity.
The demand for steel products and
unprecedented activity in the steel and
allied businesses continue through the
Cleveland district, with prices the high
est since 1908. Output from automo-
bile and rubber manufacturers is at
capacity and there is a scarcity OF Ia
Dor.
! Further development Of the very sat
isfactory general conditions heretofore
reported features the Richmond dis
trict. This is said to be strongly in
| evidence, and general business Is de-
gcribed as in excellent position both
Immediately and prospectively.
| Atlanta reports conditions generally
there as representing more Of a con
tinnation of the favorable situation and
| outlook for the previous month as
than a possessing Of new features.
| Business development In the Chicago
district is reported as favorable and
confirms general increasing accumula-
ton of orders of implements, cars and
heavy structural forms exceeding all
I previous experience.
| Confidence in the future Is held 10
be indicated by the large expectations
being undertaken to enlarge output
Are All Optimistic.
| St. Louis says there is indication OF
considerable increase in business ac-
tivity in all parts of that district, with
business men optimistic as to the fu-
ture and generally confident. The inn
provement is noted in almost all lines
and the manifest improvement in the
/ last two months is said TO have gone
/ far toward wiping out the losses OF
the early months of the year.
Industrial conditions are reported
good in the Minneapolis district with
labor fully employed. Bank deposits
have increased, with increases in loans
and deposits over September.
Wheat Is Moving.
/ Although farmers in the Kansas City
district are reported as showing de-
cided inclination to hold wheat for
higher prices. considerable amount
| is now moving to the markets. With
cold weather approaching improve
ment is looked for in commercial, in
dustrial and business conditions and
the district is said TO be facing the
next few months with optimistic com
placency.
/ Reports from Texas, Southern Okla
homa. northern Louisiana, southern
New Mexico and southeastern Arizona
are said to show q gratifying recovery
from conditions existing at this pc
riod year ago.
San Francisco is hoping for reason
/ able stability in its commerce, its re-
port declares, with pereeptible bet
terment in numbering, with important
! inquiries and considerable buying
which have somewhat strengthened
the demoralized prices