The Washington times., 1915-07-31
WAR AND BRITISH PRICES

Inc TcpoTCS Oh consular Officers on
economic effects Of the war consti-
tute in many cases absorbing read
ing; but as a whole it is only fair
to say that the consular corps has
failed to produce as much interest
ing exposition of wars effects as
might have been expected; at least,
Commerce Reports, the daily news
paper of the Government on these
and related subjects, has failed to
reflect as much of interest and il
Elimination as might have been ex-
pected. 1t would seem that at the
end of year of the war something
like a roundup Of the most inter-
esting and significant facts about
financial conditions, general busi-
ness, the government loans of the
different countries, methods of
financing the war and also of hand
ling general business, the course of
prices, effects, present and prospec-
tive, on domestic trade, and many
other subjects Of the largest inter-
est and concern ought to be possible.
Perhaps the consuls are too busy to
undertake such volume of work;
but some of them have dealt with
phases of these questions so inter-
estingly that their work suggests
the possibility that others could do
as we'll.
Some recent contributions Of con-
suls in England tell US that at Leeds,
an inland manufacturing city, the
cost of living has increased about
30 per cent in the war period, and
the municipal employees have asked
and received increased wages to
meet it. From Southampton, a great
port, comes the estimate that to
December Is last, the average cost
Of forty articles Of family supplies
had increased 81 per cent. One of
the curious phases Is that coal, which
England doesn't have to import at
all, had increased from $3.50 to S7.25
per ton; while bacon, extensively
used and largely imported. had prac-
tically not advanced at all.
The Leeds wooden industry was in
the midst Of depression owing to
the worldwide advance in the price
of wool, when the war broke out.
Many manufacturers turned atten-
ton at once to khaki manufacture
for the army, and the rest found
plenty of business supplying the
general demands Of the country.
In the boot and shoe business very
similar conditions were experienced.
The price Of leather has advanced
steadily since the war began, until
it is stated that retail prices have
very commonly advanced as much as
81 per pair. Government contracts
have absorbed the capacity of fully
200 firms in this district, making
footwear for the armies; and it Is
actually predicted that before the
end of the current year American
manufacturers will have opportunity
to sell footgear in Leeds district for
the civilian population. Carrying
Goals to Newcastle may we'll become
a remunerative business when Leeds
finds itself buying footwear from
America; but there is no end to the
anomalies that this war causes.
Leeds iron and steel industry
started booming soon after war be.
gan. Like other metal-industrS
regions of Britain, Leeds received
great amounts Of orders which hac
previously been placed in Belgium
Germany, and France, but which
could not be filled after war opened
These were transferred to British
firms. Pig iron rose a shilling, ant
manufactured iron and steel as muci
as ten shillings per ton. Steel plate!
rose from $29.20 to $36.50 per ton
and sections from $28.6O to $35.28.
A most interesting bit of infor
nation from the pottery industry O.
Britain is that imports of thes'
wares have been so greatly reduced
that the industry manages to b.
very prosperous despite greatly re
duced exports: British concerns ar
getting back the great home marke
that the Germans had wrested from
them. In pottery and many othe
lines, it is shown that the recover.
of the German, Belgian, French, ant
other sections of the home marke
handsomely make up for the loss o
foreign trade. The war may be sai'
to have imposed an exclusive tarif
on many articles in which formerl
the British makers had to meet
bitter competition from abroad. A
the close of 1914 the employees il
this industry had decreased only 10.
per cent, despite the great number
that had enlisted in the army.
Such reports as these suggest yer
forcibly how much better able j
Britain than Germany to sustain tn