Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1915-05-07
MAY BUSINESS DIGEST AND FORECAST

were, DIT Luo D0SllHIIIS vi Inc noHtli,
191 furnaces in blast with a daily
capacity of nearly II thousand tons
compared with 176 active furnaces a
month before with a daily output Of
63 thousand tons. An increase III
output of nearly As per cent has been
made since the beginning of the
year and the actual rate OF output
has been increased from Is million
tons when the year opened to 20
million tons at the present time.
The great bulk of this iron is going
into steel
The Untitled Tonnage of the Steel
Corporation on April first was 4,236
thousand tons compared with 4,654
thousand tons year ago.
Although Copper reduction is con-
stantly increasing, the heavy foreign
demand has caused a continued price
advance since last October Present
production is not setting a new rec
ord but for the past four months
the output has increased by more
than five million pounds each month
SO that the monthly output at pres
9nt is perhaps % per cent over that
of November or December. March
exports of Copper We're 70 million
pounds and mines were operating at
so per cent of capacity. Reffneries
will soon be operating at fully 70
per cent of capacity.
Activity in the Zinc industry is
greater, and at least as long as the
War continues all branches of the
Zinc industry will be very active.
The shipments of Anthracite Coal
for March were 1885 thousand tons
compared with 5,165 year ago. The
lower prices in effect on April first
have started even more than the
usual activity in Anthracite, the in
crease having been somewhat in eX-
cess of expectations. The opening
Of lake navigation in a few days will
start heavy shipments
The Bituminous Coal trade remains
quiet with production averaging about
40 per cent for the entire Country.
The supply is still in excess Of the
demand
Gold Production at the Rand Mines
in March was 754 thousand fine
ounces compared with 676 thousand
a month ago and 687 thousand a year
J ago. The production Of Gold in the
| Transvaal is being increased as rap
idly as possible in accordance with
the expressed desire of the Govern
ment.
The average of Commodity Prices
has steadily advanced since Novem-
| Der until it is now nearly at the
point reached on August 18th, last.
With the exception of that day Com
modify Prices stand at the highest
| point since the Civil War
The condition of Winter Wheat
and Rye is reported by the Govern
ment as somewhat below the condi-
ton year ago but as acreage was
greatly increased the indications are
still for practically a record crop of
both these grains. The planting sea-
son is under way throughout the
country and broadly speaking soil
and planting conditions are good, al
though perhaps 20 per cent of the
q OrJrin1 nf nj hoe
had too much moisture recently and
another area of equal size needs con-
siderable precipitation. About the on
ly Spring soWn crop which is far
enough along to be judged is Oats,
and the crop so far as inspected and
reported looks good.
Sales of Stock on the New York
Exchange in March totaled 7,841
thousand shares compared with 1882
thousand the previous month and
$3.50 thousand a year ago. Even in
March, 1913, total sales were only
7,143 thousand shares If the activ-
ity of the stock market were any
be satisfied but peace rumors and
the results of individual battles have
! their immediate effect on the stock
market while these things should
not affect business. Business will
be about the same for few months
after the close of the War as it
would be were the War to continue
If Europe were at peace the period
required for her even temporary re-
Mobilization would be period af-
fecting us about the same as though
the War were continuing.
We have money enough in the
Country, the present circulation be-
ing 3,484 million dollars compared
with $3.50 million dollars a year ago.
The present need is for the things
which will make this money move
faster and turn itself oftener Less
than four billions of money must