New Britain herald., 1915-05-15
HI. O. F. CLOTHES $11.9s to $35. DO.

wise and safe. That policy should
 not be departed from, except for
 strenuous reasons; and whatever our
 sympathies all efforts to actively SUD-
 port one interest or the other should
 be instantly suppressed. President
 Wilson has acted in a manner that
 deserves the approval and support of
 the American people. He has upheld
 the honor, dignity and safety of
 Americans with firm hand, avoid
 ing offense and insisting upon justice.
 The country is fortunate in having at
 it's head a man of such frmness. tenn
 perateness. sound judgment and high
 purpose. This is one source for true
 self-congratulation. Another source of
 satisfaction is the self-restraint mani-
 fested by the American people. Pub
 lie self-control has been shown to a remarkable degree, and this is one of our best assurances for keeping out of the conflict.
 Conditions Nending.
 Aside from the war, conditions in the United States are slowly but sure- ly mending. We have now entered a period when agricultural conditions are vital factor. Some of our crops are likely to be late and their condi- ton is not always as high as the ex- ceptional averages of a year ago. The condition, however, is generally above the average and the acreage under cultivation is increased--the re- duction in cotton being made up in other crops-a1d there is every assur- l ance of a good export demand for all ! agricultural products at satisfactory | prices. Already the outlook is for a { record wheat crop. Our industrial | situation is slowly emerging from the extreme depression of a year ago. Bank clearfngs show no such losses as during the winter months, and in many instances satisfactory gains are | being shown compared with last year at this time.
 The first four months of the cur rent year showed g decrease in clear ings at all cities of 6.S per cent, while the total for April showed an increase of nearly 1 per cent, and the returns for May promise to give better re- suits; thus proving that business has decisively turned the corner. Further evidence of recovery is given in the monthly report of idle cars, showing a decrease of 37,000 for the month of April. Building operations at Iead- ing cities showed a decrease of about per cent. in April, compared with a I' decrease of 12 per cent. in March. The total lake tonnage for the month of April was l 100000, compared with 100000 tons year ago. The cotton industry shows improvement; New Bedford mills never being so active as now; while the April cotton receipts at New England points were nearly i, 1ouble those of April last year. The i voolen goods trade has been much stimulated by the war and we are now exporting considerable quantities n consequence instead of importing. The effect of the war is most conspic- lous in the steel industry Enormous orders have been placed in ths coun- ! ny for shrapnel showing that the AL 1 ies intend to push the contest to tie point of exhaustion. Our steel mills { Ire profiting more than any other by i. he war. The automobile trade is ,risk and many makers report larger ales than q year ago. Stock exchange lctivity has been we'll sustained and he total transactions since January * now amount to over 45,0o,ooo hares, compared with 33,00o,001 hares at the same time in 1914. The ales of bonds during the same inter- al have amounted to about $310,0o0,- 00, compared with $300, 0,00o,000 ear ago. Our exports, though slow ng down somewhat as result of the losing of the grain and cotton sea- on, still continue very heavy, and cave a favorable trade balance. As
 result of the latter s7,000, 900 of ,old were received from France this