The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-08-20

making bricks and tile report only a
fair business. There is very little de-
mand for railroad ties.
Commercial Conditions as Viewed in
New York.
! Current commercial conditions do
not justify either exaggerated fore
casts of prosperity or pessimistic
gloom over either the present or the
future. While the opening of August
| the trade situation is quite satisfac-
tory both in itself and with respect to
indications for the autumn and winter
course of events. Wholesale trade in
the City of New York could easily be
far worse and might be better. Dur
ing June the number of merchants and
buyers in the city as recorded by the
Daily Hotel Reporter was about rs
vious June.
For July, however, the improve
ment over last year is less than six
per cent, so that there is no occasion
for indulgence in rosy views. The
difference, however, between the two
years is more than apparent. In July
1914, merchants and buyers came to
the city only to look around, and
when they had satisfied their curiosity
they went home again without making
many purchases. Everybody was in
blue funk and as no one knew what
to do, the great body of the retail
trade of the country did nothing.
1T is needless to state that this con-
dition Of waiting for something to
turn up, when nothing turned up. con
tinued until the end Of the year. With
the opening of 1915, however, there
was decided change for the better.
Great Britain began flooding this
country with huge orders for war sup
Plies which at once put the manufac-
turing plants into a state OF general
activity. This condition reacted on
other branches of business and so it
was invitable that within few months
general business in this country
should be good.
That is what has come now and in
consequence the conditions can be
described as good with a drift always
in the right direction. Last wear if
the number of merchants and BUYERS
IN the city had been doubled or trebl-
ed, this fact would have brought no
advantage to the wholesale trade, be-
cause it simply would have increased
the number of merchants and their re-
representatives. who bought nothing
such visitors may be a benefit to the
hotels, but their presence in town is
OF no consequence to the wholesale
trade. This year while very few more
merchants and buyers are coming than
were here last year, all who come buy
goods and are banking on a brisk
autumn trade.
Increase in Steel Tonnage.
The monthly report of the untitled
tonnage on the books of the Steel
corporation, which was promulgated
Tuesday, was, if anything above ex-
pectations, showing an increase OF
ZoO,344 tons as the net gain in new
orders over deliveries for the month
OF July. The real situation is more
favorable than is suggested by these
figures as the Steel Corporation has
tor several weeks been working at
virtually full capacity Hence orders
have not been allowed to accumulate.
The amount of business now on the
books of the company is in round
numbers 100000 tons. Meanwhile, |
with. the improved home demand and
the important special demand result
ing from the requirements for semi
finished material by manufacturers of
war material, there does not appear to
be any probability of general shrink |
age IN the Corporations business.
W. S. COUSINS.