New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-21
u. S. Chamber of Com
MERGE Report Strikes
Note of Optimism
GENERAL PROSPERITY
THROUGHOUT NATION
Exceptions Noted Only in
Regions Where Crops
Are Poor

Washington, Dec. 2O.-The general
feeling concerning business conditions
IS that OF optimism for the future,
though there are sharp exceptions to
this in those sections where crops were
poor. Such is the report of the commit
tee on statistics and standards of the
Chamber OF Commerce of the United
States, based upon a survey Of crop and
general conditions, completed the sec
ond day Of this month.
There is concern in some sections as
TO the probable effect upon demand of
the present high prices, according to
the National Chamber committee, Of
which Archer Wall Douglas, OF ST.
Louis. is chairman, and especially
should they go higher. Buying OF
futures. especially spring and summer
goods is heavy for fear goods may not be
had when wanted. Stocks OF merchsn-
disc in the hands of dealers are said to
be generally normal. Meanwhile there
does not appear TO be any diminution IN
tho volume Of business and the pur-
chasing power OF the consumer seems
greater than for many years.
Farmer Gets High Prices
The exceedingly high prices OF all ag-
ricultural products in great measure
recompense the farmer for reduced
Yields. according 10 the committee
Largely because of all these things, the
General tenor Of nationwide reports ~
of great prosperity in all agricultural
districts.
A generally dry fall in the winter
wheat belt prevented an anticipated
large acreage The acreage now grow
INC varies greatly in different sections
Nevertbeless, on the whole, IT Is said 10
be somewhat larger than At TINS ume
last wear. The conditions OF the grow
ing crop are generally good, though
rain is needed IN some states.
The spring wheat sections OF tne
Northwest suffered much from olgh.
and rust. Because Of much WeV
weather early in the season IN the
cotton belt the rayages OF the Dol,
weevil were unusually severe. In an
sections extremes of weather succeed
ing each other; too wet and cold carr!
IN the season, followed by too great
heat and drouth later, blighted the
early promises Of the spring.
Factories Running Full Time
The report Of manufacturing IS
everywhere monotone Of an album
dance Of orders, the national chamber
report goes on, with great delay IN de-
/ liveries and serious difficulty IN secur-
ing the necessary materials, whetner
raw or finished There do not seem TO
be any exceptions to the universal re-
port OF factories running TO their
utmost capacity.
Railroads have more business than
| they can handle, with consequent en-
/ bargoes and car shortages that handl-
| can heavily many industries, especially
! coal mining and lumber. Railroad
shops are everywhere fully employed
/ A sidelight on the prosperity OF the
railroads is shown in the hourlshlng
I industry Of getting out railroad cross
| ties in Tennessee, Kentucky. Arkensas
and Missouri. Mining of all kinds IS
unusually good, with here and there a
/ stray local exception in the shape oil a
coal mine.
Lumber Business Flourishing
The lumber business, the committee
reports. especially yellow pine, IS more
/ fully employed than for many years
/ There is, however, the serious handl,,
can Of car shortage in the interior ana
! of lack of sea bottoms on the Paclhc
Coast. with consequent local dulness IN
such sections. Meanwhile, the demand
continues greater than the facilities
for supplying it. Shipbuilding on the
Pacific Coast and in New Jersey is IN
good shape.
Fisheries on the Atlantic and PacI-
fc coasts, the Gulf and Great Lakes
are generally good.
Dry farming methods last summer
added to the production per acre not
only in the semi-arid lands Of the
great plains states, but likewise III
those states further east, where mois-
ture is usually abundant. Silos are on
the increase. There is more cultiva-
ton of imported drought resisting
plants. Irrigation is steadily enlarg-
ing it's bounds in many sections west
of the Mississippi River.
Catch" crops and emergency crops