The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1916-03-17
Business and Finances
By W. s. Couins EdE,o, The American B..L.,

February being the heaviest in years.
American railroad and industrial cor
porations are now making heavy de-
mands upon investors, the total actual
issues of bonds, stocks and notes for
February being $3O3,554, 800, an in
crease of $3o, sos, 200 Deer the same
month last year.
The financial necessities of the in
dustriai corporations have been almost
three times as heavy as the railroads,
pared with $83, $4,000 for the rail-
roads. Industrial companies have is
sued $83,375.OO0 in new bonds. $l01,-
$4,000 in new stocks and $34,750,0OO
in short-term obligations. The total
amount of railroad bonds has been
$4o, 767, 900, railroad stocks $l6,OOO,O 900
and short-term obligations $l7 ,785, 900.
A still greater divergence will be seen
in the comparison between industrial
and railroad financing when we con-
slider the records for the same period
last year. In that month the new
financing of the railroads amounted to
$l75, 100000. while the industrial in
corporations called for but $o0,00O.0OO.
This will illustrate the tremendous ex-
pansion of our LANCER industrial or
carnations during the past year, due
to the necessity of increasing their
production in order to keep pace with
the growing demands of domestic and
foreign commerce.
For the two months of the current
year the aggregate of new financing
for the railroad and industrial cor
porations has been half a billion dol
lars, divided in the proportion of three
to seven, respectively. The largest
single item was the issuance of new
industrial stock in the amount OF
$l47,8l7, 900.
Present indications are that some
extensive corporate financing will be
consummated in the spring months
Officials of number of corporations
are holding daily conferences with
heads of large financial institutions in
order to arrange for new capital issues
necessary for the carrying out Of pres
ent plans for enlargement and expan-
sion.
Freight Congestion.
One of the greatest handicaps to
domestic business at the present time
is the congestion on the Eastern rail
road lines and terminals. This con.
gestion has been such that many lines
coming into New York have beer
compelled to sidetrack everything but
foodstuffs and perishable goods. The
result is not only great inconven-
fence for local wholesale dealers. but
in many instances an actual monetary
loss, due to inability to deliver goods
on contract time.
No doubt the increasing demand
| for American goods by the European
nations, and the shortage in ocean ton
mage. are chiefly responsible for thi.
condition; but on the other hand. i
is the belief of many business mer
at this point that many remedies arr
at the disposal of the carriers and thu
shippers, if they are inclined to maxi
use of them The present problem,
are not. concerned only with the move
ment of freight, but with the expedi
tious handling of freight at the ter
minals, so that tracks may be KEEP
clear and cars unloaded and agail
made available for usage at the earli
est possible moment. In this process
shippers can facilitate matters almos
to as great an extent as the railroads
The latter are striving earnestly t
bring their facilities and equipment
up to the requirem ents, but inasmucl
as the present congestion is but tenn
porary, extensive outlay for ney
equipment would be inexpedient.
Another evidence OF increasing do
nestle business expansion is presente
in the annual report Of the America
Wooden Company. made public thi
week. Net profits for the year endin
December 81. 1915. will almost doubl
those of the preceding year. bein
SIS, 100, 2o+, almost 10 per cent on
total capitalization of 10000, 900. Al
ter the payment of dividends of 81
10000 on the preferred stock an
allowing $l.07o.o0o for depreciation