The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1916-12-30

4
| ings. the aggregate for October being
$13l, 100000 compared with net earn
| ings of $119,000,000 in October a year
ago, an increase of 10 per cent. This
gain in net earnings, generally speak
ing, can be attributed to railroads OF
the west and south. as some of the
large eastern roads report decrease
in net earnings when compared with
| year ago. Gross earnings of 81 rail-
roads in November were $1,000, 900
compared with $77,000.000 in Novem-
ber, 1915, q gain of per cent. AS in
| October, the movement of cotton in
| the south in November was larger, and
| the western grain movement was
| smaller than in November 1915.
There were $3.50 freight cars order
ed in November compared with 21,304
| in October and 14.700 in November a
year ago. while passenger cars ordered
numbered 491 compared with 112 in
| October and 461 in November. 1915.
| November rail orders totaled $4,000
| tons compared with $4,000 tons in
October and 255.000 tons in November
last year. November locomotives
| ordered numbered 342 compared with
| 3S7 In October and 361 in November
last year.
Building operations at 152 cities In
November totaled $71.000.00O compared
with $6S,000,000 in November. 1915, an
| increase of 5 per cent. Building
costs have increased considerably over
| year ago and it Is possible that in
spite of increased expenditures, build
| ing operations in November were of
less volume than in the same month
last year.
The lumber cut during October was
again larger than lumber shipments,
totaling 1,1S6. 100000 feet compared
with 1,140, 100000 feet in October, 1915,
| while October shipments were 1857
00O, 900 feet compared with 1857, 900, 600
| feet shipped In October Of last year.
The October cut was composed of L.
104. 100000 feet Of soft woods and S2,-
100000 feet Of hard woods compared
| with 1865, 100000 feet of soft woods
and 74.000.000 feet of hard woods cut
! in October year ago. October ship
ments consisted of 974.000,000 feet Of
soft woods and $4,000, 600 feet of hard
| woods compared with 1,075,000,000 feet
of soft woods and 92,000,000 feet Of
| hard woods in October, 1915. The Oc-
tober cut was per cent larger than
a year ago, but shipments recorded a
| decrease of nearly per cent. There
would appear to be good promise of
slightly lower prices on some grades
of soft wood lumber.
Shipments of anthracite coal in
November were 5,993,000 tons COM
pared with 6,494.000 tons in November,
1915. 1t Is apparent that the
producers are shipping every ton Of
anthracite it Is possible to produce and
handle with the present serious short
age of labor and cars in the anthracite
regions. Stocks of anthracite coal at
tidewater shipping ports on Nov. 80.
were $4,000 tons compared with 103.-
| 600 tons on Oct. 81.
The production of coke in the Con-
nellsville district in the four weeks
ending Nov. 25, totaled 1886, 900 tons
compared with 1,S63,000 tons in the
entire month Of November. 1915, and
IA, AIS care compared with 81 ,244 cars
of coke shipped in November last
year.
Production Of pig iron in November
totaled $4,000 tons compared with
| 3,509,000 tons in October and 3,037, 900
tons in November of last year. The
average daily production in November
was 10000 tons compared with 49,
| 900 tons in October. Indicating the
| usual year-end easing UP in opera
| tions.
The untitled tonnage of the steel
corporation mounted during November
| to new high mark on Nov. 80, of H.
| O59,000 tons compared with 10,015, 900
| tons on Oct. 81, and 7,1S9.000 tons on
Nov. 80. 1915.
Shipments of Iron ore from Lake
Superior points during November
| totaled 5,715, 900 tons compared with
4,445,0eo tons shipped in November of
| last year. These shipments are re-
| ported at nearly 100000 tons for the
season to Dec. Of last year compared
with $4,000, 900 tons for the same period
last year. 1t Is reported that move
ment for the entire season Of 1915, will
be found to have been $4,000 900 tons
compared with 100000 tons for the
season Of 1915; shipments during
| December will reach nearly 1000, 900
tons and the movement by rail for the
year is estimated at the same amount.
Receipts Of zinc and spelter at the
principal market during November
were $4,000 slabs compared with 432,-
| 600 slabs in November 1915, and ship
ments from that point totaled AL, 900
slabs compared with 415,000 slabs ship
ped in November of last year. These
figures are indicative of noteworthy
increase in zinc and spelter supplies at
this point.
Transvaal gold production in
November amounted to $4,000 fine
ounces compared with $4,000 ounces
| in October and $4,000 ounces in
November a year ago.
| AS indicated in our last report, the
trend of commodity prices has con-
tinued upward, Bradstreet's index
| standing at $13.6S on Dec. /. a new
high record, and compared with $12.O4
on Oct. I. and $10.65 on Dec /, last
year. The increase in the general
average during November was nearly
8 per cent while for the year it was
% per cent. During November 64 of
the commodities included in this index
Increased in price, 15 decreased, and 27
| remained stationary. The long expect
ed easing in food prices is now in evil
| dence
According to present estimates, the
| 1916 cotton crop has been 11,511, 900
bales which compares with IL 1872, 900
bales last year 14,259,0 900 bales, the five
year average. Cotton ginned from the
| 1916 crop to Dec. /, amounted to TO-
$4,000 bales compared with 9,704, 900
| bales for the same period two years
| ago. Domestic consumption of cotton
| in November totaled 584, 900 bales COM
pared with $4,000 bales a year ago.
Stocks of cotton in consuming estab-
lishhents on Nov. 80, amounted to o.
| $4,000 bales compared with 1,614,000
bales on Nov. 80, 1915, and stocks in
I public storage and at congresses were
4.099.000 bales compared with 4,9S2,000
bales year ago. There was 32,754, 900
cotton spindles active during Novem-
Der compared with 31,4S9.000 active in
November of last year. The price Of
cotton to the producers is 1876 cents
compares with 11.2 cents year ago
and o five year average of 1912 cents.
The Dec. l, selling value to the