French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1916-1919, 1916-12-28
RUSINEss GOOD IN ALMOST ,uDv
ALL SECTIONS OF COUNTR1'
Optimistic Report Issued Oy uhe
lifted States Chamber
Of~COmmerce.

Of~COmM0AG0"
(By H. E. C. Bryant In Ralelgn news
and Observer
Washington. Dec. 2O.-The Chamber
NJ Commerce of the United States ID
sued the following optimistic state
ment today:
"The general feeling concerning bus
mess conditions is that OF optlslsm as
to the future. though there are sharp
executions to this in those sections
where crops were poor.
'There is concern in some sections
as to the probable effect upon demand
of the present high prices and espe-
] cially should they go higher. Buying
of futures, especially spring and sum
mer goods, is heavy for fear goods may
| not be had when wanted. Stocks or
merchandise in the hands OF dealers
are said to be generally normal. Mean
while there does not appear to be any
elimination in the volume OF business
and the purchasing power OF the con-
sumner seems greater than for many
| years.
''The exceedingly high prices OF all
agricultural products in great measure
recompense the farmer for reduced
yields. Largely because Of all these
things, the general tenor of nation
wide reports is of widespread prosper
| ity in all agricultural districts.
"a general dry fall in the winter
wheat belt prevented an anticipated
large acreage. The acreage now grow
ing varies greatly in different sections,
nevertheless on the whole it is said to
be somewhat larger than at this time
last year. The conditions Of the grow
! ing crop are generally good, though
needing rain in some States.
'The spring wheat sections of the
Northwest suffered much from blight
and rust. Because of much wet
weather early in the season in the
cotton belt the ravages of the boil
weevil were unusually severe. In all
sections, extremes Of weather sue
ceeding each other, too wet and cold
early in the season. followed by too
great heat and drought later, blighted
the early promises of the spring.
The report of manufacturing is
, everywhere a monotone Of an abund-
ance of orders, great delay in deliver
les and serious difficulty in securing
the necessary materials whether raw
or finished. There do not seem to be
any exceptions to the universal report
of factories running to their utmost
capacity.
Railroads have more business than
they can handle, with consequent en-
bargoes and ear shortages that handi-
cap heavily many industries, especially
coal mining and lumber Railroad
shops are everv~Eer1 fully employed.
A side light on the prosperity of the
railroads is chown il the f1ourishing
industry Of getting out railroad cross
ties in Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas
and Missouri. Mining of all kinds is
unusually good, with here and there a
stray local exception in the shape of
coal mine.
Lumber business, the committee re-
ports, especially yellow pine, is more
fully employed than for many years.
There is. however, the serious handi-
cap of car shortage in the interior, and
Of lack of sea bottoms on the Pacific
coast with consequent local dullness
in such sections. Meanwhile the de-
mand continues greater than the ia
ciltties for supplying it. Shipbuildfng
On the Pacific coast and in New Jer-
sey is in good shape"