East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1916-01-08

Nineteen hundred and fifteen was
fitting heir to the year which saw
the outbreak Of the greatest war in
all the worlds history. War was in
deed the main compelling cause Of
the years activities, and its effects
can be traced in almost every AmeIL
lean trade financial and industrial,
happening Of the past seventeen
months. When TO this was added a
second year of bounteous crops sold
at excellent prices, there existed a
combination such as neither this nor
any other country had previously ex-
peTienced A review of the year
1916 must OF necessity therefore, re-
fer back to certain extent TO the lat
ter part Of 1914 which saw the in
lection Of the most disturbing occur
renee OF modern times but which
owing to this countrys fortunate po.
sition. likewise saw the beginnings Of
the improvement growing into the
greatest boom i ntrade ever witness
cd, Looking back now TO the open
ing Of the year 1915, one may see
clearly that the DOUBT and indecisiOn
reflected in the opening months OF
the year were not warranted; that
improvement, slow, haIting or irregu-
lar as it looked at times, was even
then clearly manifest and that this
country, then and stll spared from
participation in hostiIities, had al
ready embarked on the most marvel
GUS expansion seen In this or any
other country
The history of the business year
1915 may be said to deal with three
great movements. First OF these was
the immense demand, begun before
the year opened. for cereals, meats,
wire. automobiles, horses clothing
and variety OF other products that
practically swept the country bare Of
surplus stocks of staples of all kinds,
and especially Of any sort Of ready
made war material, whether for Of
fense or sustenance. an example of
this was the taking up Of every sur
plus bushel OF the greatest wheat
crop in the country's history at close
TO the highest prices ever known. The
second period may be said to EN-
brace the marvellous diversion which
occurred in our industrial forces,
which. lacking occupation of a peace
ful kind, turned toward the produc-
tion of war material, demonstrating
the production Of war material,
demonstrating the adaptability Of
American manufacturers, mechanics
and artisans, and giving a vast incen-
tive to the production or all kinds OF
metals, whose output alone would
place the year in a class by itself.
With the immense expansion in in
dustry shown IN the rirst half of the
year. unemployment which had de-
clned steadily from high levels at
the outset of the year, practically
ceased to exist, skilled labor became
scarce, and the commonest kind OF
labor rose in demand. The third pc
riod may be said to nave been coin
cident with the finai realization by
the business world that the immense
foreign demands could not go on
without a vast influence upon purely
domestic trade. and this latter
branch Of business. possibly repressed
early in the year by fear Of our in
Movements in hostillties, stimulated
by the large earnings and swollen pay
rolls Of Industrial centers. and buoyed
by the gathering of the greatest food
crops in history bringing unsurpass-
ed earnings to farmers, surged for
ward in the fan months in a verlt-
able ground swell OF purchasing.