Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-03
ALL LINES OF TRADE
REPORTED AS BOOMING
Reserve Bank Issues Statement OH
Conditions in Fifth
District.
HIGH TIDE OF PROSPERITY
Review Of Various Trades and Activ-
tiles OF Virginia and tho Carolinas
Forwarded TO tho Federal Reserve
Board In Washington.

All Rneb OIL tTdOc are booming ana
business men are optimistic In tho
States Of Virginia. Maryland. West vir-
ginia and North and South Carolina,
according to tho survey of commercial
conditions in tho Fifth Rescrve Dis
trict. made by officials of the Federal
Reserve Bank at Richmond. TO tho
Federal Reserve Board. The reports
from other reserve bank officials are
similar. all showing that American
business now enjoys high tide Of
prosperity.
The report on conditions in the Fifth
Reserve District is as follows:
General business in this district is
active. There has been Il steady :,n-
prorcmcnt and conditions as "a rule are
up TO or above normal. with prospects
good. There seems to be Il general
feeling Of conservative optimism, and
a reasonable expectation OF continued
good business and prosperous condi-
tionS.
Market gardening along tho sea-
board in this district is more SUCCESS
full than for several years past. The
yield of potatoes is estimated at about
60 per cent, but they are selling for
- to So barrel The prices of ber-
ries. melons, peaches. beans and cab
baEe have been satisfactory. Ship
ments OF cabbage arc reported heavy
REPORTED SATISFACTORY
I'm the Valley of Virginia general
crop conditions arc reported very sut-
isfactory and an abundant harvest Ia
predicted. Gamers arc making ample
preparation for the present season
with view to securing as full an out
put as possible. but crop supplies are
rather below than above normal. Nine
teen-hfteen stock Is all disposed Of
and orders for new goods are being
booked at 10 TO 26 por cent above last
year, with a tendency toward advanc-
ms prices
Prices Of agricultural implements
and seeds arc higher than usual, but
mis- docs not seem to affect tho de-
nand, which is good. Good farm lands
IN the Carolinas still stelling at
s25 10 $50 an acre, but there seems to
be q gradual upward tendency and the
demand is increasing.
Trade in automobiles is making n
record. Deliveries are reported slow
owing to the large demand. and there
ls some criticisms of too large a volume
of credit sales.
buiiding rs rule is reported about
normal. with an Improvement TEN
dency. In the Carolinas there is con.
siderable activity.
Coat movements by the railroads
haTe been record breaking. and tho
dry May prevented good stands
or cotton and ncccssitated some re-
planting, and heavy rains In June have
handicapped farmers, in the cuItiva-
ton OF the crop and controlling tho
weeds. There has been an increased
late demand for fertilizers
COTTON MILLS BOOKED
FOR MONTHS AHEAD
cotton mills arc running on full
time, and many Of them running al
night They arc we'll supplied with
orders, some booked three or four
months ahead. while others are sold
up 10 the end OF the year. This is
about as far ahead as they care To go.
owing to the difficulty of securing dive
stuffs. y leading selling agency which
distributes goods throughout the Unit
ed States as well as foreign countries
reports that the export demand IS more
active than the first OF the wear
Collections are very satisfactory
alike from agricultural. mining end
manufacturing districts.
very rev farmers who prepared &
deep-seed bed for their corn have SUI
Tered during the variable and unfav-
orable season. Their fields are clean
ana the crops show vigorous growth
a's are reported poor, particularly
early paintings. Conditions as to the
hay and alfalfa are very unever. and.
on the whole, do not promise we'll
The furniture trade is active at adj
Hancing prices, but large dealers have
pretty well supplied needs, and are in
dicating caution as to further pur-
chases at present high prices.
The Carolinas report considerable
activity in industrial improvements.
the construction of electric light and
water improvements. drainage, paving
In number OF towns zone town re-
porting the contemplated expenditure
or Sooo'O0O). cold-storage and gas
plants and several fertilizer and ice
plants One new small roller mill is
reported to use home grown and West
ern wheat. One point reports CO.
lonication land scheme for the purpose
or locating families from out OF the
district, and another point reports the
incorporation of a seed farm.
INTEREST TAKEN IN
CREAMERY PRODUCTS
There is considerable interest be-
ing taken in creamery products. one
plant started with supply of milk
from about zoo cows. and is said now
10 be taking the supply Of about 1000
cows. They contemplate adding AN
Ice plant this summer and also the
handling of poultry and eggs.
Business in hardware and machin-
cry is reported so per cent better than
last year. but the high cost Of ma
terials has interfered with deliveries.
Labor is fully employed at good
wages and the demand Is in excess OF
the supply. No labor troubles are re-
ported in the district.
Tanneries and extract plants arc op-
Grating at full capacity. more peeled
bark being handled at this time than
ever before in the history of the in
dustry. The shoe trade is active, hut
prices are high and buying is rcport-
ed as cautious.
Natural and seeded pastures
throughout the States are in excellent
condition. Live stock, cattle, hogs,
sheep and colts are growing and de-
velopinG in proportion to the grass
afforded them. Prices arc high, and
an increase in hogs is particularly re-
ported from almost every section.
Dealers In horses and mules report
good business. money more plentiful
than last year, and prospects good.
Money is reported in better supply
throughout tho district than usual. nut
with some Indications Of an Improved
demand. Bank deposits are above nor
NAL