Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-04-05
Wednesday, April 5, 1916.
War "Prospsrity."

From almost every section OF the
country come frequent evidences OF
continued prosperity based chiefly up
on continued demand for American
goods from the countries at war IN
Europe. Some industries are producing
commodities in unusual quantities.
though not for warning purposes, put
In almost every such instance the ac-
tivitv of the mills is due to the fact
that tho war cut off importations, or
that the activity Of war order concerns
has caused a demand for articles not
directly connected with the war itself.
From Peoria, Illinois, comes the in
formation that immense fortunes are
being made because Of the demand for
alcohol used in the manufacture or
sunpowder. In fact, the demand for
alcohol is so great that trouble has
been had in getting freight cars to car
nv the alcohol out Of Peoria and Pc
kin. Illinois. This market for alcohol
has been a great relief to the corn
growers of that section of the country.
Because of an early frost, the corn TINS
wear was soft and not in demand by
rnillers but it makes just as good alco-
hol as first class corn. For that rea-
son. the farmers are able to get first
class price.
From Seattle, Washington comes the
information that shipments of COM
modities bound for Russia are going
overland to the Pacific coast because
Of lack of ocean ships to carry the
goods around Cape Horn. Five thou
sand loaded cars are standing idle in
railroad yards in and near Seattle
awaiting an opportunity to transfer
Siberia. The congestion at Vancouver,
British Columbia, is greater than at
Seattle. One railway company at Sc
attic is building immense temporary
sheds in which to store the freight
bound for Russia in order to unload
and release the cars and get them back
to the Atlantic coast for use in ship
ping other commodities bound for the
warning nations.
So great is the difficulty in procur-
ing cars to transport foreign-bound
commodities that the Interstate Com
merce Commission has taken up, of its
own volition, a review Of the rules Of
the railroads concerning distribution of
the unloading of the cars so that they
shall be carrying freight to market in
stead Of serving as idle storage cars.
The report was received here this
week Of the placing Of an order by the
Russian government for the construc-
ton of $50 submarines costing approx
imately $7o,oOo,Ooo
Tho only incident which is discour-
aging to those who are profiting by the
large orders from abroad is the recent
action Of Great Britain in forbidding
the importation of large list of COM
modities produced by this country and
sold exclusively in Great Britain, al
though not urgently needed by that
country for carrying on war. These are
articles that might be classed as lux
uries. Great Britain desires to contin-
ue to purchase our wheat, cotton, meat,
horses, leather munitions and other
war materials, but desires to exclude
other articles. the sale of which adds
to our wealth, but drains the wealth
of Great Britain. Even should this or
der be made effective, it is practically
certain that the enormous export trade
Of the United States will continue as
long as the war shall last, for the list
Of articles necessary for the prosecu-
ton Of the war is an extremely long
one.