The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-02
BOOM IN TRADE, SAYS
u. s. RESERVE BOARD
New York Auto, Tool and
Eirearm Makers Are Pushed
! to Capacity.

= 10 C9pecatys
WAGES TOP ALL RECORDS
wAsHnsoToN. March 1.-Business
prospects are excellent in each Of the
twelve Federal RESERVE districts, accord.
Ing to tho monthly report Of Federal ~
serve agents made public to-day. Prac-
ideally every one Of the reservy districts
has some measure Of optimism to re-
port and talk Of the uncertain character
Of thu present Industrial activity 10 said
10 be steadily decreasing.
The Boston district reports Exception
ely good business in practically every
line Tho cotton and worsted mills are
aid TO be we'll sold up. with many mills
running overtime. Disturbing factors in
some lines art discerned In the increas-
sne cost Of raw material and h unrest
Of labor.
Tho reserve agent At New York says
that ''there ara moro products n work.
ers and waSes paid than ever before"
The greatest increases IN production
were shown by concerns manufacturing
AUTOMOBILES. took, firearms N by roll
sne miiiA Buyers Of general merchan-
disc are visiting the Nov York market
earlier In the season and in greater num-
bers than usual.
New Quaker City Plants.
In the r~taiadelphia district many new
plants arc being erected n others are
sold ahead for months to come. Labor
81 hard 20 obtain. wages are high and
there seems to be . general shortage OF
merchandise in all parts OF the district,
according to che report
The Cleveland reserve agent comments
on q general advance In waSe and a
shortage OF common labor rs being note
worthy features. Extensive additions to
manufacturing plants are being made or
arranged. no says
TRANSPORTATION .~dinicuities and lack
OF raw materials are the only unfavor-
able features noted by tho Chicago re-
serve agent
The ST. Louis agent says IN "re-
ports from various business interests
in this district indicate q degree OF
prosperity which has been unknown for
several years"
Transportation difficulties rave arisen
in tho Minneapolis district because Of
car shortage, but the situation gener-
ally 10 satisfactory.
The same difficulty has arisen in the
Kansas City district. and there has been
in the wheat market BE-
cauee Of uncertainty a 70 The action
OF foreign Governments. The opinion
among lumbermen in that district II
that the lumber industry is on the verge
Of great activity in all of It's branches.
Tho Dallas n a Francisco dis
e~lcHs Sonnr% similar VpOonnSfa In TIA
lumber market.
Here il the New York agents report
in part:
raw materials and the heavy volume
OF orders sone houses anticipate a
shortage in merchandise stocks. Retail
trade continued good In January despite
some unreasonable weather. Collections
are generally satisfactory.
y. r. steel Trade Dusy.
'steei and metal industries are oper-
atinG at capacity with heavy demands
continuing. Activity IN hoe factories
Ia ~necees.tating steady production AZ
the tanneries M leather prices are
firm.
The real estate situation IN New
York city is improving. more confidence
being displayed in mortgages. buying
III CItibtS. az = AVN
House banks on February II. 1916. re-
ported aggregate loans, &c. s3.327.547.-
600; deposits. S~3.57O.o41. 900. and ex-
cess reserves. s16S,S22.950. These fig
pres show increases since January I
~ follows: Loans. &c. $s9.94l 900
deposits. sl03. 1921 900: excess reserves,
32?.S71.s2o.
"other statistics for January. 1916.
compared with January. 1915. are the
following: Exchanges through the
New York Clearing House, sl:.326.-
S0?, 227. an increase Of s5.03s. 10? .SsI.
Transactions on the New York stock
Exch2nge, par value OF bonds sold.
$1l3.129.000, an increase OF s5S.e7l.5oo.
New interpretations in the Eastern
States Of companies capitalized at ST.
900, 900 or over. s270, 995 900. an in
crease OF se19.S45.O0 New York
State failures. 800. with liabilities ST.
go. 100. a decrease OF lo3 In number.
but an Increase OF $6lo.l03 IN l!abili-
tiles. New York city building permits.
al0.s7c.S+5. a decrease OF sl,l16.s"o.