The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-08-17

quarter of this year, showing net earn
ings of SS1, 126, 04S-far IN excess of any
previous quarter In the corporations his
tory. Other metals show the same ex-
pansive tendencies as iron and steel. Fol
lowing a shrinkage at the beginning Of
the war, the textile industries have ex-
perienced n great expansion. One Of the
changes in the dry goods situation has
been the changing of a trade balance OF
$3.50, 600, 900 annually against this country
to one of Sic, 000, 900 in our favor. Cotton
goods export rad has doubled; our knit
goods trade abroad has increased at least
eightfold: the wool goods trade has in
creased fully tenfold. While raw cotton
sold as low as 6 to 6 cents a pound in
the fall of 1914 and the south had to limit
the crop of 1915, the American consump-
ton has jumped to $500, 900 bales and the
price of cotton Is now back where 1t was
before the war began, although not a bale
is sold to the central powers. Prices OF
commodities have increased tremendously
during the two-year period, but profits
and wages AVE increased and the price
lifting has not been due to money initiation
so much as to unprecedented foreign de-
mandf for American goods.
Ocean shipping has been scarce since
the war began and rates very high, but
at the end Of two years there is a very
large Increase in the onnage OF American
ships engaged in the foreign trade. Fig
ures for the fiscal year ended June 80,
1916, AVE not been published, but the
federal commissioner Of navigation, in his
last report, showed that in the fiscal year
ended June 80, 1915, or the first year of
the war, American shipping in the foreign
trade increased by 3S9 vessels and 1876, 391
gross tons. Lloyds Register shows that,
i'm the calendar year ended December 81
last, the United states took over by pur-
chase British shipping to the amount Of
SS,34S tons
Discussion as to the economic effect of
European peace on the United States has
perhaps too little that Is tangible to sup
port conclusions The war is not ended,
and one may regard as futile forecasts of
what may happen with the coming of
peace IL the war has a third full year still
to run. But 1t is noteworthy that, ac-
cording to a recent publication Of the Ma
tional City a Of New York, the most
careful estimates show that up to date
Europe's loss in crippled industries Is al
ready 50, 900, 000, 900 and that 81, GOO, 000, 600
would be needed at the outset to replace
plants and machinery for the purpose of
an early resumption OF production. II
, very much of that new plant and equip
ment must come from the United States,
the only country prepared to fill rush Or
ders for the quick rehabilitation of ruined
factory towns and cities in the present
WdI IOueS, IL is TedsOildDle 10 eNpeCI tnat
our export trade will not shrink into
negligible proportions with the coming OF
peace.
The neutral portion which the United
States has maintained for two years has
paid, and 1t will continue to pay. Whether
1t is "heroic" or not is another question.
This is a discussion Of business, not OF
international morals, or justice, or CIV
ilization. 1t Is certain that England has
many times in her history taken advan-
tage Of a fortunate neutral position to en-
rich herself and strengthen her CONNER
cial and financial status during the wars
of her continental ~neighbors. OF the
United States it can truthfully be said
that the war was none OF it's making and
that nowhere would the end Of the horror
be welcomed more enthusiastically than
| here.