The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-08-31

ness men who prepare now for a car shortage in the coming months will probably find their precautions we'll ta- ken when the crop moving season be- gins in earnest
 Lake commerce through the Soo Ca- nal in July totaled 14 million tons, again setting a new high record, and comparing with 3 million tons in June and nearly 10 million tons in July of last year. The eastbound movement was II million tons compared with over seven million tons year ago and the westbound traffic aggregated three million tons compared with two million tons year ago.
 Building operations at 161 cities in July aggregated 118 million dollars with Fl million dollars in July of last year, a gain of 66 per cent. These figures should be scanned carefully, however, as nearly Al million dollars of the total gain over last year of 43 million dollars was contributed by New York City where some unusually large permits were taken out in anticipation of the passage of new building laws, and some of these permits may never develop into actual construction.
 The cut of lumber in June totaled 1,153 million feet compared with 1,- 049 million feet in June, 1915, and lumber shipments were 989 million feet compared with 958 million feet in June year ago. The June cut consisted of 1,059 million feet. of soft woods and 94 million feet of hard woods compared with 958 million feet of soft woods and 91 million feet of hard woods cut in June, 1915. June shipments were made up of 910 mill lion feet of soft woods and 79 million feet of hard woods compared with 892 million feet of soft woods and 66 mil lion feet of hard woods shipped a year ago.
 Anthracite coal shipments in July aggregated 5,433 thousand tons con- pared with 5,637 thousand tons in June and 4,934 thousand tons in July of last year. Stocks of anthracite coal at tide-water shipping ports on July 31 were 384 thousand tons com pared with 393 thousand tons on June 30.
 Production of Coke in the Councils vile District in the four weeks end ing July 29 was 1,608 thousand tons compared with 1,645 thousand tons for the entire month of July, 1915. Shipments for the four weeks were 45 thousand cars compared with 43 thou sand cars in July, 1915. There were 33,063 ovens in blast on August 12 compared with 33,611 on July 8.
 Pig iron production in July totaled 3.227 thousand tons compared with s. PIP thousand tons in June and 2,563 thousand tons in July of last year. The daily rate of production decreased from TOT thousand tons in June to 104 thousand tons in July, the lessen ed output being ascribed to excessive humidity and the blowing out of fur naces for refining.
 Lake Superior iron ore shipments in July reached a new high mark tota1ing 9,750 thousand tons compared with 9,5os thousand tons in July and 7,204 thousand tons in July year ago.
 The thrilled tonnage of the Steel Corporation on July 31 stood at 9,594 thousand tons compared with 9,640 thousand tons a month earlier and A. 929 thousand tons on July 31, 1915.
 Structural steel bookings during July totaled 87 thousand tons compared with 100 thousand tons in June and 148 thousand tons in July of last year.
 Production of copper in the first six months of the year by twenty large companies was 936 million pounds compared with 5s7 million pounds produced in the same period of last year. So far as can be ascertained stocks are extremely small The de- mand for copper continues to be heavy and it seems probable that buying for 1917 requirements will begin in ear nest in a very short time.
 Receipts of zinc and spelter at the principal market during July totaled 502 thousand slabs compared with 3S2 thousand slabs in July, 1915, and ship ments from this market were 336 thousand slabs compared with 351 thousand in July a year ago. Stocks of spelter on hand in this country on June 30 were "A thousand tons compared with 14 thousand tons on January 1st The production of spelter in the first half of this year totaled 316 thousand tons and exports during the six months were 78 thousand tons. As stocks on hand increased 10 thousand tons dur ing the half yearly period, the appa- rent consumption of spelter in this country in that time was 228 thousand tons. These figures compare with a production of 218 thousand tons and an apparent consumption of 161 thou sand tons in the same period of last year. There were 194 thousand re- torts in operation on June 30 com pared with 131 thousand in operation at the close of June. 1915. On June 30 of this year there were also 22 thousand new retorts fin the course of planning or construction.
 There were 2,449 new oil wells com pleted in July with a combined new production of 133 thousand barrels daily compared with a daily produc- ton of 191 thousand barrels for the z.545 wells completed in June.
 Transvaal Gold production in July totaled 761 thousand fine ounces com pared with 762 thousand ounces in June and ITO thousand ounces in July, 1915.
 Commodity prices fell off little du- ring July, Bradstreets Index standing at $11.44 on August 1st compared with $11.53 on July 1st. This is the fourth successive monthly decrease in this in- dex, since the record high point of