The Detroit times., 1917-01-01
Cities of Michigan En-
joy Unprecedented
Prosperity
MANUFACTURES
AT HIGH POINT
Indications Are That
Bumper Times Are
To Continue

Great streams OF money are roll
ing In on Michigan The state is
prosperous as never before.
The volume OF Michigan's manu-
featured products during 1915 was
the greatest in history. wages gen
orally were higher than during the
year previous. bank clearings and
bank deposits I'm most cities showed
tremendous upward bounds. mer.
camille business War unprecedented
ly active. building construction un.
usually large
These facts stand ont today In
reports. gathered by the United
Press, from commercial organiza.
tons OF score OF representative
:, cities In Michigan And practically
everywhere. II was emphasized thai
present conditions were not due
alone TO war prosperity" Firm,
normal expansion was claimed To-
nearly every section OF the state
and there, was a united prophecy
that 1917 would equal or surpass
the year now closing in the matter
OF general prosperity.
Here are the statements OF the
executives OF commercial bodies in
all parts OF the state:
Edwin DENLY. president OF the
Detroit Board ~ Commerce; BUS
mess for 1916 was far In advance
OF any previous year Manufac.
tured products increased by 80 per
cent. with a large part OF the In.
crease IN the automobile Industry.
Labor was scarce with an average
increase OF rs per cent in wages.
Building construction during the
nrst II months was over s4T 900 900.
An increase OF So per cent. Bank
clesrinEs increased SO per cent and
bank deposits 80 per cent, the lat.
ter now totaiing s34oooo.o0o. Mer-
camille business has been very &C.
tive and collections good. Pros.
poets for 1917 are excellent in every
line"
Muskeuon Is Prosperous.
p r. Schnorbach, secretary OF the
Muskegon Chamber OF Commerce
During 1915 business conditions in
our city were never better. Manu-
featuring increased practically
double what we have ever thought
of. while the retail business houses
have been Increasing their employees
20 the extent that they are crowded
behind counters almost In one an.
others way. The Christmas trade
has never known an equal As for
the future. 1917 will see so many
more Improvements that Muskegcn.
which will have AZ the end Of this
year. 10000 people. at IN eend OF
1917 will have close 20 $1,000. All
factories are now sending out thru
the country requests for help, which
means that az soon as the summer
season opens. the business viii be
booming more than ever"
c. F. Holland. secretary OF the
Jackson Chamber OF Commerce;
Present conditions in Jackson are
excellent In every way There has
been marked Improvements over a
year ago in all lines. Domestic
trade has more than kept up TO the
standard and foreign trade has been
extraordinary. All our factories are
running full capacity. Building con
ditions never were better. Collec-
lions are good. Retail and whole.
sale business Is unusually favorable.
The outlook for 1917 is most graft
Tying Our factories have many adj.
vance orders for the new year. Con.
ditions in generally are exception
ably favorable"
Charles y. Kelsey, president o.
the Grand Rapids Association OF
Commerce: "All local factories are
enjoying the utmost prosperity and
In many instances are operating
overtime and beyond capacity. This
activity In not due TO the manufac-
ture OF munitions OF war. as Grand
-.