The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-04-03
BUSINESS IS
At HIGH NOTCH
OPTIMISTIC REPORT
FOR DISTRICT NO. 4
Continued Aggresslveness In
All Lines Of Industry
Predicted

'%CLETELANp. April 3.-The following
optimistic review OF business conditions
In federal reserve banking district No
1. which includes northern Yves, Viz
glpla, In addition 70 parts OF OHIO ana
Pennsylvania. was made public today
By the banks authorities:
During March. especially for the week
ended March l.. there WAS noticeable
hesitancy and uncertainty IN many lines
OF business throughout district No. !.
The. foreign relations Of orr govern
meut and the trans portntion situation
g caused considerable unrest In commerce
and industry.
Crops-Present Indications ARE for
fair Yield only OF the winter wheat crop.
From tho Kentucky section the reports
show that the Tobacco" and hemp crops
OF last year were marketed a greatly
increased prices 70 the farmer. ana
preparations Gre being made no~ Yer
Increased production Of these crops IN
the section.
Live stock-The reports received from
various sections OF the district Indicate
used for foods is at most n"t greater
than the average OF pr"cedtns years ana
there has apparently been listle real az
fort to improve the situation
Industries.
Since tho middle ~ March the ind us
tries OF tho district have resumed ihrir
forward movement with energy. and me
indications ar. tor continued aSSres-
siveness Practically all lines reporting
show n strong demand FOR raw materials
and manufactured products. regardless
OF price. and there hns been some eEl-
dence Of making contrscts even at the
present abnormally high prices FOR 1915
deliveries.
bar. rail and sheet producers ana MANI
facturers report very strong demand tor
all classes OF production. with soaring
prices. Quotations are marked ap All
along the line. The prosperity and ca
ID only By insufficient transportation.
labor and fuel supplies. a great man?
ot.,the producers have Indicated lpten-
tons OF supplying government needs IN
Instances this condition has rendered
necessary the postponSnient Of private
deliveries. 1t IL entirely FAIR 70 say thse
the observations ah"r" made Apply "ti
equal force 10 finished materials an"
other fabricated articles.
Coal and CcEc--Th. producers are en-
ttrelr unable to secure an adeQua1e i9oo.
supply for the production % a suhtcleI'
amour, q: output a. iur"t their demand
Reports SHOW that in ihe pennsylvania
Ohio and Kentucky coal regions over
lures have been md" for entire outputs
ot'the mines a advaaced prices IN Sol'S
instances contracts HaT. been made is'i'!
in othars refused either on account OF
conditions or IN ;hc nope OF making oet-
ter ARRANGEMENTS. or. AS no!ceahis IN
the Pennsylvania fields. producs;5is haS.
felt the necessity ard dcStraoility pt
niaintaining :, percentage OF output as
frea Goa. ,,
been very scarce. and prices .haE" run
Wild, The fuel situation really Is the
most serious drawback ut present exist
tE tic
Glass, Pottery and Clay.
- All OF these industries har" been AZ
fected BY fuel and TRANSPORTATION prop
lems. but the correspondents present
hopeful view for the future. In some
localities where gas has been used pre-
viously it Is reported thai changes to
the use OF coal are contemplated
Mercantile Business.
There is no; much change tr"ri tae
proceeding moN:hS IN coinm.rc!a! aciiEi-
ties, unless /, BE- lessenIng Of stocks
Of goods b. reason Of inability I" secure
shipments. but collection conditions
have b"cou: l;tt!e less favogahit; i,
Eoods,ufrs continue 70 advance. IN
price. and there is in the cities evid|nc"
Of decreasing surplus supplies. ind!cat-
ing perhaps further advances.
RuNd3ng Operations.
Tho table Following shows the com
parisoa OF building operations for FEB
ruary Of this var and or last year IN
Cleveland Il lockout az building trades
b. employers has affected twcHtE thou,
construction oc buildings o. estimated
value OF over s:5.n"9.4ho. This condi-
ton will undoubtedly hnv" IT'S eject on
manufacturing ce7t.7S are reported az
Inadequate.
- Labor Conditions.
Labor Is Gully employed in all lines.
skilled and unski,led. except In the build
ing trades There is decided scarcity
In farm hands and high grade mechanics
and there Gu:.s not seem to %. any nope
OF relief There are indications 81 I'M
rest in mining and milling ccnters,
though general conditions are not less
Favorable probably than formerly.
INDUSTRY and fair IA regards agricul-
turc; necessarily. the agricultural stu
alton Will AFFECT unfnr"rabiy the general
conditions later. There has recently oeen
renewed effort 70 encourage farm pro-
dhctiou. and IL this should instil greater
energy into the farmer the prospects
would be better. 1t does not seem that
the movements for Increased acreage or
more scientific methods In farming have
been organized or developed 20 such an
extent rs to =" promising cf results be-