Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1917-01-04
Business Situation
Generally Sound

United States has made an extensive
survey of the general business condi-
tions and outlook in this country and
ness conditions are excellent in spite
of the prevailing high prices, and that
the general sentiment is one of opti-
mism as to the future, although there
is concern in some sections as to
the probable effect upon demand Of
present high prices, and especially
should they go higher.
Buying of futures, especially spring
and summer goods, is heavy for fear
goods may not be had when wanted.
Stocks of merchandise in dealers
hands are said to be generally nor
NAL. There does not appear to be
any diminution in the volume of bust
ness and the purchasing power of the
consumer seems greater than for
many years. A synopsis of the re-
port follows:
A generally dry fall in the winter
wheat belt prevented an anticipated
growing varies greatly in different
sections, nevertheless on the whole
it is said to be somewhat larger than
at this time last year.
The spring wheat sections of the
Northwest suffered much from blight
and rust. Because of much wet
weather early in the season in the
Cotton Belt the ravages of the boil
weevil were unusually severe. In all
sections, extremes of weather sue
ceeding each other, too wet and cold
early in the season, followed by too
great heat and drought later b1ighted
the early promises of the spring.
The report of manufacturing is
everywhere monotone of an abund-
ance of orders, great delay in deliv-
cries and serious difficulty in secur-
ing the necessary materials whether
raw or finished There do not seem
to be any exceptions to the universal
report of factories running to their
utmost capacity.
Railroads have more business than
they can handle, with consequent en-
bargoes and car shortages that handi-
cap heavily many industries, espe-
cially coal mining and lumber Rail-
road shops are everywhere fully en-
ployed. Mining of all kinds is I'M
usually good.
Lumber business, especially yellow
pine, is more fully employed than for
many years. There is, however, the
serious handicap of car shortage in
the interior, and of lack Of sea bot
toms on the Pacific coast with conse-
quent local dullness in such sections.
Meanwhile the demand continues
greater than the facilities for sup
plying it. Shipbuilding on the Pa
cific coast and in New Jersey is in
good shape.
Fisheries on the Atlantic and Pa
cific coast, the Gulf and Great Lakes
are generally good.
Dry farming methods last summer
added to the production per acre not
only in the semi-arid lands of the
Great Plains states, but likewise in
those states further east where mois-
ture is abundant. Silos are on the
increase. There is more cultivation
of imported drought-resisting plants.
Irrigation is steadily enlarging its
bounds in many sections west of the
Mississippi river.
"Catch" crops and emergency crops
were planted last summer after the
damage was done to the great agri-
cultural staples. There was gener-
GUS harvest of secondary or minor
crops, which in many cases proved
to be the saving grace Of the situa-
ton. There were abundant yields of
sugar beets. The production of rice
was larger than usual. The harvest
of tobacco was abundant.
The general report, with some scat
tered exceptions, is excellent as to all
manner Of livestock, save in those
sections where crops were so badly
hurt that feed is scarce and high,
and consequently farmers are selling
their stock rather than carrying it
through the winter. There is every
where in agricultural sections a
growing demand for high-bred blood
ed stock. Hog cholera is far less
prevalent than for many years.
The harvest of hay was the largest
ever known.
Dry farming in the west is causing
a decrease in the number of sheep.
In more eastern states sheep are be-
ing raised on small farms not alone
for wool but for meat. The wool clip
for the past season was large and