New-York tribune., 1917-07-14
News Digest
New York

Condition of Trade.-"Dun's Re-
view" says: "The economic problems
occasioned by the war are becoming
more sharply defined, and doubts about
the readjustments still to be expert
enced impose restraint on business in
not few directions. With price un-
certainties continuing. and with the ef-
fects of the export embargo vet TO be
determined there is hesitancy and
waiting in many quarters, and IN some
instances rather more evidence OF the
seasonal lull than appeared last year
To a not inconsiderable extent, the less
ening of regular demans IN certain
leading branches is attributable to the
disinclination or inability OF producers
to engage themselves further; but buy
ers are also disposed TO proceed with
greater caution pending clearer IN
sight into the future, and purchasing by
consumers is more conservative. Yet
there is no apparent loss OF confidence,
and the absence Of speculative ten
denotes in trade and industry Is
wholesome feature, while reason Tor
encouragement is found in the I'M
proved grain crop prospects, with IN
dicated yields well above recent estl-
mates. and in the comfortable condl-
tions in money. Signs of a halting OF
the rise of commodity quotations are
likewise viewed with satisfaction,
though with diminishing supplies fore
shadowed, and with production costs
increasing steadily, some articles NAV
conceivably 90 still higher. The chief
D. II ia ~ ~
is not one of securing new orders, but
of obtaining sufficient materials and
labor. and complaints of restricted op-
erations through the drawbacks in
TRANSPORTATION have continued, notwith q
standing the efforts of the railroads
and shippers to relieve congestion.
Outputs are also limited by strikes at
scattered points, and in some industries
voluntary advances in wages have been
made to prevent employees from taking
ND other work. With the consequent
augmentation Of purchasing power re-
tail distribution is benefited and the
movement Of merchandise. while less
active than previously, bulks large IN
the aggregate. especially in staples
"Bradstreet's" summarizes trade con-
ditions in Canada as follows:
wv nOIeSale CeaIeis III Nahae" c"9
trade as a whole is rather quiet, but
buying for Northwestern account IS
quite good, and, in fact, the favorable
outlook for crops tends to render trade
at interior points much better than II
is in the larger cities. Retail trade IS
somewhat slow. Extensive orders Tor
army blankets have been placed with
textile mills. Industry is active. Coun-
try collections are good, but IN the
cities payments are slow. Crop pros
poets are favorable except in a small
strip of Southern Manitoba, where
drought has done considerable damage.
In the Northwest, as a whole, wheat IS
heading out, and large yields are anti
cipated. The weather is ideal for plant
life. It is said that warehouses are
filed with eggs. Bank clearings at SIX
teen cities for the week ending with
Thursday last aggregate S25S, $4,000, a
gain of 17.9 per cent over last week
and of PAS per cent over this week last
wear. Business failures for the week
terminating with Thursday last num-
Der nineteen, which contrasts with
fourteen last week and thirty-seven
in the like week last year"