Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-03-09
FEBRUARY BUSINESS CONDITIONS
From Bulletin Sent the NeWs-Budget
BY the Eau. Claire Ma
tionai Bank

For the first time in over a half
year, the total volume of business IN
this country has failed to show a
gain over the previous month, trans
actions during January being slight
ly less than in the closing months OF
1916. This can hardly be considered
as a cause for apprehension, but IS
taken rather as sign that a wei
come conservatism has become fac
tor in the situation. 1t is We'll known
that present bookings in most large
industries are ssuch that continued
activity for a considerable period is
not dependent upon new business.
Exports of Merchandise in Decem-
Der aggregated 521 million dollars
compared with 359 million dollars in
December, 1915, and Imports totaled
205 million dollars compared with
172 millions in December a year he
fore, making a favorable balance Oh
trade for the month Of 316 million
dollars compared with 1877 million dol
lars in December, 1915. Merchant
disc exports for the entire year 1916
totaled 5,4S1 million dollars COM
pared with 1,779 million dollars IN
1915. The favorable balance OF trade
for 1916 of 3,089 million dollars sets
a new high record and compares with
1,776 million dollars for 1915.
Bank clearings in January at ia
cities were not quite rs billion dol
lars compared with 20 billion dol
lars in January, 1916, an increase of
27 percent, and compared with q
billion dollars in December. outside
Of New York City clearings were
over 10 billion dollars compared with
less than eight billion dollars III Jan
uary a year ago, gain Of "a per-
cent. Of the cities reporting, so re
corded larger clearings than ever be-
fore in any one month.
There were 1,549 Busiess Failures
in January compared with 1904 in
January year ago and liabilities
aggregated 22 million dollars COM
pared with nearly that amount in
January, 1916. The concerns failing
in January had assets CT over Il
million dollars compared with assets
OF seven million dollars for the fail
ures in January, 1916 leaving net liza
bilities of 10 million dollars compared
with - million dollars year ago.
Dividend and Interest DisbWse-
ments during February will total 155
million dollars compared with 1928
million dollars in February Of last
year. These will be the largest dis
bursements ever made in the month
of February and will be made up Of
7S million dollars in dividends and
II million dollars in interest pay
ments, compared with 63 million
dollars in dividends and 65 million
dollars in interest disbursed in Feb
ruary, 1916.
Money in circulation in the United
States has set another new high
mark, totaling 4,498 million dollars
on February LIST compared with 4,44l
million dollars on January 1st and
1884 million dollars on February first
year ago. The per capita clrcula-
ton also reached a new high mark
of $4350 compared with $4,000 on
January LIST and $38.67 on February
LIST, 1916. The population of CONT
mental United States is estimated at
103, 403, 900 compared with 101, 719, 900
one year ago.
Railroad Gross Earnings in Deem
Der totaled 262 million dollars com
pared with 242 million dollars in De-
| cember, 1915 and net earnings totaled
| SO million dollars compared with SO
million dollars in December year
ago, a decline of 4 percent. The rea-
| son for the decrease in net earnings
may be observed in the fact that
operating expenses for the month
aggregated over 20 million dollars
more than in December. 1915 and
| tOtaled 179 million dollars. Gross
earnings reports are now at hand
for all railroads in this country for
1916 and show a total for the year
of 1864 million dollars compared
with 3,106 million dollars in 1915, a
gain of IS percent. The gain in
gross earnings was shared by all
classes of roads and all sections OF
the country. Gross earnings for SO
railroads in January totaled 72 mill
ion dollars compared with 81 million
dollars in January Of last year, a
gain Of Is percent. Both the cotton
and the grain movements were mark
eddy less than in the initial month Of
last year.
The railroads of the country Or
dered 14,095 freight cars in January
| cOmp9ro1 with 16 1QS il, Dnpnmh or