The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-02-02

ed to be 1O3,2S7.OOO, compared with
101, $4,000 a year ago.
There were 1,163 merchant vessels
built In the United States last year
compared with 1915 vessels of 216,OOO
gross tons built during 1915. Steel yes
sells made up 414,000 gross tons OF the
1916 output.
Domestic consumption of cotton in
December totaled $4,000 bales. com
pared with $4,000 bales in December
of the previous year. Stocks or cotton
in consuming establishments on Dec. 81
1,S53,O0O bales on Dec. 81. 1915, and
stocks in public storage and at COM
presses were 4.065,000 bales, compared
with 5,196,000 bales a year ago. There
were 32,S64,000 cotton spindles active
during December, 1915. Cotton ginned
to Jan. from the 1915 crop totaled H.
O45, 900 bales. compared with 10,637,O00
bales to the same date year ago and
There were 100000 live animals
on farms on Jan. l. compared with
2O4,OOO.O00 on Jan. l a year ago. and
their total value was $6,6S5, 900. 900,
1916. There were 21,126,00O horses on
farms on Jan. l, valued at $2,175, 000, 900,
compared with 21,159,000 on Jan. last
year, valued at $3.50. 100000. the value
ago to s102.91 on Ian. this year. There
were 1853, 900 mules on farms on Jan.
/, valued at $549,0O0,O00, compared with
4,593,000 year ago, valued at $4,000
compared with s1I3.s3 a year ago.
Mich cows on farms numbered 22,76S,-
900, valued at $1,35S, 900, compared
with 22,10S,000, valued at $1,192,O 900
q year ago, the value per head being
$3.50, compared with 1892 on Jan. /,
1915. Other cattle on farms on Jan. 1
numbered 4O,S49, 900 with an aggregate
value of $l,466.O0O,O00. compared with
39,S12,000 a year ago, valued at $780,
100000. the value per head being. $35,SS.
compared with 1888 on Jan. 1. 1915.
There were 48,483,00 sheep on farms
on Jan. l, valued at $346,000,000, COM
pared with 4S,625, 900 a year ago, valued
ing ';s ai4. compared With sS.17 on Jan.
l of last year. Swine on farms on Jan.
1 numbered 67,453,000, valued at $751;
100000, compared with 67,766,000 on
value per head being $11.7S. compared
with $40 a year ago.
There were 44,674,O00 pounds of but
ter in cold storage in this country on
Jan. /. compared with 4S.977O0 pounds
cheese on Jan. totaled 24.sS0,000
pounds, compared with 2S,55S,000 one
year ago. Eggs in cold storage on Jan
/ amounted to $4,000 cases, compared
with 100000 cases on Jan. !, 1915.
Extensive reports from large con-
Germs all over the country and covering
thirteen of the principal industries,
show that during November last, 3d.
900 men were employed in these lines
compared with $4,000 In November,
1915. The total of the November pay
rolls of the reporting concerns was
$13,732, 900, compared with $9,635,000 in
November, 1915. Labor il still scarce,
although for various reasons. plants
have been closed here and there and
some labor released to find employment
elsewhere.
Many additional wage increases have
gone into effect in January and these
will serve to give strength and volume
to practically all lines of retail trade.
and perhaps also to delay a little longer
any marked decline in the prices of
some commodities. Peace opinions vary
greatly, but irrespective of the cessa-
ton of hostilities in Europe, business
conditions will bear close watching, as
some decline from the present huge
volume of operations is already clearly
indicated.
Respectfully submitted,
The First National Bank.