South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-11-11

WIN very rev exceptions, all DuSl- /
ness activity in district No. 8. con
tinues at high level. some few
lines are restricted on account Of
the scarcity Of raw material or IN
favorable labor conditions. but. in
general, business shows marked ac-
uvity. Favorable crop conditions
have contributed 70 the general feel
ing OF confidence, and there are no
unfaVorable symptoms which would
appear 70 affect the situation for
some months.
Orders for government REQUIRE
ments continue 20 be the important
factor, as noted in my last report
while government price restrictions
and other regulations are a some
what disturbing factor. Whereas
formerly government orders had in
/ huenced only manufacturing and
jobbing industries, reports at this
writing indicate that they are also
/ influencing retail trade. at least the
/ large department stores. Reports
from wholesale grocers. millinery
! jobbers, drug and chemical dealers.
wooden-ware. bagging, cracker and
stove manufacturers. glass compa-
nies, shoe manufacturers, stationary
| jobbers. jobbers Of dry goods and
general merchandise, candy manu-
facturers. and wire rope manufac-
turers. all show increases in sales
| for the three months ending Sept.
/ 80, as compared 20 the average sales
/ for the same three months, 1914,
/ healthy condition.
Collections appear 10 be keeping
/ up with sales, except from a few Of
I the rural sections where the crop
| movement is unusually late. as in
/ Arkansas. where the cotton. at this
writing. is just beginning TO move
I Dry goods jobbers report future or
ders for spring delivery in excess
I of a year ago. and these were
/ record at that time. The business Of
/ the department stores and retaile s
in general has been stimulated by
| cool, seasonable weather.
Wool Prices High.
| Large packers report that wool
! prices run close 20 a high point Of
| the season. The demand for fertilizer
| appears to be equal 20 the produc-
ton, the cost Of raw material, how
ever. advancing faster than that OF
! the finished article There is a
strong demand for all meats, with
prices about steady, and the stocks
on hand decreasing
The cotton Sit I1l an the south
ern portion of tts district has
/ 81 I.,-t-, l.
in the last month While the crop
was late all season. the condition a
I month ago appeared 10 be satisfac-
\ tory. Since then, killing frosts have
| been reported from most sections
/ Of the Belt, and it is feared that
| the crop will be shorter than was
anticipated. Well informed Mem
/ phians estimate that that territory
will produce not over so percent Of
/ last years harvest. Prices of both
cotton and cotton seed are high,
which should stimulate an early and
l rapid movement 10 market. This
\ movement, in volume. is just begin
ming. It will probably take more
/ money to move this cotton crop than
any crop since the Civil war. but
/ there appears to be no anxiety on
! this score, unless a shortage Of
/ freight cars should restrict the
movement eastward from Memphis.
Flowing and planting for winter
wheat has progressed satisfactorily.
II is estimates that probably so per
cent Of winter wheat acreage has
been plowed. Farmers have been
busy blowing and sowing, and this
seems to have had a deterrent eff
feet on the movement to market,
which is again reported to be light
for this time Of the year. The wheat
acreage Of Missouri is estimated to
be 1876 percent of that of 1916.
Further efforts are being made TO
increase this acreage in order 10