Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-12-02
RESERVE BANK REPORTS
 0N CONDITIONS
General Business Through out District Continues
 Active.

St. Louis, Dec. 1.-William Me C.
 Martin, chairman of the board and
 lederal reserve agent, with headuuar~
 tefs here, issued today the monthly
 report on conditions in district No.
 .. The report is as follows:
 Heneral business in this district
 continues active. Especially is this
 true or those industries which are
 furnishing supplies to the govern
 ment. The requirements of the gov.
 ernment have had tendency tc d,
 vert the production of non-es essentials to those things which are needed for
 tle prosecution of the war. and in many instances orders of civilians ] ana private enterprises are being turned aside to take care or govern, men. heeos. The restraints imposed py the government have had a deter rent effect on some industries, and ] the scarcity of supplies have hinder ca other, lines. but on the whole. the l stream of ordinary business is run | Hlng freely, and the present outlook is favorable. Prices Continue High. Mahuiacturers of shoes and ready to-Wear garments are especially busv and wholesale dry goods companies haruware jobbers, drug dealers. and retailer stores all seem to be trans acting a large volume of business mere mas been good demand for all Kinds of seasonable merchandise A number of country merchants arc ouy ing TOT the future, apparently ree,. ing that the prices will not Le lower
 1"e prices on commodities con tiilue hlS:l, but are made more bear aple m the country districts by the unusually high prices the farmer is receiving for his products. and in the city by the full employment of labor at high wages. Government reports indicate that on November i the price index of all crops was 46 I per cent higher than wear ago and lo4.3 per cent higher than the aver. 1 'sT tn ol the preceding five years.
 Due to the prevailing high prices ana al, the agitation by the federal au- .lorltles, there seems to be grow 1 Ing tendency on the part of con suhers to economize and be more careful In their purchasing. This is shown by the more general center ing or demands in the staple classes u1 merchandise. Signatures to the l Hoover pledge have also been oh- talned freely. and many restaurants as well as homes are now obseryinp meatIess and wheatless days
 collections throughout the district are reported good, except in a few sectlons where the crop movement has been somewhat late
 Production Above Averages.
 The production of all crons +b;s year in the states within th;s d;s' o,lct IS estimated to be 11.4 per cent apove the average for several years past. This years corn crop in the states within this district was esti- mated on November 1st to be 3S9.339- vVO oushels more than that of 1918 Ihe potato crop also greatly exceeds the production of last year. The win-i ter wheat is now all planted. the acreage being considerably in excess Of that of 1916. Rain is needed ,n some quarters
 On account of the cotton in tho southern portion of the district hav. ing been damaged by killing frosts cary m october, the crop is con slderaby shorter than expected, frlces are high, but the cotton is not moving as rapidly as it usually doe; Tn normal season. This is a douht, less due partly to the holding of cot. ton for higher prices, and partly to the inability of exporters to eet ocean tonnage.
 The railroads are operatine ,o