The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-02-02
January Business Digest Issued
Monthly by the First National
Bank, Fargo, North Dakota

| Although business totals for Deem
| Der, presented below. show a continu-
ance of the advance made Throughout
| 1915, it is believed that the opening
| month of the new year has witnessed
some slight recessions. THESE are
| largely seasonal, however, and perhaps
have not been as marked as Is usually
| the case In some leading industries
| few new contracts are being made, but
present bookings extend many months
ahead and insure unusual activity over
the major portion of this year.
Bank clearings at 1872 cities during
December totaled $4,000, 100000, slight
| ly above November cleartngs, and COM
pared with 100000, 100000 during De
cember, 1915, a gain of 81 per cent. Elk
ciearinEs totaled $40, 900. 600, 900 com
pared with $8,000,000,O00 in December
Of the previous year, the gain being
approximately 2S per cent.
Exports of merchandise during NO
vember totaled $51S, 900 900, compared
with 1925, 900. 900 in November, 1915, and
imports aggregated $177,000,000, COM
pared with $155,00O,000 in November OF
the previous year. There was accord
ingl va favorable balance Of trade dur
ing November of $341, 200, 900, compared
with $173,OO0.00O for the same month
the year before.
December business failures numbered
1901, compared WITH l.644 . IN Decem Gem
II. d.
5000, 900. compared with $2S.00O,OOO
the previous year. The combined as
sets of the failed concerns totaled 49,
00O, 900, compared with $1,000 00 in De-
cember, 1915, leaving net liabilities OF
about ST, 900, 900 in December, 1915, and
$I6, 900, 900 for December of the year be-
fore, ~.
vember totaled $3S0,OOO,O0O. compared
with SSO7, O0O, 900 in November, 1915, and
net earnings were $11S,000,000, compar-
ed with only 100000 less year De-
fore. Increased operating expenses have
eaten up practically the entire gain IN
gross earnings during November Gross
Earnings of forty-three railroads dur
ing December amounted to $7S,OOO,O 900,
compared with $75,000,000 in December,
1918. a gain of 4 per cent. There was
a large increase IN the soue ntans cot10 ~
livestock from western points during
December was only slightly larger than
a year ago. One authority now esti-
mates 1916 gross earnlnss OF al Tall Tall
s3IS2. 900, 900 in 1915 and places net
earnings at 81 1876, O00, 900, compared with
$500. 0O0, 900 in 1915. The aggregate OF
net earnings. after DEDUCTION for taxes,
will exceed Sl,OOO.VVV'vVV uuElhS AOAV
There was a net shortage of nearly
az. 900 freight cars on Jan. I, compareo
with a surplus of $1,000 on JAM 1, 1910.
This represents a gratidfyylnnag decrease
from the shortage or lOS,OOO OF Dec. .
1e16. as the interstate commerce COM
mission. the shippers and the railroads
have been earnestly and successfully
Generating to bring about better
ment in this situation,
December building operations aggre-
catad S72. 900 900 for 153 cities, compar-
ed with over $6S,000,000 in December,
1918. a gain of 5 per cent. Building
oDerations have been large throughout
the past year and recorded gam IN
values over 1915 of 81 per cent.
The lumber cut for November as IN
most Of the previous months of the
wear was larger than lumber ship
ments and totaled 9S9, 900. 900 feet, COM
nared with 956, 100000 feet in Novem-
her 1915. November lumber shipments
agaregated 951,000,0O0 feet, compared
with 1.04O, 100000 feet in November Of
the previous year. the November cut
woods 81. 900 900 feet OF hard woods.
600, 000,0 900 feet of soft
woods and $4,000, 900 feet of hard woods
emf IN November, 1915. November ship
menfs consisted OF ST9, 200, 000 feet of
soft woods and ~, 600, 900 feet of hard
woods. compared with 972,00O,000 feet
Of soft woods and eS,000,000 feet Of hard
woods shipped In November of the pre-
vious year.
December was 8, 171,O00 tons, compared
with $4,000 tons in November and
3. 2O3. 600 tons in December, 1915. The
average daily output for December was
1O2. 900 tons, compared with 10000 tons
ner day in November. Shipments Of
iron ore from the mines during 1915
are estimated at as, 100000 tons, COM
pared with 66,AsSsoo0 tons IN 1876 .