Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-18
OPTIMISM AS TO TRADE
IN FALL HAS NOT ABATED
Crop Situation Better, Governmental
Buying Expanding and Indus
try Very Active.
PRICES INoRD1NATELY HIGH
Processes Now Making for Readjust-
mont Of Quotations Is Unscttling
Factor-Labor Scarce and Ineni-
cient, Marked by Much Unrest.
NEW YORK. August l7,-Rradstreet

NE" tOttk, august 17.-BradStreetS
New business. which is increasing at
wholesale. Is strcaked with conserv-
not abated. the crop situation is bet.
ter. governmental buying IL expanding.
and industry. taken as n whole. con-
garding wholesale trade, while admit
ting lack of snap. aGreo' that business
Is good. being relatively better in the
and It Is generally felt that fall trade
will be of large proportions. Yet eau
ton in granting credits is generated by
high, and. incidentally, the processes
now making for tho readjustment of
as is the question Of hoW far Civilian
wants will be replaced by takings of
army goods. Most attention. Indeed. is
tends to stimulate some lines that ordi-
narily would be quiet at this season Of
the year Except where army camps
fair. and like characterization applies
to collections. Labor is scarce. Is in.
by considerable unrest. while mobiliza-
ton under tho draft will further re-
duce supplies in this respect. The cir
cumstances as to wages and employ
mcnt are such that pay' rolls are large.
In the iron and steel Industry. new do
nestle buying is light though govern
for pig iron disclose an easier UNDER
tone while steel billets show another
drop OF IS: thus making SIS from tho
are heavy; the supplies of cars is bet
ter, even though some sections continue
to complain Of slow deliveries.
HEsIrANCY AND WAITING
n,,,,, yo, IN MANY DIRECTIoNs
view Will say Tomorrow:
Not only trade and industry. but also
speculation. have come moro closely
tons, and there is still hesitAncy and
week has failed to disclose what de-
portant question OF fixing commodity
prices. and until there is clearer knowl-
edge of the readjustmenls to be eff
fected. the hai,ing tendencies in the
larger Industries, and in securities.
may be expected to continue. Mean
%he some ann frn otneF than
perienced more decisive reaction, and
It is highly significant that In certain
on the part of the buyers. pressure to
sell is less conspicuous by it's absence.
Yet no genera. fielding has made It's
appearance. and II business at present
moves under reduced momentum the
removal of existing uncertainties may
conceivably be followed by renewed ac-
Sentiment throughout the country, not
withstandins the doubts ABOUT impend-
ing economic changes reflects sustained
confidence in the future. and the abate-
mcnt Of ordinary demands Is not I'M
welcome to manufacturers who are
anxious to work Off accumulated orders
and provide additional capacity for the
extensive and enlarging requirements
Of the government. The difficulties OF
maintaining outputs do not lessen. and
in some instances are intensified by the
withdrawal OF men from productive en-.
terprise, and movements of troops and
crops will later impose greater bur-
dens on transportation. Where the con-
struction Of army cantonments is in
progress. retail trade Is stimulated,
and general distribution to consumers
holds up well, considering the extreme
costs OF necessities. while the develop
ment of fall jobbing business Is In most
cases encouraging.