The Brunswick news., 1917-05-10
BUSINESS AND THE OUTLOOK.


our commercial and Industrial affairs
says the Philadelphia Record Th'
financial operations of the govern
ment in connection with the war LOAF
could not have failed to affect thu
security market. and a considerabl,
list Of railway stocks shows an aver
age decline of 4 points. while indus
trials have shown much more lrreg
ularity in movements. Bonds have
been less affected, but the govern
ment offerings, and tho keen inter
est manifested in the same by inves
tors. were reflected In the weakness
of the market Moreover, the higl
rates for call loans--as much as l.:
per cent having been quoted-were
not conducive to activity In stocks.
General merchandising continues
on the unprecedented scale which
marked the first quarter OF the year
and the month of April The outlook
for the cereal crops has improved,
owing to better weather conditions
and encourages hopes for a larger
harvest than was anticipated earlier
In the season. The extraordinary
worldwide demand continues TO force
upward the price OF breadstuffs and
provisions, though the contemplated
measures to authorize government
regulation of production, distribution
and prices have had disturbing Of.
feet. In all branches of the dry goods
trade business has been quiet. Buy
ors seem disposed to await develop.
meuts The tendency toward conser-
yation, however, has not affected
prices. which are maintained at re-
cent high levels There is great
demand for lumber, owing to the Inn
petus given by the government to the
of wooden ships. The
demand for all kinds OF skilled labor
at abnormal wages is unabated. Bus
mess failures are decreasing.
The government is buying supplies
freely. At the recent meeting of steel
to apportion the gov
order for war purposes, it
developed that 10000 tons of platss,
bars and shapes would be required
for schedules already made up, while
the requirements of the year for all
kinds of steel would be probably L.
100000 tons. Progress has been made
In the creation OF a central organiza-
lion of steel and iron producers to
meet these requirements, The steel
mills have been classified on basis
Of tonnage with view to proper
of the work and the at
lending financial burdens II may be
noted, however that the governments
lirect requirements constitute little
more than i.2 per cent of the na.
Ilon's output. though indirectly the
of war material of all
Ninde will swell tho aggregate con.
iidorah'y. Tho production of pig iron
IN April reached 3.334 ,960 tons. an
Increase af S6,60S tons over March.
md, with one exception. the largest
output on record. Pig iron has dou
pled in price within the last year
,ut the demand keeps up with the
increased supply. Bessemor iron hae
'old at st3, valley. an advance of 81
N the week. and foundry iron ad
iances ranged from 81 to 81 ton
There was less activity in the Bos
on wool market, but except In a few
lines there was no dlmin
ltion in strength. The weeks buying
las been confined mainly to grades
uitable for army purposes. The new
dip of territory woods Is being rapid
y taken up. and so per cent is said
o have been sold or contracted,
Negotiations are In progress at Wash,
ngton regarding the release OF Aus
ralian wool to this country. The
British government has an aecumu'
alton of supplies for which there Is
10 immediate need, ami American
buyers would be welcomed in the
.ondon market, In Philadelphia the