The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-04-08
EVERY INDICATION
Of GO0O SEASON
Weather Conditions Favorablc-Con-
fidcncc Evident In AL lines
of Trade.

With the beginning of April, the
weather is such as to be especially
promising to the very large and varied
Industries having to do with supplying
things TO wear. a backward season
is as bad as too forward one. In
the one case people are apt to hold
on TO their cold weather trappings
until real hot weather sets in. and in
the other they are likely to rush the
summer too soon. Trade tries to adj
Just itself to the plan of having four
seasons Il year, and there Is always
trouble when one or two are eliml-
mated This year ii looks as though
the spring and summer would be
kept distinct, TO the obvious advan-
tage OF producers and retailers. Buy
ing continues on q fairly liberal scale.
although some sections show a hest
fancy due to unsettled conditions and
the rising cost of living. Reports to
banks and of credit agencies show
collections to he very good. and much
above the average at this time of year.
In the primary markets there is still
the feeling of confidence due to the
general belief that the opening of war
will be calculated to help rather than
hurt business. Expert trade is also
beginning to move somewhat more
freely than was the case a few weeks
ago
CONSERVING supply Oh wen
Among thoughtful observers the
greatest problem before tho country
during the present year will be that
OF conserving the supply. and work.
of men II ia question whether
there are enough men. and In this
category are included women. Ia do
the work that is ahead. AS matter
OF fact, the country has been all
along trying to get workers enough
tu do the farming. the mining, the
raiifoadnA, the factory work &c,
which tts rapid development called
for II has been fortunate in not
having had millions taken from the
ranks Of it's laborng people and put
MIC armies and naries, More than
one industry has had to depend on
immigration from year TO year 10
keep ful It's quota or workers, AT
tne present time. the industrial con-
ems are such as to require maxi
vInm af both skilled and unski.led
.abnr The needs In this regard will
be .ncreased when this country be-
comes ONE Of the com Atlantis, and
r~d"'rekrs 10 provide greater supplies
than hitherto 10 the allies in addition
go Mlaktng munitions for itself. Be
sides this, there viii be special rea-
son why many more workers should
lie engaged on the farms and ranches
IN order that adequate supplies ot
foodStuffs shall not be wanting.
While this IS the ease. many thou
sand how many are not known nor
IAN they be estimated he with
drawn from the producing classes to
help along the work OF destruction.
These are among the factors which
make in doubt the question of sut-
flciency Of workers To provide what
will be needed for a year from next
fall
The Need of Large Crops.
Aside from any question OF supply
ing food for army purposes and for
the entente nations. tic production of
an adequate amount OF IL Is the one
thing upon which the structure OF
business must depend II the people
could he assumed that there would
be large crops this year OF wheat,
corn and other grains and that the
production OF cattle, hogs, sheep. and
fowls would be In proportion, II would
make certain continuance OF pros
porous business conditions in this
country. war or no war On the otner
hand n failure of the crops. or an in
adequate production of the same. Will
spttt disaster for nuuy- interests no
matter how busy are kept the estab-
lishments which supply munitions
This does not necessarily mean that
there need be an increased acreage
unuer CULTIVATION. III would De better
10 have ii reduced acreage with better
farming methods. This Is what has
happened in the past with regard to
wheat, among other crops Thus, in
1899, with an acreage of 52.5SS,514,
the yield was G5S, 534.252 bushels, or
twelve and a half bushels to the acre.
Ten years later the acreage had been
reduced by s.32o,9S2 to total of A.
262,592, but the yield was 6S3,379.25s
bushels or fifteen and a half to the
acre. Both are. of course, ridiculously
small. The yield of potatoes in 1899
was ninety-three bushels to the acre.
In 1903 it was loo bushels. We:
abroad they manage to raise 25a
bushels to the acre. This year there
Ia every incentive to bumper crops be-
cause prices are bound to rule high.
Keeping Tab ON Commercial Paper
Giving credit is u matter dependent
on confidence, aud this should imply
knowledge born OF experience. Bad
debtors arc apt TO so where they are
rot we'll known when they seek credit,
The men whose business is to scan
credits long ago learned the value of
getting the experiences of others in
stead of merely relying ON their own.
This Is especially the case with the
credit men of merchandising concerns. !
Bank credit men have had their own
methods of keeping track of those seek
ing accomm odation. Their institutions
have had the advantage of being able
to refuse tn handle paper that was
not adequately secured by collateral ,
or otherwise. and so their problem was
easier in the main. They wish. how