Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-11-24
COUNTRY PROSPEROUS.
RESERVE BOARD FINDS

| Washington. Nov GA most or
tmistic aspect is put on the agricul
tural and commercial conditions o
he country by the report of the Fed
eral Reserve Boards review of Octo
Der, indicating prosperous situation
turnout the United States. witt
only minor instances of slight d.
cFeases in crops or industrial or busl
Tess activities. The only unsatisfac
DRY condition reported is that of Ia
DOR. the scarcity of which is fairl,
general. but improved in some in
stances.
The situation in the districts cen
fering around Richmond and Dalla,
Is particularly prosperous. Only Bcs
ton shows any unsatisfactory lessen
ne OF the optimistic outlook. and tn,
GENERAL business In that district /.
maintained Z. a fair level BY wa
orders
New York. altho the labor suppl,
q hardly adequate. is active in II
Industries. its business Ia well mair
aimed and its harvest outlook good
Only construction. building and en-
,ineering activity show a noticeabl,
decrease. which is true In some de
rec everywhere In the country ok
,ept Boston, which maintains It's Drey
ously high record.
Bank clearings are increased gen
orally and money rates are firm. Rail.
road, post Office and other receipts
ire Of greater volume.
Philadelphia Industries are very
busy and the districts foreign trade
IS large. Labor conditions are un
'ettled. but the general outlook is
good.
The district Of Atlanta is operating
o capacity in Its industries and the
eneral business situation Is good
lso. Labor conditions there are fair.
'rops are satisfactory with sufficient
1en to gather them.
Chicago. alth0 il has to contend
With a labor shortage maintains a
prosperous level of activity in all
ines except in new constructions
The automobile industry is exer,ns
n untoward influence In the Middle
Vest, but one that is being adjusted
There is falling off in the demand
or pleasure cars in the Chicago lis.
trict, but the manufacturers are turn.
ng their attention TO trucks. The
high price OF merchandise is begin
ming to cut down dry goods sales, bit
the volume Of business In money re.
mains satisfactory. Grain il NOV
'ng In from the country, but The
farmers are holding oats and corn FOR
a stronger market. The release u
'hese stocks is likely to cause an over.
supply in the spring, with resultant
all in prices.
The demand for military wrist
has increased the watch
rade generally, and piano manu.ac.
.urers also report an excellent bust.
ness. no doubt due TO the enhance
popular interest In singing. brought
about by the training camp sing-songs
md the community chorus campaigns.
In st. Louis, with few exceptions.
business Is at high level, the OK.
'ep,ions being affected by the labor
market and the scarcity OF raw ma.
erials. Government orders are
arge factor In the activity there, the
influence etending even to the de.
'artment stores and other retail
rade. The cotton crop. however. is
likely to be reduced considerably be.
ause OF frost in the south The
orecast for the tobacco crop in Ken.
lucky and Tennessee Is for a yield
. great rs that OF 1916. above the
ve.year average. The coal situation
threatened by the c0lliery strike
! Illinois.
In the Minneapolis resercve district
be crops In the West have been
hort, but the 1917 harvest there has
rought more money to the farmer
nan ever before. and the proats have
cen large, especially In the eastern
art OF the district. Industrial con.
ems are loaded with orders for
lonths ahead.
The most encouraging renDsts come
'om the Kansas City district. where