Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-01-02
B;rdseye V;elO of Business

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Washington. Jan. "A birdseys OF
business made public today by the
United States Chamber Of Commerce
shows that extraordinary and abnormal
demands made upon everyone from
farm boy to corporation head have
left the nation steady and with heavy
reserves coming up for the new year.
The attitude OF the business world
toward the future, runs the report
seems to depend more upon local con-
ditions than upon any general sent
ment. In those sections where the
crops were poor there Is great deal
of natural conservation and caution IN
making purchases and commitments
for the common sense OF the buyers
generally prefers to await the results
Of the coming crops.
: In some sections Of the east there -
more or less OF this same hesitation
and doubt, despite much Industrial
activity, and apparently because ot
drastic economy among the purchasing
public. also the pinch Of the high cost
of living, and the realization that all
Of wars burdens are yet to be felt. IN
general. however, In the larger portion
Of the country the buying power OF the
many is greater and more widespread
than ever before so that the general
View seems to be a sustained conn
dence, tempered by the realization that
no one can possibly divine what the
future holds in store for us, and con-
sequently all purchasing Is for needs
and wants, with the element Of specu-
Iation almost entirely eliminated. APP
NJ hl1Qf.
ness seems assured at something ltke
its present status during the coming
winter months.
The following extracts are sufficient
to bring out the most important parts
Of the report:
Agriculture.
The corn crop, greater in yield than
ever before. has the disadvantage OF
much soft corn in the central west. ana
In portions OF the southwest and the
northwest. This Is due to an unusually
early and severe frost and freeze IN
September and subsequent wet wealth
er in these same sections Much OF
this soft corn was used in silos as early
as possible, and later on by feeding
II literally to live stock, especially
hogs. Sections where soft corn Is most
abundant are getting shipments OF
cattle and hogs from other sections
where feed ss high and scarce. thus en-
deavoring to equalize the situation.
The south's proportion Of corn Is very
large this year, and the crop - OF moss
excellent quality. Exceptions to good
yields are Oklahoma and Texas, which
suffered, severely from long-continued
drought. Elsewhere the south has corn
to ship, for It raised more than suni-
Client amount for its own needs. It also
has an abundance Of other feed Tor
live stock. 50 that stock raising Is be-
coming more and more necessary and
important adjunct Of farming In the
territory south Of Mason and Dixon's
line.
Distribution Of ProduetsI
AS might have been expected. we
have encountered a serious proposition
in the lack Of efficient. and economic
systems and methods, be.
cause the productions Of last year still!
remain to be equalized in their appor-
tionment for the benefit of the general
public. There are sections where Irish
potatoes were raised in great quanti-
ties and where they are lying Idle be-
cause there IL no market and no place
to which to ship them, while other
sections are paying higher prices FOR
these same goods than II It were pos
sible to have more general and euuit-
able distribution.
The growing crops that most concern
us are winter wheat. winter rye, winter
oats and citrus fruits. There 10 much
planting Of winter rye and winter oats,
the latter being almost entirely sowed
In the southern states. The increase
In the acreage Of wheat over last year
is approximately ~ per cent. but is
most unequally distributed. 1t Is less
in some portions Of Kansas and Okla
homa. owing to a prolonged dry fall,
which rendered seeding impossible.
while It is very great in the neighbor-
ing state Of Missouri.-probably being
greater there than in any other COM
Its increase also. proper
tionately, is marked in the southern
states as far south as southern
Georgia The growing crop Is gener-
ally in good condition. as recent SHOWS
In Oklahoma and Kansas came in good
time to save much offt that was close
to the ragged edge OF disaster There
are still portions Of the southwest
where more moisture II needed. but In
general the growing plant goes into the
usually trying winter well fortified
a against climatic troubles.
Sugar and substitutss.
The high price Of sugar led to ex-
tensive planting Of saccharihe sor-
ghums and sugar cane. It il interest
ing also that there has been q great
effort to increase the production OF
and high price Of sugar. Unfortunate
" the summer was cool and not favor
able for honey production.
s Live Stock.
The live stock situation il very good.
save in the droug stricken regions. Of
which mention has been made. Despite
the very high prices for meat animals.
and the close selling OF Of live stock
by some farmers, there stiil seems to
be an increase in their numbers. and
this will be helped from now on by the
abundance OF feed and by constant
growth IN the number Of silos being
built. This IL true especially in the
south. as the infested areas are be-
ing cleared Of the cattle tick.
n The high price OF hogs stimulates
production, and fortunately under
IN OF Z .; 3 5 3 A!.!ons the entire hog
population can be doubled in twelve
months. Especially Is this true at
present because Of the almost total alb.
sence Of hog cholera.
Future increase In sheep seems TO
depend largely upon the small farms.
rafhnr than the 1ra zinR raS,lAa Of the
west. The latter are being gradually