The sun., 1918-09-21
CIVILIAN BUSINESS
IS REPORTED GOOD
Country Merchants in Great
Crop Yielding Sections
Buying Freely.
GOODS BECOMING sCARCER
Nearly All Sections Enjoying
Unusual Prosperity, Says
"Bradstreets."
GOODS BECOMING SCARCER

Notwithstanding the high cost OF living
Is curtailing the purchasing power OF
civilians, trade authorities report buying
to be good in all parts Of the country. the
only complaint being the scarcity OF
goods due to the necessity Of FIRST filling
the requirements of the United States
Government. Because Of the depletion
IN supplies available for civilian uses the
full measure of growth in ordinary trade
is not expected at this time. according to
these authorities.
In commenting on the purchases being
made in the country districts Brad
streets to-day will say:
Country merchants In the great crop
yielding sections are buying freely, the
one complaint being OF inability to get
goods, and, OF course, the mainsprings OF
this activity are provided by high prices
for all farm products. Indeed the North
west, a large part OF the Southwest, most
of the South, the West and on to the
Pacific coast are enjoying unusual PROS
perity, thanks to n combination Of high
prices for crops and meat animals and
activity in shipbuilding and in general
war work.
Higher Wages Boom Trade.
"Seasonable weather over a wide area,
but more particularly in the West, has
helped retail trade. and incidentally some
OF the Southern centres report that de-
partment stores are crowded with Shop
pers. Buying for the Forthcoming holi-
days is being urged. and as wages for all
Industrial workers as well as employ
ment for women were never better, de-
pressive features resulting from the call
ing out of men for warfare are over
Swallowed. At the same time additional
non-essential lines are being restricted.
but adaptable workers thus liberated
readily find employment In essential in
dustrfes Thus goods for civilian uses
are likely to become scarcer, and with
the Government making further calls
upon such preoccupied trades as textiles
and iron and steel ordinary buyers Will
have to take pot luck"
The whole economic structure Is being
brought steadily closer under the DOM
nation of war influences and no d!f-
ferent condition Is to be expected as
long as the worldwide upheaval con-
tinues, according to r. G.. Dun x Cos
weekly ReuietU, which says:
with warrant in past experience.
however confidence in the future re-
mains mistaken and the conviction Is
general that the further readjustmen,s
which are clearly foreshadowed will be
accomplished with n minimum OF unset
| Element, as have been ,nose ALREADY en-
countered. Yet there Is no disposition.
| either among official or private in
terests. to disregard the fact that new
and perplexng problems are impend-
Ing, and no other business question OF
the day has greater significance or nre-
sents more formidable difficulties than
the maintenance of high rate OF pro-
duction of war materials.
| Denrth Of Experienced Labor.
| Noteworthy outputs are still beng
| attained in the leading industries, hut
| the dearth of experienced labor renders
capacity operations impracticable a.
many establishments, and manufartur-
ers are more than ever inclined to turn
aside orders from commercial sources
| that threaten to interfere with needs OF
more imperative character. With tho
resultant depletion OF the supplies avail
able for civilian uses a full measur" ot
growth in ordinary trade Is not possible,
and the record bank clearings at many
centres must be considered in the Eight