Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-01-03
Extraordinary and Abnormal Re-
quirements Made Upon Every
one from Farm Boy to Corpor-
alton Head Leave the Nation
Steady with Heavy Reserves
Coming Up for 1918-Birds-
eye Retrospect by U. S. Cham
Der of Commerce Furnishes
Food for Thought.

Washington, d. c., Dec. 31.-A BIRDS
eye of business made public to-day 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 report
is made by the chambers permanent
committee of statistical exports Of which
Archer Wall Douglas Of St. Louis is chair
man.
The attitude of the business world
toward the future, runs the report, seems
to depend more upon local conditions than
upon any general sentiment. In those
sections where the crops were poor there
is great deal of natural conservation
and caution in making purchases and COM
mitments; for the common sense of the
buyers generally prefers to await the re-
suits of the coming crops.
In some sections of the East there is
more or less of this same hesitation and
doubt. despite much industrial activity,
and apparently because Of drastic economy
among the purchasing public. also the
pinch of the high cost of living, and the
realization that all Of wars burdens are
vet 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 con-
fiderce, tempered by the realization that
no one can possibly divine what the future
holds in, store for us, and consequently all
purchasing is for needs and wants, with
the element of speculation almost entirely
eliminated Apparently, the general
volume of business seems assured at some-
thing like 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.
and in portions of the Southwest and
the Northwest. This is due to an un-
usually early and severe frost and
freeze in September, and subsequent
wet weather in these same sections
Much OF this soft corn was used in silos
AS early AS possible, and later on by
feeding 1T literally TO livestock, es-
pecially hogs Sections where soft
corn is most abundant are getting ship
ments of cattle and hogs from other
sectiohs where feed is nigh and scarce,
a.
ton.
CORN IN SOUTH.
The Souths proportion of corn is
very large this year, and the crop is
Oh most excellent quality. Exceptions to
sood Yields are Oklahoma and Texas,
which suffered severely from lonp-con.
tlhued drought. Elsewhere the South
mas corn to ship, for IT raised more
than sufficient amount for it's own
needs. 1t also has an abundance of
other iced for livestock, so that stock
raising is becoming more and more a
necessary and important adjunct of
farming in the terriotry south of Mason
and Dixon's line.
CHANGED CONDITIONS IN SOUTH.
The transformation within a twelve
month or certain sections of the South
IN agricultural and business conditions
seems almost unbelievable There were
portions OF the Central South Mt this
time last year that were in the slough
OF despond. Crops of all kinds. owing
10 the Doll weevil and excessive rains.
were almost complete failures Ne
sroes. the staple agricultural laborers.
were leaving in thousands for the North
and the East, and the future seemed IN
orer nothing but that grim endurance
which the Southern people have SO Of
ten experienced and practiced
PRESENT VIEW OF SOUTH
To-day the reports throughout theso
same regions are optimistic beyond ex
preston. and indicate that the boa st
of the South that ut rs the land of on.
portunity" is in reality a sober truth
If some crops, such as rice and supa,
cane, were not as large as in somo
years past. these products now bring
great prices which more than make mr.
the difference to the producers. II Is
true that the same September freeze
that hurt corn SO badly this year like
wise blighted a large area of cotton In
Tennessee, Mississippi. Arkansas AND
Alabama. But, again. the application IN
price of this great staple brought It's
compensation to the farmers and plant.
ers. An interesting sidelight on cot.
ton is that 1t is being SUCCESSFUL,
raised though in a moderate way. a,
far south In Florida as the bay OF
Tampa.
Manufacturers. with scarcely an ex.
ception, have all they can do, though
building operations are much curtailed
This In turn has affected the mining OF