davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-31
MARCH
German Offensive in the West-Happen.
ings in Washington ,.rs


The German offensive against tba
French and British lines In tho north
OF france overshadowed all other event.,
during March. The thrust against the
Allied lines commenced on the 21st. Ac-,
cording to the German reports, the Of
fensive yielded many prisoners and much
war material The Allied retirement.
however was carried on in order and
the number Of prisoners lost was yerv
small IN comparison to the sizo OF ths
battle. The net German gain al its
farthest point was thirty seven miles IN
seven days This newa did not have yerv
much efect on the stock market. Pricet
broke TO 2 points, but this. was onlv
temporary. and the market soon ro-
gained most of its loss,
At the opening Of the month the Ger.
mans were carrying on peace neRotis
tions with the Russians. The proposajg
were at first turned down, and the Ger.
mans issued an ultimatum to the Rus
sian delegates, which they were forced
to accept No sooner had the treaty been
signed by the delegates at Brest- t-IsitovsIc
when the Germans renewed their often
sive into Russia, The Russian Congress-
OF Soyiets later In the month. accepted
the German peace terms. despite tho
message that the United States would
aid them In fighting the Germans,
The Railroad CONTROL bill was pasaed
and signed by the President on the 2fsf.
In the Senate there was another OUT
burst on the part OF certain Senators to
criticize the handling OF the countrys
war program, .,-.,s t5fl' r
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-31
BANK CLEARINCS AT NEW HIGH
Years Total at Unprecedented
Figure-October the Best Month

Local bank clearings reached the un-
precedented total Of s1S,716,s92.4s3 in
the year 1918. comparing with $17.197,-
755,3S8 in 1917; $13,o83.317,706 in 1916,
and $S.S63,593,284 in 1915.
December, 1918, clearings were $1,772,-
41S,771, the third largest of any month.
The high record was $1,886.419,910. in
October.
1918 1917 1915
81. S23 s27. .e1G 1897. .eo1. 175 s1.o14 800. .1o1
81 i. .52s. sOJ.ee4 1.261.517.4o7 seo,7o2. .aO4
i, 427. 7.175.557 1,4oZo1o.b1s 1,ols.1os.2o 2o2
1870. 1868 1.4lo81s.42s 1901, ,5s4. 600
i7 i.711.o45.42o 1.47T72o.o0s 1.ose. COS. sa2
ZOO. soe.17a 1903. 500. o52 I.o72. .4ss. 7OS
July 7o5. sl2.7s1 1881. $40. $40 10000 .o2o
Aufn77ss4 ffn.7ss4, ,ess os2 1868 4s5.5s4 oos. 42o. 1oe
September -
l,51O.6l1,812 1.837772.70s 1.0Ie.7s1, 123
''IPse T. $50. 41oo1o 1.50o 400 o21 1.252. .oo5. 504
I.7s1. .7o4.a27 1852. es1. .5s1 1878. .7so. .s7s
i'77S,41s771 1.54o. .512.s24 1.951.s45. 500
Twelve months
10. .716,902. sS3 17.1e7.7 .75b.3Ss 1903. 317. zoe
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-31

Period of Excited Speculation and
Increasing Prosperity


in most respects contrasting sharply
with 1917, these were the governing in
huences On the economic situation dur
ing 1916:
First The checkered fortunes of the
war itself; including Germany's failure
1t Nerdun, the new Allied offensive in
the west Russa's effective campaign
against Austria, the Rumania debacle,
and, almost at the end of the year, the
German Governments proposal for
peace negotiations
Second. Rapidly increasing cost Of
the war, bringing the average total daily
expenditure, in the middle of 1915, to
aCtly a year before.
Third. Further expansion of paper
money issues by banks of the belligerent
Powers; the maximum increase of 1916,
as compared with the last week Of 1915,
being SSi6.OOOOOO in France, 500, ,000,-
600 in Germany, $1,000, 100000 in Rus
STA and $l64,000,0OO In the British cur
rency notes.
Fourth, Further sensational depre-
citation in many of the foreign ex-
changes; the New York rate on Ger
many falling to 65@s cents for four
marks, as against Il low rate OF rs q
in 1915 and par of 95A on Austria
TO slightly less than 10 cents, as against
of 20 1-3 cents; on Russia to 1873 cents
per ruble. as against low of 29& in
1918 and par of 81 4 exchange on Lon
don and Paris being held steady around
last years closing rates by export of
gold and raising of credits in America.
Fifth. Enormous loans by the Amer
lean market to the outside world due
partly to an overflowing supply of home
capital. but Gin the case of loans to the
Allied GovernmentS) to u virtual eXten-
sion of payments on their purchases OF
materials in America the total of suClI
loans nearly reaching $4,000. 100000.
Sixth An export trade from this
country greater by $1,000 900, 900 than il
1915 and by nearly SS,00O,00O,00O thar
in any previous year of peace. AS a
result, gold imports of S6S5, 100000 dur
ing the year. and $53O,O0O.OO0 excess ol
mark of our history, comparing witt
pre-war maximum of Sl5S,lOO,OO0 ant
Sli2,0OO,O00. respectively.
Seventh. Unprecedented business pros
perity in the United States throughou
the year. Increase in American iron pro
ductlon which brought the average dali!
output to a figure 119I per cent abov,
the highest average of any month il
1915 and 22Ss per cent above the high
est before the war. Railway gross ant
net earnings, which surpassed all pre-
Vious records.
Eighth. Rise in prices of commoditie
and in wages of labor. far surpassinl
that of 1915; the avance in steel prices
from the lowest of the year TO the high
est, being IS per cent: in copper prices
52A per cent in tin prices, 4S per cent
with standard cotton cloths 711a pc
cent
Ninth. Increase of s1,103,00O, 900 il
loans Of the country's banks, as com
pared with the year before.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-31

last returns 1898, ,OO0, 900 smaller in Naluc
than in 1917. despite the rise in prices /,
this being due to shortage OF shlpSi 40
a result both of German submarine uep
relations and of diversion of tonnage TO
the carrying of soldiers from AnerlSat
70 France but nevertheless an excess o. C
exports over imports, 5OO,OVV,oUo,
which was second only TO tne pre tjsS
wear. and which compared with Il nisIi
record of $691, ,OGO. 900 before the war;
Tenth. Railway net earnings unueT
Government operation, whiCh, IN ny no ~ ~ ~
six months of 1915. feLl az SESSsgSTySSs and Ssag-
0OO. 900 below the returns guaraitS,eGS !.
by the Government in its CONTRACT WI"
the railways; that extremely Dau =
suit being partly due 10 u'ti"tI ne on an ine
crease of railway wages exceeding SSUU,.
900 600 per annum, only partauy oILSt
by an increase of so and 20 per NsIt'
respectively, in passenger ana "reisn'
Better results after the middle OF the
vear with indications that, for the Iuti
twelve months, net earnings might taII
only $2OO, 600, 900 below the GoVerhiheil
guarantee. Meantime, great pubic ols-
Satisfaction with the quality of railway
serwica in the face of the heavy increase
of charges on passengers and Shippers
hut recognition that important improve
ments had been made in the way OIL
Joint use of equipment and terminals
by the railways.
Eleventh. Great increase in the bur
den on banking facilities as result OF
the Governments war financing. In
crease during the year of $67O,OO0,OOU
in loans at the New York banks and
of $l,182,O 900 in rediscounts of bank
loans by the Federal Reserve: $l,461.-
/ OOO,O 900 out of the total $1,S63,OOO,OOO
rediscounts an December being of loans
secured by United States Government
obligations. AS a result concerted ef-
forts by the Government and by bank
ing committees to restrict the use OF
bank credit for purposes not essential
to the war. this policy of restriction be-
ing applied especially, later in the year
to bank loans on stock exchange col
lateral. Nevertheless, a fairly uniform
6 per cent rate for money throughout
the year.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-31
JANUARY
Markets Begin and End Month Will
Rise in Prices


January security markets began the
month with great activity. trading on
the first two days being far in excess
of one million shares each. Prices ad-
vanced from 3 to 8 points in leading
issues. The rise In part was senti-
mental, the feeling having prevailed for
a long time that the markets. follow
ing the sharp downward movement OF
1917, would give a better account OF
themselves during the current year.
There were several important events
which Influenced the market favorab!y
during the opening days of the month.
One was the request OF the Solicitor
General OF the United States that the
Supreme Court postpone all the anti
trust cases but one. On the fourth day
OF the month. President Wilson ad-
dressed Congress on Government con-
troll OF railroads,
Following these events the market
moved irregularly, but generally lower.
On the sixteenth, after the close OF busi-
ness, news came from Washington that
Fuel Administrator Garfield. In order TO
relieve railroad congestion and TO save
coal, ordered an Industrial shutdown OF
Ave days from January IS to January
22, inclusive. and ten Monday closlngH
from January 28 to March 25.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-31

Der, OF gold exports except when IL
censed by the Government.
Tenth. a stock market which accepted
the declaration of war with composure,
but which grew more unsettled as the
estimates of war expenditure increased
and which fell into great disorder when
the revenue bill was passed, with prices
for many stocks going below the panic
prices OF 1907.
E,G~enth. Progressive concentration of
banking Institutions into the Federal Re
serve and Of their gold holdings into the
F"de nj Banks' reserve. AS Conse-
quence OF all these movements. Increase
in the gold holdings of the twelve Re
serve institutions from $452,000,000 at
the beginning of the year TO Sl,67l,
100000 on December 81, and increase In
their rediscounts from S3O,200,000 to
~ 100000. Simultaneous expansion of
their outstanding note circulation from
S275,300,000 on January l to Sl,2i6,-
100000 on December 81.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-31
1914
Outbreak of War and of the Mem
orable "War Panic

Beginning suddenly with Austrla's g
ultmatum to Servia on July 23. and
amplsd In financial history when Ger
many declared war on Russia and
France on August l. the memorable
economic crisis OF 1914 was the alto
gether dominating influence OF the year
The series OF events which accompanied
the outbreak of the war may be thus
summarized;
First. Worldwide financial panic
marked, during the midsummer week
I'm which II prevailed, by d 10 per cent
rate al the Bank OF England Cthe high.
est IN It's history. by recourse TO extra
holidays at London Under Government
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-31

for an indemnity OF 81. 600. 600. ooo and
much territory. No sooner had this neu,s
reached the United States when the Ger.
mans announced they could not trust
the russians. and their armies were or
9ered to proceed with their advance into
Russia On the closing days of the
month the Russians announced that they
would resume peace conferences with the
Germans, the conferences again TO be
held at Brest-LitovsiS. The Russians
the treaty. " o'sit
Won Hertling. in his address to the
German Reichstag on the 25th Of tho
Inontn, announced that the German Gov
ernment would accept all the terms laid
to Count Czernin. '' ""sNer
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-31

Before 1868, seats on the New York
Stock Exchange were not transferred
by purchase and sale. An initiation fee
OF $4,000 was. however. required from
members duly elected by the board and
on business on their own account. In
1868 the transfer of seats began to have
a value. for in that year the present sys-
tenn of transfer was instituted.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-31
CHRONOL OG Y OF
THE FINANCIAL YEAR
OUTSTANDING Features in the Political and Economic
History of I9I8-Mouements Stock Exchange
by Months in Sequence -EUents Far Reaching


February officially Russia has withdrawn
from .....
will PN Be licensed 0'' made that " imports and exports
February bushe
March 4-Rumania accepts German peace terms #
March 7senae finance corporation bill
a-presdent BILL
March nid States Corporation grants 10 cent increase
April 15-count czernin Premier
49, bill melt a5ooooooo silver dollars @
May Third Liberty Loan campaign ends "a. y
May Peace treaty between Central Powers and umania signed
May May danspa bill passes % %hS us' oS to sro. presidents
administration 2 cent increase in freight rates. also in
crease in passenger rates. increase also granted
2s-secretary
June s-aeman submarines American coast many ships
June s-seary McAdO advises doubling taxes industry
board o commanders all steel e.H for war .
June 2-German Government makes statement
2sczar Russia reported ...."
July President Wilson taking telephone and
telegraph ..3
July July copper from ss to Ger
slgnswi .,..,T
July 1sld
August Maximum silver price fixed by Treasury at so11s
August 2scharman of Money Committee against
September r-sereary McAdOo higher exemption
| September 1a-Amercans wipe out St. A1ihie salient
September September p s ] % Wilson m rejects austrian @ peace pea proposal
September Bulgaria seeks requests armstce terms
September -Hulsaria yields all points, Allies armisce
October sGermany another
s-President Wilson replies
sovegne to council
1SGermanys
October 16-Fresident Wilson's
published
october 1s-Fouh Liberty Loan campaign ends
| tern
October SWIson Germany
a
3OAnother
October 3Turkey
FOL
November 1-Versaies
November Austria OF
November sPeace and armice
Rvo
November sEmperor William
Holland
November
November 12-Ausrian .
November 20-Tweny mes surrender
o. November 21-German to
December 2-Presdent
railroads
in history.
Of
at for 1918 delivery
% S4476.OOO
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-31
PRICES OF COTTON

An interesting comparison of the
range of the spot price" CT cotton at
New York for the last fifty years is
contained in the following table:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-31
COTTON CROP CONDITIONS
Governments Reports Between
Seeding and Harvest Since 1894

The Governments condition esti-
mates" on cotton, published during the
Ave months that the crop is maturing,
make the following comparison Tor the
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-31
WEALTH OF THE UNITED STATES

Increase in the wealth OF the United
states IN the last half century is shown
in the following figures. They are the
Governments estimates of the true val
uation of real and personal property In
the years given;
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-31
APRIL
Continuation Of German Offensive.
Business Conditions Favorable

ity markets during the month OF April
was the news from the western war
front. The German drive which started
on the 2lat OF March was continued
the french ana British armies brousht
the Invaders 70 a standstsll before
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-31
RESUME OF ECONOMIC
EVENTS OF PAST YEAR
The Period Comprised Within the TtOetUe Months That
OF Greatest Doubt Since the Beginning OF the ar
and One of Startling and Dramatic Contrasts

This article and the articles and tables this and the
FOLLOWING maze are COPYRIGHT the New York Evenns Post me-
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-31
STOCK EXCHANGE SEATS

Comparison of the price of New York
Stock Exchange membership during the
last Twelve years follows:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-31
STOCK SALES FOR FORTY YEARS
Transactions on Stock Exchange
in 1913 Far Below Those of 1917
The following table gives the sales by
years since 1879:
IMMIGRATION DURING 1918

According to the monthly bulletin of
the Bureau of Immigration there were
admitted Into this country for a series of
months, compared with previous years:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-31
FARM VALUE OF CROPS IN 1918

For corn. wheat and oats the farm
value as of December / compares as
follows for a series OF years:
Corn All wheat Oats
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-31

Combining the amounts of money In
outside circulation with the above stated
amounts held in the Treasury as assets
of the Government, and with the gold
held against Federal Reserve notes. the
figures of total general stock Of money
in the United States are as follows:
Dec. 1, is Nov. 1. rs Dec. /. II
50, OsO. .o4s. 900 5000. .7s4, 7e8 $3,o4o, ,472 o40
Silver
44.514.oOO 42e. .s4e.o3o 5es. .2ee.51s
2s7.so4. 600 2s5. 5.oo4. 200 2l4.4e5. 800
U. S. notes
846.SsI. .0bO 84s. .o16 348. osl, ,o1e
Federal Reserve notes
2.778. 825, ,OOG 2.7O5. 787, 1855 1926, PA, ,61O
O6.D5i 900 i1.S47.2eo 12.s4a. .s65
| National bank notes
716.s5s.00O T21 47l.1ss 717.o52. .o65
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-31

The lowest price at which consols
have ever sold was An in 1898, during
tn, French war.
Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1918-07-04
Read Up on Civil War.

One of the peculiar facts concern
ing the entrance of America into the
war the stimulus given to reading anG
discussion of the American Civil war
The perusal of Civil war histories in
England has become almost a mania
and more books treating of the great
conflict have been sold in England in
one year than in America during the
last ten years.
The reason is simple: England and
the allies generally want line" on
the American as a fighting man. The
Spanish-American war failed as an
adequate criterion because we had
Spain so hopelessly outclassed from
the beginning. But some of the great
est battles in the history of the world
were fought in the Civil war. The per.
centage of death losses in actual bat.
tie were higher than that of any other
war ever fought. The verdict seems to
be that Americans know n good deal
about the sanguinary business of kill
Ing.
Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1918-07-04
TO STAMP OUT OBEAH
Authorities Will Put Stop to Practice
Too Long Prevalent in the
Virgin Islands.

The American officials of the Virgin
islands have taken steps to deal with
the novel but serious crime of obeah.
which has long been practiced in the
islands. Matilda Francois has been
arrested and incarcorated as an obeob
woman, and announcement has been
made that prompt action will be taken
by the Americans to show that tbis
wicked and shameful practice must
cease.
The obeah is sort of first cousin
OF the yoodoo of darkest Africa. which
is said to be still practiced in the in
terror Of Hayti, and which has not
been entirely stamped out in other
Islands of the West Indies group. The
oDeah man or woman sets up as a sort
OF witch doctor protesting to cure all
Ills by use of charms, to be skilled in
tne preparation of love philters, and
OF connections that are believed 70 he
certain to bring harm to the enemy of
the victim who pays.
Superstition still has such strong
hold on the minds of those who bo'
heve In obeah that they paw their good
money and protect them in court un+;I
opeah cases at times have become tbe
pane of officials. Often convictions
are only brought about through deem.
laid plots and skillful work on tba
part of the police.
Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1918-07-04
Common Sense Plus.

The class in Commercial English
was studying the parcel post system
The subject being discussed was the
size of admissible matter under this
class, to be sent in any zone. The cor
rect rule for this is to measure the
parcel from end to end with an "a
inch tape measure, and then use the
rest of the measure to stretch around
the circumference Of the parcel. If
any surplus inches Of tape come
around, then the parcel is of correct
size.
Suppose" said the teacher, bring
ing forth practical example, shat
were to have an umbrella Louise, how
could tell whether or not it could be
sent?"
Louise arose reluctantly and studied
for q moment in silence. At last she
"Well, I think I'd close the
first"
Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1918-07-04
FAITHFUL TO HIS TRUST.

An army officer happening along
lonely mountain road near Frs de-
rick, Nd, discovered a solder guard
ing a wrecked army motor truck. 1t
appears that over month ago the
truck fell into q ditch and the zap
tain in charge of the outfit delegat--
cd soldier to guard 1T until fur
Their notice" Apparently the { cap,
tain forgot all about the incident but
the soldier remained at his pest, be-
lag fed by the farmers wives in the
vicinity. The officer who discovered
the man ordered him released
Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1918-07-04
Horses Jumping Powers.

If the reader will carefully measure
out 80 feet an idea of q horses capac-
ity in this direction viii be gathered.
Such distance steeplechase horse
called Old Chandler is reported to have
covered at Warwick many years ago
and there is more than one apparently
authentic record of a horse clearing
over seven feet. in height. The scene
of such an exploit was at the Phoenix
park, Dublin, and the horse was called
Turnip. The animal belonged to Sir
Il. Crofton, and the duke of Richmond,
then lord lieutenant of Ireland, wa
gered $500 that this height could not
be cleared. A wall of the requisite d.
mansions was built, and when finished
Turnip was ridden at it. He did what
was asked of him in perfect style, but
it happened that his grace, not know
Ing that the feat was ready for per.
Torrance, was not looking when the
jump was made, and Turnip was there
fore ridden over it again, not only sue
cessfully, but easily.-LonGon Tit-Bits.
Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1918-07-04
WAR SURGERY

Amer cal, war hospitals are recog-
niged as Icing without an equal any
where and the surgeons and nurses il
them are working wonders in the
treatment Of sick and wounded men
The largest American evacuation hos
is equipped with 1900 beds and its
surgeons, among the foremost N
their profession in the world can
take care of $500 surgical cases jan ~
! to 16 hours. Fortunately, however,
only a few of the beds are occupied
as yet.
The wounded men reach the hes
pitai within the shortest possible time
the methods of treating them are
the best known to science and the
equipment of the hospital is unsur-
passed.; as result 80 per cent of
the wounds are treated without any
pus being allowed to form in them.
Soldiers often enter the hospital
with wounds that ordinarily would
be expect d to bring deatl within
short time and leave it practically
whole and sound. For example man
was brought in with his Oh M shot
entirely away. The surgeons were
obliged to perform five different oper-j
ations for him but they succeeded in
building new chin and jaw. 1t is q |
common thing to save arms and legs
which the old-time surgeon could not
possibly have saved but would have
promptly, believing that
the only way to save tie life Of the
patient and the chances, at that,
We're usually unfavoratle. Delicate
operations on punctured lungs and
Intestines are performed daily end
he lives Of many men are thus savet
Aside from the merciful humanitar-
an ccnsideraticrs OF saving lives and
limbs and preventing suffering, the
up-to-idate hcspitol treat
nent available fer American soldiers
they could not get better or more 1
competent surgical attention IN the
'est hospitals in their home land - ;
Jays we'll from a financial point of '
lew; 1t is figured that one of the
'ig evacuation hospitals which has
'een operated under American con- 6
rol but short time by caring for {
J. S. soldiers has saved no less t
han $3000,000 to Uncle Sam i'm in I
urance; that is, this amount in m t
urance would have come out of the a
overnments funds had the men \
reated in this hospital died. S