davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-02-18

+ remaining in the trade. The supply Of
"A. BIS and tiremcn for mercantile YES
sells was about equal to the demand.
With dock and wharf aborcrs employ
ment was, on the whole. only moderate.
Restricted supplies of raw materials
resulted in considerable amount of
short time in some of the textiles in
dustries and this made for a new feat
ure in the labor situation as whole,
as in these industries the great bulk
O. the employees are women and young
persons, and it remains to be seen how
far surplus labor of this kind can be
utilized on other work.
Textile and Clothing Trades
. The situation in the textile and
clothing trades is set forth by "Thc
Labor Gazette" as follows:
"In the carly part of the year eli,
ployment in the cotton trade was good
r. the spinning section and fair in the
weaving branch. In June, however, it
declined with the growing shortage of
cotton, which resulted in sharp rise
in price and led to the regulation of
the cotton market. The Cotton Con-
troll Board was appointed, and its
scheme. limiting the amount of ma.
cninery that may be worked, came into
force on September 10; employnen,
since that date has been only mou-
crate. The woolen and worsted trades
were very busy until June, when re-
duced hours were worked in accordance
with the order restricting wool con-
sumption. Though the working time
was increased by an order in Septcm
Der, short time continued throughout
the remainder Of the year. The hos
icry jute and some branches Of the
textile, bleaching, calico printing and
dycing group continued to be we'll en-
ploycd In the linen trade employment
was good in Scotland; in Ireland II
was only fair, and short time was
worked in the Belfast district, where
employment was also adversely affected
by d tenters' dispute in September and
October. The silk and carpet indus
tries were fairly busy; in fhe laer
trade employment was very good in
the plain net branch, fair in the cur
tGin branch and bad on fancy laces.
Great activity continued in the boot
and shoe trades, and the shortage of
mon led to occasional slackness among
the women workers. The tailoring,
SHIRT and collar, corset, millinery,
aressmaking and mantle trades were
fairly we'll employed on the whole"
Wage Increases Liberal
Nearly 100000 British workers re-
ceived wage increases in 1917 according
to official estimates, and the total
amount of increase in the weekly
wages OF these people was nearly
A-,200.0O0 (Sll 100000. This is ex-
elusive of changes affecting seamen.
railway servants, agricultural laborers,
lolicc, government employees, domestic
servants. shop assistants and clerks.
The following table shows, for 10
affected by the changes reported and
New-York tribune., 1918-02-18
w a / II M a * G IS an q
Finance Economics
WALL STREET OFFICE:
Mills Building. 10 Broad St.

Stock market prices we're well
maintained last week and the major
ity of standard shares closed above
the level of the previous week, while
certain of the special industrial
shares which are more or less under
the control of professional pools,
displayed pronounced strength. In
the face of the news developments,
sentiment was surprisingly cheerful,
no great perturbation being caused
in Wall Street over the announce
mcnt that Russia had finally and
formally withdrawn from the war.
This had doubtless been previously
discounted because the trend Of de-
velopments had pointed in this di-
rection. Nevertheless the fact itself
came as a shock, emphasizing as it
did the increasing burden that the
Allies must bear. At the end of the
week Germany's threat to renew the
war on Russia and carry the wan
within the gates Of Petrograd gave
a new turn to the situation the i'm
portance of which is yet to be deter
mined For obvious reasons peace
discussions have been again forced
into the background and talk of
possible early cessation of hostili-
ties has given way to a feeling of
determination on all sides to push
the struggle to a victorious end. A
striking development of farreach-
ing Importance which received little
more than passing notice in the
financial markets was furnished in
the Presidents proclamation of gov
ernment interference in foreign
, trade through system Of licensing
imports and exports. If rigidly en-
forced, this new undertaking. may
reduce the total Of our foreign trade
by as much as one-half. some au-
thorities believe. Shipments of non
essential goods will naturally suffer
the most. What this is likely to
mean in the long run to our great
import and export trade is seen from
the foreign trade figures, which
show total exports last year Of So
231 100000 and imports close to So
100000, 600 The effect of a large
reduction in the volume of this trade
on foreign exchange would probably
take the form a general restriction
in operations, and possibly the dis
appearance Of the premium now ex-
isting on certain of the neutral ex-
changes. It's effects on the stock
market would be indirect, and are,
therefore, not easily seen in advance
Railroad stocks during the last week
showed some Improvement, appar-
entity reflection of the better senti-
ment on all sides regarding the safe
ty of railway investments under
government control.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-18
Shortage of Silver
Change in Norwa

The Norges Bank has put into ciru
lation 10000 crowns worth OF one crow
notes cat normal exchange the Norws
gian crown is worth 26s cents Unite.
States currency. These notes have bee.
issued to meet the shortage of smaI
silver change which has been felt il
Norway for some time past The sam;
rule pertains in regard to these note:
as for silver coinage Of corresponding
value, namely, that no one is obliged
to accept a sum exceeding 20 crowns in
g single payment.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-18
HARTMAN NATIONAL BANK
Fifth Avenue & Forty fourth St.
New York
BANKING HOURS FROM 8 4. N. 10 CPL
SAFE DEPOSIT VAULTS8A. NJ. 10 MIDNIesl

to the east to heavy commodities and
would prove most important link in
Nermany's extensive cham of natural
and artificial waterway Developments,
Trade Organizations Active
The great German system of organ.
zatlons of manufacturers in all lines
OF economists, of engineers and Other
professional men, of chambers of CON,
merce and other local organizations i
alive with preparations for the future
lhe manufacturers in every ndus.ry
are taking all possible steps to safe
guard and forward their individual an!
collective interests in view of after-;hs
war competition. All the chambers 4
commerce and other local organizatss
are taxing steps to safeguard thes.
terests of the particular local comr..
mites. In Berlin, Hamburg, Brems~-
Lubeck, Stettin and other centns Of
trade. import associations erbande
/ des Einfuhr Handeis) have been or.
ganized to work with the imperial con.
missions in planning and executing tn
after -the-war programme The diff.
culties and ~etaiis are infinite. but The
most painstaking care IS being devoted
to settling them. Since the beginning
of the war there have been many stroncl
advocates of the formation Of an im
perial department OF commerce.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-18

IN the price of flour were somewhat
similar. he average price of potatoes
ranged rom 012d. to 11a4 d. per seven
pounds IN the first half of 1917. Since
the 1917 crop it has been 6lsd. to I'd.
Prices of British meat increased bv
about 3a4 I'd. a pound between the be.
ginning and the summer of 1917. but
by the end OF the year were reduced
to a level about 1 u d. per pound above
that of twelve months earlier. With
imported meat the increase to the sum
mer and the subsequent decrease were
both less than with British meat.
MIX averaged SID. quart from
january to Septe mber, when an advance
began which raised the average price
to I'd. at the beginning of 1915. There
We're considerable fluctuations in the
prlce of butter during the first half of
l9l', but on August l prices were about
the same as at January /, 1917. Since
then abont sd. has been added to the
price a pound. The average price Of
margarine rose from Cd. a pound on
january to maximum of Is. I'D. on
July l; subsequent reductions have
brought it to 11s4d. pound. Cheese
rose by ID. pound between January
and June, but government control has
re1uced the average price to within
I'D: of that year ago.
The following table shows for eac}
centage increase in retail prices at 7;
comparison with July, 1914:
New-York tribune., 1918-02-18
Germany Plans
Trade Conquests
In the Near East
Heavy Traffic Canal Con
Meeting Main and Danube
Rivers Projected

Commercial Germany is already lay
I ing the groundwork for the campaign
by means of which it hopes to regain
large portion of the foreign trade
lost through the blindness Of the mill
tary autocracy. According to a report
on German foreign trade organization
prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Commerce, whatever may be
the outcome of the war, Germany will
make as active a canvass for the eX-
port trade as the resources and fnan-
cial condition Of the country at the end
of the war will permit.
German trade interests acknowledge
that there is bound to be prejudice
against German products in the mar
kets of the countries and possessions
now hostile to the Teutons. With an
assured commercial hostility in such
vast markets, it is obvious that Ger
man export trade must make the most
Of the few remaining neutral markets.
IN the great neutral markets of South
and Central America-in which Ameri-
can exporters are more than ever di-
rectly lnterested--in Spain and in other
countries not actively involved in hos
tilities, German competition after the
war is expected to be particularly
keen.
Exporters Planning Campaigns
German exporters are already plan
nlng campaigns for extending their
business in the near East. Some of the
German writers on foreign trade urge
the advisability of making the most of
German opportunities in that region,
and are pointing out that if sufficient
energy were bestowed on the develop
ment OF Mesopotamia it would become
a, second Egypt. They also point out
that the thing for Germany to do is
to establish itself so firmly in the
countries to the east that in any future
contingency Germany would have over
land communication with big and -four
lshlng markets and sources of raw ma
terlals all the way east to the Persian
Gulf and the Red Sea- The German
Levant banks are already there.
Enthusiastic Over Canal Project
Probably nothing indicates more
clearly the extent and direction of the
commercial-prepa campaign in
Germany than the enthusiastic reports
In mld-war time-concerning the pro-
posed work on great canal to ioin the
River Main and the Danube. A project
has been definitely worked out for
presentation to the Reichstag for a
canal to accommodate vessels Of 1900
tons. following the course of the pres
ent Ludwig Canal as far as Nuremberg
and then branching off in straight
line south to Steppberg on the Danube.
The project will require the expendit-
ure OF between $3.50 100000 and $780,
100000. Tie Importance of such a
heavy-trafhc canal is obvious. 1t would
open up the cheap water transportation
New-York tribune., 1918-02-18

laborers continued to rise, partly as
result Of the rise in retail prices and the
shortage of labor, and partly, in some
districts, in consequence Of the enact
ment for Great Britain of minimum
wage for adult able bodied men, at the
rate OF 25s. week, inclusive Of the
value of allowances in kind. The cash
rates of wages Of able seamen and fire.
men on foreign going vessels, which
mostly ranged from about 81 los. to 60
Il month at the beginning of 1917. con-
tinued to rise during the year, and in
November uniform rates Of ell los. for
able seamen and e12 for fircmen we're
agreed to by the recently constituted
National Maritime Board and confirmed
by the Shipping Controller.
The war "bonuses" for railway ser
wants manipulating traffic were in
creased during the year from los. a
week (mcn) and 5s. a week (boys) to
21s. and los Cd, respectively, and con-
verted into war wages" Workmen
and boys in the Royal Dockyards and in
certain War Department establish
ments received increases corresponding
with those granted in the engineering
and shipbuilding trades generally; and
the war bonuses of postal servants
were substantially increased, by
weekly wages. Increases were also
made in the minimum rates fixed under
the Trades Boards acts for workpeople
employed in certain trades.
Rise in Food Prices
In general the increase in wages has
paraleled the rising cost of living as
set forth in the Board of Trades sta
tistics. These show that at the be-
ginning Of 1917 the general level Of
retail prices of the principal articles
Of food was about 81 per cent above
that Of July, 1914; at the beginning of
| 1918 the corresponding increase was
106 per cent, so that the total increase
during the year was about 19 per cent
on the prices of July, 1914. or about 10
per cent on those of January, 1917 As
will be seen from the following table
almost the whole Of this increase took
place between January I and July j
since when there has been but little
change in the general level Of prices
Percentage Percentage
increase over increase over
January, 1917.. 81 7July, 1917. 's. II 1o4 0.
February. 1917. 80 August, 1917. .1O2
March, l917... 90 September, l917.1O6
April. 1917... "a October 1917. 81
May, 1917.. 98lNovember. 1917.1O6
June. 1917. 102l December, 1917.1o5
Between January I, 1917, and Janu-
airy /, 1918, the advance in the per
centagc increase since July, 1914. was
, greatest with bacon, eggs and fish; for
bread, flour and potatoes net decrease
was recorded.
With bacon the increase in price was
nearly continuous throughout the year
and amounted to over Cd. per pound
during the twelve months. The average
price of a fresh egg fell scasonally from
3h d. on January l, 1917, to a mini
mum of about I'd in April by Decem-
ber 1T had risen to over 4d. Almost
the whole of the increase in the prices
Of fish occurred during September to
December.
The average price of bread rose from
about 10d. per four pounds on Janu-
airy l, 1917, to 1112d. in May after
which it remained almost stationary
until the introduction of the subsidized
Cd. loaf in September. The movements
New-York tribune., 1918-02-18

Money rates were maintained on
q firm basis last week, although the
demand for funds for commercial
purposes and for use in the secur-
ity markets was not particularly
pressing. The banks, however, were
compelled to restrict their offerings
or cali and on time in order to take
ups the current issue of United
States Treasury certificates of in
debtedness and to prepare for sub
sequent issues between now and
April /. Interior banks made large
Withdrawals Of funds held here dur
ing the week, which, combined with
the local banks subscriptions to the
latest certificate issue, resulted in a
reduction Of $60,0OO,OOO in cash in
excess of legal reserve requirements.
The surplus at the end of last week
stood at $50 100000, the lowest With
one eXception-September d, 1917
since the establishment of the Fed
eral Reserve system. The surplus
has been steadily dwindling since
December 10, when it aggregated
Sl70, 100000. Call loans at the Stock
Exchange ruled last week around 5
per cent and closed at 6. Banks
were not inclined to extend their
commitments in time loans, and, as
New-York tribune., 1918-02-18
A Trade Opportunity

The Japan Advertiser Toxic. re,
ports a great opening FOR America
cotton mill equipment manufactures
since japanese spinners can no longer
buy from English makers, but are
considering the importation Of tier
requirements from America.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-18

a result, the rate in this department
of the money market held firm
around 6 per cent. Commercial
paper rates are being maintained on
"a 5l3 to 6 per cent basis, with only
a small amount of business moving
New-York tribune., 1918-02-18
AMERICAN POWER & HIGHT co

IfTWN'VWdNl NtW 7 OrN-
COMMON STOCK DIVIDEND 80. 81
The regular quarterly dividend OF one
per cent. Ggo) on the Common Stock of
tho American Power x 1dsht Company has
lcen declared. payable March J. i9lS to
common stockholders of record at the close
OF business February 1s. 1918.
NJ II. AIMING. Treasurer.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-18

In several large groups of manual
labor cmployments the numbers Of
workers affected by changes in rates of
wages are not known, although the
amount of the increase was reported.
The rates of wages of agricultural
New-York tribune., 1918-02-18
DIVIDEND NOTICES
Southwestern Power & Light Compan,
Preferred stock DiAidenL

Tho regular quarterly dividend Of one
and three quarters per cent as. "a on the
Preferred stock of Southwestern Power &.
Light Company has been declared payablo
March !, 1918, to stockholders of record at
the close or business February 10, 1915
NJ. II. ARNINt; Treasurer
New-York tribune., 1918-02-18
FINANCIAL MEETINGS

NoTlCN or ANNUAL. MEETING; or
lll-ii3 WEST BOTH STREET. INC.
tliE NNNCAL MEETING; of the stock
holders Of this Company win be held on
= he 4th day of March. 1918, at o'clock in
'ne an. rne',n, at the Office Of ttc corpora
York. for the purpose Of electine a Board
"i Directors, two inspectors 10 serve at ali
ei'eilons of Stockholders during tho ensu-
lnE wear aud receiving and acting upon the
reports of the officers and for the transac-
1icu of such other business as may properly
come before the meeting
JOHN NJ. LEE Secretary.
Dated February llth. 1915.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-18

Quiet prevailed in the bond mar
ket, with prices holding steady.
Early in the week sharp decline
to new low record for the second
Liberty Loan a per cent bonds,
which fell below 95 for the first
time, was an important unsettling
factor. Subsequently the issue raj
lied vigorously, and toward the end
of the week showed a recovery of
more than point from the low. The
sharp rally in the 4s gave rise to
reports that the Treasury Depart
ment would bring out higher in
terest-bearing issue next time into
which the outstanding issue could
be converted. Details of the terms
of the third Liberty Loan are still
withheld, probably for one reason
because conditions which might now
call for q higher Understanding
bond may be changed when the loan
is offered in April. In explanation
of the heavy selling of the second
4s early in the week, when they
underwent such severe decline, it
is stated that banks which have
been carrying subscribers to that
loan on a per cent basis have in
many instances refused to renew at
that figure and have asked AZ per
cent, thus causing considerable
liquidation.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-18
Net increase in the
weekly wages COM
pared with nre-

table
but advances erantcd
usually
alone would
tile
New-York tribune., 1918-02-18
Short Term Notes

Security. ratio and when due Bid ASK. ys.
-,nierica Cotton Oh Is. l9ls.. 99's s9's ee
Arcrican Cotton on IS 1919 95l. e5s. 81
Am Tel & Tel Is, lala 90 ss'. g.
American Thread 4s l9lq q a7ls 81
i X Il Il 5s l9ls..... 9e,s 9s4 u
y 4 O X IS. l9la........... 9s s8is s.:
bethlehem Steel IS. 1919 ..... eT7s esis "a
Brooklyn Rapid Transit IS 1918 95ta a6i4 :
Canadian Northern Ry 6s i9lS 90 100 81
Canadian Pacific Ry rs. 1924 49,. 98lA ss's D.!
Central Argentine RS 6s l9G7 80 Sl1i =
{ B & q Il Il Is. le2i.......-. % sj'A D.
shl X West Ind II js lqls.. 95ss 9s -
Surtiss Aero serial 6s. 1918 - iO i03 =,
Delaware & Hudson L r Js 1920 e8 9Sl, ~
trie Ratlroad IS. 1919. ..-..-... 1874 e4'a -
Fed Sug Refining Is. 1920. $500. e5 81 (,
General Electric IS. 1918 9s7s 1905 s.
General Electric Gs 1920 - a97s i00is y
General Rubber 5s. 1915 ... qS sS's :.
Grand Trunk Ry Of Can Is. lalS e7 SO T.
Great Northern Ry IS. l9a0 g67s Tis ~
Hooking Valley Ry is. l9ls. es 9s'4 >,
Kansas City Ry SIPS. l9iS as SO ~
Kansas City Ter Ry 4ies. lals . 9S'a sSN Il
taf.sas City Ter Ry AS leel "a 81 =
Michigan Central X Il IS. lqls. 99ss ss" J..
Mont Tram & Power IS 1919 90 "a
Morgan & Wright .. 1918 . 3d. ioo., ~
New York Central II II Is. 1919 s7is sl's ..
y II & II r Il IS l9lS % %
Northern States Power 6s ,a2G 687 81 ~
PENNSYLVANIA 412s. 1927 ....... e6 96f, ~ ~
y S of y J IS 1919 ....-.- s5 y vs.
bennington Arms L VI { - 1919 40 92 -
southern Railway =. 1919. .--.. ga 97's -
United Fruit IS. lglS.......... 99's too n
tab Securities Corp 6s. 1922 . 80 50 n
Winchester Repca. Arms IS 1915 1913 100 4
Westinghouse El n NJ 6s 1919. 9S's gSn ~
New-York tribune., 1918-02-18

New York. February 2nd. 1918.
NpTlNF Is HNHEBN GIVEN THAT THE
M annual meeting cf tho stockholders OF
me tribune Association viii he held at
tnr oiice Of The Company in The TRIBUNE
Rui'dims l5i Nassau Street. in the city ot
~ York ON Monday, the tSth day Of
IehrVary l9iN. at O'Clock in the after
noon of tnat day. for the purpose OF elect
ing directors for the ensuing year and
inspectors or election to sorVe at the next
annual meeting, and for the transaction Of
su%h oihrr business as may properly come
heiorc said meeting
OGDEN REID. President
New-York tribune., 1918-02-18
All above articles (weight


% so great with food The
family
pehdture
to
New-York tribune., 1918-02-18
TUE ANNUAL, MEETING: or,Ytt,, s,roc,,

THE ANNUAL MEETING; OF THE STOCK
holders Of The Examinations Corporation
W,l be held at its otiice. No AZ Exchange
ii''e Borough of Manhattan. city and
Sislr OF N"w York. ON Monday. March 4
3slS, at /. o'clock noon. for the election OF
directors for the ensuing year. and for the
transaction of such other business as may
properly come before the meeting
WILLIAM $. HOOD. Secretarv
New-York tribune., 1918-02-18

iolowg table shows ner
Sn
New-York tribune., 1918-02-18

following table of
uced by the the
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-03-01
WHAT 1T COSTS TO
EQUIP ONE SOLDIER

A detail which throws interesting
light on the wars colossal cost is
found in the statement that our Gov
eminent spends approximately $156
in equipping every infantryman for
service in France. A little calculation
will show what it will cost to prepare
a million or a million and a half men
for the front. The equipment ex-
penditures for the foot soldier are
classified under three heads, says
Popular Misunderstanding, eating
utensils, and fighting equipment. I'm
der the latter group the rifle, the cost
of which is figured at $3.50 is the
most expensive item.
This amount varies from time to
time. The gas mask, which also va
ries in price somewhat, is estimated
at $12, and 100 cartridges at SIS. The
total cost of clothing is slightly over
500, the biggest item being $1S.75
for three wool blankets, $14.92 for one
overcoat, $3.50 for two wool service
coats, and 5000 for two pairs of
shoes.
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-03-01
War Credits Board Approves Ad-
Yances of nearly S15O,O00,OOO.

A statement prepared by the War
Credits Board includes the following
explanation of its functions and ac-
tivities:
"When concern that has con-
tract with the War Department for
supplies has shown the Board that it
needs financial assistance and has
been able to comply with the act by
giving adequate security, the Board
has approved an advance payment
and the money has been received; in
many instances where the case was
urgent the money has been paid over
to the contractor the same day the
application has been filed. However,
the Board does not act in any sense
as a bank. 1t is only when the manu-
facturer has reached point where
financial assistance is needed, in adj
dition to his banking lines, that appli-
cation for advance payment for his
goods is considered favorably by the
Board"
Between the time of its creation in
November and January oath, the
Board approved advances to contract
ors totalling $145, 551 900.