The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-04-09
HENRY CLEWS
WEEKLY Letter


especially in pushing the war; and
preparations for more vigorous cam
pa1gn are evident upon all sides. 1t
Is now a year since we declared war
against Germany; and, despite the
shortcomings and mistakes which in
voRed a flood of criticism, splendid
progress has been made. 1t must be
remembered that we entered this
struggle upon a much larger scale at
the start than any other nation ex-
cept Germany. The Allies entered
more gradually, and upon a much
smaller scale than ourselves 1t may
not be advisable to give details, but
1t Is well known that we have trained
and equipped a large army in an in
credibly short period, and have al
ready transported a large portion to
the front three thousand miles away.
our navy has been greatly strength
ened in both numbers and efficiency.
Our industries have been successfully
modified upon a war basis; and the
country's energies have been concen-
trated with gratifying speed and sue
cess upon winning the war. The re-
suit of all these preparatory efforts
will soon be much more apparent than
now. 1t must be remembered that
this war Is a huge job, for which we
were not prepared, either in organ
ization or plans. More or less blum
dertng and waste expenditure were
inevitable at the start. Our army had
10 be gathered over a widely scat
tered area; men and munitions were
transported over long distances; while
much delay and confusion were
caused by the breakdown of trans
portaeion and the hardships of a Sc
we're winter. With the disappearance
of these difficulties, there should de-
veIop a hearty cooperative spirie
from the Aelantic to the Pacific. Party
politics should be periodically re-
pressed during the period of the war,
and the national consciousness con-
centrated upon one single object, that
of winning the war.
When will Germany waken to the
bitter consequences of adding the
United States to her long list of enc
mics? The longer Germany delays
submission, and the more damage she
inf11cts upon others, the more severe
VIII D6 Tue O1 0cLL1SuIOIlI oiIlN
the worse her ultimate breakdown.
Count Czernin's latest peace talk is
merely camouflage, intended to con-
ceal the enemy's growing anxiery for
peace; the best answer to which is
the Presidents call for additional
men and the announcement in Great
Britain that the age limit Of army
service has been raised.
The Third Liberty Loan campaign
is now on. 1t should he pushed with
every energy. The loan can and will
be easily floated. Three billions is a
much smaller sum than expected. The
higher rate issues they may after six
short term, 10 years, will tend to sta
Billie these and previous Liberty is
sues. Though not convertible into
higher rate issues they may after six
months ownership be used in pay
ment of inheritance taxes at par. The
income tax payable next June may
almost equal $3,O00,000,0O0; but the
country will have no trouble about
meeting this test Of the war, as well
as continuing financial aid to our AL
hes. Indeed the marvel is the IA
cility with which the United States
takes on all these applications, prov.
ling that our financial resources are
much larger than ever dreamed of.
The first year of the war cost the
United States nine billions, of which
more than half went to our Allies,
one-third to our own army, one-tenth
to the navy, and one-fifteenth to
shtpbuilding One-sixth of this
amount was raised by taxation, the
balance from Liberty bonds.
In some departments industry has
become more active with the opening
of spring, and the improvement in
transportation. The increase in pig
iron production is very striking, the
March output being S,213,000 tons,
against 2,319,OOO tons in February.
This increase was largely due to re-
covery from the deadlock in trans
portation which occurred during the
severe weather of February. Ship
building has a1go been speeded up
with greater intensity, SO that the
| April output of ships and munitions
should also be heavier. Our textile
trades are fully occupied, chiefly upon
army work and at profitable prices.
Food products are active and growers
are securing handsome returns. This
Is true of all agricultural produce.
Cotton touched another top record, So
cents, while Western farmers are NOW
Hooking toward $3.50 wheat. Meats are
high though not scarce. Crop advices
are very favorable thus far, and the
| April winter wheat report will show
a considerable improvement in condi-
| tIov, rtorIo no rad with. Ia st year The
necessity for conservation of flour is
still pressing owing to poor quality
of last years crop, but the Flour Ad-
ministrator is authority for the state
ment that this years wheat crop
promises SO0,OO0,000 to S50,000,0OO bush
els against $50, 900, 900 bushels last year.
The dullest industry in the country is
probably that of building, because of
| high costs of labor and material; also
owing to disposition of the govern
ment to discourage any important new
construction, in consequence of which
a scarcity of housing is developing.
/ February railroad returns, which re-
fetced bad weather, are particularly
poor, Pennsylvania reporting a deficit
of nearly $17,OOO,OOO during January
and February Other railroad eturns
for these months were relatively poor
March reports are expected to show
decided improvements owing to re-
covery of traffic and increase of rates
allowed by the Interstate Commerce
Commission What with the restora-
ton Of traffic, the advance In rates
and the government guarantee of div
fdends on the last three years basis,
the railroads would seem to have lit