The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1918-03-14
BUSINESS AFTER THE WAR.
(Mining and Scientific Press)

mining and Scientific Press)
Preparation for business after the |
war should not be neglected. Reli-
ance upon foreign trade to keep our
factories going and our workmen en-
ployed Is apt to prove disappointing.
We have noted a disposition, which we
think rests upon hasty reasoning, to
assume that a period of reconstruction
in Europe will begin the moment that
peace is assured, and that it will call
Immediately for enormous contribu
tions of metals and manufactures from
this country, sufficient to create an
era of prosperity. This view is too
optimistic. AS soon as an armstice is
arranged period of uncertainty will
supervene; no man will know whether
to an acceptable peace. Especially
will this be so if overtures should be
entertained before Germany has been
brought to her senses. that is, before
man territory. 1t appears not unlikely
that the kaiser will sue for peace be-
fore such collapse of his power. The
negotiations over general treaty of
peace will consume many months, for
questions of the utmost completely
and gravity, affecting every country in
the world, will be under consideration
1t is evident therefore, that after the
demand for military supplies will have
ceased a long period of stagnation is
inevitable before normal commercial
intercourse between the nations will
be resumed. What can we do in the
interim to avert serious financial
stress. 1t is evident that we must turn
again to our domestic problems of
Industrial development. These are
now hated, because the materials
needed are unavailable while our ac-
tivities are centered upon the produc-
ton of munitions of war. Neverthe-
less, the wise manufacturer will en-
deavor to keep in touch with the pos
sibilities of business at home; he will
not allow his organization for gather
his own country to become crippled;
he will not fail to advertise in order
to keep his name prominently before
the public, and he will prepare to fol-
lew the indications of business brought
in answer to his advertisement so as
to be ready to take advantage of them
as soon as the governments call upon
his activities ceases. Above all, he
must not count too heavily upon for
eign business for a considerable per-
iod after the war. Europe will find an
enormous quantity of raw material
ready to hand in the scrap and wreck
age that has accumulated during these
Years of struggle; this will serve as
an important source of supply for her
shops. We must not forget the recent
announcement of M. Andre Tardieu,
French high commissioner to the I'm
tied States, that France is able to fur
nish 20 divisions of our army with all
the guns and ammunition that they
may need for six months in addition
to her own requirements for an army
of over four million men now in the
field. This gives an idea of the man.
ufacturing capabilities of that country
England also has developed her equip
ment for manufacturing during the
war tremendously There we confront
potential competition that should dis
pei dreams of a continuing foreign de-
mand for our manufacturers adequate
to maintain our industrial operations
at high pressure. We must keep our
house in order to meet the strain in
evitably due when the period of re-
adjustment begins.