The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-04
ALONG MAIN STREET.
Federal Reserve Bulletin for Month
Contains Interesting Information.

Federal Reserve Bulletin for Month
Contains Interesting Information.
The review Of business generally in
the Fifth federal reserve district is
most comprehensive in the monthly
report Just issued by the board.
Some extracts may prove interest
nE reading for those who desire to
keep in touch with the timess
The most Important question in
he district which is already enEag-
ING widespre5d attention and consid-
Grafton, is that or the planting and
raising oc this years crops. 1t is
highly desirable to achieve the best
results in this direction, but consid-
erinG the high cost OF essentials to
accom- plish this conservatism should
prevail. Farmers are reported never
so rich. The demand for ploughs In
unprecedented, but this IL also said
20 apply TO automobiles
Army and navy requirements are
creating a scarcity in many lines OF
merchandise. Collections are goo /.
Sea rcity OF essential factors, raw ma
: LFt Az ~ II hilNpt1 A6kibl bild t8ie iu6i
and labor necessary to convert them
into finished products are &he chief
restraints on the volume Of busin ess,
/ Little effort Is being made to procure
new business, "a all producers and
manufacturers are finding ready de-
naand for all products at high prices,
/ The risk OF operating at the present
! high cost of materials and labor 1s
another factor which IS holding in
check efforts for the expa nsiou of
trade.
Bank deposits are reported larger
than ever but profits have not been
prop0rtlonats to, the volume OF bust
ness The recent calls ana cash pay
ments on account OF government Il =
nancing aggregated $4,000. 900 since
December 20th. and have been re-
/ hacted in the loans Of the Federal Re-
: serve bank. which have for the first
/ time reached the aggregate OF 500
/ 600, 900.
+ The mills of the district are re-
ported III ane shape and making
money. and the general outlook to
us for msnufs cturers. farmers and
bankers Is bright, though industries
requiring the movement of consider
able tonnage over the railroads are
fearful OF the conditions that may
exist within the next sixty or ninety
days. TO this may be added by way
2 Of caution the vital question of the
+ cost Of pitching this years crops, ra-
ferred 20 above.
Business conditions continue to be
! reported very much along lines pre-
vailinE FOR months past, Some few
lines have been adversely affected. but
these are due more or less to speciaI
conditions and are rather sporadic,
BUSINESS activity genera lily continues
undated,
The SATURDAY half holiday and the
close Of the stock market today has
not tended TO enthuse the men who
see much in stock dealing and trad
Ing. With government handling Of
+ most everything in sight, there can be
little speculation out OF the ordinary
worth the while.
Leather and paper showed much
activity on Saturday. while the IN
fduRtrlals advanced one to one-and n
half Big interests are pleased gen
orally at a slight reaction apparent
saturday and are convinced that the
market will be given a better tech
/ meal condition
Director Henry LAuchford starts
: announcer Week OF ACTIVITY III unit.
The various agencies through which
this drive is being pushed hope to
make record showing at the close
I Of the week. Mr.. Litchford asks all
4 persons interested in helping bring
the war 10 successful and speedy
! end TO cell ct thrift headquarters.
southwest corner Tenth and Main
streets. ana secure literature of every
j kind There arc number Of as
sistants on hand all day, ready TO
give out information and to dispose
OF stamps.
As soon as weather conditions
ahapc Themselves up building activ-
tiles viii he apparent next door To
the First National bank and at Ninth
and Franklin streets, The Fedora
+ Reserve bank will be located on the
latter site. and the Virginia Trust
company viii make its permanent
home next 70 the corner of Ninth
and Main. These two buildings will
ne modern in design and will be built
with the view OF convenience and
com fort Plans for the Virginia Trust
building have not been completed, but
chose for the Federal Reserve bank
/ have been in hand for some time
having been selected by a committee
| from mEny designs submitted by
leading architects