The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-02
BUSINESS IN
RESERVE DIST.
IS REVIEWED

CLEVELAND. o., Jan. 1.-The open
ing Of the year review Of conditions In
the Fourth Federal Reserve bank dis
trict. Of which Wheeling Is part. was
Issued today. as follows:
This Is q period Of REIMBURSEMENT and
curtailment Manufacturers are re-
modelling their plants to make the es-
entails. and are eliminating tho non
essentials. Merchants report many
customers buying those articles Whlcn
are necessary to support OF life. and
leaving on the counters the unnecessary
The keywords are essential and nee
essary." Along these lines business Is
readtusting itself.
. Business, except on government con-
tracts and strictly necessary lines, Is
not rood. Tho manufacturing indus
tries, such as glass. pottery. steel. etc.
for domestic use, wait on transportation
and labor. tho eru1 Of the situation In
til those live factors arc able to do their
part. no decided bstterment can DO OK
pected
Axr1eutturS
Winter wheat n reported doing we'll
The heavy SHOWS In most localities nave
protected It from the severe weather.
The unmatured corn Is being fed 70 cat
tie and hoEs. In many cases the 1afH-
ers arc purchasing from the stocxyarcS
underweight and undeveioped an'ma!s
and rattening them with the unmarked
nhle corn. BY this means q PROFIT Is
made and tho meat supply OF tho eoun-
Try increased.
The cold weather has retarded the
MARKETING Of the tobacco crop and 1t 10
nor as set we'll under way. However.
It Is selling at the highest price IN It's
$history, and should soon relieve any
money strinssncy in tho tobacco dis
trictS.
Manufacturing.
The output In many lines Is being
crr+ailed by the transition from regular
actfyttie. to the making OF strictly war
Foods, BY the increasing strictness OF
governmental requirements WHEREBY
non-.a.enttals arc sidetracked. and by
the .bortaKe Of coal. coke, labor ana
transportation
Tho rumor OF lower prices for tho be
rinning OF the year In the steel business
.bas unsettled the market and confined
buying largely for the account OF tns
government Orders on hand arc In fair
vo,rme and royernmsnt orders are In
creasing.
The clay industry Is very quiet, and
shipments are about one-thlrd the vol
urne Of last year.
The coal trade Is badly handicapped
by lack OF cars. In some quarters mines
have been compelled to close down on
Mercantile Lines.
Joobers for the most part arc expert
encinS the usual holiday slackentnS IN
trade. and orders are OF thu nll-in va
riety.
In the retail trade Christmas shop
ring holds the way and promises to eN-
csed last years business In money
value. In many quarters 1t ia reported
that purchases are confined largely to
+hos. articles which are useful and nec-
essary. rather than to decorative novel;
ties and the unnecessary
Collections
Collections are reported prompt and
satisfactory. probably partly due to
scarcity Of goods. prompt payment be-
ing a requisite for Recurring future con-
signments-
Increases in wages and unusually
large payrolls at this season OF the year
should continue to keep collections al
normal.
transportation
In some localities tho car shortage IS
very serious compelling the closing OF
mines and factories and causing hard
sh,ns and dlscomforts in many placeo
from Lack Of fuel and necessary food
stufrs.
ing tho situation. and believe that traf-
fac conditions will be ameliorated.
Labor
c.,.r,lly. both skilled and common
labor continues scarce and exacttng. In
ono quarter there was reported unem-
rIoyed labor occasioned by the shutting
down OF q large plant engaged In the
MANUFACTURES Of non-essentlals. This,
however, il the exception. and In this
instance employment was soon given In
the same plant. It having been remodel
cd to accept government contracts.
women continue to take places In tho
labor world formerly occupied exclusive
" by men. They are said to do the
work satisfactorily. Employers and ON
,,oyen arc gradually adjusting them
selves to tho changed conditions, and. as
a xhol>, there u believed to be a slight
Improvement
building opsza1onA
Tho severe cold weather has interfered
With building operations. The demand
for dwellings IL still strong. but the cost
Of materials deters contractors from
attempting new projects and consequent
w tho line shows steady decline In
volume with few exceptions.
Money and Investments.
--ha money market is frm Legit-
,,,,>e ousiness Is experiencing little DIFF
aculty in securing funds for financing
II, normal needs. Banks. however. re-
Aport that money for speculative purpos-
Is NOT In harmony with the spirit or rho
times Is not advanced 1t Is probable
that the demand for money reached It's
peak the week OF December 18TH.
Investment markets arc ietharsic ana
continue to give the right OF way TO
Government finance.