New-York tribune., 1919-12-31
Predicts Period
Ut Activity in
Filling /! Orders
u. S. Chamber of Commerce
Says Manufacturers Have
Orders Enough to Keep
Them Busy Some Time
Mcw York Tribune
WCshinDtop Bur~u,t

washington " Bureau
WASHINGTON, Dee. 3O-Sustained
industrial actirity is the prediction of
the committee on statistics of the Cham
Der of Commerce of the United States.
which to-day issued its regular end-of-
the-ycar review Of business and cron
conditions
The committee emphasizes the hone
fulness of the manufacturing industry
generally, which, although encounter
ing constant labor troubles and short
age OF 1uel and materials, has orders
IN excess of its capacity for rroduc-
tlon within any reasonable time.
Among the vast numbers Of retail
dealers,' says the report, "therc seems
to he confidence in the continuation
at least until another harvest, of the
present great demand for commodities
OF all kinds, because of the unexampled
strength of the agricultural situation.
On the whole, the farming communi-
t'es are prosperous, because of the hiph
prices Of their products, and thor
ilbera' spending is the backbone and
sustaining power of the present volume
or business in much the greater mart
OF tho country. The farmer is buvin~
literally and inteliecntly. He is buv7
ing more automobiles, moro tractors
moro poultry, moro blooded cattle. moro
larm implements and machinery. more
gasoline engines and electric lighting
plants tor his dwelling house and build
'ngs Tie is paying cash mostly and also
paying off what comparatively few
mortgages remain.'
OF the general crop situation the
committee says that rain did much
damage in the South and in the south
ern portion of some of the Central
Htates 10 unharvested crops. reducing
inc yield and imparing quality. Cot
ton was damaged, as were corn and
rec. Rains in the wheat belt cut the
area planted IN the fall to 25 per
cent less than the record acreage
planted last year. The ground lost to
winter wheat will 20 to other crops,
including corn and oats.
"Evcn without the handicap of un-
Favorable weather." says the report.
there would have been at ma
tcrlally reduced winter wheat acre
age this fall For tho farmer realized
that the hcydav Of winter wheat pro
the present whatever may be the cur
rcncy and repetition or those food fam
inc. scares which have lost much Of
their potency of late
The conditions of growing wheat,
says the report. averaged lower than
last year, due to the excessive rain
fall. Of other crops and yields the
report says that peanuts did not do so
we'll last season; the high price Of
sugar brought heavy crop OF
sorghum and cane syrups; the apple
crop was a large one.
Great activity in building is re-
ported in sections except whcrc crop
failures were cNtcnsivc; soft coal
mining is in poor shapc in contrast
70 the mining Of hard coal copper
mining is in a poor state; silver min
ing is DOING well; oil production is
good.
The committee report IS signed by
a. ". Douglas. Of ST. Louis. chairman.
ana by the following other members:
A. Ross Hill, president of the Uni
Terslty of Missouri; NJ. G. Rorty,
american Telephone and Telegraph
Company; n. I. Stone, l.. D. H. Weld.
commercial research department,
Swift & Co.: NJ. S. Wildman. professor
Of economies, Leland Stanford Uni
Vcrsity; SpurFcon Bell, head of School
Of Business Training, University of
Texas.