Americus times-recorder., 1919-06-29

ON AVERAGE US.
FARM LAST YEAR

what the Dry Goods Economist has
to say as to the condition in textile
and allied lines:
The frequently heard expression,
business is good" is perhaps best
accounted for by the following brief
notation in the current issue of the
"BacS eview;"
In 1914 the six million odd farms
of the United States produced crops
of over $4,000, 100000 value-about
1870 per farm. In 1917 the amount
was $4,000, 100000, or more than
$4,000 per farm. In 1918 the aver
age per farm is estimated at $4,000
and it will probably be $4,000 this
year.
No wonder our stores are crowd
ed and collections good.
No action has yet been taken BY
congress to relieve the merchants of
the country from the burden of col
lecting the luxury taxes, and there is
no prospect now that any such action
will be taken before the end of this
month.
That high and perhaps higher pri-
ces will prevail for some time is the
opinion expressed by business men,
bankers and others in replies to
QUESTIONABLE sent out by the De-
partment of Labor, Washington, last
week. The inquiry covered many of
the leading industries of the country,
Activity in Building
Building operations throughout the
country are showing increased activi-
ty. Among the important projects
reported this week is new spinning
mill to be erected in New Bedford,
Mass, at cost of 100000. Anoth-
er is seventeen-story hotel that will
cost $7,000,000, to be erected in New
York.
The volume of steel production con-
tinues to grow. Current estimates put
the operation of plants at between
60 and 65 per cent capacity. A month
ago the percentage was 54. Much of
the increase is in structural steel.
Statements made this week by the
Railroad Administration show shrink
age of traffic for the first four
months of 1919 as being from 10 to
/ IL per cent less than in the same pc
/ riod of 1918. Nose of the shrinkage
was in the volume of freight hauled.
The labor situation continues sat
/ isfactory. The number of men unem-
ployed has not changed substantially
despite the discharge of thousands of
men from army service. This illus
trates the progress now being made
| by various committees in finding jobs
for soldiers, and also reflects the
need for labor in various sections.
The export demand for American
textiles continues to grow. The call
for certain goods now exceeds the ca
pactiy of the mills that produce
them and has made it necessary fC'
exporters to seek the aid of jobbers
and converters in order TO make
shipments.
One leading printer of cotton fab
RIGS is said to have export orders for
10000 cases of goods.
| Cotton and Cotton Goods
Raw cotton prices have fluctuated
with the weather reports from South
ern states during the week There
have been no sensational advances or
declines and the week bids fair to
close with prices approximately the
same as on Monday unless some ad-
verse crop reports come III.
The needs of various European
nations and the probable volume of
our exports of the staple and of fin
ished fabrics furnishes the chief top
ic for discussion in cotton goods cir.
cles.
A heavy demand for raw cotton
and for cotton fabrics is anticipated
but for the present there is limited
activity among dealers nthe sta
pie.
Prices for all staple fabrics are
either very firm or the goods are
held at value.
The wool situation is practically
unchanged. The domestic clip is now
engaging the attention of wool buy
ers to the vatual exclusion Of the
government .c'yncd stocks, the offer
ings of whl:h VII be discontinued
for a time afre1 the close of next
weeks sale.
There have been no developments
in The finished goods end.
Raw silk rices have SCARED to new
high levels. Cables from Yokohama
this week pit Sinshiu No | at cG20
yen, an advance of about 70 yen in
two weeks. This new price is slightly
in excess of $3.50 per b., with the
C >St of Importation to be added the,
/ t..
n L.