New-York tribune., 1919-05-05
Reports Bright g
Trade Outlook in
Western States
l.. A. MersIlon Finds Good
Demand for Money, Fine
Crop Prospects and Grow
ing Business in Realty

Leroy A. Mershon, secretary of the
trust company section of the Ameri-
can Bankers Association, who has Just
returned from a visit to the trust com
pantes of Iowa, Nebraska and Colorado,
said Saturday that he had found an
impressive spirit Of optimism regard
ing the business outlook among the
bankers of that section. Among those
with whom he talked were Theodore
G. Smith, president Of the international
Trust Company Of Denver, and D. H.
Mckee, vice-president Of the Iowa
Loan and Trust Company of Des
Moines. Mr.. Smith declared that there
is new and better tone to business in
general, and added:
Colorado, though large contributor
in money and resources to all the great
government war demands and activ-
tiles has not experienced drastic
change from war to business condi-
tions, as it did not enjoy any great per-
centage Of war contracts and contrib
uting imitation. 1t has received excel
lent prices for its products, which has
stimulated the retail business to a
marked degree, and the trade continues
to-day in a healthy condition. Stocks
Of merchandise are decreasing, but
merchants are buying conseryatively.
Large Sugar Beet Acreage
"The agricultural outlook is exceed
ingly bright, a large acreage OF wheat
being forecast, and present indications
point to the largest planted acreage of
sugar beets in the history of the state
Losses in livestock in Colorado have
been light this year, and the develop
ment of oil lands and production of oil
in our neighbor state, Wyoming, has
added materially to our wealth.
"Ihe demand for money has been
constant and firm during the last year,
with usual current rates prevailing.
At the present time there appears to
be no unusual number Of unemployed,
ana there appears to be confidence that,
with the beginning of spring and sum-
mer work, all slack will be taken up.
"There is decided Increasing in
quiry for real estate, and particularly
for dwelling houses. In fact, the
population of Denver has so increased
in the past year that housing facilities
are entirely inadequate, ana, though
architects state they have many plans
drawn for now construction, yet capital
seems a little hesitant about starting
"There is an Enthusiastically new and
better tone to business in general more
harmony in action and less partisan
ship in feeling than our state has ex-
perienccd for many years, and unless
some untoward factor disturbs ou,
present feeling of optimism the turn
of the present year will find Colorado
in a moro prosperous and promising
condition."
Business Volume Grows
Mr.. Mckee, in summing up the sit
uation, said:
"Tho conditions throughout the state
of Iowa in business way are good
and the increasing volume of buslnes.
is encouraging, demanding and secur
ing additional capital to conduct The
business of all classes throughout The
state. The affairs of the banks az,
in good condition. The business O
trust companies is increas,ng in it
different branches. The increased mum
Der of holders Of Liberty bonds ha
caused them to look to the trust com
: pany both for safe keeping and in re
gard to trust relationships, bond is
sues for industrial corporations, min
ing, etc, are increasing, and peopl
, generally are coming to regard tn
trust company as Letter qualified t
handle their affairs.
This is due not only to the fac
, that all banks and trust companie
in Iowa are now authorized by lay
to act az administrators, executors
7 guardians, etc, but also because tn
increasing value of the estates and tn
business transactions is influencing
owners to instrust their transaction
to the corporation equipped for tn
purpose rather than to the individual
''The activity in connection with bill
introduced in the Legislature this ses
sion in opposition to trust company in
terest, was almost altogether from at
torneys who imagined that to encour
age the business of the trust compan,
in this connection was to interfer
with the prerogatves and the busines
of the lawyer; but the arguments de
veloped that very few of the lawyer
in Iowa took this view of it,"