New-York tribune., 1919-04-27
Retailers With
Goods to Sell
Are Prospering g
Labor Is Well Employed in
Southern and Western
Sections, Survey Made by
Trust Company Shows

An economic survey Of conditions in
the South the West and the Middle
West prepared by the United States
Mortgage & Trust Company. Of New
York. from reports gathered by its
correspondents, shows TINT:
j. only IN rare cases docs there
appear to be any shortage Of labor.
Workers leaving the government aer-
vice are thus far being quite generally
reinstatcd III their old positions, and
TINS without IN any large measure dis
placinG thc extra help taken OH during
the lnst two years.
- k"nts have increased almost uni
yersnlly, tho percentage running from
10 to 80 per cent, with occasional ad-
ynnccs in business apacc stratcpicaily
located. There arc few large building
operations in progress ut the present,
but there is considerable construction
OF dwellings,, and few business struct-
urcs are underway.
s. In the wheat growing area the
government guaranteed price for the
1919 crop has resulted in a good de-
mand for wheat land. and there is
considerably activity in farm land gen
orally. while oil and fruit lands are
also iii favor
A. Retail trade is healthy. bour;sbinc
condition, marked by only II few in
stances Of depression and caution as to
ovcrstocking.
D. The Federal Reserve system is so
well established and its beneficial op-
GRAFTON so clearly demonstrated that it
fills q place possibly higher than was
anticipated by its most optimistic sup
porters, while theFederal Farm Loan
system has proved OF immense benefit
IN sections where opportunity has been
given to show its worth
South Needs Farm Hands
In certain parts of the South there
IS shortage OF labor in the farming
dstrlcts and surplus in the cities.
IN Atlanta. Ga, mercantile rents are
estimated to be % to 40 per cent higher
and residential rents 10 to 15 per cent
higher. In birmingham, Ala, rents are
20 to so per cent higher. Retail trade
throughout the South is almost uni
formly good, and Jacksonville. Tenn,
reports never better" Norfolk, Va.
reports rents UP 25, so and even rs
per cent, with retail trade excellent
In Richmond, Va, cash business has de-
creased somewhat in retail lines. Sa-
'
and says that ship owners and brokers
arc arranging for larger volume of
export business than ever before. with
expectations that re~ular sailings to
Europe Will be innuguratcd from this
port.
Tho survey shows ;ha' in the Mid.
die West there Is nowhere any short.
age Of labor. bu; discharged soldiers
are being taken care of TO such an cx-
tent that their return has thus far
caused no complications. General con-
ditons, however. arc not ideal, IA there
have been some strikes and others arc
scheaulcd, Retail trade in some parts
OF the Middle West is reported to be
exceeding all past records.
Some Retailers Cautious
N the Southwest retail trade is good
with only a few exceptions. due to
caution against overstockir~ st present
nigh prices. Another encouraging sign
IS the increased planting and bringing
new areas OF raw lands under cultiya-
tion.
In the intermountain country retail
trade, the report states. is excellent.
commercial organizations are active in
broadening their trade fields and in the
9poKane territory survey for another
irrigation project, which will open sew
srai millions Of land for cultivation. ia
Under way. Labor is we'll emploved
ana rents are 10 to 80 per cent higher.
On the Pacific coast constructive
,ians a:c being made to imp. ovc water
ronts and roads. 10 increase exports
.nd to Local" new manufactures to
lake caro- Of labor released by wan
'nE spipp.nR industry. There is some
'urpsuS of labor dae to cancellation OF
'hipyard contracts. whore wages have
oeen abnormally high. In San Fran
CISCO, where business is described as
'ooo. the merchants arc mostly heav-
ny stocked with 1918 high-priccd goods.
food.