The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-17
I. 1. WATSON'S
 WEEKLY LETTER

Tho stock market has been and promises to continue to be an indus 'tr4al speciality affair with a strong underlying upward trend. Money needs in connection with the hota- ton of the Victory Loan may tenn Forarily~check broadening tendencies for tho banks are becoming more conservative In their collateral loan activities, on reactions. sound food ShAress fertilizer issues, copper secur- tttea. electric stocks and shipping shares will offer good buying oppor- tun1tias to discriminating purchasers. The steel situation remains unsettled and 1t may be necessary to revise wages as well as prices, In this list U. s. Steel>ds in a strong general po- sition, but in view of the temporary uncertainties, we think a conserva- tive course with regard to the steel sBoup may prove wise, The big corporation shows a decline of 6S0,- zoo tons in unified orders as of ApEn I, The quarterly dividend and earnings meeting Is scheduled to tasce place April 29. and some inter esscans developments may then ap- pear. It Is noteworthy that brokers holdings of VI, s, Steel common have denreased materially In the last few months, the total for the first time in Eezrs~being under 2,oOo, 900 ahares, end it Is stated that the stock has gone1 into the hands of investors
 The splenr1ad crop report of the Government made public regarding w3nber wheat will be a. constructive 6actoE of great importance The pros poet of a billion bushels at high prices would seem to insure large agricul- tUFal wealth for the United States President. Elliott of the Nor rthern Pa ciffC Ry> says the grain outlook In Northern Pacific territory is encour- aging ''TShe. feeling Is general says a circular of the Guaranty Trust Co. ''that business Is steadily regaining ground lost, There Is as yet no boom but confidence Is returning.' There waa fin circulation on April 1 $54.50 for every person insthe United. States, according to official statements made by Washington. How much of this hRva you acquired? The 5lsla.tion re- fiected by it. ds no mean factor in Op- eraf1ng for. security improvement. '~T7ra vvur1d is. already heavily dndebt- etf&o-uS'H's says the Mechanics 6 Metals National Bank, Hundreds of mil lions of dollars are due annually as interest, on loans, and more hundreds of millions Will be due In payment for materials. Favorable as all this appears, the situation that arises out of our very strength creates problems that ara exceedingly serious We have to ask ourselves, how other nations will settle with us for what they buy.''
 Confusion is observed in Eews from Paris, butdt Is apparent thah there is progresgHowar6 aA peace treaty Con Eresznlan Julius Kahn of California, now in Germany, sends back word that universal service for United States is necessary for se1f-protec- ton. He recommends an iron hand for BoIshev4sm, and says our work is not yet done, and advocates a general war inquiry by Congress Considerable criticism is heard over the Redfeld price stabilization plan It has been suEgested that the Industrial Board win ''ruls itself out of business be- causa of tho Er1co fixing controversy. It is interesting to note that m em bers of the U. g. Chamber of Commerce recently voted for Congressional re- vfaAon of the antitrust law
 While Westinghouse Electric does not move vyith,.4he same velocity as that of other specialtieS in the stock market, 1t has behind it material valne and pays good dividends on the money invested It takes care of it. Btelf oven with money at per cent It Is understood that the company s British interests wdl1 be sold in con nectiOn with an offer of ST,0Oo,O cash, American International stock has had q sensational rise accom- panied by rumors of a shipping com binadfon $ortncIude International Mer- camille Marine, Atlantic. Gulf & West Indies and United Fruit At the end of the week it has announced thai call was to be issued to make the common stock a full paid par issue It is interesting to observe that De troit has voted strongly against nut nic1ps1 ownership of street raI1. ways