The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-25
Finance, ealEState and Insurance
curing the necessary international

NN-AA3 NAAC ACSSN7eSAS
 operation.
 Reversal in Foreign Trade.
 The foreign trade returns for July
 were remarkable. Exports dropped
 s57, 10000, or s350,00O,000 below
 June, the record month. Imports
 rose to s345, 100000, the largest on
 record and $52,OOO,OO0 greater than
 a month ago. This reversal of the
 trend in our foreign trade is in re-
 ality encouraging; for the abnormal
 excess of exports was imposing ser
 ious burden of credit upon the coun-
 try. Of course, it is not entirely sat fstactory to see our exports decline,
 and this shrinkage does not seem
 likely to continue in view of the large demand for grain, cotton, copper, oil.
 etc. But the increase in imports is
 most gratifying; for it implies that Europe is getting upon. its feet once more. and now has goods to send in
 return for purchasers here. This means a turning point towards more healthy trade relations; and, if the recovery continues, it should aid ma terially in solving the problem of in ternational credit.
 Financial and Commercial Outlook. In stock market values there has been a further shrinkage, which could only be expected under the pressure Of so many unfavorable factors. Among these are the general unrest, the uncertain labor situation, the un- satisfactory status of the railroads.
 the fall in exchange, the limitations of the money market, the regrettable delay in ratifyng the peace treaty, and the Mexican outlook. It would 1ly, t,o. sufficiently discounted by the heavy fall of the last six weeks, and that the attractive prices at which many good securities are offered would in vite good investment buying. It is premature, however, to assume that the turn has been reached, when un- certainties are so numerous. As a matter of fact the market is quite as likely to show sudden changes for better or worse, as it is to settle down into comparative inaction. And yet, in view of the present low level of ] prices, there is really no reason for | Encouragement General business will | probably continue active, unless chok- | ed off by unreasoning demands. La bor leaders if they push too hard I will surely injure their own cause and bring on stagnation under which they l will be the chief losers. If wise they will exercise and allow time for business to gradually adjust itself to new level. Profiteering which is com | mon to all classes is being rapidly curbed by vigilance of the Govern I ment; and prevention, it should be re-
 membered, will be an important if | not unseen help in the future. The railroad outlook is not entirely dis | couraging despite the roads unsatis- factory physical and financial cOndi- tions. In reality the situation is so bad that it must soon improve, and whether the roads are returned to their owners or taken over by the l Government, something will have to be done to compensate for the in- ! Juries inflicted upon the roads by the war. It would also seem that the public utility crisis has reached th= point where the public in it's own in- terest must see that they have fair play, due protection and be placed upon a self-supporting basis, in order to establish them in a position that | will fit them for public service and attract needed capital. Activity in the | building trade is becoming more and | more pronounced: the only check tC | its further development being the | high prices of raw material and the | extraordinary wages obtained by la 1 bor.
 i Western trade is active, and in- | terior department stores report good | business at all the large cities. Far ] mers are more prosperous than foI ! many years. Labor is well employed i and despite the high cost of living 8 | large proportion of wage earner: ! have more money and more comforts 1 than ever before. It should not be | forgotten that this nation has been | injured less and benefited more by | the war than any other nation in the l world.