The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-04-23

nlCndrQ Opllldne nOCeQ American economist,
and special writer on business subjects for this
newspaper, believes that STEEL barometer of trade
will be higher in price year from now than it is
today. Builders remain hesitant," he declares,
but each day makes their ideas of lower COM
modify and labor costs less pronounced"
with the prevailing high cost Of production
(meaning high wages), no cheaper lumber is in
sight," says John H. Kirby, president of the Ma
tional Lumber Manufacturers association. '.'. '.
,st Charles S. Keith of Kansas City, prominent
lumber man. and a member of the association, pre-
diets that lumber will sell for $40 thousand
board feet by fall: This" he explains, will be
an increase of onequarter to third over pres
ent prices" # ''2.' %1o 80: 2" *.-|
(, And he tells why the increase -.:...-.
s*s '"The cost Of production has mounted 217 per
cent. We face loss of 1o5,000,000,00O feet accu-
mulated in Europe during the last five years. Rus
STA used to furnish 40 per cent of the worlds
supply, and Russia will be out Of the market for
at least four years.
u Cement prices will advance 10 or Is per cent
this year. according to AlbertY. Gowen, vice presi-
dent of the Lehigh Portland Cement Co. 4
In 1913, Gowen said, the average cost of max
ing cement was 81 cents a barrel. The average
net selling price was 80 cents. In 1918 the cost
was $144 barrel and the net price received was
$162.
Labor insists that wages be not reduced. In
fact, there is demand for still higher pay.
What shall we do about it?
Some have advised waiting until prices do
tumble. That would bring down wages, too I'll
would recruit great armies of unemployed. It
might spell panic. This waiting is nothing more
than not buying something you need because you
hope by not buying you may bring down the price,
the matter Of purchasing building materials, Steel
and If many others join you in waiting (ether in
stone, clothing, shoes, food) you will bring down
prices There's no doubt about that The law of
supply and demand will do it. But, remember
this: !
NEVER IN ALL HISTORY HAS MAN HAD
HIGH WAGES AND LOW PRICES
have you ever seen team pulling wagon
over muddy road? The driver who slowed up,
allowed his team to stand still as the wagon wheels
matted in the deepest mire, never pulled out un-
aided. His wheels kept sinking deeper and deeper
and deeper into the mud.
But the driver who kept going, who allowed no
waiting moment to sink his wheels still farther
into the mire, pulled through, unaided and ahead
Of the game.
American prosperity today is much in the
position Of the wagon drivers. There's the mire
OF new business conditions, changing conditions,
through which the wagon wheels must pass. If
business land that means every person who lives)
permits the wheels to go farther down into the
mire, while waiting for the summer sun to come
out and dry up the mud, then business will have
devil of time getting out.
But if American business keeps agoing, push
ing, pulling, it will get through and get through
in bang-up shape. We believe American business
will adopt this method. In the long run, this is
the quickest. most satisfactory, and easiest way
Waiting merely increases the difficulties
Giddap! Let's keep going, pulling the harder
If the going is tough. And soon we'll be on the
dry la-d Of the rosdax leading 70 prospesity andl
" AannDs>n~.