The sun., 1919-06-28
PREDICT Big TRADE
REVIVAL Is AT HAND
Signing of Peace Treaty Will
Be Followed by Great For.
eign Business Expansion.
REPORTS ARE OPTIMISTIC
Improvement in Progress TO
Be Aided by Conclusion of
Versailles Conference,
REPORTS ARE OPTIMISTIC

A big Improvement in business I'M.
mediately after the signing of the peaca
treaty and some present day uncer,air,
ties removed, according to weekly trad.
reviews. which take very optinis,tc
view of the near future. That the bus,.
ness revival is vigorously in progress Ia
asserted by those who have made a care.
full study OF conditions In this countrv
but this forward movement will n.
greatly aided when the negotiation. a,
Versailles shall have been brought IN a
conclusion.
with the signing of the peace treaty
which u now imminent after months ~
waiting" says Dun's Revis,c. "gateways
of commerce that have long been closed
will be reopened and broader interra-
tional trade relations permitted. Behind
the domestic business revival that s
vigorously in progress 'hers Is not onI,.
the practical assurarEs of another year
of agricultural prosperity and the pres
ent exceptional retail distribution In this
country. but also Europe's dependence
upon American markets for products
needed during the reconstruction era
and 1t Is significant that the export cal
Is expanding in many quarters The
result of the enlarging home and foreign
demands is clearly seen in the increas-
ing scarcity of supplies OF various artl-
cles notwithstanding the rising tide Of
production and reports OF goods being
virtually withdrawn fom sale are becom-
ing more common as manufacturing ca.
pacity is enga ged farther ahead and still
higher prices appear inevitable"
For thirteen weeks Dun's list o.
wholesale commodity quotations has dis
closed more advances than recessions
but price considerations are less Of
factor than previously and the pref.
erence shown for the costlier grades OF
merchandise Is widely commented on
The question of unemployment is No
longer a source OF general anxiety with
the Industrial recovery spreading and
the launching OF deferred public i'm
provements offering opportunities for
work to thousands of individuals ard
in not a few instances complaints are
heard of an actual shortage Of skilled
labor.
THAT strikes are not infrequent 4,
particularly unfortunate at a time when
outputs in many lines are proving VI.
equal to requirements, but some dis
putes have lately been adjusted and In
| spite of shorter hours at mills and fac.
| tories. there has been a distinct gain ir
operations from the low level reached
| after the armistice. AS illustrating the
| trend OF conditions buyers are attending
| the leading markets in larger numbers
and in some cases earlier than usual.
| and their purchases are extending well
| into the future. Geographically con-
| cidered, business activities are broaden
ing in every section. Some develop
ments are especially prominent and the
revival of the lumber trade in the Pa
ciflc Northwest with the accompanying
rise of prices Is one outstanding feature
Trade currents are very strong,
broader and deeper indeed than at any
time since this country entered the war.
| Collections leave very little to be de-
sired. and crop prospects as a whole are
better than q year ago. says Brad
streets Revieto Of Trade. 'Manufsc-
turing and industry, 1t is true, lack the
| appearance OF feverish activity OF a year
ago. But with demand for peaceful pur-
poses, the industrial situation, barring
some sporadic strike symptoms, is really
excellent. There are indeed evidences
that in wearing apparel. jewelry. furnt-
ture and household furnishings, agr.,u.-
tural implements. lumber. and a long list
| of other products, demand is treadtHs
| close upon. II not actually passing, sup
| ply. Reflection of this is found In re-
ports of complaints of slow delivery Of
| goods ordered, these coming both from
jobbers and retailers.
1.-THE more active. tone of money n
the West and its reflection IN the New
York markets call money rates, which
have again reached high levels Of a
few weeks ago. with a quietng efe;
on the stock market. is in some quar-.
| ters esteemed a sign that enlarged
| trade uses for money. plus crop moyns
necessities. are being considered. The
surface explanations are that drawing
down of Government balances and prep
arations for midyear disbursements have
| made some tightening of views Of large
| lenders.
| Another significant trade feature =
evidences multiplying OF heavy increase
| of the number engaging in mercantile
| trade and in manufacture. Someta."E
like an evolution in basic causes Tor IT,
creasing eagerness TO buy goods
noted"