The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-25
e.RealE.State and Insurance
curing the necessary international
Reversal in Foreign Trade.

operation.
 Reversal in Foreign Trade.
 The foreign trade returns for July were remarkable. Exports dropped $57 7,OOOO, 10000, or s350,0OO,000 below June, the record month. Imports rose to s345, 100000, the largest on record and s52, 100000 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 a ser ious burden of credit upon the coun- try. Of course, it is not entirely sat isfactory 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 turning point towards more healthy trade relations; and, if the
 recovery continues, 1t should aid ma | terially in solving the problem of in- 1 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 reSrettable | delay in ratifyng the peace treaty, | and the Mexican outlook. It would | seem as If these drawbacks had been | 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- ! ceTtainties 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 l Encouragement. General business will 1 probably continue active, unless cholz- ! ed off by unreasoning demands. La ! bor leaders if they push too hard [ will surely injure their own cause and | bring on stagnation under which they [ will be the chief losers. If wise | they will exercise and allow time for lbusiness to gradually adjust itself to | new level. Profiteering which is com | mon to all classes is being rapidly | curbed by vigilance of the Govern ment; and prevention, it should be re- | membered, will be an important if not unseen help in the future. The l railroad outlook is not entirely dis l couraging despite the roads unsatis- | factory physical and financial condi- ! Ns-.., ! bad that it must soon improve, and ] whether the roads are returned to | their owners or taken over by the 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 the ! point where the public in its 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 to
 its further development being the
 high prices of raw material and the
 extraordinary wages obtained by la
 bor.
 Western trade is active, and in
 terior department stores report good
 business at all the large cities. Far
 mers are more prosperous tban for
 many years. Labor is well employed
 and despite the high cost of living a
 large proportion of wage earners
 have more money and more comforts
 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
 world.