The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-16
TORONTO STOCKS
SHOW BUOYANCY
Confidence Grows as Crops Are
Gathered, and All Trade
Reflects Spirit.
WEST IN GOOD SHAPE
End of Cobalt Strike and
Quieter Attitude of Labor
Is Bei:.g Felt.
WEST IN GOOD SHAPE
Special Correspondence to tho Canadian
Sfctinn of Tile sim

Special Correspondence to tho Canadian
Section of THE SUN.
TORONTO, Sept. 15.-Business and
financial conditions in Canada continue
favorable and this seems to be reflected
in the commencement of a bull move
ment on the Stock Exchanges. Apart
from the agitation of returned soldiers
for a greatly increased gratuity, which
now seems likely to have peaceful So
luton. there is considerable confidence
as crops are gathered and both retail
and wholesale trade show signs of buoy
ancy. A bank manager returning from
the West speaks with optimism of the
buying power of that section Of the
country, which was in danger Of being
underestimated from the reports Of crop
failure In certain districts These re-
ports have been exaggerated. and with
the high prevailing prices for grains there
will be an enormous revenue for the
prairie producers this year. Even Van
couver is returning to O normal state In
business and real estate, after a period
of stress at the beginning of the war.
Social conditions show some improve
ment At the beginning of the week the
Cobalt strike came to an end and. as
the men entirely failed in their first OBJ
jective-viz., recognition of the Western
Federation of Miners-the incident will
have a tendency to discourage unreason-
able strikes. Since then about 1000
laborers on the new Welland Canal ex-
cavation ceased work because of a dis
rute over overtime pay, but that is not a
thing to cause any general embarrass-
ment to business. Employees of the Can
adam Locomotive Works at Kingston
who have been on strike three months
have given notice of their intention to
4. N..tn-
peaceful, and 1t is possible that the man.
ager followed the doctrine of the big
steel producer on your side, who said
that If the men went out he would go
fishing.
Commerce Board Becomes Active.
At last the Canadian Board of Com
merce is at work, and there are signs
of a real disposition to do something
that will allay discomfort. The chair
man of the board, Judge II. A. Robson
is holding court in Winnipeg, while the
vice-chairman, W. +. O'Connor, is sit
ting in TORONTO. Both have already made
declarations which seem to mean bust
ness. Judge Robson on hearing that
United States bacon could be laid dowr
In Winnipeg at l cent below the cost
Of Canadian bacon there, said the board
would recommend that the Government,
remove the duty from bacon. The duty
amounts to cents per pound. 1t is
possible that the incidental effect would
be greater than the actual. Already
the head of a large packing house in
Toronto declares that bacon prices have
been reduced by his company.
Mr.. O'Connor, sitting at Toronto, gave
assurance Of the great powers of the
board. This is the most powerful Of
all boards ever established in Canada, y
he said. ut is totally independent OF
the Government, and it is not controlled
by the Government 1t gets its powers
from Parliament. This court has all the
powers of a Superior Court, even the
power to commit for contempt" There
is a good deal of public faith in the
motives and ability OF That mar
O'Connor," as he was once designated
in contempt by a representative of big
interests who had crossed his trail, and
citizens are already rallying to his board
with complaints.
Another step of great Importance from
which much is expected will be the
meeting in ottawa next week of the
Canadian Industrial Conference, where
representatives of capital, labor. the pub
lie and other elements in national life, tc
the number OF 100, will meet around g
economic situation of the country.
Interest in Mining Grows.
It may be late in the season for a
mining boom to start, but there is big
accession to interest during the last few
Gays. The settlement of the Cobalt
strike did not come too late to spoil the
years business. though it naturally low
cred the output. Exploration work and
development are proceeding in the north
country, and there is a decided upward
movement in prices Of mining stocks
Returns for the first six months of the
year of mineral production in Ontario
show decreases in a number OF In.
stances, attributable in some cases al
least to the lessened demand for certain
metals for which there was u big wal
need. The principal items in the return
nro as follows:
Value Value