Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-04-26


mining districts and IN tho quarrses'
10 not experiencing the amount of'uh'
employment fousd In the eastern Sec
tian or the country. Necessarily there
is some unemployment growing out OF
the release Of soldiers for civil par
suits. hui INC situation is TAR better
than bad been expected. indianapolis
seems To have the largest labor sur
plus. not only in Indiana but in the
district. yet the unemployment In that
ciry is comparatively small. while IN
dustrial relations are excellent, There
| is a strorg demand for farm labor. not
| only in indiana but all thru the dis
trtct.
Spring Construction Work Slow.
Necessarily there is a considerable
number OF unemployed in Chicago. but
tins is very largely transitory. IN,
railroad contracting work and the
building industry have not opened up
rs rapidly as desired, but prospects in
that direction are growing brighter
In consequence OF the slowing down
IN production Of iron and steel. reflect
Ing hesltancy in other metal manu-
featuring. there is a decline in the
ca rrlng power. due. OF course. to only
partial employment and the disapp ar
nnco of overtime earnings, which has
contributed to some retrfnchment III
the costs OF living by families depend
ent upon the metal Industries. This
does not indicate increasing thrift but
rather decreasing incomes.
Automobile Industry Nearing Normal.
The automobile manufacturers in
Detroit and In other centers are ex-
periCncing n good business, with sat
isfactory prospects ahead, and this ac-
tivity extends into the accessory
plants. Detroit apparently occupies
the position of having as large a vol
ume of this class Of business as can
he handled there with the present man
power. II is estimated that the auto
mobile industry now has readjusted to
a peace basis at about 90 per cent. Of
the existing facilities.
Efforts TO stabilize steel prices had
n beneficial effect In stimulating In
quiry. but this was offset somewhat by
the attitude taken by the Railroad Ad-
ministration in the matter of buying
Of steel for railway needs. The adop-
ton of highway construction programs
in several states is beginning TO find
its reflection in a healthier business
sentiment.
Demand For Housing Exceeds Supply.
Building operations are gradually in
creasng. but thu most reaSsurin- fea-
tUre in the middle west is the activity
in the preparatory steps for build.n.
rather than any actual construction.
Owing to weather conditions. as well
as hesitancy in regard 10 price. con-
struction has not been up TO cxpecta-
tiuns. Engineers and architects. how
ever, report plants in the making in
excess of any period in the last I'VE
years. II is very difficult to find a
vacant house IN Chicago or in the i'm
mediate vicinity. The demand for
apartments is kc'0. and people seek.
ing houses frequently ind il necessary
10 buy because il is almr't = possible
10 rent one. The demand for sumner
homes is close Ia If not in excess of
the supply. and people today are occu-
pying summer homes and installing
stove heat because OF inability 10 sup
ply their needs temporarily in the city.
Similar conditions altho possibly not
SO intensified. are reported from other
cities. This situation. OF course. is
the outRrovtn OF the restricted build
ing in the last two years. Manufac-
turers of lumber and OF building ma
terials. as well as those engaged in
actual construction work. are con-
vinced building boom rs near at
hand. The present activities in build