Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-04-02
LETDOWN IN PRICES.
That Condition Seems Assured, But Ev-
cry Line Of Business Is Cau-
tious and Waiting.

tous and Waiting.
That the present high prices mus
come down, everyone is ready to ad
NIT, yet, everyone is waiting for tn,
other fellow to reduce prices first.
Owing to the long delay in closing
the peace treaty with Germany, bust
ness conditions are beginning to fee
depression very keenly. What buying
is done is in small quantities, because
purchasers fear they will get caught
IN the falling prices, that all admi,
are sure to come.
Because of small sales. manufac.
turers find decreasing demand for
their goods. That means reduction
in help and every person who is laid
off only adds to the general business
depression.
Coal mines and many other lines of
business are operating only two to
four days in the week, which Is hardly
enough to feed the laborers, because
ol nlSH PRICES Ol~loou.
EUROPEAN FOOD DEMANDS.
The claim has been, and is generally
admitted, that there is now and will
continue to be, an unusual demand for
food IN Europe. Prices are higher
there than IN this country. while the
resources with which to purchase are
very much less than in this country.
Owing to the devastated condition
of the most productive portions of Eu-
rope, an early resumption of manufac-
turing is impossible, for two reasons: I:
Lack of machinery and lack of raw
materials. With little employment or
resources, how can the people be heavy
purchasers, even of food products. to
say nothing OF other things.
This country cannot lend to all Eu-
rope to enable them to buy our prod
ucts. Judging from the urgent de-
mands made by the government. to
buy the coming Victory Bonds, one
would think this country cannot loan
to any European power to any great
extent. That being the case. where
does their purchasing power come
from7
MANUFACTURING.
Even if European manufacturing
plants should start, we fail to see
where this country would be materially
benefited, unless some law be enacted
to overcome the difference between
the European and American wage. If
that is not done the European goods
would be sold IN our markets so low as
to close our mills; that would mean
distress here.
THIS SECTION.
Conditions in this immediate section
seem to be better than most places,
for the following reasons: The prod
ucts we have to put on the market are
largely composed of railroad ties and
live sotck, both uf which are just now
in great demand.
The government has guaranteed
present tie prices until June 80. Af-
ter that date price is not assured and
it is very natural to expect the rail
roads to make an effort to reduce the
price. 1t is understood that the rail-
roads are generally short on ties. 1t
may be, however, that they will have
on hand by June 80 all they can treat
for sometime and for that reason may
slacken purchases or stop altogether
for while in the hope that they will
be able to force down the price.
1t is generally admitted that tie
prices will never be SO high again as
now, but it may be possible, with the
shrinkage IN prices generally, that the
price received for tie will buy as
much as now.
Good foresight would lead every per-
son who has ties to sell, to dispose of
them before June 80. il they hope to
get the top of the market.
One we'll inform ed man said to the
writer recently: IF the present price
tor ties prevails to the end of the year
this county will sell fully $500. 900
worth of railroad ties" The live stock
will probably bring close to that
amount. 1t would seem that our peo-
ple need have no grave fears for
living this year, regardless of gen.
eral slump that may come.
WHEAT PRICES.
The proposed price reduction is not