The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1919-06-06
BOARD REPORTS
BUSINESS GOOD
Free Spending Points 10 Era Of
Prosperity for the United
States.
WAR HELD UP MANY ORDERS
Statements From Federal Reserve
Agents Said to Point 10 Summer
and Autumn OF Unusual
Prosperity.

Washington. June "A noticeable
upward trend m business during May.
especially I'm those lines related 10 the
leading retail trades which have felt
the release Of buying power held bnck
by the war, was reported by the fed
ernl reserve board.
Practically Uniform reports from fed
eral reserve agents were said 10 point
10 summer and autumn Of unusual
activity.
warning was added. however.
against accepting The prospective pros
perity NJ it's full face value until con-
ditions become more clarified.
The country seems 10 be passing
through a period Of free expenditure
or reaciiOn from the enforced economy
and business restrictions Of the war
period. statement by the board said.
III the present activity should prove
To be based principally on these cnuses.
reaction may be looked for when
these forces have spent themselves"
The price ana reconstruction situa-
ton was snid to be- practically con-
'inuation Of that noted in April. with
prices showing no tendency 10 retro
grade.
one federal reserve bank found that
the public Is slowly adjusting itself
10 the conviction that there Is TO he no
rnpid postwar drop in prices md Is
rcconcillnG Itself to the probability
thnt the old pre-wnr basis may never
again be reached"
Agriculturally the remarkable prom
lSe Of the early spring appears 10 he
sustained I'm m unusual degree the
statement said. Diversificatlon due 10
organized effort Is making progress
and the cash returns 10 farmers are
expected 70 be more than ever before.
Prices Of cattle are considerably high
or than a year ago. while sheep are
lower Receipts ~ hogs have heen
smaller, with the price continuing TO
advance.
In steel and iron the months output
fell 10 the lowest figures In many
months. but much better tone In the
market was noted.
While the btuminous coal industry
was reported depressed. with an out
put less than 20 per cent OF that n
year ago. operators were said 70 he on
timistic for the future. The current
use Of the fuel IS in excess Of prOduc-
ton. After several weeks Of almost
no demand the copper market showed
slight improvement.
General manufacturing was said ~
he showing decided Improvement The
wool market we're strong. with prices
in favor OF the seller Large orders
have been placed for yarns and An
lshed goods and wooden and worsted
mills are going back 10 full time.
These conditions are reflected IN the
demand for dry goods and shoes. Shoe
prices are being marked M for fall
delivery. the outlook being for m in
crease Of % to 80 cents n pair for
retailers
Retail trade Is assuming unprece-
denied volume while prices continue
abnormally high. Retailers in most
ment. but continued 10 demand prices
based upon war conditions, the hoard
said. In New York large establish
ments report large volume OF bust
ness two-thirds greater than a year
ago. and I'm Chicago returns range from
- 10 30 per cent in excess Of 1918. In
the South there is said 10 be mo con-
traction in the public buying power"
while greater proportion OF cash
sales Is reported.
In buildings there has been dis
tinct revival throughout the country.
Real estate values we're said TO be
hardening. with sales 81 farm lands
on the increase.
1.-The banking position OF the country
Is reported as on the whole sound
present circumstances considered" the
board said. and reserve percentages
OF the federal reserve system have
shown an ability to hold their own"