Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-06-27
Report on Business Conditions
Sixth Federal Reserve District

ment in Gamer prices. Owing to the con-
diticn of the cattle and to the low prices
it is very probable that the run will be
very light throughout the season. Hog re-
ceipts for May probably tOtalled 100 per
cent more than for the same month last
year. Indicat ions are for good strong
fall market but with lower prices for the
winter when The heavy run Of soft nogs
comes INTO the southern markets.
Florida Fruits and Vegetables
In the middle portion of Florida excess
sive rains the past three weeks have been
unfavorable for tomatoes, cantaloupes. and
watermelOEs, but the forage crops have been
benefited. Melons have sold at record
prices, about double the prices of former
years Owing to rust and too much rain
the oats crop has not been very satisfactory
We've tbeanS, peanuts, sugar cane and sweet
potatoes are all growing eXcellently
Citrus in this section has had no set
back, and the young fruit is in healthy
condition with 70 abnormal dropplugs
Pineapples are now being gathered on the
East coast and brining $3.50 to $3.50.
Lumber
There is still strong demand for boards
and planning mill stock. Stocks are de-
pleted, and prices are still advancing. 1t
IS thought this condition will prevail
throughout the summer. Demand tof al
strengthened curing the past thirty days
and prices on ell sizes and dimensions nave
advanced from 10 per cent TO ~ per cent
Naval Stores
The export traue Ill NAVAL ololSS 10 " ASN
and the domestic demand good. Large
amounts of turpentine have recently oeen
shipped to the United Kingdom and stocks
are now very light. Domestic demand Is
advancing the price raPldlG Gor+ N 90 90 ner
round barrel in the past week or TWO anu
higher prices are expected. Owing to very
backward spring, The crop has been delaIeG
at leafs six weeks and it is the genera" Il
opipion that the increase over last Seal ,
r,roduct0n will be very small.
- Labor
Labor conditions are apparently onr
changed and the farming interests very
much handicapped. The supply of farm
labor is short, the quality inferior, ana Tue
wages asked are prohibitlve. Reports 1nu n1
cate that in the towns and cities there are
numbers of colored laborers idle, ana II
seems impossible to induce them 10 take up
farm work.
propertv in all Of the cities of the district
IS moving freely. There is much trading
in homes and some in business property;
The shortage of houses is being to small
continues The high cost of building, how
ever, has caused many to abandon for the
time beng the construction of new houSes'
There is reported a considerable decrease
in the output of coal, due to poor markets
ana mine disabilities. The output for May
was .2G9319 tons as compared to 1,3oO'ol9
tons for April. soo,
Cotton mills, pipe plants, pig iron plants
Ind steel mills are beginning to receive
increased inquiries for their products, ana
IL turn Is taking place for larger business:
Gotten mills are running more regularly anu
ottonsncd oil mill operators are beginning
to contract for coal deliveries. toundrles
and cast iron pipe makers are running more
steadily.
l., iron circles it is learned that, while
sales have not materially increased, in
quiries are multiplying: severa! pig IRON
furnaces which were idle in April are now
operating and others are making preFara-
lions to begin operations.
The steel plants iii the Birmingham dis
tricts are operating steadily. The outlook
in the steel industry encouraging. Large
orders for steel q Is have been placed by
the railroads. large amount of business
from automobile plants will also increase the
steel business Inquiries for large amount
pcared, and, with increased facilities for
ocean shipments, the trade both in iron and
steel products, will be greatly increased. The
/ production of pig iron lii May was l3I, lG9
tons, as compared to 1J::.lS6 tons for April.
The untitled steel tonnage of the United
States Steel corporation as of May 81 was
reported to be 4, 232, 80 tons.
The belief j. becoming more universal that
the level of prices will never be as low as
those prevailing before the war, and that
business must adjust itself to the new level.
This is slowly taking place. AS soon as
npnce negotI2 tons are concluded and chi
b&"gpes lifted, business will be stimulated
By Tie foreign demand and plans for pernna-
E2nt operations i'll foreign trade may be
made.