Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-04-26
Business Conditions
/, Seventh Reserve
District Sound

Ch'cn"o. April 20. tundamen'a
,undi iuAs IN the seventh federal re-
serve district, aside from lack OF con-
il !cncc in the stability OF the present
price lowell. are considered sound. gen
g,..I!y speaking Agricultural pros
% set= arc excellent, and the buying
power. so greatly increased In conse'
unenre OF the tremendous crop pro-
duCticn of the last few years and the
war Industrial activity, together with
the high prices and wages received. Is
manifcsting itself In all lines OF trade
whore confidence in the existing price
level has been established
II is apparently difticuii for business
men TO divorce from their minds pre-
cedCnts established in former read
justment periods, and 20 realize that
The worlds war and the enormous en-
penditures and activities which II en-
tailed has brought sbeut n changed
economic condition which. TO con-
siderable extent, may prove permanent.
Hence the continuance of uncertainty
and hestitancy to make commitments
for the future because OF an inability
10 measure such changed economic
conditions satisfactorily.
Manifestations Of Strong Buying Power
That underlying conditions are SUI
ticientls strong TO support consider
able period OF prosperity is indicated
in channels Of trade usually classed
as Injuries or -luXuries. as for
instance, jewelry and musical instrh-
mcnts Both felt the restraint placed
upon production by the war and upon
the individual ny the need Of conserva-
tiun of capital and credit. With the
removal of this restraint people began
TO buy literally both jeweiry and
pianos. with the result that while man
ufaCturing in these lines has not
reached the pre-war volume, advices
from representatives in the retail trade
Of pianos and jeweIry are that the de-
mand is large and the trade excellent.
while the stocks are conservative.
One h'g jewclry concern reports
March sales ne - per cent. in excess
of the previous March. while the first
two months of the fiscal year shows
business II per cent. in excess of the
corresponding period of last year. In
1918 some allowance should be made
for the fuelless days and the severe
winter stocks Of watches in retailers
and jobbers' hands are light. Watch
makers have not increased their out
PIT 10 any extent in the last five years,
Present conservatism in increasing
their working force is expla ned by the
holding open Of places for former en-
plovees returning from military ser
vice.
Labor Condition. Fairly Satisfactory.
Labor conditions also are fairly sat
isfactory in the Seventh federal re-
serve district. altho the idea still pre-
walls that sooner or later labor will
haze TO adjust or lower wage level
10 correspond with other prices. EN-
2ioycrs. however. are beginning TO
realize that the cost readjustment.
owing 10 the initiation, which is par
tiCularly reflected in the enormous in
crease in paper money circulation ii
the European countries. is likely TO be
slow for a considerable period at least,
and that so long as li-ing expenses arc
high. not much If any decline in wages
NAV be expected.
TIL. Middle West, outside Of the coal