The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-11-29
CAUSE F0R THANKS
IN TRADE OUTLOOK
Country Is Making Real
Progress To Better
Conditions
by JOHN w. HILL
Financial Editor iron Trade Review

lew 9uCOuEdBlu6 OhSAt0 a.
ginning to emerge.
Some OF these developments de-
note economic boys safely passed.
!, others point to better times 10
cdme, when REIMBURSEMENT from
dangerous war imitation baS run
its course.
Cheerful Factors.
Cheerful factors for which Am
orleans should be thankful, include
unprecedented crops, abundant coal
production, easing credit conditions
Improving European exchanges bet
ter retail trade, freer freight move
ments and the rising purchasing
poger OF the dollar.
10 Complete StagnatIon
In addition 1t is well to remem-
Der the biguess of the job to sup
plying the bare necessities to Am
eTica's 1O5,OOO.O0n population. This
means employment for millions and
makes anything like complete bus
y Iiiess stagnation unthinkable. Pro
fits await those, even in the pres
emit depression, who strive for low
! prices and a rapid turnover
Preliminary official crop esti-
mates contain a Thanksgiving SER
mon. They show that four haT-
veEts-pears, rice, sweet potatoes
a9e corn-exceed al records, The
wheat yield decreased 10l ,O00 900
bushels, but the total OF leading
grain crops is over 300, 100000 bu-
sIlels more than last year and near
~ 500 900 900 bushels in excess OF
the five year average.
Cheaper rood
The country is assured OF plen-
tiful supply Of cheaper food. Prices
Lfpr principal crops dropped 10 per
Cent. in October, against normal
declihe OF 3.S per cent during the
month. Crop prices are now rs
per cent. below one year ago. Corn
= and oats are back AT their pre-war
levels. Cotton is within a percent
of its 1913 price. Wheat has lost
more than 81 a bushel since mid
summer.
Bankers Optimistic
a powerful group OF New York
) bankers declared few days ago
that AGndumentaI financial and
business conditions are sound.
They know of no sore spots, they
&aid. The fdCral reserve board
-.aSerts that business Is showing in
herent strength Qnd the ability to
attain stability through orderly adj
justment."
Exchanges
Recent improvements in Euro
peRn exchanges is due partly to
better sentiment resulting from the
League of Nations meeting in Gene
va. II the gains continue the pur-
chasing power of Europe's currency
will increase in this country. This
would tend to revive dropping eN-
ports.
Export Financing.
In December an Important meet.
ing of bankers Will be held In Chi
cago to form a $10O,000,0OO corpora
ton to finance feoreign trade. This
Is one means by which it is hoped
to restore activity 10 American in
dustries. Plans are also being
advocated to extend vast credits to
, Germany to- enable her 10 huy here.
Department Stores Buy
IAN encouraging Development has
been the announcement OF several
large department stores, doing nil.
ions Of dollars OF business annually
markets for spring goods. They be-
neYe buying now; where prices are
acceptable, will prevent the spread
of unemployment. 1t is also hoped
10 avert goods shortages and higher
prices next spring.
uurqes Buying
The National Association Of Gre.
dit men has issued an appeal to the
i
buy its day-to-day needs. There is
{ SBtrong purchasing power in the
country Is shown by the success OF
recent sales OF rugs, mems suits.
and other goods at wholesale, and
by the better tone of retail trade.
Improvement is noted however only
where prices have been sharply re-
auced.
Wages Maintained
{ ~ Curtailment Of cotton goods pro-
AUCTION is said 10 be the greatest in
: The history of the industry Yet
2 Falls River, Mass. employers have
agreed to maintain present wage
scales OF cotton and mill operatives
tor another six months. The scale
Is $50 per cent over the pre- war
wage.
Railroad Records
Compared with the demoralized
Sate OF the railroads last spring,
heir ACHIEVEMENTS since then have
been remarkable. The increase in
mefficiency OF handling and NOV
ing freight, has been equivalent to
adding 100000 new cars to present
equipment. This means saving OF
,50O,o00,00e.
i Ample coal at reasonable prices
= 9 now assured. Production for the
"A rear to date has been nearly 500
100000 tons Of bituminous. This is
over 64,0OO0O0 tons ahead OF last
) rear.
pnntn Coll Ponid1u