Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-11-28
G A u S E
FOR
I II A N K S
IN THIS WEEK
BUSINESS REVIEW
BY JOHN w. HILL
,iaI Editor Iron Trade Review.

n mERlCA mas ample cause Tor
celebrating Thanksgiving this
year After weeks of prevailing
gloom, few encouraging events are
beginning to emerge.
Some of these developments de-
note economic boys safely passed.
Others point to better times to come
when readjustment from dangerous
war imitation has run its course.
Cheerful factors, for which Amer
leans 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
power of the dollar.
In addition it is well to remember
the bigness of the job of supplying
the bare necessities to Americas
100000 population. This means
employment for millions and makes
anything like complete business stag
nation. Unthinkable profits await all
those, even in the present depression,
who strive for low prices and rapid
turnover.
Preliminary official crop estimates
contain Thanksgiving sermon. They
show that four harvests-pears, rice,
sweet potatoes and corn-exceed all
ret ords. The wheat yield decreased
191 100000 bushels, but the total of
leading grain crops is over 100000
900 bushels more than last year and
nearly 500,000,000 bushels in excess
of the fve-year average.
Cheaper Food.
The country is assured of a plent,-
full supply of cheaper food. Prices
for principal crops dropped 10 per
cent in Octorer, against normal de-
cline of 3.8 per cent during the
month. Crop prices are now % per
cent below one year ago. Corn and
oats are back at their pre-war levels.
Cotton is within per cent of its 1913
price. Wheat has lost more than 81
a bushel since midsummer.
A powerful group of New York
bankers declared few days ago that
financial and business
are sound. They know
of no 'sore' spots, they said The
federal reserve board asserts that
business is showing inherent
trength and the ability to attain sta
bility through orderly adjustment.
Recent improvements in European
exchanges is due partly to better SEN
timent resulting from the League of
Nations meeting in Geneva. If the
gains continue the purchasing power
of Europe's currency will increase in
this country. This would tend to REL
vive dropping exports.
Export Financing.
In December an important meet
ing of bankers will be held in Chicago
to form a $100,00O,00O corporation
to finance foreign trade, This is one
means by which it is hoped to restore
activity to American industries. Plans
are also being advocated to extend
vast credits to Germany to enable her
to buy here.
An encouraging development has
been the announcement of several
large department stores, doing mil
lions of dollars of business annually,
that buyers have been sent into the
markets for spring goods. They be-
lieve buying now, where prices are
acceptable, will prevent the spread of
unemployment. 1t is also hoped to
avert goods shortages and higher
prices next spring.
The. National Association of Credit
Men has issued an appeal to the public
to call off its "strike" and buy it's
day to-day needs. That there is
strong purchasing power in the coun-
try is shown by the success of recent
sales of rugs, mems suits and other
good at wholesale, and by the better
tone of retail trade. Improvement
is noted, however, only where prices
have been sharply reduced
Ways Mainland.
Curtailmnt of cotton goods pro-
duction is said to be the greatest in
the history of the industry Yet Falls
River, Mass, employers, have agreed
to maintain present wage scales of
cotton mill operatives for another six
months Tie scale is $50 per cent
over the p o-war wage
Compared with the demoralized
state of the railroads last spring their
achievements have been remarkable.
The increase in efficiency of handling
and moving freight has been equiva-
lent to adding 100000 new cars to
present equipment. This means a
saving of $4,000, 100000.
Ample coal at reasonable prices is
now assured. Production for the
year to date has been nearly $780,
100000 tons of bituminous. This is
over 64,000,000 tons ahead of last
year.