Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-08-31
TAKES OPTIMISTIC VIEW
OF AMERICAN BUSINESS
L. S. Chamber Of Commerce Finds
Widespread Confidence In
COuntry's Future.
LOWER PRICE LEVEL COMING
Automobile Industry Is Said to Be
Slowing Down Somcwhat-IIigh
Prices Cause Reduction in Build.
ing Activity.
10y unlysrsa, serylce.l

WASHINGTON, Angus. 30.--A nat
ural and gradual reimbursement Of
business conditions without financial
disorder 80 predicted by the United
States Chamber of Commerce in Its
semiannual bulletin on genera! bust
ness. made public here today.
While many disturbing factors.
such as labor unrest. tight money.
high cost Of necessities and the
Russo-PolIsh war are mentioned. crop
and other conditions are SO satisfac-
tory that the chamber finds wide
spread belief that business Will con-
tinuo satisfactory throughout the
year. Altogether. IL states. there is
no reason whatsoever to anticipate
{. panic. Tho report says: Amid
cross-currcnts and eddies of tho in
dustrial aituation. definite trend
seems to be slowly developing to-
ward "a gradually increasing gain OF
supply upon demand and a somewhat
lower level OF prices. In textiles and
in some manufactures OF leather
there has been Il decrease in produc-
tion and lower prices.
Here and there mills have shut
down or are. running on reduced
time. Wha; VIII happen next Is ex-
citing much interest and many
prophecies.
To Curtail Car output.
The automobile industry seems TO
be headed toward somewhat lcsscned
output. The jewclry business in New
England is slowing down. Contrari-
wise. paper mills are busy and full
81 orders. Equally is this true OF
tho metal lines. Finished metal
articles are scarce and prices are
advancing.
There is much complaint OF the
ineihciency OF labor and of It's scar
city. though this latter grows less
marked. Shipbulld!ns displays less
cned activity.
Cold mining suffers from high cost
~ production and the stationary
Grice OF gold. silver mining feels
The price OF zine is low. and the
demand not equal to supply. Lead
rs higher because OF Increased de.
mand. Copper is duh because Of a
supply not yet disposed Of Iron
mining Is good. Phosphate mines in
the South ar. doing we'll
Contraction in financial credits
have put 'wiId-catting' out of busI.
ness In the oil regions, which makes
business there duh. Supplies for
drilling oil wells are no longer called
for
BuiidinE slows Down.
CONSTRUCTION and building have
allowed down because Of high prices
and scarcity OF labor and materials
and practical withdrawal OF credit ac-
commodations on new construction.
Coal mining has Its flock OF trou
Sics-strikcs and lack OF cars.
me promise now. and ii Is almost
fulnlicd. is for 1000. ZOO. 900 bushels of
corn, SOo0g0.o0o bushels Of wheaI.
both winter and String. and for cot
ton yield of about l2,5on.ooO bales.
There Will DC more oats than las,
year and more tobacco. more pot,-
toes, moro rico. about the Iarres,
crop on record. More sugar, bo,n
cane and beet, and especially. a hay
crop OF such proportions as shou,d
have marked effect in reducing
the cos, OF live stock and of dairy
and poultry products
From every State and every sec
ton comes the complaint OF tho lack
%, cans aa the greatest OF all haudi-
caps TO the transaction of business
and on moving cause OF continued
high prices.
Live Stock Sot Prospecting.
While ranges and pastures. save
here and thorc. are generally in good
shape. the live stock industry is not
IN a prosperous condition. The gcr-
eral statement is that tho feed j.
much too high in proportion to the
price of live stock
There arc fewer cattle and hog.
than last year but propauiy as many
sheep.
Tho poultry and dairy Industries
arc steadily Increasing, despite high
prices OF feed. In nearly every part
OF the South the blooded COW OF hign
degree and lengthy pedigree is a
familiar sight, where eencratio,
ago was only TO be found the soli-
tary, tick-infestcd scrub.
The wool market is very dull ana
prices are low"
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