The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-10-07
BUSINESS CONDITIONS GEN.
ERALLY GOOD THRUOUT u. s.
Fidelity & Deposit Thru Its 900 Sell
ected Representatives, Makes the
First Comprehensive Picture
of u. s. Conditions.

The Fidelity & Deposit thru 900 sell
ected representatives, made notable
survey Of conditions thruout the Unit
ed States, which is herewith given, r.
]. Doebler, we'll known Minot insur-
ance man, was the company's repre-
sentative for this district:
Baltimore, Nd, Sept. 22.-Franklin
X. Lane, former secretary of the n
terror, today issued statement, max
ing public summary of what he calls
"the first comprehensive, carefully
made and approximately accurate pic
ture of industrial, agricultural, finan-
cial and political conditions, through
out the United States"
1t discovers in the foreground, he
says that both major political parties
have overlooked the greatest issue in
the public mind, which is the cost
of living. 1t also shows, he states,
that the country is on sound eco
nomic basis, with the wave of extra
vagance subsiding, saving increasing,
wholesalers and retailers optimistic
over the winter outlook, and grow
ing disposition for hard work, altho
the individual productivity of labor is
not yet showing much evidence of in
crease.
Made Careful Investigation
Mr.. Lanes statement summarizes a
survey made through 900 field repre-
sentatives of the Fidelity & Deposit
and covers every section of the coun-
try. Manufacturers, merchants, cham
bers Of commerce, bankers, lawyers,
business men and farmers were ques-
toned in the effort to mirror the i'm
mediate economic and political situa-
ton and obtain consensus OF repre-
sentative opinion as to the future.
The replies from all localities were
made simultaneously by telegraph.
Mr.. Lane says:
No Shortage of Raw Material
"There is no shortage of raw mate
rial sufficient to curtail production
reported from any of the nine geo.
graphical districts into which the
Country was divided for the purpose
Of the survey. Only in the district
Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Wiscon-
sin is there evidence of lack OF or
ders. New England industries re-
port number of cancellations, but
there as elsewhere, manufacturers are
we'll filled with calls for their pro-
ducts.
Transportation conditions are i'm
proving everywhere, and a substan-
tial reduction in the freight car short
age is reported in every district ex-
cept in the Rocky Mountain States, in
the Southwest and in the district in
GLIDING Kentucky, Tennessee, Ala
bama, and Mississippi although an
improvement is noted in the latter
district.
Shortage of Fuel
"A shortage of coal and the failure
of labor to increase individual produc-
tivity appear to be the only two un-
favorable aspects in the immediate in.
dustrial situation. The Rocky Noun
tain and Pacific States report suf-
fcient supply of fuel. All other sec
tions Of the country are feeling the
shortage, but it is apparently least
felt by the South Atlantic States.
ALTHOUGH labor is costing still
more than it did last year, it appar-
emily is producing no more. Wages
have advanced from 10 to so per cent
in the last twelve months and yet
nowhere is there reported increase in
productivity per man. l am not ex.
pecting that the cost of labor will fall
off even in the worst Of times to its
pre-war stage, for l believe that the
real differential between directing lab