The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-09-25
BRIGHT PROSPECTS
FOR BUSINESS
United States Of Chamber of Conn
merce Issues Optimistic Report
on General Conditions

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standards Of the Chamber Of Conn
merce Of the United States in his
monthly report on crop and general
business conditions throughout the
country.
The report points out that the
South will produce more sugar cane
and rice than last year, and plenty of
grains and forage. There il much
fruit and an endless amount of yege-
tables. The traveller through eastern
states sees hocks and herds and fields
of growing grain in sections that a
generation ago knew only one-cr0p
ideas and methods. Turpentine and
naval stores, and phosphate mining
are doing much better now that the
war is over, and the avenues of ex-
port trade reopened. The lumber bus
mess would be better if only cars
could be had.
Building construction is much the
same there as hi other parts of the
country says the report TT has
practically come to Al standstill be-
cause Of being tied hand and foot by
high prices and the unreliability and
uncertainty Of labor. high prices and
scarcity Of material, and the almost
impossibility of financing any com
struction The Sister Anne of Hope
IL sitting upon the housetop of Ex-
pectancy scanning the distant horizon
for that little cloud Of dust which
shall announce the stability of labor,
the lowered costs of construction, and
possibility Of getting building mate
rial, and the loosening of credit. that
are needed for the resumption of ac-
tivity in this great and important in
dustry.
There are many valuable minor
crops now growing in the South, pea
nuts and pecans for instance. which
are samples of the continued diver
sification Of the South In agriculture.
Industrial life is very active save in
textiles where lessened output and
some shut-downs are noted
Good business for the remainder of
the year il the forecast made by Mr..
Douglas for the entire country.
While conservation and caution
seem to be the keynote of business
everywhere, says Mr.. Douglas, there
is no apprehension, except In a few.
unimportant quarters. Mr.. Douglas
declares that events of the past weeks
have borne out his previous state
ments that the peak of high prices
and business activity is past. and that
he now looks to long drawn out and
somewhat painless readjustment of
business in an orderly fashion. "Pur-
chasing Is liberal enough. but on q
sane and sober basis of needs and not
speculation" the report says.
Business conditions throughout the
country are classified in the report as
ssfairD and good. About sixty per
cent of the whole country is enjoying
business described as good On this
point, the report explains that "the
story begins on the far-away Pacific
coast, where good predominates de-
spite the drouth which still afhicts
much of California, the decline ir
hip-building, which Is general in al
the rest of the country, and the lacl
of ears to move lumber, which is the
common complaint in every section Of
the country where lumber is an in.
dustry of any moment. But the Pa.
cific coast states, California especial
", long ago learned the lesson Of di
versification. For they have all man
ner of agricultural products for theil
reliance, and likewise they ship fruit:
and vegetables in countless car load.
to the eastern states.
Sin California the citrus industry
is the brightest spot in q situation
where rainfall has been lacking ant
where there are fears that the noun
tain streams may consequently fail il
sufficient water for irrigation. East
ward across the snowy SUBMITS of thl
Cascades and Sierras the mountain
states have likewise learned not t,
rely solely upon their flocks of sheel
and cattle upon a thousand hills. Fo
everywhere in the United State
prices Of wool are low and de1nan,
has almost ceased.
Nor Is the cattle situation mucl
better. 1t is true that the focks AM
herds are generally in good condition
because Of sufficient rainfall on tn
grazing ranges, but prices are low am
unremunerative at present high price
of feed. There is one exception +
this, and it is the dairy business. Fo
dairy products the demand seems in
satiable in every section of the coun
try. This, too, despite the high pric
Of feed.
A generation ago to have talke
about the agricultural products 0
Arizona, OF Utah. OF Colorado, 0
Idaho, was to discourse Of things tina
mostly were not. Yet today they ar
matters Of real moment. and are dc
ing much to offset The unsatisfactor
condition Of the other industries Thi
il esnecialIY true Of those horizons q