The Washington herald., 1921-11-02

parable with that Of the latter half
Of 1890 in dollars.
J. We, expect pronounced i'm
proVement with revival Of the steel
output.
4. We consider the chief retard-
ing influence to be lack of buying
power. due to unemployment.
o 8. Our merchandise on hand Oc-
tober I is valued at 50 per cent less
than that of year ago and As per
cent less than that of two years
ago.
s. The physical quantity of mer-
chandise on hand October Is SIS
per cent less than that OF a year
ago and IS per cent less than that
Of two years ago.
r. c. Williams and Company,
New York.
We do not anticipate q pronounced
improvement in our business, but
believe we will have a satisfactory
volume this winter. With the
present condition Of unemployment
and prospects Of lowered wages,
we believe that food prices will not
advance-nor will volume increase
until at least the spring OF the year,
when building operations will I'M
doubtedly Get under way and the
railroads will be purchasing equip
ment and a general reconditioning
and Improvement will so on. In
other words, We believe that the i'm
provement will be a bit delayed.
but that the spring Is the time to
look for It
Naturally, one Of the retarding
elements in our opinion is the
-LtkNkIN~ IL Food and
drink are closely allied and the
lack Of beers and light wines on
the table Of the consumers Of this
country must have some effect on
their good appetites. l believe the
result of the sale of beers and
light wine would be of great bene-
Mt to business. -.-.r
The value of our merchandise on
October / was about 22 LIZ per
cent lower In cost than one year
ago and about Is per cent lower
than on October 1 1919. We have
On hand today the same physical
quantity of merchandise that we
had a year ago and about the same
quantity that we had two years
ago.
GODDARD Grocery Company, st.
Louis. Mo-.
az We do not anticipate pro-
nounced Improvement In business
this year.
az We anticipate slow improve
ment.
ca We expect pronounced i'm
provement in the summer and fall
of next year.
(4) We consider the chief retard-
ing influence to be lack Of consum-
ing demand.
(5) The value of our stock on
hand october 1 Is about so per cent
Of that of previous years.
(6) Our stock on hand October
Is all new crop goods.
The following two firms are
wholesale hardware companies.
Hubbard. Spencer, Bartlett a Co.,
Chicago, Ill.
~ No.
(2) About as now or slower.
(3) Within two years.
az High labor costs, high freight
rates, and prices too high on many
other commodities which have not
yet been fully Debated.
90 About 80 per cent LESS than
year ago and s per cent less than two
years ago.
simmon. Hardware Co., st. Louis,
Mo.
We anticipate, continued improve
ment In business for the balance or
this year, but gradual rather than
pronounced.
We cannot name any definite date
for pronounced Improvement, Just as
We cannot look backwards and name
a definite date when the present i'm
provennent started. Business improve
ment during the next three or six
months will probably be more notice
able In the South, because of the in
creased market price Of cotton. than
in the grain countries. unless farm
products I'M the North should show
increased market values.
The chief retRrding influences of
business are. first, the low prices
for farm products; second, high
freight rates, particularly on farm
products. and the unwillingness of
labor to accept reductions, which
would probably result in an In
creased volume of business by re-
the cost of manufactured ar
ticles more nearly in proportion to
a Agricultural products. The present
freight rates are too high, from the
Of business revival, re-
CARELESS of their merit, from the
standpoint Of railroad necessities
The small export demand. both for
4 AGRICULTURAL and manufactured prod
ucts, also 10 a factor In retarding
business.
Our merchandise, comprising over
50. 900 items, Is 50 varied that any
single percentage used in cofnpar-
ing valuations would be at best but
a guess We believe our average
decline In value to he between 20
and Is per cent compared with a
year ago, and about 10 per cent
compared with two years ago. The
physical quantity OF our inventories