Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-09-20

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is not only expected, but beneficial
Its tendency is to put more men at
work and thus to increase the abil.
ity Of the average family to buy,
so that if food prices are slightly
higher in the coming year, the fam
lily income is likely to be higher
also by reason of more employ
ment.
Wheat has recently been making
some advance in price, and heavy
export demand has developed. We
may make up in part for our dimin-
ished number Of bushels for export
in better prices for what we have
to sell. Reports from Argentine
indicate a poor wheat crop on ac-
count of drouth and the demand
from Russia is a factor in the sup
ply. Until Russia got into the
hands of the communists, and the
destruction of the incentive to pro-
duce was accomplished, Russia used
tn export large amount Of wheat.
But this year and for some years to
come, Russia will import all the
wheat it can get for charity's sake
or in exchange for its products.
These are few, however, for since
private property has been abolished
production in every line has been
greatly diminished in spite Of every
effort on the part Of the govern
ment. The Russian working man
will not produce for the state as
abundantly as he did when he pro-
duced for his own gain.
Commenting on the rise in food
prices the Springfield Republican
says that there promises to be
world wheat shortage after North
America has exported its entire
surplus and the southern hemi-
sphere has been drawn upon to the
limit. Our corn crop could be made
to fill the gap abroad if Europeans
had the pioneer habit and taste for
corn bread.
"A rise in the price Of food, like
the rise in the price Of cotton, must
benefit the American producers and
tend to restore their purchasing
power as consumers of manufac-
tured goods, after they have liqui-
dated their pressing debts. Stats
tics prepared by the department of
labor for the Is principal cities Of
the United States show that for the
month from July Is to August is
there was an increase in the retail
price of food in all Of the cities
over the previous 80 days. It is
probable that the same tendency
will continue to prevail as the au-
tumn advances so that the agricul-
tural interest will not be so flat as
it was left by the rapid deflation
Of last winter and spring.
''The fly in the ointment, how
ever, is easy to see. Outside of the |
agricultural population the consum-
ing power of the workers Of the
country has been diminished by
part-time employment, or by COM
plete idleness among some 5,ooO,-
900 wage earners. A check to the
Fall in the cost of food and cloth
ing must be to their immediate dis
advantage. Hence, America must
restore their purchasing and con-
suning power in order to bring
about widespread activity. With |
exchange where it is and with the .
foreign trade remaining slack, it
seems clear that the business re-
vival that is coming will be moder-
ate, especially in its earlier stages.
Signs of an increasing fall trade
nave solid basis. Steel ingot pro-
iuction in August rose to about 20
Der cent of capacity from about
'0H per cent in July. There is an
Increasing demand for copper. Pig
ron output increased in August
5000 tons. August recorded an in
crease Of 37.5 per cent in new
permits in the United
States compared with August, 1920.
IDLE freight cars are gradually de-
Lining in number week by week.
Reports from all but one Of the
lass l railroads which have been
lied with the Interstate Commerce
commission, show that these car
iers earned an operating income of
;69, 485, 900 for the month of July,