The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1921-01-27

One year ago the business Of this
country was on the wrong road, to-
day it is on the right road. That is
the concensus Of opinion of the lead
ing fnanciers Of this nation. A year
ago the general tendency was toward
imitation. Today business is steadier
and is rapidly being stabilized on a
sound basis. A year ago the people Of
this country were on spending orgy
causing a business imitation which was
leading rapidly toward panic To.
day that condition has passed and In.
stead Of a panic business is expert
encng a sane readjustment.
Unprepared Caught Short
This period of readjustment is not
without it's sacrifices and those sacri-
fees are necessarily painful, but to
every legitimate business they are a
part of the days work and are absorb
ed as a part of the process of getting
back to normal conditions. 1t is to
the man who has entered business on
a margin during the period OF the
boom that the readjustment spells
ruin; the merchant who has bought a
stock of goods on credit and rising
prices and who has not made any pro-
vision for falling prices; the farmer
who has gone onto the land in period
of abnormal food prices and is look
ing for a chance to pay for his acre
age, buildings and machinery from his
excessive returns and cannot tide over
a period Of lower prices; the working
man who has spent his savings as he
earned them instead of profiting by
experiences Of past slow times and
putting a portion of his earnings into
a savings account.
There are certain points in the in
dustrial situation which stand out as
beacon lights in future business. Dur
ing the past year a million couples
were married in this country and dur
ing the same period there were not
more than 10000 homes build. That
same ratio holds for practically all OF
the years of the war. Since Europe
began clamoring for shells and ships
the railroads in this country have not
been able to get steel for improve
ments and extensions and the work
/, they must do during the next few
years will call for immense invest
ments in materials.
No More Interest to Europe
Since the war started millions Of
dollars of American securities former
ly held in Europe have been purchased
in this country and the interest and
dividends are now held here instead Of
going overseas. And also, since the
war started this country has adopted
prohibition, turning large sums Of
money into the channels of regular
business enterprise.
One of the basic industries Of this
state has reached a period of readjust-
on rock bottom and ready to do bust
ness-that is the lumber industry.
Last year lumber went sky high, now
it is back on safe margin for both the
producer and the consumer. The re-
tail prices of lumber in Seattle today
are $21.5O a thousand for number one
rough lumber; $66 to SOS for number
one flooring, 500 for number two and
$56 for number three; sec for number
two and better finish lumber; $3.50 a
thousand for lath and 1915 for shin
giles. On those prices with hardware
and paints cheaper, building is bound
10 begin, and the mills also to begin
filling foreign orders.
Let's Go
Supplies of goods laid in during the
year of spending just passed cannot