Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-04-28

March 1921 Inclusive. The eainsI
shown during the month are 70 he
accounted for almost entirely by 81
substantial increase In the number Of
nit for repairs, was less than $1,000.
as compared with the norm Of about
$500; while the average permit for
new construction IN, March vas less
than $500 as compared with the
norm of mor than $500 for the ten,
months ending with March.
5 1Ansecd Oil and OIL Cake.
Az Minneapolis Is the largest man-
ufacturing center for linseed oil and
oil cake in the United States. figures
have been secured from the Minne-.
apolis Chamber Of Commerce showing
an increase In shipments of s per cent
over February. and of 46 per cent
over March . ear ago.
Retail Trade.
The volume of retail trade in March
1891, when measured in dollars and
cents. declined Ill., per cent from the
March. 1920. figure. Cumulative sales
Tor the year 1921 brought March 81,
declined nearly IL per cent as COM
the same. period. Stocks at h end Of
March of this year declined about Is
per cent when compared with stocks
on hand on March 81. 1920, but ex-
hibited a s per cen Increase over the
stocks Of February, 1921. The opera
tons Of the stores during March,
1921. retarded the average rate Of
turnover for the year 1921.
Employment G~ondidons.
A special survey made by us on
April | Of a selected list OF typical
firms in this district demonstrated
that the weekly payroll and the num-
Der OF persons employed is nearly %
per cent less<than a yea ago. The
greatest decreases were in ship-build-
ing building construction, and the
manufacture Of machinery; in all of
which the decline was more than so
pei cent in the number of persons
employed. Only one industry of the
fifteen different ones which were in
~Vestigated reported an increase in the
number OF employees. This casa was an
increase Of Fl per cent for linseed oil
establishments. The number of men
employed on April / vas 3b,3S4 as
weekly payrolls on April 1 totaled
$!,091,051 as compared with 31,432,-
SS7 q year ago. Half Of the reporting
firms indicated than no reduction had
taken place in wages rs compared
with a year ago. And with the excep-
ton of the public utilities, which re-
ported increases. all others reported
Az wnSSSs II HIO~ICok re-
auctions were 20 to 80 per cent In
construction companies. The other
important reductions, ranging from
~ to 20 per cent, were indicated in
lumber manufacturing. linseed oil,
lmachinery, ship building, mill work,
n in copper mining. !
Unemployment increased in March
as compared with February. Reports
received from the federal employment
agencies in the cities Of Minneapolis,
st. Paul and Duluth indicate that re-
quests for help wanted in March were
about 20 per cent Of February and Is
per cent Of March a year ago., for
men. and 108 per cent and 40 per
cent. respectively, for women. The
number Of persons whom these same
agencies succeeded in placing exhibits
similar percentages. 5@f
Reports Of copper mining compan-
les made to this office indicate no
substantial change in March but a
reduction of one-third as compared
with q year in the number. OF men
employed. AS the largest Montana
and Michigan mines were closed on
April 1, the figures for March are not
representative Of April conditions.
Employment conditions reported to
us by lumber companies indicate a
decrease in the number of employees
n March Of II per cen compared
g "a " dlu Va OIL PEI CCuL az
compared with March of. a year ago.
According to the records Of aid ex-
tended by The Associated Charities in
Minneapolis. unemployment was
greater. In March than in February.
This@is the first time, according to
their records which began. In 1914,
that unemployment had not decreased
in March. There were 1856 applications
fol. aid from families in which the
bread-winner was unemployed dur
ing the month Of March, as compared
with It's in February. and but IL in
March a. year ago. According tt their
records, unemployment is greater nov
than in any month since February.
1916.
Business Failures.
Business failures which are a better
Index to past than to present buetness
conditions, exhibited decreases@shotf
in number and amount of liabJliftea
4 during March as. compared with Feb
ruqry.1 However, the number and Tia
bilittes are much greater than In
March a year ago, the liabilities being
more than three times as large.
Crcfiit Conditions.
Credit conditions have not ,tmproy.
ed during the month Of March and
the early part of April when ompar.
ed with February this yea or when