The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1921-03-31
SEES IMPROVEMENT
IN NATIONS BUSINESS
Lynden Man After Tour Of East
Describes Conditions In Various
Lines Throughout Country

A general improvement in business
conditions throughout the country
was noted by w. H. NAPLES, presi.
dent Of the Lynden Department,
Store. who returned last week from
an extensive buying trip in the East
Mr.. NAPLES visited New York
Chicago. and other Eastern centers
and found many encouraging indica-
tions Of a return of better times.
Business in all lines suffered quite
depression, In some cases almost a
collapse, last fall" said Mr.. NAPLES
today. Indeed, at one period, bust
ness was almost at a standstill. To-
day one hears more encouraging re-
ports from the prominent business
men, who are practically unanimous
of opinion that the bottom has been
reached, and that improvement will
come soon. or has already started.
''The business atmosphere is clear
in general, in the East. However.
in some sections of the country, par
ticularly in the South, 1t is not ex-
pected that there will be any marked
improvement until next fall. The
cotton growing districts have been
particularly hard hit. There is quite
a movement in those districts to de-
crease the acreage to be planted In
c OF ton, which will eventually
strengthen the cotton prices, but very
little improvement is expected until
ate in the fall. In the tobacco grow
ing districts it is well known that the
banks are loaded with farmers notes,
that were to be paid when the crops
were sold last fall. A large percent
age OF the crops still remains In the
hands of the growers at this late
date, and the general opinion is that
better conditions can hardly be hoped
for until early fall.
There is a slight improvement In
the demand for lumber. This Is pro-
tably somewhat Gu, to. the strong
movement in most Of the large cities
to encourage the building of homes.
Government statistics show that the
housing problem is still exceedingly
acute throughout the congested dis
tricts. A recent law passed in New
York exempting from taxation for
period of ten years all new houses up
to eight rooms, should do lot to en-
courage the rent-paying individual to
build now, and get out of the clutch
es of the landlord, who today is able
to demand and secure excessive rent
ais.
I'm those parts Of the middle west
dependent largely upon sheep-raising,
the great slump in the wool market
has created considerable financial dis
tress. In many instances banks have
advanced sheep-raisers as high as
$1,000 per head on their sheep. 1t
ia said that the city of Boston has
enough wool on hand to fill all nor
NAL demands in this country for the
year 1921. without buying another
pound of wool from the growers VINO
are holding stocks. Under these cir
cumstances the sheepmen find 1t prac-
tically impossible to repay the ad-
yances made to them, and were the
hank TO attempt to enforce settle
ments it would mean financial ruin
70 both the banks and the wool pro-
ducers.
zone of the most encouraging FAC
tors in present business conditions, Ii
that the period during which there
has been no demand from the manu-
facturer for raw products, other thar
wool. and no demand from jobberi
and wholesalers for manufactures
goods. has passed, and we find toda!
tho Eastern markets are filled will
buvers. eager to purchase merchan
disc. These buyers are not buyini
the large quantities they did during
tho period of imitation, but the fren
zied campaign carried on the pas
foW months u uuiOuu osS
at the high prices, has caused quite
shortage in many lines. In the GU
NJ New York statistics show there ar
the normal numbers Of buyers visit
ing the market. and buying. II
manv lines of manufacture the dis
tr,hutors are not in a position to nj
orders. This condition may De OIL
temporary, but in most circles ther
is the feeling prevailing that the DO,
tom of the market has been reached
and there will be an. increasing vol
ume of business done from now o
until normal conditions are reachee
No one expects to see prices rang'n
at the high levels that obtaine" du'
;ru war times; however, those wh
are seemingly in the best s'tuatio
IN Judge conditions are firmly OF IN
on,n,on that we will never reach IN
low prices of the period immedia'e'
nreceding the commencement OF III
wo,,d war. In most Of the man'
u a.