The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-04-07
SURVEY OF NATIONAL CONDITIONS
SHOWS INCREASING CONFIDENCE
David Houston Anayzng Fidelity and Deposit COmpanys Review
Says Business Feels Worst Has Passed

Baltimore Md. April 7.-Lavid F.
lCuston, commenting today on the
pccond survey Of national conditions
inst completed by the Fidelity and
sep0sit company, said:
The survey indicates that the bus
mess world is still feeling it. way, but
With increasing confidence and with
The conviction that the worst has
eassed. The country has successfully
korne the strain caused by most not
bble drop in prices, particularly of a
Tast volume of raw materials, and has
weathered a trying period Of liquida-
ZION.
1.-THE demand for finished product
BIAS not developed to the point where
BUR factories feel justified in taking
Fhe requisite quantity of our surplus
baw materials to furnish the neces-
sary relief to their producers; but
there are some indications of
thange in this direction. Business
men realize that forced action based
nn artificial aptimism may lead to un-
wise action and produce further en-
EMBARRASSMENT The foreign situation
has not shown the expected improve
snent, and continued difficulties are
Experienced in discovering an effec-
5yet European market fer our c0mmo-
dities
This survey does point to certain
Favorable domestic conditions. The
eost of living has appreciably dimin-
ished. Building operations in q num-
Der of districts tend to increase
There have recently been no strikes
Of consequence Greater prCductivitr
nf labor per man is rcpor' ed from all
districts.
Raw Material Plentiful
Raw materials are plentiful, AMI
physical transportation conditions are
rcod There have Leon no business
Failure Of moment The crop outlook
is satisfactory; and the banking situ-
alton has improved. II is believed
shat confidence in business circles i
sIewly Spreading and that while there
is hesitancv the business men of the
country are feeling their way with
Sound business caution. and the cuun-
MrIy is working back toward ii more
stable condition.
I'm undertaking to give business
men a comprehensive and timely pic
lure of national conditions and public
|cpinion. the Fidelity aud Deposi.
ccmpany has once again performed Il
dIstinct public service
What the SURVEY disclosps should
BE an encouragement to us all to go
Forward with confidence. though no.
With reCklessneSs.
More than one Thousand rcprcScn
tativeS If The Fidelity and Deposit
company gathered the information
contained in the survey They oh
iained from bankers. manufacturer; :.
= nasiness men and others answers TO
a Guestionaire covering economic, ag-
riCultural. industrial and general con
Editions The replies were tclegraphed
10 Baltimore where they were ana
iyzed and tabulated. The review was
made i'll the same fashion as the com.
pany $ first survey. published last
September
In preparing the questionable.
economists. lawyers and many men ir
public life were consulted to make il
as complete and comprehensive as
n possible. Among those who suggcSt cd
questions We're: Attorney General
Harry NJ. Daughcrty. Senator R-cl
Smoot. Secretary of Agriculture Her
~ {. Wallace. his predecessor, e. T.
Meredith. and Albert b. Fan. secre-
iary- Of the interior.
Mr.. IIOu>tOn's Comment
Ne. Houston, formerly secretary of
agrrdlurc, and more recently sccrc-
tdry-,0f thc treasury, made his com
'nem after careful study cf the sur
vey~ chart prepared from the tcle
Rraphic replies. His statement. in
| BART. follows:
While the survey shows that no
Section Of the country reports a
marked increase in industrial activity
/ and that manufacturers distributors
and consumers still are proceeding