Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1921-02-04

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
ina financiers of this nation. A year
ago the general tendency was toward
initiation. 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 Lbusiness Limitation
which was leading rapidly toward a
panic. To-day Lthat Lcondition Lhas
passed and instead Of panic bust
ness 81 experiencing a sane read
iustment. L
This period of readustment is not
without it's sacrifices and those sac
rifices are necessarily painful, but
to every legitimate business they
are a part of the days work and are
absorbed as part of the process
of getting back to normal condl'
tons. 1t is to the man who has
entered business on margin dur
ing the period of the boom that the
reimbursement spells ruin; the mer'
chant who has bought a stock OF
goods on credit and rising prices
and who has not made any provi-
sion for falling prices; the farmer
who has gone into the land in a
period of abnormal food prices and
is looking for a chance to pay fol
his acreage, buildings and machinery
from his excessive returns and can
not 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 q
portion OF his earnings into a saw
ings account.
There are certain points in the
industrial situation which stand oul
as beacon lights in future business
During the past year million
couples were married in this coun
try and during the same period
there were not more than 10000
homes built. That same ratio holds
for practically all of the years OF
the war. Since Europe began clam
oring for shells and ships the rail
roads in this country have not been
able to get steel for improvements
and extensions and the work they
must do during the next few years
will call for immense investments
in materials.
Since the war started millions Of
dollars of American securities form
erly held in Europe have been pur
chased in this country and the in
terest and dividends are now hel6
here instead of going overseas
And also, since the war started
this country has adopted prohibi
ton, turning large sums OF none.
into the channels of regular bust
ness enterprise.
One of the basic industries of Thu
state has reached period OF read
justment where 1t can be safel!
said to be on rock bottom and read!
to do business-that Is the lumbe
industry. Last year lumber wen
sky high, now 1t is back on SAT-
margin for both the producer ant
the consumer. The retail prices o
lumber in Spokane today are $21.5'
a thousand for number one rougl
lumber: $66 to $6S for number on
flooring, 500 for number two ant
$56 for number three; $66 Tor nun
Der two and better finish lumber
$3.50 a thousand for lath ana ss.n
for shingles. On those prices VIII
hardware and paints cheaper, puilo
ing is bound to begin, and the mill
also to begin filling foreign orders
Supplies OF goods laid IN durin
the year of spending just passe
can not last forever. The resuia
purchaser-the public-understane
ing that he can again go into III
market and get value received Il
his dollar must have the necessitle
of life. The war spree is over, pus
ness Is hack on normal plane.