Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-09-06
LABOR DAY FINDS
BUSINESS GETTING
BACK To NORMAL
New Figures Will Show Big
Decrease in UnempIoy-
ment-Many Mills and
Factories Starting
RY HARDEN COLFAx
Leased Wire Service to The Journal.)

Copyright, 192l.)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 3.-The
year swings into Labor day with
American industry at last in quick
ened step. Unemployment is def
nitely on the wane-Secretary Da-
Wis estimated army of more than
100000 idle has shrunk since the
figures were announced-credit Is
easier than it has been at any time
since the peak of high prices, the cost
of living has tumbled far; the rail-
roads are making money and mills
and factories are gradually coming
back to something resembling nor
NAL working conditions.
Definitely, the writer believes, the
worst of the industrial crisis is be-
hind US. Measured by the impas-
sionate figures of workers employed,
a nation wide survey of industry as
Of September first shows it. In the
middle west, especially, and in Chi
cago, these figures are heartening.
The great iron and steel centers
show revival; coal, metal mining,
lumber and agriculture are looking
Up. Manufacturing, last to receive
the impetus of revival, is beginning
slowly to show a healthier tone.
Industries employing about mil
lion and half workers show an in
crease of more than 10000 in their
pay rolls over the number employed
a month ago. This increase is large
ly in the middle west. In the east
ern cities, generally, there was no
and measurable addition to the
army Of workers is expected this
month. It begins to look as # the
hope of business that fall viii see
a revival is a hope coming true,
although the upward swing will be
gradual and not spectacular. Slowly
and healthily business is getting bet
ter. :.f
Sometimes within the next few
the result of it's survey of unemploy-
ment conditions IS Of August 31st.
New Figures Soon
That survey, taken monthly since
January, has been a succession OF
S0-day reverses for the working man
and industry generally. 1t covers
1923 concerns engaged in fourteen
major industries; is made at the
same plants each month and, there
fore, affords accurate. view OF
cross-section of American business.
Since January the decrease IN en-
ployment has been uninterrupted.
During the past few months. in fac.
it has been accelerated particularly
heavy decreases in employment be-
ing recorded during June and July.
1t is believed, however, that a sub
stantial increase will be revealed IN
the August showing; certainly it is
expected. If so, it will mark the
first upward turn since the begin
ming of the year.
Within the next few days the la
Dor department will begin a new
survey of employment which will be
placed before President Harding for
use at the forthcoming Hoover con
ference on employment. For the
first time this year there will be
shown conditions in the building
trades in addition to the other major
Industries already covered: There
are no comparative figures by which
to measure the significance of the
building trades survey, but 1T is be
cate fairly healthy tone in condi-
tons there.
The railroads have taken a fresh
start. In June their net income was
approximately fifty-one and a half
millions, or at the rate of 81 per
cent on their investment. July fig
Gres are incomplete but already that
mark-which was record for the
year-has been passed. Returns
from $50 lines, operating about two
hundred thousand miles, or 80 per
cent of the total, show income of
sixty-three millions during July. If
the remaining lines simply hold their
own notwithstanding eVen-the
roads will have earned at the rate
of more than per cent: They
should show earnings of ninety mil
lions for the month 20 be on
per cent basis.
The farmer, accoding to dispatches
from the middle west, is going to
make a little money this year not
withstanding the sharpness of the
liquidation in prices which has all
but overwhelmed him. He has hopes
for next year. His present shift to
the right side of the ledger shows
a small balance and is reflected in
the pickup in business in Chicago
and other middle western cities.
Iron and steel are reVlV1ng. There
are still big stocks on hand, but con-
sumption has outrun production for
several months and the trend now is
back to higher output with conse-
uuent additions to the working
forces. Coal, likewise, is coming
back to recognizable figures.
Over-optimism is generally con-
demned by business men. They are
looking for no boom, but for slow,
steady Improvement in all lines with
a tfai0DnartS nerhaDS extend.