Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-08-01
REVIEW |: y a! Bus.
mess !! |! OUTLOOK
Business Conditions Gener-
ally Over Seventh Fed
eral District Re-
viewed,
LOANS DECREASING
Meat Consumption Falls
Off.-Business Slightly
Steadier.
LOANS DECREASING


what short of earlier predictions, is
regarded as sufficient to enbable the
farmer to liquidate considerable pOr-
ton of his current and bank indebted
ness, if he is able to market his prod
ucts. This statement, however, will not
apply with equal force to all sections
of the district. His problem now is be-
coming one of markets and transpOrta-
ton instead Of one of production and,
together with the manufactures, he is
beginning to realize more and more the
vital Importance of the resumption of
purchases by the European consumer
in the American market and the clear
ing up of the foreign exchange situa-
ton.
Consumption of Meat Decreases.
Statistics reveal that during tic first
five months of 1921 the people of the
United States consumed less meat per
capita than in the corresponding period
of the previous year, this reduction in
the consumption Of all meats being
eight-tenths of pound. The chief cur
tailment in meat consumption was in
beef and veal.
These changes, traceable partly to
smaller per capita consumption and to
a dropping off in exports, particularly
of beef, also indicate, to some extent.
the diminished supply Of cattle in the
country. The decrease in shipments or
feeders back to the farm, together with
the statistics on slaughter, seem to in
dictate that feeders and stOckerS are be-
ing slaughtered, instead of being pur-
chased for the farm. There is dis
position on the part of the big cattle
feeders, because Of the difficulty In fl
nancing their operations, and of The u!i-
certainty regarding profits, to curtail
their activities, and to send stock to
the market unfinished. In the middle
west live stock situation there is an
abundance of feed, and shortage OF
cattle and calves and of long time cred
it to fatten them. If the feeding OF
cattle is to be resumed on anything like
a pre-war or normal scale, it will call
for some very large advances.
Dressed hogs, on July 10. We're y
cents pound higher than on June 10.
the prices for green hams 3h to 4
cents higher, and other pork products
ruled from / to 3 cents higher, depend
ing on the cut. Sweet picked hams
advanced between 3 and cents, while
the other picked products ranged from
u to 2 cents higher. These increases
are attributable to the improved export
demand from England for pork prod
ucts.
Crops GOOilLCar Shortage.
Excessive heat resulted in an early
harvest of wheat and oats all through
the Seventh Federal Reserve district.
but it also has affected the filling out
of the grain properly, and consequently
returns are somewhat OF a
The winter wheat
acreage for the country was slightly
above that of 1920. The corn crop is
growing rapidly and is looking excep-
tionally well.
There is decided tendency among
farmers all through the district to mar.
let their wheat as fast as 1t Is
threshed, and this already has resulted
in some congestion at grain terminals
and a shortage Of grain carrying cars.
The railroads have not been in finan-
.ial position to increase their equip |
mcnt or to repair sufficient number
Of cars to care for the requirements
should the grain movement become un-
usually heavy.
Western elevators are pretty well
filled up with last years crop, which
s another factor to be reckoned with. |
Some railroads report as high as ~
GER cent Of their grain cars in repair
.hops. The car shortage so far. is not
serious, but the heavy movement OF
rain to market has not yet begun.
Eastern railroads are lOaning ears lit
or grain loading to the western lines.
Reserve Bank Loans Decrease.
The weekly statements of the FED
,ral Reserve bank Of Chicago for the
,criod from June % to July 20 show
more favorable condition. due largely
o changes occurring in the last two
weeks.
The Automobile Industry.
Price adjustments of the automobile
industry to a lower selling Level are
in an orderly manner. So
AR. seventy-two automobile manufa"-
.urers have announced reductions III
he marketing price of their cars, while
tour have increased the price. Some
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