Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-01-31

cent. 1t is evident that the decline is
much more than seasonal. Also n
total in December is Z per cent less
than a year ago. The city of Superior
alone exhibited gains over last month
and owe a year ago..
The production of -four mills in this
district for the four weeks ending De-
cember 25 declined about IS per cent
as compared with the four weeks end
ing November 81. The total production
in December was about 81 per cent of
a year ago. Copper production in De-
cember was practically unchanged as
compared with November. Linseed oil
and cake, in the manufacture of Which
Minneapolis predominates, declined in
December to three-fourths of h No
yember volume as measured by ship
ments. The volume of retail trade in
December as measured in dollars and
cents was practically the same as in
November. However, the retail stocks
on hand were less than a month ago
and less than a year ago so that an
Business failures, which are an index
to past business conditions, were much
the same in December as in November.
The record-breaking totals for the
amount of liabilities continued and
enormous increases yer a year ago
were evidenced. In December there
were "A failures with liabilities total
ing $1,150,260. 1t is rather early to es-
innate the outcome Of +. the winter
are f~ragmentary. However, these
earliest reports indicate that the acre.
age seeded to rye in North Dakota,
Minnesota and Montana combined is
less thar IS per cent of a-year ago,
and that the acreage seeded to winter
wheat in Montana and Minnesota COM
bined is less than II per cent of a
year ago, according to reports from
state representatives of the federal de-
grain movement, and live stock re-
ceipts, there were remarkable de-
clines.
Building and Lumber.
Building operations, when measured
by the number of permits in Deem
Der declined to about two-thirds of the
November volume. There was a notice
able increase in the valuation, how
ever, in the case Of the cities of Du-
luth and Superior. OF the December
permits only as per cent was for new
! construction, whereas the average for
the preceding six months was IS per
| cent in this district. When comparison
| is made with a ear ago on the basis
of the valuation of the permits, a de-
| cline tis shown to SO per cent. The de-
| clines were particularly startling in
| the case Of st. Paul and Great Falls
, which reported declines to 8 and s per
cent respectively Of the volume a year
| ago. The valuation of Minneapolis per.
! mits was but SO per cent of a year ago
| The prices of building materials con-
tinue in an unbalanced condition
| Some kinds Of lumber have been cut
Eo nor cent since March 6. but some
other building materials are ever
higher. Lumber manufacturers and re-
tailers report substantial declines ir
lumber cut, in shipments, and in sales
both as compared with a month age
and a year ago.
Grain Movement.
From the time Of harvest until De
cember 20, there was an increase IL
the movement of grain as compared
with a year ago. Thereafter a decided
slump took place in the Minneapoli
! receipts. Minneapolis receipts Of al
grains during December totaled near
7 ly 18 million bushels as compared will
nearly FL million bushels in Novem
Der of this year and as compared witt
nearly 20 Million bushels in Decem
Der a year ago. When the total grail
movement through, Minneapolis AM
Duluth is combined, it appears tina
December receipts were about three
fourths Of. those in November an
about II per cent larger than a yea
ago. Wheat receipts alone in Decembe
were 62 per cent of November an,
slightly larger than in December
year ago
When the stocks of all grains TO
Minneapolis and Duluth are combines
It appears that the total of 24.304,S2
l L l.aHF.E