Bogalusa enterprise and American. (Bogalusa, La.) 1918-19??, 1921-01-20
WHAT WILL THE NEW YEAR BRING?

try, the wealth acquired in the last
few years, is responsible. Almost
everybody is in shape to survive a
/ period of bad weather so long as
each has confidence that there is to
( be clear sailing later. The present
state Of REIMBURSEMENT is preparation
! for a fresh start, not decentralization
on the verge CT insolvency. Inc
agreement of all financial prognostl-
Gators and business forecasters on
/ this point is reassuring.
/ One of these careful students OF
| the times presents the following as
( a summary of the influences that
make the financial and industrial
outlook a favorable one:
! Favoring Factors
a. The fall in price, insofar as
IL means reduction in the high cost
of living, which to the average citl-
zen had become intolerable a year
ago; also in its effects on the credit
situation, now returning to normal;
also in its release of capital for fin
ancing legitimate home requirements
and requirements of Europe; also in
the SOLDERING influence on labor rad
icalism of the discovery that employ
ment and wages may, after all, be
still dependent on efficiency.
"2. The last years demonstration
of the power and readiness of the
federal reserve not only to alleviate
a financial crisis, but through apply
ing the brakes against credit infla-
ton, to avert the crisis itself.
90. The fact of the greatest har-
vest in our history and one of the
largest winter wheat crops on record
sown this autumn, at moment when
the whole world needs it; this being
one of the foremost traditional in
fluences in sustaining American
prosperity; the lower prices for the
crops being accompanied or quickly
to be followed by adequate instead
insufficient farm labor and by lower
prices for farmers materials.
"a. The new and more hopeful
outlook of the railways, not yet even
approximately tested as to the profit
earning power of the new rates I'M
der the governments altered railway
policy; while in the export trade, the
| teaching of our whole economic his
| tory is that a fall in prices, however
sudden, invariably places American
foreign trade on sounder and surer
basis.
as. The fact that reduction in
| the proceeds of income and profit
taxes will force the hand Of Congress
to reform the whole unfair and pre-
carious present system of taxation"
The presentation of the general
conditions so far given indicates that
there will be throughout the country
in 1921 good business and plenty of
it. It's aspect for the florist is most
| favorable. Christmas business show
ed clearly that the buyers strike did
not extend to this trade. Those who
| had been pessimistic in their predic-
tions as to the sale of flowers, basing
their utterances on conditions in
other lines of business, received
startling surprise, while those who
were optimistic admitted that their
hopes had been surpassed. The en-
enlargement given to the trade in
this way was quite warm.
Better for Florists
In the outlook for the coming year
other factors are favorable for flor
lists. The problem of help, so serious
a handicap the last two years, is al
ready easier. UnskiIled labor is
much less in cost than it was and
there is plenty of it. Skilled work
ers are returning from the industries
that lured them away with more lu-
crative opportunities in the war pc
riod. Lessening demand for almost
all classes of labor is rendering
workers more content, and, in COM
parison, the opportunities in tht~flor-
lists field now shine more brightly.
The curtailed demand for the ma
terials Of greenhouse construction
will enable the growers to resume
progress in adding to their glass area.
The building of late years has not,
speaking in countrywide terms, more
than replaced the old houses torn
down or closed when the owners or
lesse4s found that other forms of
work paid better for less effort and
responsibility. There is now a grow
ing demand for flowers, which seems
likely to exceed our ability to meet
it without more glass. In 1921 cost
Of construction will be lessened; in
deed, it is already reduced, so that
growers who postponed additions I'M
til the might make them with a small
er capital investment now may place
their orders.
More Flowers Needed
Naturally the cost of greenhouse