Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-02
NEW BUSINESS
BOOM COMING;
CAR SHORTAGE
Hauling Power of Rail
Lines Only Leash on
Prosperity, R e p o r t.
Men and Money Come
Into Use Everywhere,
Says Industry Survey.
BY HARDEN COLFAx.
Special Correspondent Of The Great Falls TrIbus
Copyright, 1922, By The Great Falls Tribune.

BY HARDEN COLFAx.
Special Correspondent Of The Great Falls Tribune.
Copyright 1922 By The Great Falls Tribune
Washington, Oct. 1-American COM
merce and industry are rounding into
the home stretch Of the year with n
seasonal squirt whose speed is checked
only by the limits of transportation
facilities. Demand exceeds production
in several important commodities;
prices are stiffening; dollars which
have lain idle in bank vaults are find
ing work, labor is no longer fermenting
with discomfort, and once more expan-
sion of mills is the order of the day.
Such are the headlines of the weekly
resume of business conditions through
out the country, as gathered here by
government departments and national
trade organizations. They are inter-
preted as indicating that the period
of depression is almost wholly past and
that after the faltering of the past two
years, business is well ON the way to
the making of new high record.
One factor alone appears in pros
pect as deterent-the transporta-
ton situation-but the railways of
the country, almost to unit, are en-
ueaVorlng to correct that situation with
the utmost dispatch. Ninety per cent
of the normal force of .shepmen- is re
ported back at work and the drive to
repair bad order equipment, inter-
fupted by the strike, again is in full
SWING, In addition the carriers have
recently placed enormous orders for
new cars and locomotives. and the
makers of this kind of equipment. in
some instances, are working overtime
to meet the demand.
New Cars Ordered
During the first seven months of
the current year, according to the
american Railway association, orders
Tor new freight cars totalled 95.195. as
compared with 69,436 during the entire
year of 1921. More orders are in
prospect for the remainder of the
year; enough, it is estimated, to double
the hgures of 1921. Notwithstanding
iocal car shortages, the geological
survey reports that soft coal is com
ing TO the surface in sufficient ouan-
titles to meet the demands of indus
try In full and to furnish a margin for
Mining bins against the winter. The
coal market has eased percentihlv
much OF the discomfort of the spec1,,
iators who now find themselves facing
the prospect of sustaining millions in
losses where they had expected to
make heavy gains.
The weekly statement of the fedaraI
reserve board indicates messurabIa
lessenlng of funds available for loans
Inc weekly statement of the federal
ali needs, with some to snare. bnt
tnere is no longer the plethora of the
summer. Within the year the chief
national banks of the country, accord
ing TO the board, have Debated loans
to the extent of $605, 900. 900 and have
invested more than 81 .OOO. 600 0OO in
the bonds and other offerings of the
United States government.
During the same period thes. hanks
have increased the amount of their
demand deposits by 81 DDS, 600. 600 and
their time deposits by $500, ,O0O, 900. n
combined total that approaches 90
OO0,O0O,O00. Never in the history of
American banking were they in 80
strong position as they are TODAY.
The railroads of the country will fail
TO earn this year the five and three
quarters per cent, fixed as a fair re-
turn by the interstate commerce COM
mission, but according to all indica-
tJr' dIons' VIII approach five per cent.
- az icA4SCI tdlh Ol IurI0ec re-
duclng rates and for the first time
since 1917 the carriers count condi-
tons as fairly stabilized.
Expect Record Business
:, Season reductions are reported In !
the volume OF transactions in auto
motive industries, but manufacturers
expected these and are planning a rec
ord business for 1928.
Retail stores, especially the chain |
stores, and mail order houses particu-
larry, report an increase in business, |
although one of the biggest mail order |
houses in the country experienced last |
month slight falling in the money
volume of transactions. Notwithstand- |
ing these, more goods, measured by |
quantity, were disposed of than dur
ing any corresponding period for sew
eral years.
Iron and steel, lead, copper, zinc,
leather, chemicals, machin- |
cry and wool prices have acquired |
added firmness and in several notable
instances have advanced The steel
industry is regarded as having become
fairly stabilized as to prices with de-
mand outrunning production at the
present time.
The volume of foreign trade, espe-
cially imports, remains at a crafty
Ing level, according to the department
Of commerce.
Building apparently Is slowing down
slightly. The shrinkage in volume is
attributed to seasonal diminution of ac-
tivity and to shortage of transporta-
ton equipment. There is little indi-
cation that the demand for new build
ngs is nearly met and rentals promise
to remain high for at least another
six months. The theaters of New
York report unusual prosperity.