Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-07-17

l~istless, apparently awaiting develop
ments. z The demand for money for
business purposes. which has been pro-
ceeding steadily toward nominal fig
ures has subsidized materially.
The iron and steel industry. ac-
cording to dispatches from Pittsburgh
and other centers. continues active and
with prices still rising but with both
buyers and sellers still hesitant over
contracts.
Looking to Future
All reports to the various govern
ment departments and trade organiza-
lions here indicate that business is
generally marking time in anticipation
of future events. The stocks of rail
workers and coal mines are the big
outstanding features of the situation
and are for the first time assuming
a dominant position in the business
world. While advices to the postoffice
department indicate that less thar a
score of passenger trains have been
taken off because of the shipments
strike. there is virtually no record
whatever of the number Of freight
trains effected and M measure as yet
of the effects of the strike on freight
movement throughout the country. Car
loadings are reported. however to have
shown a continued decrease of small
proportions since July /.
The last period for which car load
ings figures are available is the week
ending July !, or the seven days i'm
mediately prior TO the beginning of the
shipments strike. Up to that time
loadings have shown a steady increase.
During that week they showed a de-
crease of 96O cars and since then they
have gone lower. The Association Of
Railway Executives. which makes pub
lie the figures each week, states that
during the week ending July l coal
loadings decreased o,21o cars.
Coal Danger Line Reached
Coal stocks. according 10 geological
survey estimates. have reached the dan
ger line Of from 100000 900 to 24,OOO,-
600 tons. SO active has the market
become that Secretary Hoover has
found it necessary to meet with repre-
sentatives of %non-union mines for the
second time for the purpose of putting
a check on the rising price tendency.
Eighty per cent of the n%on-union mine
operators, the department estimates,
have not exceeded the Hoover price
scale, but the remaining 20 per cent
have.
The next two or three weeks. in the
belief OF officials here, will be some
what in the nature of a test period for
industry generally throughout the
country. The combination of a coal
shortage and q rail strike is counted
upon to slow down business to some
extent. but the period Of quiet, it is
believed. can be made short If the
causes of the trouble are eliminated.
Alliance Is Discussed
One Of the disturbing factors in the
PRESENT situation is the possibility If
an offensive AMI defensive alliance be
tween the strike groups, under the
terms of which neither wol'. rerurI
t, work unless the others grievances
were settled.
There has been talk here within the
past few days Of such an alliance and
some indication that it was contem.
plated but nc official confirmation OF
the port has been received. OBJ
servers have based their belief that
such a combination was in progress of
formation, or had actually been form
ed. by the attitude of the mine workers
WITHOUT doubt :hsro has been a
cnange in the miners attitude within
the past two weeks. A fortnight ago
they would have welcomed with delight,
according to all indications. an OPP
portunity to return to work under the
old wage scale.
Bank deposits decreased by SAG. OOO,-
600 during the week and are TODAY
at the level of five weeks ago, accord
ing to the federal reserve boards week.
ly statement.