The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-27
BY j. C. ROYLR.

New York, May Z7.-The best
boosters of business in the world
are back on the job. The products
of the land of the United States
have begun to pour their millions
into the hopper OF business to- be
distributed through every channel
of commercial life from the great
est corporation to the neigh hood
candy store. Harvesting of grain
will begin next week. From then
on, the whir and click of the reap
eFs and binders will continue to
sound through the country until
checked by the frosts of another
winter, Every click means the ad-
dition of wealth-Feal wealth-to
business life, increased buying
power and better business.
Other products Of the land are
lending their aid. The woods are
yielding their full quota. The band
saws are shFieking through the logs
at a speed approached only under
the urge of war time necessity. The
mines are back in production after
a long idleness. Fourteen cent cop
per has started the drills to pound
ing and the smelteF stacks to belch-
ing smoke day and night. Steel
mills are elam6ripg for iron ore and
getting it. Lead and zinc are in de-
mand at advancing prices. Sheep
are turning shorn backs to the wind
but the wool warehouses are filling
and so are the pockets of the grow
eFs.
Foundations of Business.
These and other products of the
land are not only wealth in the
traest sense of she word but they
are the greatest distributors of
wealth for they represent the neees-
sites of existence-food, clothing
and shelter-on which all business
primarily is based. Their predus-
ton will car for the itinerant work
ers of the country for months to
come.
The production and distribution
of raw materials and of the finished
products into which they enter will
be stimulated and aided materially |
July l when the reduced freight |
rates go into effect. Already the |
order of the interstate commerce |
commission has had a beneficial |
effect for buyers are contracting
more freely for future deliveries in !
a score of lines.
The money which the harVests |
bring into commerce and trade, is !
of course a seasonal influence to |
be counted on in some measure /
each year, but its effect this sum-
mer will be greater than at any
time since the recent depression
made its appearance for the farm
eFs in most cases have cleared
themselves of old debts, have fin-
ished paying the piper and are
ready for another tune. In antici-
patton of the increase in buying /
power which the harvests provide,
merchants are buying more freely,
carrying larger stocks and con-
tracing for their needs we'll in
with consequent benefit to
the wholesaler and manufa cturer.
BOOST WAGES IN WEST.
Labor not only is employed, there
is a scarcity of workers. Papers
of industrial centers are full of
help wanted" ads. This applies
not only TO skilled and semi-skilled
men but to farm workers. Already '
in the south and west wages have
been increased TO induce workers
to accept employment in the fields
and orchards. This is reflected in
the demand for work clothes. Over
all and work shirt factories in some {
sections are working overtime
Steel production is increasing but !
demand is growing faster than out {
put. Makers are loath to promise I
deliveries. Prices have not only j
held their own but give prospect &
Of advancing. The bugaboo of fuel S
shortage has ceased to check ex- /
in many centers. Evideece
that the coal strike may have a !
more than temporary effect on the
coal industry is found in the num- f
Der of plants in New England and '
the midwest which are equipping