Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1922-05-31
TURN FOR
BETTER is seen
St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank
Has Optimistic Report For
Months Business

St, Louis, No, May Sire
turns from questionnaires ad
dressed by the Federal Reserve
Bank of St. Louis to leading
business interests throughout th'
district indicate that there ha;
been decided change for the
better during the SO days ending
May 20, according to the month
ly statement of business condi-
tons given out here today by
the bank. The Improvement az
fects both the volume of transac-
tions and sentiment, it was stat
&C.
In all branches of activity,
notable strides have been made
in the direction of normal" says
teh report, land there seems to
be more confidence in values and
the future of business than at
any time in more than 18 months
this confidence manifested in Il
disposition to deviate somewsa,
from the recent practice Of pur-
chasing only enough for imme-
diate requirements on the par;
of merchants and among agri~
cuituralists to enter with great
er enthusiasm upon the tasks in
cident to heavier production ci
crops and livestock"
All sections of the district have
participated in the Improvement
says the report, but the typical
grain areas appear TO be making
the most notable progress. In
such areas, spring operations are
under way and the prospect is
Tor i considerably larger acre
age OF cereals than year ago.
with the exception of oats. Pur-
chases of farm implements are
reported considerably heavier
than year ago.
The outlook for irriit through
out the district is described as
magnificent. as contrasted
with the 1921 season. Shipments
cf ground fruits such rs straw
berries arc in formidable pro-
portions" The Arkansas straw
berry cop is said to be the larg-
est on record, with the Southern
Missouri crop proorotionate,y as
large! Arkansas aud Tennessee
berries were selling at IS to ST a
crate when the report was COM
pleted.
Retail agencies report increas-
ing distribution Of commot'Iies.
Rcpots from stores III the couu-
try and small towns tell of bet
te' trade.
Increased manufacturing ac-
tiyity is reflected in better mar
kets for raw materials. Pur-
cilases of pig iron and scrap are
larger than at any similar period
since 1920. Chemical makers re
pit better demand. The OIL
business has developed renewed
life and producers Of fire clay
products are reported feeling the
effect OF increased smelling op-
erations in the demand for fire
brick.
Price changes and movements
during the period review ed are
reported as relatively narrow e.I-!
cept in seasonal goods.
There has been considerable If
regularity in the fuel market.
due to the coal mmcrs' strike,
but on the whole the situation is
reported as calm and TO date no
cne appears to be suffering the
least Inconvenience from the coal
strike. Coal prices have huctu-|
ated frequently over wider
range and the demand for steam
ing sizes is by no means urgent.
fIines in the district still have a
large number of uncons!gned
loaded cars and there have been
Shipments III fair volume from
kentucky and other fields. Re
serve stocks are beng drawn CT.
rather heavily, but in many IN
stances consumers are repleslish-
ing and adding to their piles
The production Of soft coal is
increasing (the total output for
the sixth week of the strike May
S-13, indicating a gain Of nine per
cent over either ofthe two weeks
Immediately preceding. Supplies
of coke are ample for al: imme
date needs, with The leading by
product producers still holding
liberal reserve stocks.
Official of railroads in the dis-
trict report that losses in their
business during April were due
tc the decreased volume of coal
handled.
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