Great Falls tribune., 1922-02-27

strike.
Rush for Coal Buster Roads
Indications seem to point with GER
tainty to its coming. AS April l nears,
the coal situation will become more and
more dominant in the country's indus
trial affairs. The big volume of traffic
on American roads today is due in no
small measure to the fact that con-
sumers are expecting strike and lay
ing in stocks. The amount Of traffic
probably will increase as we approach
April 1. Every industrial upheaval is
preceded by period of unwonted ac-
tivity, and apparently the present one
is no exception.
The coal striker will cost the miners
mere than a million dollars day in
wage losses alone during its continu-
ance. 1t will cost the country gener-
ally infinitely more. It may result in
car shortage within three months.
Almost certainly it will tend to slow
down building construction which, at
this time, faces the busiest season in
its history. Thousands of open top
cars needed by the building trades
probably will be withdrawn with that
industry, in the event that the coal
strike lasts six weeks or longer.
Coal Wage Scales UnIiquidated
On the other hand. the coal industry
is virtually alone in its failure to liqui-
date wartime wages. Such failure is
holding up industry all along the line.
Coal wage scales are still high and by
virtue of the economic law that has
reduced costs and wages in almost
every line of business. it would seem
that the present wage scales must
come down. Whether the present is
the time or not, the strike will tell.
One of the indications that the coun
try is nearing the end Of its pinch is
found in the fire Insurance losses. In !
varabIy such losses are heaviest just
before the return of prosperity. In
January they mounted to .S36 1853 900 I
in the United States and Canada, an
increase of nearly 10 per cent over
January, 1921. And that, too, was t
without any general confiagrations.
Burglary insurance, which follows an /
Identical line. showed a heavy loss
looking up for the first time in months
Food prices continue to drop but the
chances are that they have about /
reached the end of the movement and
hat a rise will be noted shortly. La
Dor conditions during February. ac-
,ording to indications, are showing a
gratifying improvement over January
The lump in employment probably will
1e reflected in the labor department
figures for February IS by the increase
If more than $4,000 workers in the
l.42s establishments canvassed every
month.
Auto Industry Shows Revival
Money is little easier. but in the
ace of larger demand, slight stiffen-
ng is to be expected here and there
y !
lbJy will remain where they are for
time.
The automobile industry. third Iarg-
st in the country. is showing better
one than at any time in the past IS
months. Price cutting has ended. Re-
(uctions were made on nearly 100
makes. Within the next three months +,
consultations may be ex- .
,ected in the automobile industry.
trucks will probably be cut by some :
makers in the near future. The tire
are putting on more men
nd increasing output. Akron has to- j,
ay about $4,000 workers busy where !
he had but 1900 a year ago.
And. last to feel the revival, the
hipping industry is looking up. There .
5 distinct stirring of international !,
ctivity in freight shipments, while it
) actually difficult to obtain passenger {
hips The coming tourist season will
ee virtually every ship filled The |
Ieorge Washington, for instance, is t
ooked solid for months to come. Some /
vidence of rate cutting in ocean trans
ortation is manifest. but increased &
ctivity probably will end that shortly.
If it we're not for the coal situation
ae country could face the next few
lonths with fair chance of return =
lg to prosperity within that time. {
ven at that, it may do so. .
A spading machine with a capacity n
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