The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-08-19
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New York, August 11.-This has
been . tOpsy-turvy, weak Tor bod
ness, but Fundamentally ths posi-
ton Of business Il % strong that
now, with the coal and ran strikes
apparently ont Of the way, Il can
face the future with confidence.
The economic Disturbances haye
held mp trade, but they hxve mot
destroyed orders. Manufactures,
wholesalers and retailers swat .
pent-up flood of orders. Il the
country can put its fuel and trans
portation houses in order. the fall
Is expected to be q period Of un-
precedented activity.
Telegraphic dispatches from cor
respQ1dents in all the strategic In
dustrtal centers OF the country re-
veal an unsettled state Of affairs.
Trade has been very spotty and
hesitant. In only one section Of
the nation-the Pacific northwest
has it been reported anywhere near
normal. In New England, the fuel
shortage has been the boget; in
the south the rail strike disturb
ances served as retarding infit-
ehces; this has been true in the
southwest; in the middlewest, the
absence of coal cut down activities,
while in the far west, especially so
in California, the spectre Of trans
portatiOn tie-up unnerved the fruit
shippers and their alarm was in
fictitious so far as general business
on that part Of the Pacific coast
was concerned. The east saw a
curtailment in the output of steel
and letup in buying, but condi-
tons have been fair here.
These widely scattered incidents
Of transportation delays, coal short
ages, and their companion ills have
been only momentary influences on
the business situation for their eff
fects had been discounted. It is
hard to be pessimistic in the face
of record-breaking crops and a good
supply of labor Poor times are
not reconciliable to a nationwide
| building boom, nor the farmer
with the prospect of money in his
pocket for the first time-from a
volume buying standpoint-since
1919. So there is every reason for
the under current of gptimism that
| would not be downed by the unset
ting effects of the past weeks
Given the assurance of regular
train service and normal coal sup.
plies, the manufacturer can lool
forward confidently. This is es.
pecially true Of the farm implement
makers, the railway equipment
people and all lines that enter into
building construction. Meantime
the retailer and more generally tn,
country merchant can put his buy
ing plans into effect with some as
surance that, they will mature.
The basic Industries of the coun
try are in good shape. The stee
companies, while they have had t.
curtail their activity because of tn
fuel shortage, have plenty of or
ders on hand. With adequate Goa
supplies the steel people forese'
capacity production. The automo
bile manufacturers, with the pric'
cutting furry over and done witt
|, perhaps for the remainder of tn
year, although more than a modi
, cum of doubt may be attached t
the word perhaps" are in goo
shape and enjoying a fine business
Furniture manufacturers ar
; profiting by the construction Q
, new buildings and dwellings, a
| are the makers of all sorts G
household appliances. There is \
, lull in the overwhelming deman
: for radio sets and all manner .
/ radio accessories which gives ris
| to the belief that the larger Pre-
ducing companies will have to tax
: steps to acquaint the general pull
, lie with their wares. Heretofor
E the public has sought them unsc
: licited. Copper continues quie
The cotton market is erratic wit
. price tendencies upward.
: Department stores of the large
? cities report a fair business fo
r this time Of the year. Summe
} sales have been well attended an
go 49, -. :.
I