Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-02-25

Counting the report OF his personal
survey on business conditions. Roger
w. Babson famoMs economist outlines
his findings In the western central
states an follows:
year ago | found tho worst con-
d,tlons in these western central states,
the section OF the country lying be-
tween Buffalo. pittsburg and Atlanta
on tho east, Chicago and st. Louis
on the west.
Detroit, Michigan and Akron, Ohio
were then tho center OF tho depression
area. The storm center having NOV
cd west from New England during
tq2o. Today, however. / flnd con-
ditions In this section OF the country
much improved. The worst In over.
While definite Improvement is not
yet evident business gradually but
steadily is turning upward.
The best sections. OF this district
as far as sales are concerned arc
found In the states supported by n
diversity OF interests. Ohio for In
stance IL In very fair condition. North
ern Indiana and Illinois also look
relatively good. Medium sized cities
such as South Bend and Fort Wayne
offer good possibilities.
/ Although Detroit has been severely
hit owing TO the unnatural boom II
experienced during the recent period
of prosperity. other smaller cities
with automobile industries are doing
well. This simply illustrates the ba sic
truth | have reiterated during the
past years. namely that communities
should not be exclusively Industrial
or exclusively agricultural. Indus
trial communities should seek to de-
velop agricultural environments
while agricultural communities should
develop industries.
| The coal mining regions of the cen-
tral western states have been quiet
for some months. Now, however, In
| face of the threatened strike, busi-
ness is picking up. The miners make
relatively large earnings when they
work. The purchasing power Of
these coal centers should be greater
this coming spring. A large pro-
portion OF these mines are unorgsn1-
ed. This group should bo especially
prosperous In case OF a strike.
Production OF bituminous coal dur
ing 1921, by the why, was only A.
coo, 100000 tons. or q per cent less
than the previous year. Let me say
however, that after II is evident thai
there will be nothing to fear from
the threatened strike, further de
\ clines In the price OF bituminous Goa
l. ~
mean lower wages and lower prof,tl
FOR the operators, II should mean NOR
days of work and ultimately beneh
all interests.
The iron and copper districts of th'
lake regions are still very dull. Th'
, finished product industries OF thes
lines are running only 40 per cent o
| their capacity. Many manufacturer
are shut down entirely. Statistics
however, indicate that as money rate
decline, railroad. public utilities an,
municipalities will be able to sci
bonds for permanent improvements
The demand for iron and copper vii
: increase accordingly. With this Il
view I prophecy that 1912 will sho,
a great Improvement over 1871 )
this section. A stimulus will nrs
appear with tho opening OF the lake
when the ice goes out In March G
' April.
The farming sections src still sui
fering the headache-the inevitabl
result of their intoxication during tn
J. prosperous wears of the war. ON
with any heart cannot help but /
moved by the stories OF disappoint
ment and loss encountered by til
s farmers of these western centr,
. states. Corn and wheat are bringin
= less than nothing The banks ar
pressing the farmers for payment {
interest and there is little prospec
for higher prices In sight. But IN
- handwriting on the wall was yer
clear and the farmer who took IN
, trouble to watch conditions closel