Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-01-30
GREAT ACTIVITY IN
WESTERN TRADE
Some Of the Leading industries
Report Larger Demand
Than the Output.

Great activity Is apparent In indus
try, says John Perrin, Chairman OF
the board and Federal Reserve Agent
of the Federal Reserve Bank OF San
Francisco, In report covering his
district. The Improvement discernible
during September In the lumber in
for lumber showing n marked increase
over the previous months OF this year.
no says, with recent price advances
generally maintained. The amount OF
orders received by 16f reporting mills
was tho largest booked in any one
month since March, 1920. In the min
ing industry tho activity OF the lead
producers Is noteworthy, says the re-
port. The lead mines of Utah and
Idaho. which produce approximately
SO per cent OF tho United States out
put OF lead, are now operating at full
capacity.
Building permits Issued In twenty
principal cities OF the district during
October" continues the report, num-
bered 11,442. with an estimated valua-
ton OF s23,333.741, exceeding the pre-
vious record month of September,
1921. by 373, or 3.3 per cent, In number
and by s31sS,74S, or 15.s per cent. in
value. Sales Of electric power for in
dustrial purposes in California during
September, as reported by the eight
principal power producers. were "a
per cent greater in kilowatt hours
!, than in September, 1920. The total
output of electric energy by these
companies was 1851 percent greater
than in September, 1920.
Increased activity in industrial
centres during the month provided
sufficient additional employment L
q offset the decline noticeable in tn,
: rural districts with the end of th'
harvest, and employment conditions
s as whole in the district are prac
: tically unchanged as compared witt
n those Of the preceding month.
b Harvesting Of the 1921 crop o
: wheat in this district is completed an
production estimates remain un
changed. indicating yield of 1880,
900 bushels. compared with 100,232
:, 600 bushels produced in 1920. Thi
seasons wheat is reported to be ex
, cellent In quality by both Governmer
:, and private authorities. the Unite
States Department of Agricultur
; grading II from one to two point
!. above the ten-year average In Oregon
= Washington and Idaho.
= During the four months perio
- ending Sept. 1, 1921, the cost of foe
. rose In all reporting cities of this di.
trict. Housing costs also rose Sigh
ly, except in Seattle. and charges II
fuel. light and miscellaneous articl,
a remained practically stationary. I'll
e costs of clothing and of furniture III
lie furnishings showed marked decline
ID In all cities. Similar trends We're ol
" served in the United States as
RI whole.
Retail trade, as reported by thirt.
three representative department stor
and mail order houses in eight cities
this district, averaged 6.3 per ce
D. less by value of sales during Octobc
n 1921, than In October, 1920 and II
IN per cent greater than in SeptembS
1921. The same stores report tn
prices continue 10 to 30 per cent b
low those OF one year ago, a decline
- excess OF the percentage of decli
10 In the value OF sales, indicating tn
-, the physical volume OF trade is ne
greater than it was last fall. CONNIE
upon this fact has been made in I
last sly issues of this report"