The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-06-02
DETROIT,


all the automobiles? That is a
question even some of the manu-
facturers cannot answer. A lead
ing banker said today in response
to that question: Il do not know
who is buying them but l do know
they are being bought and paid for
quicker than at any time since l
have been an observer of the bust
ness. And you may tell the world
that more conservatism is being in
jected into the management of the
automobile companies than ever be-
fore. When or if another slump
comes along, most of them will
have built up large reserves
against a rainy day"
Production of automobiles in this
section probably is greater now
than it has ever been and profits
are going to make a very satisfac-
tory comparison with those of 1920
prices.
/ The employment report this
week shows another large gain of
4, 900 men, bringing the city's in
dustrial total up to 255,000 or 3d.
900 more than were employed in
the corresponding period of 1921,
and within $4,000 of the high water
employment mark of 1920. Another
outstanding feature is that hereto
fore May Is has marked the crest
of the automobile manufacturing
season. In the last two weeks of
May, 1921, employment fell off 1000
men, yet this year the trend is still
upward.
ATLANTA.
Atlanta, Ga, June 2.-Continu
Gus rain this week served to check
temporarily the improvement in
trade in this section but retailers
and wholesalers have lost none of
their optimism and expect clearing
skies to bring out volume of
business which will Offset recent
dullness. May business maintained
all the gain made earlier in the
year, and wholesalers and jobbers
report a decided increase in orders
for future delivery.
Collections have been satisfac
tory, due TO the advance in the
prices of agricultural products.
The effect of the coal strike so
far in the southeast has been negli-
gible Manufacturing plants are
running at from so to 100 per cent
of normal capacity with a good
volume of orders for future deliv-
cries. Sales of farm implements
are far ahead of those last year, re
flecting a better feeling in the rur-
al districts brought about by the
in n
and better prices for other com
modities.
Building activity throughout the
southeastern states continues its
activity on an even greater scale
and the lumber and brick manufac-
turers are reaping the benefits. The
general betterment here is shown
in the increase of bank clearances
which for May showd an increase
of $S,0O0,000 over those of May,
1921.
ST. LOUIS.
st. Louis, June 2.-As commerce
in this district gains momentum
there is again call going out for
more workmen. This demand for
workers is brisker than it has been
at any time since the beginning Of
the economic reaction. All lines OF
are increasing pro-
and warm weather has Civ
en- new impetus to wholesale and !
retail trade. In response to the |
growing buying power. wholesalers
and retailers are augmenting their /
stocks and the manufacturers and
jobbers are just beginning to feel
the effect of this long deferred buy
ing.
Money is more plentiful. Interest
rates on loans for commercial pur-
poses are subnormal and large cap
ital is investing generously in big
building enterprises and although
general construction is going for
ward on a big scale the capital sup
ply has responded readily to the
demand
The tone and trend of commerce
throughout the south and west are
approximately normal Only two
unfaYorable features are apparent
One is the growing need of fuel sup
ply in manufacture and the dimin.
ishing of production due to the
strike. Another is the possibility
of railroad strikes in opposition 70
wage reductions. }