The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-12-01

NAL quantities, although there was an
increase of three-fifths between the
movement was slightly larger than a
year ago with all classes showing in
creases except sheep.
The fall movement OF feeder stock to
the country was in full swing during
October. More than twice as many hogs
and almost twice as many calves went
to the country in October as In Sep
TENDER and there was an increase of
t three in ,, feeder shipnN2ts Of
AS compared with last year, the total
volume of feeder shipments increased
slightly. although little more than hak
this year as last. Shipments Of feeder
calves were more than five times as
large in October this year as n year
ago.
creased in every case during October.
but prices of animals for Strengthening
at South St Paul declined. with the
exception of lambs. The median price
cents per bushel in October over Sep
TENDER; barley and rye cents; oats
and corn cents; and wheat l cent per
Sushel. On the other hand. at tho South
cows declined so cent per cwt. in me-
dian price: veal calves were down $50:
and hogs down IS cents. Lambs in
creased so cents per cwt. and stocker
-
There were seasonal variations in
wholesale produce prices at Minneapo-
lis during October. Increases occurred
in the price of butter. eggs. cheese,
took place in potatoes, citrus fruits
other than lemons, and in dressed
meats.
The prices of farm products at CEN
trail markets, in eight out CT twelve
commodities for which this office keeps
records, were on a higher level in Oc-
tooer this year than year ago. or the
grains. corn. oats. barley and flax
wheat and rye were on a lower level
Among live stock prices. butcher
steers, stocker and feeder steers. hogs
and lambs were at higher prices, but
COWS were selling at the same price.
The Coal Situation
The The northwestern station i'm
proved during October There was a
at the head of lakes and almost n nor
NAL volume of receipts of hard coal
for the month. amounting to more
than twenty times the volume received
ago. twice as much soft coal was re-
ceived during October and fve-siXths
as much hard coal. From the opening
octoSer T tons sA Of Soft s"F co SHG and
25i. 499 tons of hard coal have been re-
ceived at the head of the lakes This
volume is A. per cent as large as last
large for hard coal. Stocks on the
docks at the head OF the lakes in
creased during the month of October
but reserves of soft coal on the docks
were less than one-third of those
year ago. In spite of the facts recited
above the Northwest is in better con-
dition as far as the winter supply of
coal goes than the eastern states. &C
Y0an or the Census and the United
States Geological Survey. According to
this chart, on October ] the stocks of
all coal in Minnesota retailers hands
showed decrease of less than Is per
cent as compared with November I
last year. Montana stocks showed a
decrease OF from % to 40 per. cent. and
North and South Dakota showed de-
creases of so to "a per cent. Practically
all OF the eastern states showed de-
clines of more than 70 per cent. The
Northwest is also fortunate in having
the Ignite fields of North Dakota and
Montana within reach.
The volume of retail trade increased
during october over the September
totals in general mercha ndise and
lumber. 1t is seasonal for the fall buy
ing of general merchandise to increase,
and lumber sales USUALLY reach a min
or peak in October. Retailers bought
smaller volume of dry goods. shoes.
implements during October than dur
ing September, but purchased more
humber Retail stocks Of general mer-
chandise increased very slightly but
pared with last year. retailers sales
and purchases of general merchandise
were in somewhat larger volume, and
lumber sales and purchases were con-
Manufacturing Activity
Manufacturing activity in lumber de-
creased between September and Oc-
tober but was fourth larger than
T. nNft AVa cd
in October over September. but was
less than in October; 1921; Deliveries
were down e-third in lumber and
one-twelfth in -four. but deliveries Of
compared with last year. deliveries of
lumber and -four were down one fifth.
but deliveries of oil coke We're uD al
most one-third. manufacturers stocks
end OF October than at the end of Sep
tember but almost one-fifth lower than
last year.
Mining activity showed mixed ten
from iron mines as evidenced BY load
ings at upper lake ports declined one
tenth between September and October
but copper and coal mining in this
and the production OF silver remained
about the same as in September. AS
COMPARED with last wear. however. iron
ore shipments were almost double. con-
times as large. and -ilver production
was fourteen times as LARGE. but coal
production showed 4 decline of one
sixth.
Ruildtng ACTIVITY in 10 irnrortent
cities in this district was nracticqlIv
as large in volume during October as
during September. owing no doubt to
the open weather which has rrevailaH
without interrrpfion this fall a 'arsAr
proportion cf the projects wer" for
small dollar values. The numbe~ of ner-
mits granted during October incre sPd
6 per cent over Senterrber. \ whereas
last wear they declined 2 per cent. end
in 1922 they declined' IL per cent. The
valuation Of permits. on the other
year they increased per cent and in
- 'hcv increased per cent and in
1920 they increased 14G ,rer cent. The
volume of building as evidenced nv
permits granted was slightly larger in
October this year than p year ago.
Employment Conditions
Employment conditions continued
satisfactory. and normal in this district
during October. according to the re~ort
Of the United States Industrial Em-
ployment Survey There has been<a
strong demand for general farrl-h6ip
and for corn huskers in the agriclIlr'Ir-
al districts and for men fnr the lUr1ber
camps. sSkilled labor is fully employed
in the mines and in construction wor'r
Of all sorts including building. railroad
construction and shop work. Common
'"hor is being absorbed by extensive
highway programs.
The volume of business in this die
trict measured by bank debts to indi-
vidual accounts showed . good average
increase of more than 8 per cent be-
tween septsgber ard 2cttGoss$. Pc
was a year of extreme repression.
there was an increase Of only 1 per