The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-23
The Argus
Business
Review
(By Consolidated Press.)
Telegraphic dispatches from
nations important Centers
giving Business News and
Reviews of Interest and I'm
pOrtance to Producer and
Consumer.
BY LYNN C. SIMPSON.

age to citrus fruit and vegetable
crops aggregating millions of dol
lars have brought about an entire
ly unexpected situation and are ex-
pected to check to some extent the
recovery of business. 1t is still too
early to measure the full SsteDt of
the damage done by the cold wealth
er but it is certain that oranges
and lemons in both northern and
southern California have been seri-
ously hurt while vegetables which
usually withstand the winter cold
in good shape have been damaged.
Celery, lettuce and artichoke
farmers complain of heavy damage
but the greatest burden of loss will
fall upon the citrus fruit grow
ers.
somewhat. This is mainly due to
season causes but has been increas-
ed to some extent by the waging
of open shop fights in some cities.
Money is fairly easy and number
of large bond issues are being
placed which will provide funds for
projects employing thousands of
men. The market for dried fruit is
firm and the general trend in many
varieties is toward higher prices.
BY JAMES r. RECORD.
Fort Worth, Texas, Jan. 23-A
severe storm with snow, sleet and
rain has turned the tide in favor
of the grain grower in this section
and it is now estimated that IS per
cent of the normal wheat yield is
above ground and the condition Of
the crop as whole is promising.
The storm served, however, to
check retail business in this section
slightly. Thirty days ago the great
er part of the Texas wheat was un
sprouted due to drought.
Another factor in favor of the
farmer is the absence of the green
bug. In states north of Texas this
insect is raising havoc but it has
not appeared this year and experts
say the danger period is now past.
The oats acreage is only about fifty
per cent of normal this year. At
planting time last fall, the ground
was too dry to receive the seed or
sprout it.
The federal highway bureau for
Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louis
lana and New Mexico with. head
quarters here, estimates that the
success with which bonds for road
building have been placed and the
inauguration of road work through
out these states will assure pro-
lection against any unemployment
problem. Federal reserve banks in
this district are in better shape than
thQV wPra VQar
BY EDISON B. SMITH.
Boston, Jan. 23.-While on the
surface general business conditions
in New England show little change
this week, it is an undeniable fact
that sentiment is improving. Man
ufacturing has kept up steadily at
about the same high rate which was
attained last fall, and this gives
rise to the hope that spring will see
decided increase in activity. The
federal reserve bank here has re-
ceived statistics from the leading
Boston department stores which
show that their sales in December
and early this year not only sur
passed those of the last two years,
but were the largest on record.
Manufacturers are finding it pos
sible gradually to reduce costs on
the wage cuts and their prices for
coal. Bituminous coal is particu-
larly cheap and in large supply in
New England. Cotton mills are
finding it imperative to reduce
wages where they come into COM
petition with southern mills. Wool
en- manufacturers are worried
mainly over where they are to get
raw wool, as there is an actual
shortage in this market at the pres
ent time The shoe business is