New Britain herald., 1922-12-29
1923 Outlook Bright, According
 To Commerce Department Report
Review of Year Shows In- creased Production in All Lines-Crops Good and
 Farmers We'll Cared for

Washington, Dec. 2o.-stock talk ing of the nations domestic bushes
 for the past year gives "a feeling Q
 satisfaction" as to the progress made the department of commerce declare today. In an end of the year state ment and from this position, it add
 ed, there are no serious obstacles il
 sight which should hinder furthe
 adVances' in the early New Year.
 Opsmism born of the accomplish
 ments of the past months which man,
 officials of the government regard n,
 a remarkable strengthening of tn,
 economic fabric is evident through
 out the statistics and details of tht
 statement which noted that the pro
 ducion Of manufacured commoditie.
 averaged 50 per cent larger than fir
 1921. The farmer received annrox.
 imately l5 per cent more for his pro.
 ducts than in 1921 and the total vol.
 ume or agriculture products was worth much greater sum than was | that of a year ago.
 The unsettled conditions in for eign countries, particularly in Europe. however" the statement continued, are still depressing our trade and to some extent have no doubt kent inc prices of agricultural products below the level of other commodities. Rut within the past two months this latter condition has been relieved to some extent" i'o
 While dealing only briefly with for eign trade the review said tbat american exports had dropped Is per eche as compared with last year.
 Building Takes Boom.
 Ine total volume of building ordi- ndrlly measure of the countrv,s business health was 52 per cent. larger Tn the hrst eleven months, of this wear than in the same period last year and the prediction is made that the full years record will exceed that of 1919 Ihe 1922 contracts for eleven months also represented a much greater ex- penditure of money than for the full year of 1921.
 There was a genuine swell in the volume Of general trade, according to the summary, which mentioned a six per cent. greater sale by mail order houses and 12 per cent. increase in business by chain stores as indicative of the business tide, declines appear ng only in isolated lines.
 Increases in production with the re- | iuction of immigration were said to | nave taken care of the unAmployment and labor shortages were re- ported in many localities, although his condition was not general.
 The years progress was reported to lave changed a huge surplus of | reight cars into a shortage. This nortage was general, it was stated, k lespite a lower percentage of cars nder repair than in many months.
 Farmers Better or.
 One of the chief benefits derived by he farmer through the economic |, hanges of the 12 months was the in- rease in his purchasing power ac- ording to the review, which called ttention to a decline of ten per cent. wholesale and five per cent. in re- lil prices, while the agricultural roducts were averaging 17 per cent. lore than the previous year. The departments survey showed ( lat textile mills were about 20 per / ent. more active than last year: the on and steel industry increased it's ltput between 60 and 70 per cent; etroleum production was about Is f er cent greater; rubber 40 per cent, z otor vehicles 50 per cent, building / 52 per cent, lumber 35 T 1T cent, brick 50 per cent. and meats z ,out per cent. The only declines of outstanding lportance were per cent. in bitu- inous coal and AZ per cent in an- ! racite.
 Crops Better Also.
 The final estimates of the wheat op showed it to have been about ,O00,0Oo bushels, or 5 per cent. eater than last year. Prices ranged nerally higher. There was de- ne of SS per cent. in wheat exports, linked with the foreign uation but exports of wheat flour Ire almost the same as in 1921. Big crops of corn and oats marked ? year, each being larger than in } preceding season. The corn crop ,p was 17S,000,0oO bushels greater d that of oats about 137,000, 900 shels more than in 1921. Exports these commodities were larger by
 than in the preceding year and in iition the prices were higher, the jew stated.
 Cotton consumption rose nearly 14 : cent. in the first eleven months compared with the corresponding iod last year. This increase in- ded the record month of Novem- :, when nor ecotton was used than s any month since 1917.
 The wool manufacturing industry } about 25 per cent. more active in 2 than in 1921 as represented by duction, it was reported.
 Bank Deposits Gain.
 avings bank deposits increased formly throughout the country, ording to the survey, and increases F 1921 also were reported in the 2 life insurance business.
 dvertising in newspapers was 6 - cent. less on the basis of eleven lths than for the same period last kc ', but there was an increase the w; mary showed, in the advertising aft magazines. Postal receipts were kic , per cent. greater for the first Me en months than for the same w cd in 1921. talk
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