Evening star., 1923-12-23
SOUND PROSPERITY
AHEAD, IS BELIEF
Prophecy on Business Pros.
poets by President of
Motors Company.
BY C. w. NASH.
President the Nash Motors Company


From every indication it would ap-
pear that the sound prosperity which
this country has enjoyed during the
past twelve months will continue at
least throughout the first six months
OF 1924; the last half OF the year is
too remote at this time to judge.
AS a manufacturer of q product
that has countrywide distribution 1t
is naturally a part Of my business to
make a constant study of conditions
in general. When the new year rolls
around it is very necessary to know
with the greatest possible degree of
accuracy what the immediate future
holds forth. SO that we may make
our plans accordingly. During the
year just closed. and particularly in
the past three or four months. have
found 1t necessary to travel about the
country q great deal and have been
in a position to get a real picture,
first hand, of conditions as they exist
in various sections.
Conditions Very Gratifying.
1t has been extremely gratifying
to note in almost every section or the
country how sound our present pros
perlIy mas De6N Inc cApci ichSC "
1921 seemingly has had a very good
effect on merchants and manufac-
turers in general. with the result that
since then business has been con-
Quoted on a basis that is fundamen-
tally sound. BY this I mean closer
study has been made of market con-
ditions. buying of raw materials and
of finished stocks has been more
wisely and more carefully considered
and. in fact, everything that enters
f~ tnf ~ q
been maintained on q sound basis.
.. In the cities there is every indica-
tion of real prosperity and in. the
rural districts the farmers have
Throughout the great cottongrow-
ing states of the south and south
west banks report healthy deposits,
due to the good prices on cotton:
In the wheatgrowing states and
throughout the corn belt prices re-
ceived by the farmer were not SO
high, but this was offset in large
measure by the splendid condition OF
those crops.
Merchants in rural communities.
mail order houses and others who sell
to farmers, including the automobile
industry, all report satisfaction with
business in those sections. particu-
larly in the past six months OF 1923.
and are optimistic over the outlook
for the farmer during the present
year.
Cites Building Operations.
Building operations. both with re-
spect to industrial plants and dwell
ings, were resumed during the past
year in practically all sections OF the
country and have been carried on
building material have been on the
whole more satisfactory than for the
past few years, which, together with
the natural demand for building ex-
pansion, has made possible stabilization
Of this important branch of industry
Apparently there is plenty OF money
available in this country today to build
and to buy. provided the expenditure
in the mind Of the buyer be wise
and sound BY that mean banks.
under the steadying influence Of the
federal reserve system. are In posi-
tion to help where help Is needed, and
ordinary observation will convince any
man that the tendency all along the
q safe and sound basis.
We are just entering on a preeiden-
tial year and. except for few chronic
dsnoe anoss the OF land G
This Is quite a contrast to presidential
years. Of the past, when Il was almost
taken for granted by men In all lines
OF business that the inevitable SLOW
banking system now is so sound that
it will not permit Of the slow-up of
industry unless conditions arising from
natural cause become serious enough
to make advisable general period Of
liquidation.
1924 Business Horizon.
Nothing like this appears on the bust
ness horizon for 1924. Industry Is going
forward merchants are selling their
wares; farmers. on the whole, are in
good shape and there is money in the
banks. Presidential year has rolled
around to find the country moving for
ward with every confidence in contin-
ued business activity; presidential can
didates are opening their respective
campaigns and Congress, in session, is
planning to give business In general
added momentum by serious considera-
ton of reduction in taxation.
SO 1t would seem, looking only as far
ahead as July i, that the first six
months Of 1924 will be a period Of con-
tinued sound prosperity.