The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1924-01-15


going on. Another reason Is that in
creasing quantities oi copper have
been coming ~ low cost from new ore
bodies. upon which great sums OF CAPT
tai have been expanded. and this COM
petition is felt by the high-cos, pro-
ducers. The first Of these conditions
is one Of the effects Of the war. the
other is a condition to which every
industry is subject.
The oil industry has been dcpress-
ed by an extraordinary flow from
newly discovered pools. Il is char
acierisiic OF this industry that pro-
duction and consumption are seldom
closely balanced. The latter steadily
increases while the former is Affect
ed by the discovery and exhaustion
OF new fields of supply.
The leather industry is another IN
which demand and supply are not
naturally co-ordinatcd. because hides.
the raw material. are a by-produci.
not produced independently Cattle
have been forced on the market in
the last four years faster than hides
were needed and prices have been
depressed: another case Of disturbed
equilibrium.
The coal industry is suffering from
the effects of oVer-developing. brought
about by ovcr-stimulation. resulting
in part from heavy war demands
but more from heavy war demands
but more from wage-disputes and re-
peated suspension OF operations. The
effect OF these suspensions has been
to create artificial shortages and 20
concentrate demands within short per-
iods of time. thus offering inducements
for the opening OF new mines and Al
tracing more workers to the industry
than can have continuous employment
in it. As a result watcs are based
upon the expectation OF a large amount
OF idle time. and coal is made unreal
sonably dear 10 the industries and all
consumers. 1t is another case OF dis
iurbed equilibrium.
The wheat-producing industry was
very much disturbed by the war. Pre-
viously. nm important par; of the
supplies received by importing coun-
tries came from Russia and the Bal
kan countries; the war cut off these
supplies, which greatly stimulated
production in other countries. notably
the United States and Canada. Since
the wal grain and production has re-
covered all over Europe. and Russia
has %reappeared as an exporter. with
the result that there is m over-supply
OF wheat. The United States has re-
duced its acreage in some degree. but
not to be the prc-war area. while Can
ada and the Argentina are producing
much more than heretofore. This is
a case where production was increased
TO meet an emergency and the emer-
gency having passed it should be &C
cordingly reduced.
Cotton Goods Industry
The cotton goods industry has been
disturbed by an influence operating
the other direction. An insect pest
has seriously affected the production
Of cotton; with three short crops in
succession stocks have been reduced
low. the price OF the raw
material has advanced so rapidly that
manufacturers are unwilling to make
Up goods except upon order, and mcr-
;hants hesitate to give orders at \
evel much above that to which con-
.umers are accustomed. The normal
equilibrium between the raw material
nd cloth. and between cotton goods #,
nd othr COMMODITIES is disturbed and ,
fleets the industry unfavorably. Al q
hough cotton brings a high price. Z
he growers are receiving il upon a ,
mall yield grown over a large acre
&c at high cost. and the benefits OF 4
he high price are very unequally dis c
ributed over different localities. c
Wool is usually classed as an agri- c
nltural product. although only a rela- v
Ively small portion OF the world sup L
lies is produced on farms. The num- II
er Of sheep in all countries has been 4
reduced and the wool situation a