The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1924-02-19
By GEORGE E. ROBERT!

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The trend OF business in the first
month OF the new year has strength
ened the feeling OF confidence which
developed in the last two months of
1923 In midsummer there were
widespread misgivings that the state
OF industrial activity would not last
through the year. but as the fall
season passed it became evident that
business was well-sustained and pos
sessed 4 staying-power able to carry
il very much farther The volume
OF fall business was somewhat di-
minished by the unusually mild
weather, which affected the sale OF
clothing and shoes and played havoc
with the bituminous coal industry. but
Notwithstanding this influence rail
road traffic was heavy up to the holi-
days and excepting the seasonal in
dustries. employment was but slight
ly affected. The average weekly
earnings OF factory workers in New
York State in December was S27.o7.
a gain OF 80 cents over November
and OF Sl5S over December. 1922 |
This wage-average includes part-time |
wages, but does not include names |
dropped from the pay rolls How
ever. there was no general reduction 1
OF working forces. The Illinois De-
partment of Labor reports a consid- /
cradle influx OF unemployed at Chi
cago from seasonal jobs outside. such
rs road construction. but says that
l.l7o employers having on their pay
rolls more than 40 per cent OF ali
factory workers show a reduction in
December of less than per cent.
The Bureau OF Labor at Washington.
gathering reports from all parts OF {
the country for December. calculated r
a reduction in number OF EMPLOYEES r
in 81 manufacturing industries OF Is
per cent from November and 4.2 from &
June. b
The steel industry, after depicting Z
ITS order books over period OF c
seven or eight months. turned the b
corner in December, receiving orders q
in excess OF shipments. and since d
then has been operating at so 10 90 :
per cent of capacity with satisfactory
prospects for the FIRST half OF the
year. The Matthew Addy Company
Of Cincinnati. reporting upon pig iron.
first week in January, said
In the past fortnight we have gone
over business prospects with several
hundred foundrymen, malleabIe
makers and large users of iron. They
Ill agree that the prospects for this
iear are good. Even the makers OF
agricultural implements fel that the
ime of their long depression is over.
The makers OF railroad supplies have
'een unusually prosperous and they
ook Tor even more business this
ear. The automobile makers are pre-
airing Tor larger season than ever.
The United States Steel Corpora
on IN 1923 had the year OF largest
uipui and earnings since the war
nd after adding 2S cents a share to
'e last quarterly dividend for that
aar ventured to add 50 cents for
lie hrs, quarter OF 1924. Both are
assed as extras. but there is a good
al OF confidence that they signify
permanent advance over the req
ar per cent per annum heretofore
aintained. and that the additional
'tribuiion would not have been
lde II the management had not be-
we'd the general business outlook
be good
Outlook for Building Operations
II has been recognized by every
dy that one of the chief factors
the industrial revival from its be-
ming in 1922 has been the great
cunt OF building construction under
y the explanation for which is
be found in the restriction OF
h work during the war. and bieh
Is IN the years immediately fol.
ing. The Copper and Brass Re
-eh Association has completed
'ey OF such construction IN 1923
sums up the result. divided among
-