Evening star., 1927-10-18
Cabinet Officers in Touch
With u. S. Conditions See
Marked Gains.
SURVEY SHOWS NATION
SOON TO ENJOY BOOM
Executive Especially Pleased at
Encouraging Reports Citing Good
Crop Returns This Year.

Business conditions generally
throughout the country apparently
are greatly improving, and the out
look for the immediate future is most
encouraging, according to advices
President Coolidge received today from
members of his cabinet. The eco
nomic condition Of the country is un
derstood to have been the principal
topic Of discussion at today's cabinet
session, and the reports made by those
cabinet members whose departments
deal directly with business caused the
President to feel that there is every
reason to rejoice over the happy sit
uation.
In a review Of the business stu
alton the President was represented
as saying that the construction pro.
gram Of the country seems to be going
on satisfactorily, and up to October
the amount of new construction was
only one.fourth of 1 per cent under
that Of last year.
There has been light falling off in
the profits Of the railroads. but the in
dications are that this industry will
show pickup very soon. There has
been considerable of a drop in pas
senger traffic, probably due to more
people riding in automobiles, which
fact suggests to the President that
this is another sign Of general pros
perity.
Coal Supply Balancing.
The amount of coal transported has
not been SO great as last year, but ii
was explained that coal transportation
was unusually heavy last Fall because
people were laying in heavy stocks OF
coal in anticipation of a strike. Now
they are using up these stocks, which
has resulted in a falling off in coal
transportation.
The bituminous coal strike Is vir.
tually settled, the President has been
advised, although in some spots settle
ments have not been negotiated, but
production is going on just the same
The President was especially pleas
ed at the reports he received on crop
conditions, which were to the effect
that crops generally throughout the
country are fully as good as last year
with the exception OF cotton. The
corn crop has increased more than
was expected. due to the last few
weeks of warm weather. While the
price of corn is not as high as some
would have it, it is higher than last
year. The wheat crop is splendid
and the price is looked upon as fairly
good.
Cotton Prices Good.
The price Of cotton also is con-
sidered satisfactory, or at least an
improvement over the price of last
year which should be acceptable to
cotton producers, inasmuch as the
production is lower.
The Presidents advices are that
the lower production has been due
to the damage done by the boil
weeyil.
The cattle, sheep and hog prices are
especially high. The reports received
by the President indicate the auto
mobile industry is to experience a con.
siderable increase. Labor conditions
generally are satisfactory, according
to reports made at the cabinet session
by Secretary of Labor Davis. At this
time last year there were so strikes.
compared with only q at this time,
which, according to the Presidents
viewpoint, indicates a contented con.
dition on the part Of American indus
try.
The large buying power Of the coun.
try was indicated by reports the Pres.
ident has received to the effect that
mail order houses show increased
sales over last year. With the agri
cultural sections Of the country show.
ing improvement, and with an abun.
dance of funds and favorable credit,
the President is convinced that the
buying power throughout the country
will become greater with the advance.
ment Of the year.
Exports and Imports Grow.
Secretary of Commerce Hoover re
ported that general trade conditions
are good and that our exports and
imports are larger than last year
The amount Of the imports was not
so great in dollars as last year, due to
a drop in the price Of rubber, which
is imported in such large quantities.
The textile industry, which has been
tagging behind in the past year, is
improving. according to the President
but has not reached the point where
it could be classed as fiourishing. The
steel industry. which had a slump, Is
said to be picking up. but is not back
to its maximum production. 1t IL
pointed out that the railroad equip
ment buying has not been so brisk
but indications are that there will soor
be need for considerable replacement
| Of railroad equipment which will con
| tribute to boosting steel production.
In making a careful analysis of the
| reports handed to him the President
was well pleased with conditions anG
| inasmuch as there is no noticeable
the United States is still enjoying 6
! nrocDor0u0 ora and that fhora iv o<