Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-05

the way in which these rapidly whirling
Kaleidoscope alterations Of economic
prospects have given opportunity on the
one hand to new enterprises, new adj
ventures in the realms of industry and
trade, and on the other have imperiled
any whose facility for change is in the
least bit halted or impaired.
Premium for Resource.
Here is one index of the rapidity of
the new postwar tempo in industrial
change: The number of applications
to our Patent once for new patents,
designs and trademarks during 1920
1929 exceeded 1888, 900, which was an
increase Of nearly SO per cent over
a similar span of years Immediately
preceding the war. The economic race
these days is certainly placing a
premium upon the swift, the alert.
the reSourceful.
The universal difficulties of agricul-
ture have been another outstanding
feature Of this postwar period. Here
the farmer illustrates once more the
perils of those who, unfortunately, are
not able to readjust quickly, so as to
capitalize new prospects. Automobiles
pour out of factories In a tidal wave
Of trafnc choking proportions; where
upon the number of horses in the
United States decreases by some
100000 during 1929, with con-
sequent drastic shrinkage in the
market for one of the main agricul-
tural products, namely, hay.
The wartime acceleration Of agri-
cultural production was carried with
an imposing momentum far into the
postwar years. And soon there de-
veloped in one agricultural field after
another throughout the world the for
midable problem Of non-marketable
SURPRISES.
In this field, as in so many others,
postwar science seems to be coming to
the rescue in certain significant partic-
ulars. have already referred to the
prospect Of material reduction in the
cost of fertilizer. Equally striking de-
velopments are evident in the transpor-
tation Of perishableS-a major item in
the perplexing problem of farm market
ing. These postwar advances have
ranged all the way from co-ordinated
control of rolling stock, In the case of
our Far Western fruit trade, to the use
continental vegetable and berry growers.
Then, too, there came the greatly in
creased efficiency of steamship refriger-
alton, permitting of long distance trans
mission of perishables from the South
ern Hemisphere to the Northern,
through the once impenetrable barriers
OF tropical heat Likewise we have
seen the adoption of new methods Of
freezing and chilling Of meats, fruits
and fish, thus greatly improving their
STABILITY and consequent market pros
poets.
In general, then, a major character
istic Of this postwar era which is likely
to be singled out by historians Of future
generations is the unprecedented, wide
spread application of research to the
problems of industry and trade. AS
one Illustration, group Of a dozen
large American companies in the
chemical and metallurigical fields prob
ably will spend. according to unoficial
estimates, not less than $25,000,0 900 for
this purpose in 1880.
One Of the conspicuous features of
many Of the international cartelS or
ganized among European industries
since the war has been the provision for
the interchange of technical experts.
For talent in this field Europe Is today
looking to America situation which
was quite unthinkable only two short
decades ago. Indeed, we are already
beginning to collect substantial divi-
dendS upon the tens of millions Of
increased endowment which during the
last few years have been poured into
our technical and business schools.
The estimated expenditures for all
classes of education In the country have
jumped by about billion dollars, or
more than so per cent, since the armi-
stice. AS a result, We increased the ratio
Of our college students per thousand of
population from 81 in 1919 to 127 in
1926.
With all of these bewildering changes
IN the economic field, it is only natural
TO expect an increasing tnsistence upon
more prompt and more accurate stats
teal data, in order that the leaders in
industry and trade might be informed
as TO what Is going on. In no respect
has the economic fabric Of the world
been more conspicuously strengthened
than in this important factor of the
precision of measurement of these
mighty forces. It seems to be generally
agreed that in this field world leader
ship Is now centered In the United
States, which again marks q decided
change from the situation a generation
ago.
Movement Toward Uniformity.
Europe in her eagerness to analyze
the postwar naturalization" or scien-
tific management Of American industry
soon discovered the large part played
therein by timely and accurate statistics.
We have, therefore, seen an impressive
and most gratifying movement toward
world uniformity in this vital field. The
international statistical agreements re-
Gently arrived at through the agency of
the League OF Nations are likely to be
regarded in future years as one OF the
truly significant milestones in the prog
ress of reconstruction. Coupled with
this has been the worldwide develop
ment of Standardization of staple
grades, typified in such moves as the
progress made in the acceptance of uni
form grades in cotton, cereals and other
raw materials.
The future economic historian is
quite likely to refer to this period
through which we have just passed as
the era OF associated effort. OF course,
large scale industrial consolidation is
not new phenomenon co-operatives
and trade groupings of other sorts are
by no means postwar invention. But
certainly a conspicuous feature of
these recent years has been the spread
OF sucn collaborative efforts In all parts
OF the economic field.
We have mergers of all sorts in this
country and a greatly speeded-up car
tellZatlon OF European industries and
trades. We have now some $4,000 trade
associations and other types Of non
ofncial business promotive groups in
the United States-which Is several
times the number in existence just be-
fore the war
Doubtless the wartime influence had
something to do with the incentive to-
ward such group effort, but certainly
the postwar experience as to the value
Of collaborative attack upon all kinds OF
trade and Industrial problems has for
the first time given Overwhelming, liter
ally worldwide. evidence of the utility
OF such cooperation. Lastly, we have
the International Chamber of Com
merce, and scores of more specialized
world business groupings among engi-
neerS. road builders, financiers and
others, to say nothing of the more for
NAL aspect of the same development in