The Bismarck tribune., 1937-12-31
will move upward somewhat from
present quotations
Farm Outlook Fair

will move upward somewhat from
present quotations
Farm Outlook Fair
Nineteen hundred thirty-eiSht vii
see sharper control over cotton, corn
and wheat acreage. Prices will enc
the new year well above today's levels
without crop failure. however, pres.
ont carTy.overs are 20 large that they
can prevent any Wild boom In quota
tons. Moreover, I expect TO see q
further drop In beef. hog. and lamt
prices. Butter, milk, eggs, and poultry
also will be cheaper next year, due tc
lower feed costs.
It would be foolhardy to attempt
any fixed forecast Of farm income
Barring crop disasters, however. my
estimate Is for total agricultural re-
ceipts next year to drop 5 to 10 per
cent under the 1897 figures. Profits
are also going to average below those
for this past year. The goods which
farmers must buy viii not be much
cheaper than they were In 1887. while
farm prices will actually average
lower than they have during the
past IL months. Because Of the above
situation, farm land values win show
little change for the year.
Wages and Stfikes9
Industrial workers, after getting
away to q poor start, should have Z
fair year. During the first few
months unemployment viii Be serious.
Hundreds Of factories have slowed
down or closed completely. There
are probably . million more jobless
since last Labor day. But the unions
are clinging to their wage scales Is
desperately Is an antique dealer to
q family heirloom. Despite poor busi-
ness in the first quarter. I do not
foresee any material change In In
dustrial wage rates next year-cer-
tainly none on the upside.
One Of the features Of 1855 will be
q sharp decline In labor's influence.
After q year Of almost constant bick-
ering and turmoil. workers viii quiet
down. The labor cycle has passed its
peak. Just Is 1885 saw the zenith Of
the high-grade bond market. % 1887
witnessed the pinnacle OF lahors
power for this cycle. The reaction Of
the public and the current slump in
business have given the labor move
ment q rude setback.
More Jobs in FAN
Employment win improve Is 1888
works along, but should average less
than in 1887. The reason3 First,
business activity opens the year - per
cent below last January. Second. "A
or-saving machinery Is being INSTALL
ed everywhere. Third, the railroads
will employ less workers. Finally.
"merit rating" systems in state unem-
ployment insurance laws will initiate
against hiring temporary help. Hence,
by next December, the number Of job
less should total about 5000, 900 against
$500, 900 now and 5,500.00o at the 1887
business peak.
Taken Is q whole. 1898 will not be
as good year for statesmen, mer-
chants, and advertising people Is 1887.
Things are pretty slow right now and
will continue poor into 1888. How
ever, Is the months tick away, the re-
sistance clouds should blow Oft and
by late next year the sellers market
should be on the way back. Then ad-
vertising Image will have another
surge and commission checks will
again bulge. The 1887 national In,
come estimated ct $4,000. 900, 900,
will not quite be equalled despite
1855 strong second half sprint.
Retail Sales, Living Costs Lower
The national income roughly deter
mines the volume Of retail trade.
Hence, expect retail sales will aver
age less in 1898 than 1887. They will
be slow during the early months; but
they will follow the strong business
uptrend as the monthly pages are
torn of the 1898 calendar. BY next
Christmas. volume Of retail trade will
have . good chance Of breaking all
records since 1920. Shading OF price,
tags between New Years and Easter
viii help to boost sales.
This drop in retail prices Is good
news for the householder. It looks
now Is though the cost Of living which
has bean rising steadily since 1888
will give ground early in 1898. The
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