Imperial Valley press., 1941-01-03

L
being carried in the pockets of peo-
pie today than ever before. The
money in circulation in the U. S.
as I dictate this column, amounts
to SS.500,00 100000
Dividents are popping like fire
crackers. Dividend record sheets
show a tremendous expansion in
disbursements, equal to the balmy
days of l92S-29. It is well enough
to talk about the explosives which
are being manufactured by the du
Pont and other powder producing
plants; but surely some of the sta
tistical explosives on my desk should
be the basis of some real fireworks
in 1941. l emphasize this so strong
" because the defense program has
hardly started. Recent Army and
Navy monthly expenditures have
been only about 80 per cent of what
they will be during 1871. Construc-
ton is just starting on so many OF
the plants which are necessary TO
produce hundreds of thousands of
needed items and materials, that
statisticians estimate it will be the
fall of l94l. at least, before we get
fully under way.
1t is estimated that it cost Ger
many twenty billion dollars to arm.
During the five years she was en-
gagged in this, she paid her workers
twenty-five cents per hour. II we
must pay our workers three to four
times this, you see what it will cost
this country to duplicate the Ger
man war machine. A year from now
it will be time enough to discuss
1912, 1943, and 1914; but as far as
l94l goes, nothing can stop US
not even peace talk if it should come
in the fall of 1911. The world is
entering new enthusiastically
economically, and socially. 1t is haro
for us older men TO become recon-
ciled to these changes; but every
day there are 1000 funerals. The
undertakers are bringing back pros
perity!
HomebuiIding Will Continue
During World War I, the building
of homes was started. Contractors
were not allowed the necessary ce-
ment, bricks, lumber and nails for
building homes. World War II, how
ever, is an entirely different war.
The building of a hundred-thou-
and-dollar airplane does not take
much material, but rather labor,
skill, and time. 1t is true that we
must enter a shipbuilding program
both of naval vessels and mer-
chant ships-but otherwise, there is
nothing 10 interfere with home
building. I, therefore, forecast that
residence construction in 1941 will
show an increase of nearly 20 per
cent over 1910.
Presumably, it will cost little
more TO build a home in 1941 than
it has in the past few years; but
there is a reasonable available sup
ply of building materials. Besides,
masons, carpenters, plumbers, and
painters are primarily interested in
their years income rather than their
hourly wage. Therefore, if they can
be sure of finding work every day
they should be content with pres
ent wages. Another thing: During
World War I, there were no such
available funds as there are today.
It was then impossible TO borrow
government money for the building
of homes. All the conditions are en-
tirely different now Hence, I disa-
gree with those who say that home
building will be shut off in 1941.
Cost of Living
Perhaps the most important fig
ures for readers to watch in 194l
are those on the cost of living. Dur
ing World War I, the cost OF living
increased greatly; but the prices OF
farm products went up with the
prices of manufactured goods. Since
then, however, the prices of farm
products have fallen go per cent,
while the prices of manufactured
products dropped only 80 per cent.
Prices may increase slightly more
during 1941, but need not do SO if
no group kicks over the applicant.
We are now asked TO supply only
Great Britain with food and goods;
while during World War I, we had
to supply France, Italy, Russia, JAP
an. and other nations in addition.
The airplanes, which England needs
most, do not take a large amount of
raw materials. This applies as well
to many of our other exports, al
though not to the ships which Eng
land must build here. Concerning
food products, which England will
need in large quantities, we already
have an excess. Certainly there is
no fear of a shortage in 1941 of su-
gar, which in 1920 sold at % cents
a pound; or wheat, which in 1918
sold at $3.50 per bushel Perhaps