The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1942-01-08
War & Weather Slow Down
Basketball In Ashe County

and 60 on a Shutdown strike"
would bring the war to an end.
I can visualize this taking place
sometime after 1912; but I cannot
visualize it as coming about in
1912. In this connection let me re-
mind readers of what I said last
January regarding the destruction
of crops and fuel supplies during
1912. Therefore, I say that there
will be no peace in 1912; that
many non-defense industries will
be depressed throughout 1912; and
that business as a whole has al
ready seen it's peak. The war may
even last two or more years after
1912; but after 1912, two months
before it ends no one will fore
see the end.
Real Estate Will Hold Firm
Prices of farm lands should
strengthen during 1912. Farmers
will be more prosperous. The on
ly investment which farmers
know is land. Many will be SO
foolish as to again get land poor
as they did following World War
I. There also will be some pur-
chasing of small farms as intla-
ton hedges. It looks, however, as
if-other than in defense areas
the small home" industry has
about reached its peak and will
begin to slump off in 1912.
Ordinarily this should result IN
increased rents and in increased
demand for houses already built.
that where third of the workers
It must be remembered, however,
will have more wages and want
to move into better houses, two
thirds Of the workers will have
no wage increases. Many will
have wage decreases. Some Will
see their expenses so increased
that they will be looking tor
cheaper homes as we'll as for
cheaper cars. Readers who have
real estate which they would ike
TO sell should make a strong ef-
fort to sell it during 1942-at least
sell enough to get out Of debt.
What About Retail Trade?
Merchants in the defense areas
should have good year. am not
so hopeful for those outside de-
tense areas. Certainly, the num-
Der of sales will be smaller al
though the total gross may hold
up. Expanding the draft age may
have a dampening effect on retail
trade later in the year. The new
draft call may also cut the labor
supply of many industries. Black
outs are another factor in retard-
ing consumer buying. Hence mer-
chants should increase advertising
appropriations if they expect a
good year in 1912. I advise mer-
chants to keep down expenses;
avoid wage increases; and get out
of debt. If someone else offers
your employees more money than
YOU are now paying, let him have
such. After the war they Will
come back to you glad to work
for less money than you are now
paying. Don't speculate in mer-
chandise. Keep we'll stocked on
standard goods, but avoid style
goods which are hard to carry
over. Initiation is with us and IS
gradually increasing prices at the
rate of from 10-15% year. Leg
islation can check it, but it can
no more stop initiation than can
legislation stop crime. Remember
that when the war stops, it will
stop suddenly. Therefore, mer-
chants should keep close to shore.
Residential Building Will Decline
Residential building during 1941
increased, as a year ago I fore
casted it would increase. Hence,
I do not like to risk my good re-
putation now in giving a figure
for 1912. believe, however, that
rising costs, scarcity Of certain
materials and the provoking way
in which labor has acted is hurt
ing residential building. Surely 1t
will show no increase in 1912 over
1941; while I should not be sur
prised if it fell back to 1910 fig
ures,-possibly to the extent of
1870 to 1870. Public works and
highway construction will be less
in 1912 than in 1941. The building
of industrial plants will continue
in good volume during the first
six months. Pleasure car produc-
ton will be cut 500. General ex-
port trade, except for war pur-
poses, will also fall off. This will
especially be true in the Pacific