Show CONCERN FELT OVER LONG DRY WEATHER SPELL Chinese May Relieve Farm Labor Shortage Reserve Bank Bulletin Says The continuance of ot dry weather is occasioning concern among financiers over almost the tho entire Twelfth district of or the Federal Reserve bank accordIng according accord- accord In Ing to the January 1 bulletin of the district which was released yesterday from fr-em Ban San Francisco The low precipitation precipitation precipitation tation however howe is 15 no not regarded as defInite definite def def- mite final Indication that moisture will not be abundant for the tho crops of ot 1918 Introduction of Chinese farmers farmen to relieve shortage In the supply of ot farm laborers Is discussed as a possibility with Tho The suggestion HuSs Is In connection the tho plan of importing Chinese farmers under bond to return to their own country after the tho war It is pointed out that the Introduction of or such labor In Cuba did not meet with objection except from certain labor union factions Re Reduction of live stock holdings throughout the district is blamed partly partly partly part part- ly on the tho curtailment of ot available lable range for feeding the hl high h price of ot feed and the In Inability to secure labor I Idaho Oregon an and Washington have holdings s of ot hogs at present amounting amounting- to head hend as ns compared with I head a year ear ago Other live livestock livestock stock holdings appear to have de decreased decreased decreased de- de creased similar similarly except sheep which show a l slight Increase Labor conditions which have been beener er very unsettled during the year car appear to have reached a stage of ot greater stability stability sta sta- ta- ta says the report There have been strikes in the copper mines of Arizona in the lumber mills of ot the tho northwest In the shipyards and the tho allied metal trades Intervention or ordinarily ordinarily or- or resulted resulted-In In prevailing upon employers to concede the deman demands s. s The value of ot the 1917 salmon pack in Alaska alone Is placed at as compared with in 1916 says sas the bulletin It shows that shipbuilding shipbuilding shipbuilding ship ship- building has advanced with huge strides but that the construction of ot buildings s is decreasing the principal cities of the district showing decreases averaging 17 per cent during the past five e months The Tho bulletin adds that bank deposits I an and bank banle clearings continue to expand with lending rates of member banks I giving ln evidence of greater firmness i It Is urged that banks not affiliated with the federal reserve bank assign trusted to make a stu study y of reserve methods metho s. s Positions will be open Immediately Immediate for tor educational pur pur- poses It Is stated state for Ol a few chief clerks s or assistant cashiers of or nonmember nonmember nonmember non- non member banks |