Show INDUSTRIES GROW GROWl I I 1 WITH NITH ADVENT ADVENTS S OF SPRING S Confident nt Undertone in Evidence Evidence Evi- Evi Evi Evi- dence in Stock Market Says Henry Clews In some some departments Ind industry stry has 1 be bc become e- e come more active with tha the opening of of spring and the improvement In trans trans- The increase in pig iron fron production production production pro pro- is very striking the March output output output out out- I put being tons against tons in February This increase was largely due to recovery from the deadlock deadlock dead dead- I lock in which occurred during the severe weather of ot F February bUary I says Henry Clews' Clews latest market letter Shipbuilding has has also been speeded up with greater Intensity S so 50 that the April I output of ot ships and munitions should also be heavier Our textile trades are fully occupied chiefly upon army work and at profitable prices Food products are active and growers are securing handsome returns This Is true of all agricultural produce Cotton touched another another another an an- other top record 36 cents while Western West Vest Vestern em ern farm farmers rs are now looking toward wheat Meats are high though not scarce Crop advices are very favorable thus thus' far tar and the April winter wheat report will show a considerable Improvement In condition compared with last year year The necessity for conservation of flour Is still pressing owing to poor quality of ot last years year's crop but the flour administration is authority for the statement that this years year's wheat crop promises to bushels against bushels last year The dullest Industry In the country Is probably that of ot buildIng building build build- I Ing because of high costs s of labor a and materials ie I 1 also I C owing i to sd d disposition p of the government to discourage any Important Important Im Im- Im 1 new construction In consequence of which a scarcity of ot housing room is developing February railroad returns which reflected bad weather are arc are particularly particularly particularly par par- I poor Pennsylvania reporting a i deficit of ot nearly during JanUary January January Janu Janu- ary and February Other railroad re returns returns returns re- re turns for these months months' were relatively I poor March reports are expected to show decided improvement owing to recovery of ot traffic and increase of ot r rates tes allowed by the Interstate commerce commission What with the restoration of ot traffic the advance In rates and and- the government governmentS I guarantee of ot dividends on the last three I S years' years basis the railroads would seem I to have little or nothing to f fear ar for some sometime sometime time to come 5 The stock market behaves well very I I well considering the strain and diversion diversion diversion diver diver- sion of ot war Activity is Is' limited yet there Is a confident undertone and all setbacks are followed by prompt I eries cries Prices respond much more readIly readily readily read read- ily to good news than to bad news There is a decided disposition to resist bad news part of ot war spirit St Stocks appear to be concentrated in strong hands speculative holdings be being being being be- be ing remarkably light Good railroad shares are selling loW considering the re returns returns returns re- re turns offered and improved general con con- Bonds are Inactive while short term notes find more more ready purchasers under present monetary and investment r S S 'S 5 Government nt loans naturally absorb a large part of the new capital and sav say ings During March the amount of ot new enterprises reported of ot a million or over was only against a year ago while the similar totals since January 1 were and respectively In other words war has cut down home investments In new enterprises fully one This means s that w when e the struggle ISen dISen Is over fe Wt there will be a rush us of deferred d enterprises enterprises enter enter- in this country which added to other demands means widespread business business business busi busi- ness activity Implies a great demand t for r capital and labor and continued high prices Our government continues to extend I its powers over business affairs and there is now some talk of ot its taking over the meat packing Industry which may possibly Include a very wide range of ot animal side products One of ot the latest steps in government regulation has been the stoppage of ot short sales which In business circles will generally be regarded as a mistake for tor the reason that such transactions always create a buying power that is Invaluable In chec Ing undue depression and panic FInancial Financial Financial Finan FInan- cial operations must be continued upon conservative lines credit and security markets still being particularly sensitive to the shocks and uncertainties of ot war |