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Show 4jJ A Digpst of Industrial Pwgress mm I "pHB Associated Grocery Manufacturers of America, comprising t30 -' -a of ths leading manufacturer ef grocery products In this country, have embarked upon a world-wide Investigation looking to the reduction reduc-tion of dletrlbutlon coats In their Induatry, according to an announcement announce-ment by H. R. Drackett, prealdent of the association. "Our Industry," aays Mr. Drackett, Is approaching this matter with ths resolve to do Its share la the solution of this problem. The necessary machinery with which to carry jn this work la now being set up la Its new headquarters In New Tork City. Wa believe that there Is considerable waste la the various divisions of grocery distribution dis-tribution and that a great deal of lost motion ot'Uld be eliminated and substantial savings effected which could eventually be pasaed along to the eonsumer, "Our complete program Includes a consideration of every factor In grocery distribution, from the time a product leaves the machine producing pro-ducing It until It reaches ths hands of the ultimate consumer. These plana represent a definite move on the part of a great Industry toward an organ laed effort to lower Us coat of distribution." e e e . The manufacture and distribution of food la out greatest Induatry. The Cenaus of Manufacturers for 1JT enumerates 4J.7I7 establishments establish-ments engaged la the manufacture of food products of all descriptions, an Increase of 1.J49 establishments over the year 1911. Ths total output out-put of these plants la estimated at over llO.IOO.OOe.OOO, and their trod-uote trod-uote are sold through nearly 4(M,000 retail outlets. Back of all this are the great agricultural Interests winning from the soil some thirteen billions of dollars annually, and atlll lrovldlng, though with depleted ranks, the bone and alnew of the nation. see High government official regard recent business trends as very favorable fav-orable and seem optimistic over the outlook for the future. Ths approach ap-proach of the fail season finds gen- t era! buslneas conditions maintained at an unusually high level In nearly every branch of trade. Blgna of prosperity seem general throughout the country, oven In ths smallest towns and villages. Many Industries are running practically prac-tically full capacity now, whereas they were not at thla time last year, e e e The United States now has more than double the amount of life Insurance In-surance of all other countries combined. com-bined. Attainment of ths hundred billion dollar mark, sought for years, was announced recently by the Association As-sociation of Life Insurance Presidents. Presi-dents. Ths survey reveals that the average Insurance carried by each of the approximately 110.000,000 residents of the United States Is $0, whils the average amount carried by each of the 65,000,000 -policyholders Is about $1,JS9.0. This la a new demonstration of American Ameri-can prosperity and of accelerated thrift of the persons who are par- . tlclpatlng tn the prosperity, e e e According to a well-known economist, econo-mist, the mergers will face severe tests during the next five yeat-J from eome of the keen minds now Idling. Many of ths keenest business busi-ness minds In the country are now "on vacation." ha explains, because their successful organisations have entered combinations. "Some of these men," he says, "have retired temporarily, but If human nature follows Its usual course, they will be back In 'harness' 'har-ness' again In a tew years with Independent In-dependent companies that will give keen competition to ths big combinations." combi-nations." Apparently many persons view business as a highly diverting game to play. |