Show from our news bureau at washington D C fl FINDS DS BUSINESS BETTER improvement in business and industrial du conditions in the united states is shown in the latest summary of business conditions announced by the department of commerce further price declines took place during october but on a smaller scale than earlier in tho the year at the same time the output ot of iron and steel and textile products increased while better building conditions were indicated DEMAND FOR ECONOMIC conference F E I 1 I 1 EN C E every time any new angle is suggested for the conference some nation bobs serenely up lip to admit that we come here to discuss that question nevertheless the fact remains that europe owes the united states eleven billion dollars and that there is a disposition in this country to develop education transportation por tation hydro electric power and many other improvements abroad on the altruistic theory that it would ultimately pay the united states in a big way but these are apparently questions for the future since the issue that the world stands behind today is tho the peace of the world UNTAPPED NATURAL WEALTH an untapped wealth estimated at a minimum of is contained in the more than acres of land still held in the public domain secretary fall of the interior department says in his first annual report coal and oil form the bulk of this wealth the total coal deposits being estimated at tons and the oil deposits at barrels with an additional barrels of shale oil from the development of these resources the federal government secretary fall says would realize by way of royalties etc a total of 38 RETAIL COST OP OF FOOD the U S department through the bureau of labor statistics has completed the compilations showing changes in the retail cost of food in 9 principal cities of the united states during the month from october 15 to november 15 1921 there was a decrease in G of these cities and an increase in two in cincinnati there was a decrease of 3 per cent in indianapolis di milwaukee and portland maine a decrease of 2 per cent and in chicago and omaha a decrease of 1 per cent in houston there was an increase of 1 per centano cen tand in newark an increase of tour four tenths of 1 per cent in buffalo there was no change during the month for the year period november 15 1920 to november 15 1921 there was a decrease of 23 per cent in cincinnati and omaha 22 per cent in buffalo chicago indianapolis and milwaukee 21 per cent in houston and newark 20 per cent in portland maine POSTAGE RATES postmaster general hays in his first annual report declares that it if the present gauge or expenditures shall continue there should be such a readjustment of postage rates as will together with the effects of increasing volume of business produce sufficient revenue approximately to meet it mr hays makes no specific recommendations as to the suggested adjustments and declares emphatically that if it were a question between the best practical service on the one hand and a poorer service with revenue meeting cost on the other hand decision should be resolve in favor of rendering the service he adds that the department should not be conducted tor for a profit but that it need not ultimately be run at a loss revenues tor for the postal service tor for the fiscal year ended last june mr hays says totaled an increase of over the receipts of the preceding fiscal year balanced against this were audited expenditures of with I 1 the total audited deficit at the material increase in the deficiency fici ency over that for 1920 mr hays haya states Is ib due to large increases of expenditures in two principal items without corresponding increase in the revenues these principal items are for increased compensation pensa tion to railroads on the basis of an order of the interstate commerce commission retroactive to nov 1 1916 and for added compensation allowed postal employees by congress |