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THE MONTHLY REVIEW Covering Conditions in the 'Tenth Federal ~erve.1. Virtnct ;:··,··· ·: Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas Ci1:y FoR THE INFORMATION OF MEMBER BANKS AND BusrnEss INTERESTS OF THIS DISTRICT M. L. McCLURE, Chairman Board of Directors and Federal Reserve Agenl VoL. 8 KANSAS C. K. CITY, Mo., NovEMBER THE SITUATION AT A GLANCE HIGH POINTS IN THE STATISTICAL RECORD OF THE TENTH FEDERAL RESERVE DISTRICT Bank debits against accounts of customers in twentyeight cities, four weeks ending October 3, $1,147,506,000. Increase over four weeks ending September, 5, $98,436,000. Increase over four weeks ending October 4, last year, $30,062,000. Building in nineteen cities in September, 3,053 permits and $8,252,865 value. Increase over September last year, 245 permits, and decrease $914,455 in value. Commercial failures in Tenth District in September, 64 and liabilities $1,622,295. Decrease from September last year, 2 failures, and increase $884,052 liabilities. Crop forecast October I compared with final estimate [or 1922, Tenth District: Corn, 508,496,000 bushels; mcrease, I I 4,9 I I ,ooo bushels. Cotton, September 25 condition, 982,000 bales; increase, 312,000 bales. Oats, 161,968,000 bushels; increase 35,079,000 bushels. All wheat, 177,902,000 bushels; decrease, 68,969,000 bushels. Hay, 17,626,000 tons; increase, 845,000 tons. Crude oil production in Kansas, Oklahoma, Wyoming and Colorado in September, 651,533 barrels daily average and 19,546,000 barrels total production. Increase over September last year, 81,834 barrels daily average and 2,455,000 barrels total production. ~ Flour production at Southwestern reporting mills in September, 2,006,979 barrels. Decrease from September of last year, 96,279 barrels. , Grain receipts at four markets in September, compared with September oflast year: Wheat,10,639,550 bushels; decrease, 4,342,400 bushels. Corn, 2,591,250 bushels; ~ecrease, 209,700 bushels. Oats, 4,249,700 bushels; mcrease, 2,346,100 bushels. ~ Live stock receipts at six markets during September compared with same month last year: Cattle, 710,557; increase, 29,273. Calves, 121,653; decrease, 28,776. Hogs, 801,341; increase, 232,931. Sheep, 970,689; increase, 257,440. Horses-mules, 14,040; increase 3,827. Meat packing at six centers in September compared II with same month last year: Cattle, 267,105; increase, 20,626. Calves, 68,204; increase, 5,843. Hogs, 569,746; increase, 107,802. Sheep, 289,759; increase, 1,195. ~ Metal mining, Tri-state district in September compared with same month last year: Lead ore shipments, 7,732 tons; increase, 206 tons. Zinc ore shipments, 67,226 tons; increase, 24,575 tons. Soft coal mining in six states in September 60.8% of capacity; in August 52.7% of capacity;l in September last year, 68.5% of capacity. ~ BOARDMAN, Assistant Federal Resero1 Agent and Secretary 1, 1923 No. 10 HEAVY outb~und movement of farm products, live stock, petroleum, minerals and manufactured goods, with a heavy mon~y return, have made for a large and suStained volume of business this fall in the Tenth Federal Reserve District. Distribution of merchandise by wholesalers continues on an enormously large scale, and retail business is correspondingly large, although trade during the past six weeks has been very seriously affected in many localities by rains and bad roads. The Government's October reports, forecasting largely increased yields of corn, cotton and other farm crops, the result of improved conditions, were encouraging to the agricultural interests. At current prices, which in most instances are considerably above prices at this time last year, the increased yield would indicate many additional millions of dollars to farmers. The excessive rains continuing through the greater part of October, however, have made it somewhat doubtful whether the condition of corn and cotton upon which the October reports were based would be maintained, since late reports from some sections tell of injury to these maturing crops. The volume of live stock moving to the markets is unprecedently large. With prices holding to levels slightly above those of a year ago, there is indicated improvement in the condition of the live stock interests. Production of precious and base metals in Colorado is in larger volume than last year. Lead and zinc production in the Tristate district is considerably ahead of a year ago. The output of coal at the mines in this district is still to some extent restricted by lack of market demand. Crude oil continues to flow from the wells in tremendous]y large volume, although stocks are larger than ever before and refiners are reducing operations and urging the curtailment of crude oil production. Building activities continue, with evidence of increased construction of dwelling houses and apartments which are urgently needed to relieve housing conditions, and fewer business and office buildings are starting at this season. Labor is generally well employed with some interruption, however, due to unfavorable weather conditions. A Bank Operations Steady liquidations of bank loans during the fall season are indicated by the weekly reports of seventy-six selected Member Banks to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. Their combined total as of October 3 was $443,560,000, which was $2,461,000 less than reported four weeks previous to that date, or on September 5. With the exception of September 26 and August 29, when the totals were $443,296,000 and $442,912,000, respectively, the October 3 total was the lowest since January 24 when the same banks reported $441,091,000 as the aggregate of their loans and discounts, including rediscounts. Investments of these reporting Member Banks declined $2,66o,ooo or 1.8% in the four-weeks period to J148,3n,ooo as THE MONTHLY REVIEW Federal Reserve Bank Clearings PRINCIPAL RESOURCE AND LIABILITY ITEMS OF 76 MEMBER BANKS IN SELECTED CITIES Oct. 3, 1923 1. (a) Secured by U. S. Govt. obligations·---···'/, (b) Secured by stocks and bonds, other than U. S. Bond,.,___ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9· Sept. 5, 1923 Loans and Discounts (including rediscounts): (c) All Other..·- - - - - - - - - , - . . - . Investments: (a) U. S. pre-war bond,.___ _ _ _ __ (b) U.S. Liberty bond"---.- - - - - (c) U.S. Treasury bond.s...... _ _ _ __ (d) U.S. Victory notes and Treasury notes.... (e) U. S. Certificates of Indebtedness·--······· (f) Other Bonds, Stocks and Securities........ Total loans and discounts, and investments.... Reserve balances with F. R. Ban~--Cash in vau].___ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Net demand deposits on which reserve is computed·--···········-----····························· Time deposits..·---···············------Government deposits ...·-·-·············---Bills payable and rediscounts with F. R. Bank secured by: (a) U. S. Govt. obligations......... _ _ __ (b) All other_ __ 7,120,000 '/, 6,860,000 82,664,000 356,497,ooo 81,075,000 355.365,ooo 11,6oo,ooo 49,312,000 4,881,000 19,033,000 5,054,000 61,092,000 n,566,000 47,o34,:x,o 4,588,000 18,863,000 3,832,000 62,429,000 591,872,000 48,039,000 12,337,000 596,993,ooo NUMBER 9,061,000 15,624,000 1923 January._ ......... 5,199,210 February..._..... 4,492,366 March .............. 5,389,383 ApriL .............. 5,022,6o1 May ... ---········· 4,860,028 June...·-··········· 4,793 ,9 10 J ulY-···-··········· 4,690,388 AugusL-- ······· 4,691,413 September. ___. 4,524,335 Total (ltems 3 to 9 inclusive),.___ _ _~ -·.... '/,1,2,3,II1,oqo f1,260,4J4,ooo Total 9 Mo 's .. _4.3,663,634 427,341,ooo 134,941,000 2,743,000 49,412,000 l'.1,744,000 The service rendered the business and banking interests by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and branches at Omaha, Denver and Oklahoma City in the clearing of checks is indicated by the figures for the first nine months of 1923, which show 43,663,634 items were handled for amounts aggregating $6,568,115,680.31. These totals compare with 39,503,293 items aggregating $5,973,oc1,48g.85 handled during the corresponding nine months in 1922, indicating an increase for this year of 10.5% in the number of items and an increase of 10% in the amount. The total number of items and the amount for each month this year and for the corresponding months in 1922, follow: 439,974,ooo 135,487,000 1,139,000 18,577,000 17,261,000 October 3, the lowest amount of investments since February 28, when they were $146,035,000. Gross deposits of $565,025,000 reported as of October 3 were $n,575,ooo less than the total as of September 5. The large declin~ in the four weeks, amounting to 2.9%, was in demand deposits. Tim~ deposits, although 0.4% less than at the first reporting date in September, remained close to the high level maintained during the third quarter of the year. Weekly statements of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and its branches at Omaha, Denver and Oklahoma City show an increase in the volume of paper rediscounted for Member Banks. The statement as of October 3 shows bills rediscounted for Member Banks amounting to $50,507,073, which was $II,393,592, or 29%, above the total at the first reporting date in September. On October 3, the total of discounted and purchased bills held by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City was $52,754,416. Federal Reserve notes in circulation as of October 3 were $63,063,485, deposits were $81,131,630, and the ratio of total ,reserv<; to deposit, and ' Federal....Reserve notes liabilities combined :was 60. '.2. %-1 o{ Savings Deposits and Accounts The reports of a selected list of savings institutions and savings departments in commercial banks in cities of the Tenth District shows the volume of money on deposit in savings accounts changed but slightly between September 1 and October 1, although there is indicated an increase of 9.2% over the total deposits on October 1 last year. The number of savings accounts in reporting banks increased during the month 0.9% and 11 .6% over one year ago. Savings deposits and accounts at the dates mentioned are here shown: Bank~ Denver_ __ _ _ _ _ ········ 8 Kansas Cit-y, Kansas·----··········· 4 Kansas City, Mo ......... ,............... 10 Lincoln ........ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 4 Oklahoma CitY-------······· 7 Omaha .......................................... 6 St. Joseph........· - - -··········· 6 Tulsa .............................................. 6 Wichita .......................................... 6 Outside.......................................... 4 TotaL. - - - - - - ··············61 Oct. 1, 192.3 Sept. 1, 1923 Oct. 1, 1922 $ 53,243,594 $ 53,586,269 $49,oII,021 2,43o,990 2,455,240 2,202,0.34 13,342,79 1 12 ,469,597 13,35 1,334 3,124,II2 2,851,06o 3, 149,796 9,733,814 6,522,334 5, 247,3°7 7,770,163 7,I'.21,076 7,577,2 74 8,615,760 8,592,932 7,876,403 5,579,8 15 5,69 2,945 5,533, 20 8 2, 247,397 2,252,783 2,162,171 1,198,221 1,199,313 1,073,190 AMOUNT 4,666,927 4,37o,oo9 4,459,95° 4,643,492 1923 $ 788,320,673-87 634,I 69,794.73 826,400,731.65 758,903,907.62 749,410,941.80 725,182,473.86 705,101,242.90 689,810,19'1.06 690,815,721.82 '/, 668,269,535-46 570,860,339.21 721,340,188.80 607,070,262.50 652,583,122.14 692,456,828.54 662,363,455.98 682,8 I 2,6 59•99 715, 245,o97.23 39,503,293 $6,568,II 5,680.31 $5,973,001,489.85 1922 4,103,774 3,856,038 4,611,103 4,280,179 4,511,821 1922 Banks in the Tenth Federal Reserve District on the par list and sharing in this check clearing service on October I, wne 4,076 in number, only 177 out of 4,253 banks not on the par list. The banks not on the par list are located: I in Missouri, I in Kansas, 5 in Colorado, 2 in New Mexico, 6 in Oklahoma, 8 in Wyoming and 154 in Nebraska. Bank Debits R eports by Clearing Houses in twenty-eight cities of the Tenth District, showing debits by banks against accounts of customers covering a period of four weeks ending October 3, 1923, place the combined totals for these cities at $1,147,506,000. This figure indicates an increase of $98,436,000, or 9.4 %, over the combined total reported by the same twenty-eight cities for the previous four weeks. It also shows an increase of $30,062,000, or 2.7%, over the combined total for the corresponding four weeks in 1922. Fourteen cities reported increases and fourteen cities reported decreases for the four weeks t his year over the four weeks period last year. The reports follow: Four weeks ending Four weeks ending Pct. Oct. 3, 1923 Oct. 4, 1922 Change Atchison, Kansas _ _ _ _ _ _ .t, 5,438,000 '/, 5,140,000 5.8 Bartlesvil le, Oklahoma 8,546,000 8,872,000 -3.7 Casper, Wyoming.__ 15,063,000 13,094,000 15.0 Cheyenne, Wyoming.......................... 8,607,000 10,549,000 -18.4 Colorado Springs, Colorado ............ _ II,982,000 I 1,728,000 2.2 Denver, Colorad 167,891,000 151,063,000 11.1 Enid, Oklahoma·---·· 10,228,000 n,51 8,000 -u.2 Fremont, Nebraska.... 3,270,000 3,010,000 8.6 Grand Junction, Colorado................ 3,027,000 2,702,000 I'l.o Guthrie, Oklahoma....... 2,953,000 2,418.000 22.1 Hutchinson, Kansas·---····················· 9,838,000 12,798,000 -23.1 Independence, Kansas........................ 7,552,000 8,279,000 -8.8 Joplin, Missouri.................................. 14,276,000 10,423,000 37.0 Kansas City, Kansas·-······················· 19,247,0QO 16,147,000 19.2 Kansas City, Missouri.---················· 344,'237,ooo 324,oII ,ooo 6.2 Lawrence, Kansas........ 3,723,000 4,368,000 -14.8 McAlester, Oklahoma . 4,224,000 4,280,000 - 1.3 Muskogee, Oklahoma........................ 23,186,000 27,648,000 -16.1 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.............. 66,828,000 73,404,000 -9.0 Okmulgee, Oklahoma·----················· 5,982,000 7,296,000 -18.0 Omaha, Nebraska·----······················· 198,235,000 190,448,000 4.1 Parsons, Kansas.................................. 2,733,000 3,607,000 ~4.2 P:ttsburg, Kansas·----······················· 5,838,000 5,162,000 13.1 Pueblo, Colorado................................ 16,105,000 12,165,000 32.4 St. J oseph, Missoun·----··················· 58,729,000 56,332,000 4.3 Topeka, Kansas.................................. 13,295,000 13,336,000 -0.3 Tulsa, Oklahoma................................ 78,532,000 84,961 ,000 -7.6 Wichita, Kansas·-······························· 37,941 ,ooo 42,685 ,ooo - 1 I. 1 3 THE MONTHLY REVIEW Business Failures t" Insolvencies in the Tenth District and in the entire country during the nine months of 1923, now passed, were fewer in number and in the volume of liabilities than were reported for the corresponding period in 1922. The figures compiled from R. G. Dun & Co., reports covering the nine months in both years follow: Tenth District No. Liabilities United States No. Liabilities Nine Months 1912...................... 755 Nine Months, 1923 _____ 666 $16,101,746 13,086,881 18,417 13,500 $490,914,495 358,178,627 Decrease----~-~- 89 $ 3,014,865 4~917 $131,735,868 Failures in the District and in the entire country during September were fewer than in August of this year or September of last year. The amount of liabilities involved in September failures in the Tenth District exceeded those of the previous month and the corresponding month last year, although for the United States, September liabilities were below those of the two monthly periods used for comparison. September failures and liabilities are here given by Federal Reserve Districts: SEPT£ BER NUMBER D istricts 1922 1913 First, Boston.-............................. 113 II8 Second, New York·--············ 228 376 Third, Philadelphia .................... 44 61 Fourth, Cleveland...................... 95 l'.28 Fifth, Richmond 66 118 Sixth, Atlanta. ............................. 91 I'.20 Seventh, Chicago ........................ 172 112 Eighth, St. Louis ...... 100 71 inth, Minneapolis ...·-···-········· 63 50 TE TH, Kansas City .............. 64 66 Eleventh, Dalla 70 79 Twelfth, San Francisco .............. 140 137 LIABILITIES 1922 1923 1, 1,476,871 $ 1,479,198 6,183,981 I 2,'.l09,81 I 1,107,680 2,695,645 1,741 ,378 3,848,535 964,349 4, 269,453 1,840,497 1,765,041 6,219,732 3,863,884 536,652 'lt,4 1 7,7 25 637,652 575,947 1,622,195 738, 243 1,480,122 1,757,766 921,831 2,152,387 Total, United States .................. 1,226 $28.698,649 1,566 $36,908,126 Mercantile Trade Sales by wholesalers of groceries, furniture and millinery during September were in larger volume than in the month of August; while sales of dry goods, drugs and hardware fell below those of August. All lines except hardware reported increases of sales (money value) over the sales in September, 1922. Distribution of merchandise by wholesalers to retailers was affected during the month by rains and muddy roads. Wholesale trade in the Tenth Federal Reserve District for September, 1923, is shown in the table which follows, in percent- ages of increase or decrease for September over the previous month and one year ago: No. of Stores Dry Goods.. 3 Groceries..-...6 Hardware __ .9 Furn1ture .....4 Drugs.--.....7 Millinery._ ...5 Sept. 1913 Compared with Aug. 1923 -3.0 +7-4 --2.3 +18.1 -3.9 + J.1 SALES Sept. 19'13 Compared with Sept. 1922 +6.6 +11.0 ~-3 + 2.8 +1.1 +6.7 OOTST ANDlNGS] Sept. 30, 1923 Sept. JO, 192-3 Compared Compared with with Aug. 31, 1923 Sept'. 30 1 192'1 +5.8 +13.8 +3.4 +10.0 + 2.0 -1.3 +5.'l +1.3 +2.t -0.1 +1+6 +1.0 Wholesalers of dry goods report~the market for all cla-sses of textiles made of cotton is very strong on account of the recent advance in the price of cotton. The wholesalers in this District have been slow to mark up cotton goods, although asserting that advances may be looked.for from day to day on merchandise both for fall use and for the coming spring. The millinery trade during September was generally satisfactory with sales above those of August and a year ago. · The wholesale grocery~trade,• according to) he reports o( representative houses, shows a very substantial increase for' the month and season, indicating that under existing employment conditions there is a tremendously large consumption of foods. While sales of drugs by wholesalers have been in very large volume during the season, the reports show that the September business did not quite come up to that of August, although showing an increase over sales in September of last year. Sales and_ deliv~ries in the latter part of the month were hurt by excessive rams. An unusually large volume of sales for September was reported by wholesale dealers in furniture with trade better than for several months. Wholesale hardware dealers reported-the volume of sales below that of August and also below that of one year ago, with prices generally firm and supplies in some lines low. The country trade slowed down on account of rains and bad roads. On account of price uncertainties retailers as a rule continue to buy on small orders. The implement trade continues poor, the tendency among farmers being to buy very little new machinery and equipment. RETAIL TRADE: The reports of Department Stores, usually an index to the general trend of retail trade in cities of the Tenth District, show September sales rather uneven, good in some cities and poor in others, due to weather conditions. In several of the reporting cities heavy rains interfered with fall festivities and the usually heavy sales by retailers did not come up to expectations, while good weather in other cities brought increased business. Taking the composit figures for all depart- CONDITION OF RETAIL TRADE IN CITIES OF THE TE TH FEDERAL RESERVE DISTRICT DURING SEPTEMBER, 1913 Based Upon Reports from 16 Department Stores Outside Kansas City Denver Percentage increase (or decrease) of net sales during September, 1913, over net sales 4 3 9 during same month last year·-- - · · · · - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Inc. 2.6 Dec. 3.6 Dec. 0.9 Percentage increase (or decrease) of net sales from July 1, r923, to September 30, 1913, over net sales during same period last year ...... _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Inc. 7.3 Dec. 0.7 Inc. 3.1 Percentage increase (or decrease) of stocks at close of September, 1923, over stocks at close of same month last year ........ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Dec. l.'.2 Inc. 14.6 Inc. 10.0 Percentage increase (or decrease) of stocks at close of September, 1913, over stocks Inc. 6.6 Inc. 3.5 Inc. 7.0 at close of August, 1 9 2 · . > - - - - - - - - - -----······················ Percentage of average stocks (selling price) at close of each month this season (commencing with July 1) to average monthly net sales (sellmg price) during the same perio.. ,.__ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ 561.3 566.3 694.5' Percentage of outstanding orders (cost) at close of September, 1913, to total purchases (cost) during the calendar year, 1921. __________________ 10.6 6.1 8.4 Percentage of collections during month of September, 1923, on amount of outstanding acwunts on August 31, 1923·--············-------------44-1 45•9 35-5 Perccntage of collections for same period last year_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ 52.1 44-6 35.6 District 16 Dec. o.6 Inc. 3.3 Inc. 7.9 Inc. 5.6 6o6.o 8.3 41.9 44.4 THE MONTHLY REVIEW 4 ment stores:reporting, the September volume of sales was about o.6% below last year, although sales from July 1 to October 1 this year were 3.3% above those of a similar period last year. Trade is generally reported fair to good by dealers in the smaller cities and towns, except in sections where crops were affected by the drought. The general average of these reports, however, would place the retail sales figure slightly above the figure for the corresponding month last year. ~ ·COLLECTIONS: During the forepart of September some wholesalers reported collections dragging slowly, but in the latter part of the month an improvement was rioted. Hardware and implement houses reported collections good or satisfactory. Country retailers reported improvement in collections, while the department store figure on collections was below the figure for September of last year. Agriculture Conditionsduring the fall season are generally favorable to the agricultural interests in the Tenth Federal Reserve District, embracing within its boundaries the entire area of the states of Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Oklahoma except nine southeastern counties, nineteen counties along the western border of Missouri and the northern ten counties of New Mexico, or about one-third of that state. Over practically every section of this area abundant rains have fallen, effectively breaking the drought in sections where more rain was needed and saturating the soil with moisture sufficient for the late fall and winter. In some sections farm work, and particularly fall seeding, has been retarded by wet soil, but as a whole conditions have been such as to make for good progress. Crops have matured satisfactorily though slowly in some parts, and at the middle of Oct0ber very little damage from frost or freezing had been reported. CORN: Continued improvement in the condition of corn ~as indicated by the October crop report of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Based on the condition of the crop on October 1, the estimated yield for the Tenth District is placed at 508,496,000 bushels, which is 8,233,000 bushels more than was estimated September 1, and II4,9u,ooo bushels more than the yield of 1922. The U. S. Department of Agriculture forecast of this year's corn crop on the condition October 1 and September 1, and the final 1922 estimate, are here shown by Federal Reserve Districts: Foreca;t Sept. 1, 1923 Bushels n,596,000 Estimate 1922 Bushels l 1,963,000 29,552,000 33,735,000 62,304,000 199,540,000 178,229,000 204,142,000 984,328,000 394,916,000 282,352,000 508,496,000 104,718,000 14,059,000 57,398,000 228,980,000 181,853,000 195,928,000 I ,002,962,000 42 l ,893,000 328,831,000 500,263,000 102,516,000 14,014,000 3,021,454,000 3,075'786,000 2,890,712,000 Forecast Federal Reserve District First, Bosto Second, New Yor Third, Philadelphi Fourth, Cleveland............................ Fifth, Richmon Sixth, Atlant Seventh, Chicago Eighth, St. Louis .... Ninth, Minneapolis...... TENTH, Kansas City Eleventh, Dallas·---······ Twelfth, San Francisco Total, United States .... Oct. 1, 1023 Bushels n,706,000 30,486,000 56,725,000 208,544,000 182,830,000 193,643,000 969,465,ooo 406,836,000 333,946,ooo 393,585,000 132,938,000 12,680,000 According to official reports Nebraska added 5,720,000 bushels on account of the improvement in condition between September I and October 1, bringing that state's total to 263,138,000 bushels or 80,738,000 bushels more than last year's crop. Kansas, with a total yield of 130,405,000 bushels, gained 3,500,000 bushels over the September I estimate. The nineteen Missouri counties in the Tenth District increased this year's yield close to 1,000,000 bushels. Oklahoma reported no material change in the condition between September I and October 1, and its estimated total is 39,491,000 bushels. In Colorado, the corn crop is reported as 31,267,000 bushels, almost double" that of last year. Wyoming has produced approximately 2,316,000 bushels and the crop in the ten counties of New Mexico in the Tenth District is estimated at about 1,700,000 bushels. ~, - COTTON: Remarkable progress toward recovery of the cotton crop from the injury done by drought and hot winds during June, July and August was reflected by the October reports from the States of the Southwest, based on condition of the crop on September 25. Although excessive rains recently have retarded maturity of cotton, web and leaf worms have done considerable mischief, and there is danger that much of the late cotton will be damaged by frost, the October reports on yield and prices were encouraging to the cotton growing interests of the Southwest. Oklahoma in the Tenth District and Texas in ·· the Eleventh District: reported an improvement in condition and yield that was surprising even to the cotton growers themselves. According to the October report of the U. S. Department of Agriculture these two states, which were harder hit by the drought and heat than any others of the cotton states, are expected to produce 46.4% of the entire cotton crop of the United States, estimated at 11,015,000 bales, providing the condition on September 25 is maintained. The following shows the estimates of the U. S. Department of Agriculture on the number of bales of 500 pounds produced in the eight states lying west of the Mississippi River, with totals for the eight states east of the Mississippi, and also for the United States: Oklahoma Arkansas·-·········· Louisian Missouri ...... Ariwn New Mexico._ ........ California.... Sept. 25,l ·:.Aug. 25, Final Estimate 1922 1923 .... _., 1923 J,'.222,000 4,168,000 3,722,000 627,000 791,000 945,000 1,on,000 926,ooo j 948,000 361,000 340,000 _ 343,000 198,000 , 193,000 149,000 83,ooo j 47,000 l 83,000 ~ 19,000 57,000 , ►,59,ooo 28,000 44,000 43,000 Eight Southwest States .... Eight Southeast State 6,761,000 4,254,000 6,200,000 4,588,000 5,446,000 4,315,000 II,015,000 10,788,000 9,761,000 Texa United Stat .''.'.f' According to the official figures~ Oklahoma gained 154,000 bales and Texas gained 446,000 bales, a total gain for the two states of 600,000 bales, as a result of the improvement in conditions between August 25 and September 25 affecting the growth and maturity of cotton. This increase more than offset losses in thirteen other cotton states which reported declines in condition and yield between the two reporting dates mentioned. :. The value of Oklahoma's 1923 cotton crop, figuring an average of 23 cents per pound for lint, totals $108,675,000, or 'l,17,710,000 more than was estimated August 25. WHEAT SOWING: Weather conditions were generally very favorable during September for seeding winter wheat, and good to excellent progress was reported, particularly on Great Plains areas. There was, however, an apparent tendency among growers in areas liable to be infested by insect pests to defer their wheat sowing until after the "fly-free" dates, which accounts for a larger than usual acreage of late sown wheat. The early sown wheat, helped by abundant moisture, was reported up and showing fair to good stands. In Oklahoma a very large proportion of the wheat acreage was sown before October 1, the growers taking advantage of the excellent weather and soil conditions. In Kansas it was estimated that from 50% to 70% of the fall wheat sowing was completed by October 10 in the western two-thirds and about one-half completed in the eastern counties. Heavy rains and wet soil were retarding th sowing of the remainder of the wheat to be planted in the state. The Missouri report said that wheat seeding was 5 THE MONTHLY REVIEW going"forward rapidly"early in October) where the soil was not too wet. A larger portion of the crop was being seeded after October I than ever before. The acreage will be less than last year. Very little preparation for wheat seeding was done before August and September in that state. The Nebraska report indicates good progress in wheat seeding this fall, though there were some delays in sections by rains and wet soil. POTATOES: The late commercial crop of potatoes did not meet expectations in the large producing sections of Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska, due to the wet season. The condition of 76% of normal on October I in Nebraska, indicates a crop of 9,506,000 bushels as compared with I 1,676,000 bushels pr0duced last year. Wyoming's crop was forecast at 1,943,000 bushels, or 64,000 bushels below the September I estimate, and compares with 2,530,000 bushels produced last year. Colorado's crop was estimated at 14,966,000 bushels forecast October I when the condition was 74%. Last year Colorado produced 18,461,000 bushels of potatoes. Oklahoma potatoes were damaged by the summer drought but were greatly benefitted by rains in September. On a condition of 65% October 1 a yield of 2,638,000 bushels was forecast, against 2,720,000 bushels last year. In Missouri potatoes were reported the best for several years with the average yield 101 bushels, and a crop for the entire state of 9,040,000 bushels, compared with 60 bushels per acre and a crop of 5,400,000 bushels last year. The Kansas potato crop this year was about 5)096,000 bushels, according to the reports from that state. OTHER FARM CROPS: The official estimate based on October I condition gave the Tenth District credit for production of 161,968,000 bushels of oats, 710,000 bushels below the September I estimate and 35,079,000 bushels above the .1922 total. Spring wheat in the Tenth District was estimated at 12,144,000 bushels, a decline of 435,000 bushels during September, but an increase of 1,082,000 bushels over the crop of 1922. The winter wheat estimate of August 1, placing the crop in the Tenth District at 165 >7 58,000 bushels, against 235,809,000 bushels last year, stands until the final estimate is announced in December. Improvement in the hay crop in September accounts for an increase of 991,000 tons as shown in the October estimate of 17,626,000 tons for the Tenth District as compared with 16,781,000 tons produced in 1922. The condition of sugar beets in Colorado on October 1 was 5% above the condition last year while in Nebraska the condition was 5% below a year ago. The District yield is estimated at 12.5% above last year's yield. Grain sorghums improved in September in Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma and yields above those of last year are in prospect. The crop of broom corn in Oklahoma and Kansas is the largest ever known in these two states, but has been damaged to some extent by rains and floods. FRUIT CROPS: This year's apple crop in the Tenth District is about 27.5% less than the crop of 1922, according to the Department of Agriculture figures. Colorado produced approximately 1,256,000 bushels less than last year. Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma sustained heavy losses, while New Mexico was the only one of seven states to report an increase in production this year. The apple crop in the seven states: TOTAL CROP In Bushels 1922 1923 Colorado. 2,994,000 4,250,000 3,280,000 Kansas.----················· 2,090,000 Missouri .................... 6,656,000 9,400,000 Nebraska .................... 1,620,000 815,000 New Mexico ............ 1,1 20,000 750,000 Oklahoma.................... 1,121,000 1,140,000 34,ooo 45,000 W yoming·--··--··········: Seven States·--··········· 14,840,000 United States.............. 190,727,000 20,485,000 201,252,000 COMMERCIAL In Barrels 1922 1923 1,034,000 799,ooo 546,000 348,000 666,ooo 1,250,000 130,000 54,000 242,000 158,000 38,000 37,000 2,146,000 33,104,000 3,156,000 3o,955,ooo RECEIPTS OF GRAIN AT1.FOUR MARKETS IN SEPTEMBER, 1923 (In Bushels) Wheat Corn Oats Rye Barley Kansas City..... - - - - · · 5,941,350 7n,250 1,837,700 64,900 441,000 Omah ... 2,676,800 1,051,400 2,042,000 175,000 171,200 St. Josep 819:000 747,000 280,000 .i.,500 15,750 Wichita.... .......... 1,202,400 81,6oo 90,000 94,800 September, 1923 .................... 10,639,550 2,591,250 4,249,700 244,400 722,750 · August, 1923 ..........................20,898,150 3,986,000 4,982,100 182,700 462,550 September, 1922...............•.... 14,981,950 2,800,950 1,903,600 256,000 89,250 ~The peach crop this year is 46% below that of 1922, with the total production in six states estimated at 3,423,000 bushels, compared with last year's crop of 6,339,000 bushels. The preliminary estimate for 1923 and the final estimate for 1922 for these states follow: 1923 Bushels Colorado _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - - - - - 792,000 Kansas ......................................._ _ _ _ _ _ 84,000 Missouri .... _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1,040,000 Nebraska........................ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 45,000 New Mexico._..................................................................... 172,000 Oklahoma...................... - - - ···································· 1,290,000 1922 ~ Bushels 1,160,000 630,000 2,300,000 81,000 98,000 2,070,000 Six S t a t e s - - - - - --········································ 3,423,000 United States................. ..... -i.5,381,000 56,705,000 6,339,000 This year's pear crop in the District is estimated at 1,107,000 bushels against 1,454,000 bushels produced in 1922. Missouri's crop is 417,000 bushels and Colorado's 385,000 bushels. Grain Movements A very heavy reduction iri the volume of wheat arriving in September at the four leading markets of the Tenth District was reported. Receipts aggregating 10,639,550 bushels during the month were 49.1% less than in August and 29% less than in September, 1922. Corn receipts during the month at these markets, due to scarcity of old corn, were unusually light, aggregating only 2,591,250 bushels, which was 35% below the total for the previous month and 7.5% below the corresponding month last year. Receipts of oats, totaling 4,249,700 bushels, were 14.7% under the August receipts but were 123.2% above the total one year ago. The receipts of rye and barley were light while but little kafir was moving. GRAIN PRICES: Average cash prices paid for hard wheat at Kansas City during September were maintained at 3 cents to 9 cents per bushel above prices at which hard wheat was selling one year ago. Corn increased 3 cents to 9 cents during the month and at the close was 29 cents to 33 cents higher than at the close of September last year. Oats also registered an increase over the opening week of September, and also over a year ago. Average cash prices of grain at Kansas City for the weeks mentioned are here shown in cents per bushel: · Sept. 1-7 1923 Sept. 29-Oct. 5 2 Dark Hard Winter_ _ _ _ 121 2 Hard Winter... _ _ _ _ _ 112 2 Red Winter ....... _ _ _ _ _ 115 120 III III III 106 II3 2 White ..................._ _ _ _ 93 2 Yellow ...... ----··············· 92 2 Mixed._ ....................................... 92 83 86 83 62 63 58 No. 2 White.....·-······························ 46 40 42 Sept. 29-Oct.5, 1923 1922 WHEAT No. No. No. CoaN No. No. No. OATS The reports from the Agricultural Departments of the states of the Tenth District vary as to the percent of the 1923 wheat crop marketed prior to October I. Nebraska reported 39% of its 1923 wheat shipped to market, while Oklahoma reported 70% and Wyoming in the Rocky Mountain region 20%. 6 THE MONTHLY REVTEW 7 Flour Production Mills in the Southwest reporting weekly to the Northwestern Miller made 2,006,979 barrels of flour during September, operating on an average of 72.7% of full time capacity. This flour output is 32,260 barrels below the total production in August and 96,279 barrels below the total for September, 1922. Production at the principal milling centers during the month is here shown: Production Barrels Kansas City......................................... _ _ _ __ 54 1, 195 Omaha. ___ ··················---········································· 91,105 Salin,,L_ __ 86,459 St. Josep ..._________ ····················- - - - - - - 11 9,774 Wichi ta. ......................................... _ _ _ _ _ __ 181,732 Outside ........................................................ _ _ _ __ 986,714 Percent Capacity 86.1 94.6 44.8 6o.6 67.5 71.9 Total September 192_>----- - - - - - - - -··········'l,006,979 Total August 1923._......................................... 2,039,239 Total September 1922 .................... _. '2,103,258 Live Stock Excellent grazing and feed conditions, all classes of live stock in good health, continued heavy marketward movements, and prices averaging better than last year, are the outstanding points in the November Monthly Review. With ranges and pastures fully I 5% better than last year, wonderful crops of forage, and a bumper crop of corn, sufficient feed has been produced for sustaining and fattening several times the present number of live stock in the Tenth District. While the grass on ranges and pastures generally is curing slowly, reports from some localities-particularly in Rocky Mountain territory-say that the grass which has remained green and soft has lacked the curing properties of other years. Thus, while cattle were better than 100% in condition at the beginning of October, a number of instances have been reported where the beef was soft and lacking in hard finish as a result of the green feed. However, the bulk of the cattle moving from the farms and ranges of the Tenth District to the markets in September were in better flesh and quality than early in the season. The marketing of range cattle from the Rocky mountains and the Northwest, starting in September, was, expected to continue heavy during October and, according to reports, would run I 5% to 25% larger than last year, the tendency among stockmen being to sell very closely. Sheep continue in fine condition, though both sheep and lambs coming from the mountain ranges are showing results of soft feed. Large buying of lambs during September is reported from Wyoming, the reports indicating that from 60% to 70% of the lambs to be sold have been contracted. The October report says present indications are that the number of sheep and lambs moved from that state will be I 5% to 25% greater than last year. Feeding operations in the larger corn producing sections are to be more extensive than last year, according to preparations that have been made. In addition to an increase in this year's pig crop there have been very large shipments of hogs for feeding shipped in. Shipments of feeder cattle and sheep to this great feeding ground have also been heavy, as the stock yards reports would indicate. MARKET MOVEMENTS: Live stock moved from farms and ranges to the markets in larger numbers in September than in any previous month this year. Receipts of cattle and sheep at the six principal markets of the Tenth District had not been exceeded in any month since October, 1922. Calves arriving at these markets, with the exception of the August total, were the largest in number since November of last year. The marketward movement of hogs was the ligh~est since last November. There was an'',..unusually heavy movement of horses and mules, the September total being the largest of the year. The receipts at the six principal markets during September were: Cattle Calves Hogs 78,481 323,020 219,021 13,47 1 195,99° 422,362 II,816 145,538 71,643 3, 279 25,217 'l'lo,949 8,130 53,399 433 6,476 58,177 36,281 Horses Mules 3,967 2,280 1,701 2,845 1,087 '2,I6o September, 1923. __ ~ ......................... 710,557 l'lI,653 801,341 970,689 Augnst, 1923....·-•······························ 665,121 143, 137 838,209 494,95° September, 192 681,284 150,429 568,410 713,'249 14,040 9,664 l0,'213 Kansas City.. ...................... 353,135 Omaha·-·······································~-.. -. 186,126 St. Joseph .......................................... 59,4'24 Denver..·--···· 44,481 Oklahoma City................................ 36,1 I 5 Wichita............... _.............. .............. 31,276 Sheep --- --- --- --- STOCKERS AND FEEDERS TO THE COUNTRY: The abundance of stock feed in the Missouri and Mississippi river territory was the chief incentive to heavy shipments of stockers and feeders from the markets to the country. The markets at Kansas City, Omaha, St. Joseph and Denver reported an unusually large proportion of their receipts moving to the country. While the outgo of cattle and calves fell a few thousand head short of the totals for September of last year, the;. movement was the heaviest of the year. Shipments of stocker~and feeder hogs to the corn belt from the four markets in September were the largest of record for three years, and shipments of stocker and feeder sheep the largest in numbers since last November. The shipments of stockers and feeders from the four markets in September were: Kansas City .......... Omaha St. Joseph ......................................... · Denver.......... September, 1923 ..·---···· August, 1923..·---····························· September, 192 2.-----······················ Cattle 175,619 Calves II,736 22,48'2 27,231 3,191 1,684 Hogs 6o,I 53 193 1,267 6,432 327,987 279,780 331,762 16,6u 13,0 47 23,809 68,045 39, 151 15,677 102,655 Sheep 98,215 236,363 26,135 127,354 488,067 177,762 292,787 LIVE STOCK PRICES: The very liberal supplies of cattle on the western markets in September resulted in declines during the month of 50c to $1.00 per hundred pounds on all classes except choice cornfed yearling steers. This class of cattle has at all times this season been in good demand and sales at Kansas City in the second week in October were at $11.00 to $I 1.50 per hundred pounds, while choice heavy beef steers were selling at $10.00 to $11.00. At the same time choice southwestern range steers s0ld at Kansas City at $7.00 to '$7.25, which was 50c to 75c below the priee on September 6, the same reduction applying to other grades. Good fleshy feeders brought $7.50 to $8.oo and those in med~um flesh $6.50 to 1,7.00, about $1.00 less than one mont:h previous. A decline in the demand for lamb and mutton in the Eastern markets resulted in declines in prices at the live stock centers. Light and handy weight lambs at the second week in October were selling around 'l,12.00, while fat ewes were J5.25 to 'l,5.75. Prices of h0gs declined from around '1,8.oo to $8.50 in the forepart of September to 'l,7.00 to $7.60 on October 10. Part of the decline was caused by large supplies of half fat hogs. Meat Packing Operations at the six leading packing centers during the month were heavier than during the corresponding month last year on all classes of animals slaughtered. The slaughter of cattle and: calves fell below the August record, but there were increases 7 THE MONTHLY REVIEW over the previous month in the slaughter of hogs and sheep. Purchases by packers for slaughter during September were: Cattle Kansas City...................................... Omaha·--··········································· St. Joseph .......................................... Denver.---- ····················· Oklah'Jma CitY·----···· Wichita.............................................. Sep tern her, 1923·----······················· August,1923 .................... Septem her, I 9zz·--··-······················· I 17,z14 78,311 33,z80 8,511 23,755 6,034 267,105 z70,550 246,479 Calves 4I,998 5,844 7,638 1,714 7,654 3,356 68,zo4 84,070 62,361 the previous month. The percent of lost capacity operation in September, due to the several causes, follows: Hogs 196,650 I 54,675 109,544 18,974 45,343 44,56o Sheep 94,599 140,107 4J,'l7 1 10,261 379 I,I4'l Loss due to Colo. Transportation Disability.-.! 1.6 0.2 Labor Shortag Strikes .............. Mine Disability.................... 3.6 No MarkeL--- ·····················29.1 All Other Causes.---······· .......... Kans. 3.2 3.3 o.6 7.0 26.6 569,746 566,027 46i,944 289,759 23o,599 288,564 Total loss, All causes............44.5 Percent Production.----·······55•5 Packers' reports indicate a broadening demand for meats both at home and abroad, with distribution unusually large. During the latter part of the month trade was affected by weather conditions with the result that wholesale prices of fresh beef and pork declined substantially. Wholesale prices of all smoked meats were also relatively low. As an indication of the volume of trade, it is noted that stocks of pork and lard at Kansas City were reduced II,312,000 pounds during September. Total stocks on September 30 were 36,381,300 pounds, compared with 47,693,300 pounds on August 31 and 32,709,700 pounds on September 30, 1922. Precious~Metal Mining Continued heavy operations at the mines during the summer and fall have resulted in greatly _increased production of precious and base metals in Colorado. September mining activity was on such a large scale as to cause officials and operators to report that by the end of the year the output of ores would be the largest in history. There has been a revival of mining activity in many of the older camps, and generally with favorable results. Zinc and Lead Shipments of 67,226 tons of zinc blende valued at $2,651,340 was reported from the Tri-State district during the month of September. This total compares with 42,651 tons shipped during September, 1922. Lead ore shipments during the month were 7,732 tons, the largest since June, and comparing with 7,526 tons in September of last year. September opened with zinc blende at $40 per ton, which was maintained during the first three weeks of the month, then dropping to $38. The average price for the month was $39.44, which is compared with $38.03 for September of last year. Lead ore prices started the month at $8 5 per ton, then rose to $87 per ton, and closed with a weak market at $83. The price averaged $85.31 for the month. The average price paid in September, 1922, was $82.74 per ton. Operators, meeting in the latter part of September decided to abandon the curtailment plan of 5-days per week. A new plan was adopted whereby mills are to be operated during the remainder of the year, only three weeks each month, remaining down the first week in October, November and December. Bituminous Coal Production of soft coal in six states of the Tenth District during September was on an average of 60.8% of full time capacity, compared with 52.7% of capacity operation in August, and 68.5% of capacity in September, 1922, which was the first full month after the ending of the long strike of bituminous coal miners. The reports indicate some improvement in the coal trade, since loss of operation due to "no market" was down to 29.3% from 38.5% in August. Losses due to labor shortage were 1.5% and to transportation disability 3.9%, against 0.4% and 2.7% during Mo. 0.5 0.5 N.M. Okla. 2.0 3-5 3-7 Wyo. 2.8 0.9 Dist. 3.9 1.5 6.6 J.9 29·3 39.z .I 0.7 41.0 2.7 4.4 31.7 2 5·3 I.2 22.2 40.7 45.4 59.3 54.6 39.6 60.4 38 .0 62.0 27.1 72.9 0.4 0.5 6o.8 Soft coal production in the United States for the calendar year 1923 to October 6 was 424,257,000 tons compared with 280,7 51 ,ooo tons produced during the corresponding period last year. Petroleum Production of crude oil in Kansas, Oklahoma, Wyoming and Colorado during September, according to the American Petroleum Institute figures, was estimated at 651,533 barrels daily and a total of 19,546,000 barrels for the 30-day month. This September estimate compares with the U. S. Geological Survey report of 609,774 barrels daily average and a total of 18,903,000 barrels for the 31 day month of August. It also compares with 569,699 barrels daily and 17,091,000 barrels as the official month total for September last year. The output of crude oil in the four states during~September is here shown: GROSS PRODUCTION *Sept. 1923 **Aug. 1923 *Sept. 1922 Oklahom~------- - ·12,718,600 I'.2,:286,000 12,930,000 Kansa.,___ _ _ __ _ ·············· 2,188,300 2,047,000 2,6o5,ooo Colorado........................ _ __ _ 5,100 00 8,500 5,3 Wyoming ................................ 4,634,000 3,920,700 2,191,500 TotaL............................ _ _ __ _ 19,546,000 18,903,000 17,091,cxx:, DAILY AVERAGE PRODUCTION *Sept. 1923 **Aug. 1923 Oklahom _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ ...,.23,953 4r 7,097 Kansas ······························- - - - ····· 72,943 66,032 Colorado.--··-······· 170 171 Wyoming.......:..................... 154,467 126,474 TotaL.._....................................................... 651,533 *-Estimated, American Petroleum Institute. **-Official, U. S. Geological Survey. 609,774 **Sept.1922 409,533 86,833 283 73,o50 569,699 The field summary discloses a marked decrease in the num her of wells completed and in the volume of daily new production in Kansas and Oklahoma, while in Wyoming more wells were completed and daily new production was larger than in the month of August. The figures for the three states: Wells Completed Oklahoma ............- -- - - - - - - ---·······420 Kansa ···········-··· 95 Wyoming·---······ .................................... 63 September, 1923--- - - ······································578 August, 1923·----· -- - - · · · · ···························-······ 750 September, 192____ - -- - - - ·············831 Bbls. Daily New Prod 'n 68,201 1 ,544 20,835 90,580 100,838 131,404 At the close of September there were 1,936 rigs and wells drilling in the three states, compared with 2,120 at the close of August and 2,458 on September 30, 1922. Oklahoma reported a decrease from August of 146, Kansas a decrease of 27 and Wyoming a decrease of I I. Cement Producti n Mills in Western Mi~souri, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Colorado produced 1,302,000 barrels of portland cement during September as compared with 1,094,000 barrels produced in the corresponding month last year. Production during the first nine months. of 1923 totaled 9,051 ,ooo barrels against 7,231 ,ooo barrels for nine months of 1922. 8 THE MONTHLY REVIEW Building The unusually high rate of activity in building reflected month by month this year in the reports from the principal cities in the Tenth District is being maintained during the fall season. Although the number of permits issued during August and September exceeded those issued in the corresponding month last year, there was a decrease reported for both months in the amount of money invested in new buildings from last year's totals. This is indicative of continued activity in the construction of dwelling houses, apartments and business ~nd fa~tory buildings of moderate cost, and that fewer ~f the costlier b?siness and office buildings are being started at this season. Takin~ the figures for the first nine months of 1923, however, ~here ts an increase of 13.8% in the investment as well as an increase of 10.8% in the number of permits for new buildings over the corresponding nine months in 1922. The returns from nineteen cities for September, with totals for August and for September of last year, and also totals for the nine months of both years, follow: Casper, Wyoming_ _ _ _ _ _ __ Permits Issued Cheyenne, Wyoming _ _ _ _ _ __ Colorado Spri ngs, Colorado...... _ __ Denver, Colorado.......................................... Enid, Oklahoma ...... _ _ __ _ __ Hu tc hi nson, Kansas.--································· Joplin, Missou ri .................. _ _ _ __ Kan as City, Kansas. _ _ _ _ _ __ Kansas City, Missouri. _ _ _ _ _ __ Lincoln, Nebraska _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Muskogee, Oklahoma.................................... Oklahoma City, Oklahom...__ _ __ Okmulgee, Okl~homa ··· · · - - - ~ - Omaha, Nebraska..·-·············----Pueblo, Colorado .......................................... St. J oseph, Missouri ............ _ _ _ __ Topeka, Kansas ............................................ Tulsa, Oklahoma··-----Wichita, Kansas........................................... . 105 41 89 755 29 29 17 September, 192_~ - - - - - - - · ·· 3,053 September, 1922· - - - - - - · · · · ·········· 2,808 Nine months, 192.r-_ _ _ _ _ _ _ 26,872 Nine months. 1922...- ...................................24,26 I Estimated Cost t, 230,105 58,59o 81,770 2,on,000 88,375 3 1,3 15 165,800 263,775 2,320,900 229,001 37,570 528,701 47,900 988,138 61,179 98,995 1 35,54 2 520,850 % Inc. or Dec. 138.4 -8,p -n.3 33.4 -46.0 -62.0 37n.5 -38.3 n.5 2.5 -59.I 23.6 -66.3 -27.0 37.6 26.8 -3.li 353,359 -16.6 -70.9 f, 8,252,865 -10.0 9,167,320 84,239,184 73,996,58 2 13.8 Business Conditions in the United States Production of basic commodities declined during September, wholesale trade continued large, while retail trade, though larger than a year ago, increased less than is usual at this season of the year. Wholesale prices, particularly those of agricultural products, advanced during the month. Production in basic industries, according to the Federal Reserve Board's index, declined 5% during September, and was 10% below the peak output of May. The principal factors in this decline were the suspension of anthracite coal mining for over two weeks and a substantial reduction in the production ot iron and steel. Cement production and sugar meltings were larger than in August. The decline in the production index, which is corrected for seasonal variations and reflects chiefly changes in the output of raw and semi-finished products, was not accompanied by a reduction of employment at industrial establishments. New building coustruction showed about the usual season al decline in September due to a curtailment in contracts for residences. Contracts awards for business and industrial buildings, however, were larger than in August. Distribution of all classes of commodities by railroads continued at a high rate throughout September. Wholesale trade, according to the Federal R eserve Board's index in September, reached the largest total in three years and was 9% larger than a year ago. Sales of meat, hardware, and drugs were considerably larger than in last September, while shoe sales were ~maller. Re~ail trade was slightly larger in September, but the mcrease was much less than usual at this season of the year. Department store sales were 6% more than in September, 1922, and stocks at the end of the month ware 13% larger than a year ago. Wholesale prices increased over 2% during. s.eptemb~r, according to the index of the Bureau of Labor statist!cs, particularly large increases occurring in the prices of clothing, far.m pr?ducts and foods. Fuel prices, on the other ha~d, declin.ed_ in September for the eighth successive month an~ prices of bmldmg materials and metals were also lower. Durmg the first three weeks of October, prices of certain farm products continued to advance wheat and cotton reaching the highest points of the current ;ear, while prices of hogs, coal and met~ls declin~d. Demand for bank credit showed a seasonal increase m September and the early part of Octber, loans of member banks in leading cities increasing by $II6,ooo,ooo between September 12 and October 10. This increase reflected chiefly the demand for commercial loans, which on the latter date stood at a new high point for the year, almost $100,000,000 above the total_ ?n September 12. Increases in the holdings of gov<:rnm~nt secunttes by these banks were partly offset by reductions m corporate security holdings. The demand for accommodation at the Federal R eserve Banks in some of the agricultural districts increa~ed, while at the Reserve banks in the East the volume of discounts for member banks declined. Federal banks note circulation continued to increase and in the middle of October was about $ 100,000,000 above the July level. In October money rates showed an easier tendency and after the fifteenth _of the. month rates for commercial paper in the New York market declmed from a range of 5¼-5¼% to s-s¼%. STATEMENT OF CON DITION FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF KANSAS CITY, INCLUDI N G BRANCHES At Close of Business October 17, 1923 RESOURCES Gold Coin and Certificate,,,__ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ... $ 2,871,593.00 Gold Settlement Fund F. R. Board...... 32,286,124.24 Gold with Federal Reserve Agent.................... ·-······························· 40,596,6oo.oo Gold Redemption Fund.----······························································· 5,o3I ,899.66 2,499,719.00 Reserves other than Gol<L .............. - - - - · · ····························· Non•Reserve Cash................................................................................ 4,160,658.67 Bills Discounted for Member Banks : Secured by Govt. Obligations.--··-········································· 20,361 ,233,80 ~" All Other................................................................................... . 32,398,962.29 Bills Bought in Open Market·----····················································· 2,198,691.50 U. S. Bonds and Notes........................................................................ 9,887,650.00 178,500.00 United States Cert. of Indebtedness-··············································· 266,000.00 Municipal Warrants ........................................... -c------Bank Premises ........................................- - - - -- ---············-----------·-- 4,969,523.60 40,854,722.66 Uncollected Item...__ _ _ ·····························---AII Other Resources·-··········································································· 1,049,803.26 Total Resources........................................................................ 1,199,611,681.68 LIABILITIES Capital Paid l,,..__~ - - - ················· ································· ·····1, 4,553,65o.oo Surplu:"--- - - - - - - · -································---9,488,2.99.89 Deposits. Governmen ..__ _ _ _ .................................................... . 2,on,272.83 Member Banks, Reserve Account... ....................................... 78,213,232.94 All Other.................................................................... ,.............. . 486,849.62 F. R. Notes in Actual Circulation...... •·--··-······································· 63,261,385.00 Deferred Availability Items............................................................... . 4°,493, 192-75 All other Liabilities ............................................................................. . 1,103,798.65 Total Liabilities ........................................................................ 1,199,611,681.68 OTHER TOTALS Total Gold Reserves ............................................................................ $ 80,786,216.90 Total Discounted and Purchased Bills Held.................................... 54,958,887.59 Total Earning Asset"--------······································ 65,2.9 1 ,037.59 Total Deposits .... - - - - - · ···························································· 8°,7 11 ,355·39 Ratio of Total Reserves to Deposit and Federal Reserve Notes Liabilities Combined................................................................ 57.8% Total Clearings for Week.................................................................... $i7o,7i4,579.2.o Total Number of Items Handled.----··············································· 1,081,806