14 A
THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: DECEMBER 31, 1916,
DON'S REVIEW OF
LAST YEAR'S TRADE
Record of Business That Ex
ceeded All Expectations and
What future Holds.
Only Great-Grandchildren Boss
This Hale Veteran of Three Wars
FIGURES THAT TELL STORY
R. G. Dunn & Co.'t annual review
of the trade of the United States, just
issued, says in part:
STATISTICAL XKCOKD.
Iluk rltarlnxa, ! KSIUW.MKMM)
1015 ... lRtiMfl.ftOO (ton
'Railroad earning, IHIS. . S,2I4,!K10,(HH)
THIS.. 1.K,ia,7fHi,IMHI
Farm crone (tain.) Iftlfl . 1 ln.m,io
ISIft.. S.flft2,IMIO,fMIO
Mdae. eiv.. It mo., lain. . 4.0(11. hikmkmi
101a.. a,ion.4fio.oM)
MdM, Imp., 11 mo., S.1M aon.oon
1SIV. l,ftM,AIH),IM0
Nat (Old Imps. " ll . 39,aiHI,IHH)
itis . wi.mmMMi
Ctmml deiaolte. Wia.. 1B4,c.hio
IBIS.. 30X.XMfl.AIMI
Boml aal'a, per raj. ,10m . l.lM.WHI.ooO
19111. . Mft.X-ia.oOO
Stork aalea, ahares, WIS. . U40,dn(i,ooo
1915 . l7,X-!M,OtlO
ri( lrn a'pat, I'na, Wis . :!. .'no.ooo
ISI5.. SIMM."""
rallied ateel toa'f a luid . ll,riM,o(Ml
ibis.. si,:a,ooo
Graut Tra montha. "Katlmated.
Expectations of further remarkable
progress In domestic finance, com
merce and industry were fully real
ized during the year just ended. De
spite international complications, d is
appointing crop results, labor trot!
bles and other adverse factors, sen
oral business attained record dimen
sions, with prices and profits tinprece
dented, and the enormous expansion
in merchandise exports, due mainly
to the war requirements, placed this
country in the foremost position in
the world s money markets.
The unexampled economic progress
of this nation during 1916 was re
flected to all the traditional barome
ters that measure the sixe and fall of
business. The demand for skilled a
bor everywhere largely exceeded the
supply and, though the extreme living
costs proved burdensome in many
quarteri, deposits were swelled ma
terially, with wages at the highest
point ever known.
Monetary Condition!.
Nothing demonstrates more forci
bly the remarkable progress of the
United States than the fact that over
$2,000,000,000 in foreign loans are at
present outstanding in this country.
m a rougn calculation new toreign
financing in t,his country reached
$1,500,000,000 in the year just ended
and was more varied than in 1915.
while capital applications by domes-
i :t i ! a t . .
tit lauwny aim inausiriai corpora
tion! were on an augmented scale
and offerings of state and municipal
securities were also extensive.
Reviewing briefly the course of the
New York money market in 1916, it
appears that prior to the December
flurry, when the call rate touched 15
per cent, 6)4 per cent was the highest
quotation for day-to-day accommoda
tion. During most of the year' call
loans were available well below 3 per
cent and often at 2 per cent or under,
the minimum being yt per cent. As
illustrating the ease in time fundi.
nothing higher than 3'4 per cent was
asked on any maturity up to June and,
though the situation tightened percep
tibly around mid-year, the firmness
was temporary and rates ruled on a
relatively low basis until the begin
ning of December.
., ' Foreign Exchange,
No repetition of the violent fluctua
tions that characterized the sterling
exchange market in 1915 was either
expected or witnessed during the year
just cnaea. motwitnstanaing tne tur
ther remarkable expansion in domes
tic merchandise exports, rates on Lon
don, following an early aharo ad
vance, varied only about 1 cent in the
pouna. .events in . continental ex
change contrasted sharply with
the almost , fcitureless movements
in aterling. This , wai especially
true of rates on both Berlin and
Vienna, which went to the low
est levels on record, the downward
movement in this quarter being in
evidence from the outset and meeting
with comparatively little interruption.
Periods of depression were also noted
in French exchange, especially in the
spring, when bankers' checks went
down to the basis of 6.07 francs to
the dollar, though with the establish
ment of additional loans and credits
here the market improved.
Agricultural Results.
It was not because of record pro
duction that American agricultural in
terest! experienced the most profit
able year of their history in 1916. On
the contrary, yields fell much below
expectations, with a 38 per cent re-
duction in the wheat harvest and a
corn crop 14 per cent smaller than
in the previous aeason. Without ex
ception, other cereals also dimin
ished in quantity and while more cot
ton was gathered, the result was
plainly disappointing. Yet the ex-
, treme limits to which prices were car
ried lifted the combined value of the
farm ataples above $7,600,000,000 an
unprecedented figure. As usual, corn
occupied the position of supremacy,
with cotton and wheat coming next
in order and hay ranking fourth. In
every instance gains were shown over
1915, and in the products enumerated
the increases were striking.
Foreign Commerce.
While in the opening month of 1916
domestic merchandise exports fell off
slightly from the record-breaking to
tal of December, and some people
predicted that the remarkable achieve
ments of 1915 would not be dupli
cttcd, results dunngthe Jast year
were" wholly without "precedent Cam.
Elete statistics are not yet available,
ut official figures for the eleven
months ended November 30 last
showed aggregate shipments in the
extraordinary sum of $4,961,200,000,
agamn j,iy3,uv.uuu in the tame
period of the previous year and
$1,868,000,000 in 1914. Imports, more-
over, also disclosed substantial ex
pulsion and established a new high
iuiai ai ,ioo,ouu,uuu ior eleven
months, as eomoared with Sl.MVS Sim .
000 and $1,674,600,000, respectively, in
im i wo nnmeaiaieiy preceding yeara
arte excess ot merchandise exports
over imports $2774.400,000 has. of
conrtc. never been equalled, contrast
ing with abo-it $1,600,000,000 in 1915
and less man $AW,WU.0UO in 1914.
Ire and Steel.
The very favorable position of the
iron and Iteel industry at the opening
of 1916 waa emphasiird aa the year
progressed, and the twelve months
pretest an exceptional record. De-
Elkan Seligsohn, head of four gen
erations and veteran of three German
wars, is about as spry an octogenarian
as ever galloped past the eighiticth
milestone, lie is going to celebrate
his four-score years at the home of his
daughter, Mrs. Fred Hadra, UH South
Thirty-fifth street, Wednesday morn
ing, and in the evening there will be
a family reunion at the home of an
other dauRhtrr, Mrs. William I.. Har
ris 722 South Thirty-seventh street.
Born in Wollstetii, Germany, Janu
ary 3, 1837. Mr. Seligsohn is as hardy
a son ot the tatherland as ever saw
service under the Mohcnzollcrns. His
father and mother died when he was
a youngster and neighbors admit
him. He fared well in his first bum
ness enterprise and had enough laid
by in 1862 to take unto himself a wife.
Two years after his marriage,
young Seligsohn was called to the
colors and he served in the Ducppel
war. In 1866, he again marched to
the front for Germany, this time
against Austria. He responded a third
time in 1870 as a member of the land-
wehr and saw service against the
French.
Not a single wound did Mr. Selig
sohn get in any of the three wars.
But at the close of the last war he
was stricken with a fever which in
capacitated him for work. The family
saw some lean years then.
In 1882, accompanied by his oldest
son, Mr. Seligsohn came to America.
The family followed the next year.
They lived for a while in Kansas City
and Topeka, but eventually came to
Omaha. This was in 1885.
Mr. Seligsohn lives with his daugh
ter, Mrs. Hadra. He has two married
sons, Fred S. of Kansas Ctiy and
J A' ' i
I ' 'a '
M'-yV:;;C
NINE THOUSAND AT
OVERLAND MEETING
Monster Gathering of Auto
Dealers Mingles Business
and Much Fun.
ed
Heyn Photo.
Elkan Seligsohn.
Leo of Chicago: two daughters, Mrs
Harris and Mrs. Hadra of Omaha;
eight grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren.
"And the great-grandchilldren are
the only ones who can boss me
says the head of the family tree.
ALL HAVE PET MASCOTS
mands have taxed capacity and recent of' phenomenal dimensions, while
developments lead to the possibility of
an actual shortage in crude materials,
the drawbacks now becoming more
apparent being incidental to pros
perity. The situation is reflected in
the statement that output is engaged
for a full year ahead with many
plants, contracts in some instances ex
tending into 191a, and business ac
tually turned down is not jnconsidur
able. For practically all descriptions,
prices have reached new high levels,
the phenomenal quotations of 1899 be
ing exceeded.
J he dry goods trade was exceed
ingly prosperous during 1916. West
ern and southern business showed
relatively greater gains than trade
elsewhere. Conditions were very
good in many of the large industrial
centers, but most of the great in
creases occurred in the newer and
less thickly settled sections. ,
The abnormal conditions that nre
vailed in the hide markets in 1915
were intensified durinar the last vear.
anu prices rcacnea tne Highest levels
in the history of the trade. Activity
was greatest in the late aitmmer and
early autumn, but in December lev.
eral factors combined to cause weak
ness and Quotations broke finite
snarpiy on certain descriptions, espe
cially calfskins and country hides.
It ia the general onininn in trade
circles that - 1916 will stand aa the
great "boom" year in the leather in
dustry for a long time to come. Com
paratively few buyers, however, naid
top rates, as most operators covered
their needs before the highest levels
were attained, and conservative inter
ests are now preparing for a period
of readjustment.
Boot and Shoea. .
Unprecedented conditions character
ized the footwear trade during 1916
and though remarkable price ad
vances occurred, demand was sus
tained in record volume. Activity waa
most pronounced in wnmen'a line
and business in high-top boots was
many manufacturers of men's goods
experienced exceptional prosperity,
military orders being a factor.
One of the most epochal years in
Wall street history closed with stocks
showing more net gains than losses,
though with quotations materially un
der their best levels. The readjust
ment in mid-December strengthened
the technical position and the year
enrted with a sharp recovery from the
lowest basis.
Commercial Failures.
Preliminary statistics of commercial
failures in the United States during
1916, as reported to R. G. Dun & Co.,
show a marked reduction from the
exceptionally high mortality of the
previous year. Thus, the number of
defaults is estimated at 16,985 against
22,156 in 1915, while the liabilities
were $194,863,521, as compared with
$302,286,148 in the earlier period.. In
contrast to the usual tendency, insolv
encies were less numerous in the last
three, months than in preceding quar
ters, and the indebtedness was the
smallest of the year.
In the following table failure re
turns for the last two years are com-
Jiared by quarters, figures for the last
ew days of December being esti
mated: FAIMJRKS BT QUARTERS FOR lfll.
No Llablllttea. No Liabilities,
lat quar. 1,117 f6l.403.T4S T.IK 1105. 703, 355
2d quar. 4.1M 4a.74H.aTK M24 2,S4.SO0
3d quar, 1,751 4M46.1K4 4,648 62.H7fi.825
lib. guar. I.71S 40J7I.I14 4.KI 0.833.0
The Overland dealers' convention at
Toledo is proving one of the biggest
conventions ever held. The entire 1917
line of Overland and Willys-Knight
cars was contracted for by the Over
land dealers and distributors during
this meeting.
Besides its business aspects a num
ber of features that were unequalled
in the annals of motor history contri
buted to the entertainment of the
9,000 delegates.
Almost every group of dealers bore
some insignia or brought along a mas
cot. The Texans, Montanans and Da
kotans came as cowboys and ranch
ers, nearly all costumed in cowboy
outfits and carrying huge Colt 44's.
The Oklahoma delegation brought
genuine Cheyenne Indians from Uncle
ani s reservation at Watonga. Ar
kansas dealers had a black razorback
hog which they carried about in a
Pullman hammock.
Chair of Horns.
The Texas contingent presented
Mr. John N. Willys, president of the
Willys-Overland company, with a
chair made out of Texas steer horns,
a cotton automobire and a live coyote.
A number of the J exans had never
been out of their own state until this
visit. The snowfall which greeted
them upon their arrival in Toledo was
a distinct novelty. Seventy-four per
cent of the southerners had never
been north of the Mason-Dixon line
before; 77 per cent of the Pacific coast
men had never been east of the
Rockies, while more than half of the
New England delegation had never
been further west than New York
City.
All the visitors were housed in Pull
mans in the extensive Overland yards
as many as seventy-five to eighty
cars being taken care of in one day;
the visitors were fed in the dinins:
room ana enteretained in the immense
auditorium of the new administration
building.
Hugh Chalmers Owns More
Auto Stock Than Ever
Rumors which have existed that
Hugh Chalmers had disposed of most
of his holdings in the Chalmers Motor
company, and would ultimately re
sign as president ana withdraw from
the company, have been most em
phatically denied by Mr. Chalmers. It
was only recently that Mr. Chalmers
became aware of the extent of these
Year.li.lil lin.iss.sai J2,i6 I301,2a,i4i
Francis to Attend the
New York Automobile Show
C. W. Francis will leave early this
week for the New York automobile
show and will return bv the wav of
Detroit and the Maxwell factory. ,!
rrancis says that everyone looks for
big things in New York this vear.
Many new ideas are awaiting the
dealers and the sales conferences are
expected to be very beneficial.
DELC0
EUctric Crank
ing, Lighting and
Ignition.
EXIDE
Storaga Battoriu
Resolve this year to have your
battery Inspected at least once a
month.
DELCO-EXIDE SERVICE STATION
3024 Farnam St. Omaba, Neb.
, Phone DonfUe 3697.
FREE BATTERY
INSPECTION
Will
We Start the New Year
Assured of Public
Confidence
In extending to our friends a most sincere wish that they
may te happy and prosper during the coming year we are
comforted by the thought that we will not only have the
same circle of friends next year, but a new circle of friends,
too.
The policy of the Velie to advance the price of Velie models
$50 January 1st. insures the maintenance of the same degree
of excellence so long associated with Veils products. There
is a definite sense of comfort and security in the thought
that the public will not be allowed to question the quality
of the car.
Velie Motors Corp., Moliae. 111.
L E. DOTY, INC
2027-2029 Farnam Stroat, Omaha, Nob.
Iff..-
Slx-cy Under Velit-Coo-
tinenUl Motor.
Timken Axle front and
roar.
Removal). Cylinder
Head (or Inspection.
Helical Gears la Motor.
no chains.
Enclosed Multiple Dry
Disc Clutcb.
Hotchkise Drive, no
noisy torque arm.
Spiral Gears in Floating
Rear Axle.
Remy Automatic
tioa.
Push Button Starter.
Double Bulb HeadlichU
Dashlifht.
All Wires Enclosed In
Metal Conduits.
Rear Gasoline Tank.
Vacuum Feed.
Simple Rocking Gear
Shift Lever.
Luxurious Body, four
inches longer.
Unusually Wide Doors,
easy to enter.
High -Grade Leather Up
holstery. Cushions Deep Tufted
Real Curled Hair.
Long. Flexible. Under
slung Springs.
Expand tog Tire Holder,
n strap.
Mirror Body Finish, 20
Operations Deep.
Light of Weight.
Economic of Fuel.
Everything In and po
ready for the road.
$1085
reports, and he stated positively that
he had not only retained all holdings
in the company, but had increased
them. "We are preparing," said Mr.
Chalmers, 'for the greatest year in
the IKitnrv nf nt.r j ,
;- , v. vu, i.u.ujjauv, ana nave
just closed a record brealeine- vear
We arc now emolovinir S Wl
the factory in Detroit and are giving
employment to 5,000 other men in
manufacturing materials for our use.
Our dealers are making their annual
;tnps to the plant and are all very
enthusiastic regarding ivu Dusiness.
They are increasing their requests for
allotments.
Mack and Stallings Bury Hatchet
Connie Mack and George Stallings
having buried the hatchet, have ar
ranged a series of four games to bf
n1 1 : T7 IA in Aisrh Tha
JJldyCM 111 1 lui lun . . . ....
will be played at the camp of the
Braves in Miami, the other at the
camp of the Mackmen in Jacksonville.
IF- . -fll
a
Good Products
and
Honest Service
IT USUALLY requires
something more than a
good automobile to make
a distributor successful. That
something in the automobile
business means Honest Serv
ice and Honest Dealing with
the Sub-Dealers. Automobile
men, at least the wise ones,
don't consider a sale com
pleted when the sale is made.
There are many mechani
cal details in connection with
construction of an automobile
which the average motorist
must be taught. That's where
Honest Service and interest
in the purchaser's welfare
come into play. That's how
we have made many friends.
C&l Chznpskrom
Made in 4 Body Styles
Touring Car. . . .... $795
Roadster $795
Classic Touring Car, $850
Classic Roadster. . .$850
Coupe $1,175
Sedan $1,195
Made in 3 body Styles
4-Cylinder Sedan ...... $1,260
4-Cylinder Touring. . . .$1,095
6-Cylinder Touring Car, $1,465
6-Cylinder Roadster. . , . $1,435
6-Cylinder Sedan. . ... .$1,630
Standard Motor Car Co.
Carl Changstrom
2020-22 Farnam Street Omaha
Phone D. 1705
GRANT
SIX
A Car For Cozy Comfort
The necessity of the year-round automobile forces
itself more and more upon the motoring public The
convertible Grant Six Touring Sedan and Roadster
satisfy this necessityefying the snow, the wind, the
rain, the dust; while in tne Summertime the top may
be either partially or entirely removed.
Extraordinary care is used in building these Grant Six Sedans, which
combine the very latest refinements and labor-saving devices. On both the
exterior and interior are evident the finest materials, the most painstaking
and skillful workmanship.
Compare the Grant Six Sedan with any other car costing a thousand
dollars and under and you must realize what in motor car circles has been
recognized long ago, that the Grant Six with its beautiful body and superb
motor, is one of the greatest automobile values in the world. We invite you
to test the car yourself.
For Warm Weather Driving
Tomrxmg SAm
$1000
rVt"RtaVMftgVF ,
Cncioeaaf RoaJttmr
$960
at 0.& factor?.
2060-62 Farnam Street
Sedan with Sash Removed
Apperson Motor Co.
1. H. DeJONC Manaf er.
Omaha, Neb.
Phone Douglas 3811.
GRANT MOTOR CAR CORPORATION. CLEVELAND, OHX)
