PAGE TWO
BEHIND THE SCENES
IN
AMERICAN BUSINESS
By JOHN CRADDOCK
BUSINESS—Though you may
have spotted price rises in some
things, and got the impression
that living costs were on a strong
uptrend, fact is living cost rises
have been amazingly low in com
parison with what was feared the
war would bring, on the basis of
the 1914-18 experience. National
Industrial Conference Board’s re
port on 1940 shows that the wage,
earner paid only nine-tenths of
one per cent more for his essen
tial requirements in 1940 than in
1939—and nearly three per cent
less than in 1937. The survey cov
ers food, clothing, housing, sun
dries, light and fuel. The board
uses 1923 as the standard for liv
ing costs. With that as “100,”
costs during 1940 for the fields
surveyed aggregated 85.3. Which
means that the purchasing power
of the '4O dollar was 117.2 per
cent of what is was in ’23 . . . you
could buy as much with a single
round dollar in those essentials
as you could have got for $1.17 in
1923.
NO RUNAWAY —So maybe
prices aren’t going to run away,
after all —though we certainly
heard plenty of talk expressing
fear of just that when the defense
drive; Was* just starting. Maybe
we should knock on wood. But
the experts say this stability in
cost of living, thus far, in spite
of unmerous “inflationary” influ
enceg, has been due mainly to
three factors: (l) Our abundance
of foodstuffs and raw materials;
(2) mutual determination, arising
out of experience in the other
war, on the part of both business
and governmc nt to keep prices
down; (3) comparatively small
number of labor disturbances, to
date.
* * *
LOW-PRICE TREND—The auto
industry, which has pledged itself
to priorities on defense orders,
finds itself able to surge ahead
s full-blast to meet what is pre
dicted to be the greatest spring
demand in its history. Announce
ment of new models shows a defi
nite trend toward stepped-up pro
duction and continued low prices,
indicating no noticeable shortage
in basic materials. Among the late
news on the industry is the an
nouncement by one concern, Wil
lys-Overland, of what is described
as “the lowest-priced full-sized
automobile in the world” —a new
coupe priced at S7O under any
other model of the company—in
addition to five other 1 ow-cost
models. According to Ward M.
Canady, chairman of the company,
“the location of defense plants in
outlying areas and the general
trend of industrial decentrilzation
makes it imperative that hun
dreds of thousands of workers be
provided with low-cost auto trans
portation to reach their jobs. We
are gearing our pioduction to
meet these needs.”
CONSUMERS’ OUTLOOK
More money is now in circulation
than at any previous time in
American history, and consumer
buying has reacted to give the re
tail trade an extended contra-sea
sonal rise. Automobile sales, for
instance, set an all-time January
FOR SALE!
3 GOOD MILK COWS
M. W. CHAMBLEE
record. Consumers, however, des
pite ’’hold downs” thus far, still
are wary of ris s in retail prices.
Thug, many business leaders arc
now looking for means ol protect
ing the consumers’ interest, not
only for the consumers’ sake, but
as a safeguard for the entire eco
nomic structure. For example,
I.iewis S. Rosenetisl, chairman of
Schenley Distillers, points out
that “if we are to preserve pri
vate enterprise, we must recog
nize that the consumer is ‘the
boss,’ and that the era is one of
service to the consumer.” A por
tentous sign of the increasing
nearness to “war-time economy”
is the report from Washington
that the nation may soon be asked
to convert at least 25 per cent of
its production facilities to defense
purposes, which will mean a scar
city of many materials previously
used principally for civilian needs.
♦ * *
THINGS TO WATCH FOR—
A typewriter roller that can be
illuminated “from inside” shining
through to make everything per
fectly visible when cutting a sten
cil for the mimeograph machine—
it's made of lucite, that transpar
ent plastic that conveys light
around corners . . . More cigarets
in the “long” size—there’s a ru
mor one of the big three may
emerge soon as a longie . . . Cook
ing and salad oil made from to
bacco seeds —they say this part
of the plant contains no nicotine
and yields acceptable vegetable
oil ... A new biscuit-maker, an
electrical one operating on the
waffle-iron principle, for making
hot biscuits right at the dining
table . . . Men’s cuff links with
first-name initial on one side,
last-name initial on t’other (how’s
come it took so long for somebody
to think of that?) . . . Bread made
of grass—introduced experimental
ly in Duluth, an especially “tough”
market for baker’s bread because
so many housewives there bake
their own, this innovation has
been a big seller, despite a price
three cents above that for regular
bread in same size loaf; the ac
cent is on vitamins.
* * *
WAGES UP, PRICES DOWN—
Between 1914 and 1920, hourly
wages in U. S. manufacturing in
dustries rose from 25 to 60 cents
laverages), largely under impetus
of war-hoisted cost of living, for
the latter jumped from an ’’index”
of 61 to 118. Since 1920 the posi
tion of the wage earner has con
tinued to improve /with the hour-
COTTONSEED
200 Bushels for Sale
COKER'S WILDS—Clean, Treated
laing Staple, I'4 in. or better
$1.25 per bu.
JOHN BROUGHTON
Zebulon, N. C. - R.F.D
CHICKENS WANTED
Hens 14c to 15c lb; truck will load
at Wendell Depot Friday, Feb. 7
10 a. m. to 4 p. m. One day only
Bring any kind of fowl.
O. P. LITTLETON
LESPEDEZA
TOBACCO CANVAS,
DYNAMITE, CAPS, FUSE
A. G. KEMP—ZEBULON, N. C.
rate moving on up from 60 to
73 cents. During the same time
costs have gone the other way,
from the 118 of 1920 to the 85.3
>f 1940. Taking another and less
spreadout basis for comparison:
hourly wage rates now stand
rbout 20 per cent above the level
of 1929, while living costs are
about 15 per cent lower than in
that “chicken-in-every-pot” year.
PRACTICAL PLAN
Up in Baltimore they have Toy
Week about the middle of Febru
ary. All who will give away used
toys are asked to have them
ready to be called for, and the
entire lot is sorted out for repairs
and repainting. Then they are
stored against the coming of
Christmas, w'hen they will be
given to children of poor families.
The idea seems to be that by
the end of six week the newness
of many toys is worn off; the
owners have had time to decide
which are favorites and to be
kept; the toys given away are in
much better condition than if
they were allowed to lie around
for six or eig'ht more months, by
which time many might be thrown
into trash piles. Finally, the or-,
ganizations doing the collecting
know far ahead of the day of need
just what they have in stock.
UNFAIR TO STATE
When the three educational in
stitutions comprising the present
North Carolina University system
were consolidated, it was to be ex
pected that difficulties would be
encountered in administration. No
one seems to be blaming Presi
dent Graham, but charges are be
ing widely circulated that State
College is being treated unfairly
in appropriations and equipment.
It is said that Dr. Graham plans
to equalize matters as soon as
possible.
Soil-Building
Farmers of Johnston County
are thinking more in terms of
soil-building than they ever have
before, reports R. M. Holder, as
sistant farm agent of the State
College extension service.
Seen & Heard
A Compliment from Youth to Age
A few nights ago Mrs. A. J.
Hunt entered the Wakelon Thea
tre to see “Life With Henry.” She
went down near the center of the
theatre and as she turned to sit
down, some small child in the rear
of the building shouted: “Hey yo,
Mrs. Hunt.” Smiling, Mrs. Hunt
waved her hand back to her young
friend. A ripple of amusement
ran through the crowd. Our own
opinion i= that the laughter ex
pressed the appreciation of the
R.F.D
Mvy / / J
FOR
acme quality
Balanced Formula
• PAINT
• ENAMEL
• VARNISH
The right paint at the ~
right price for every job <* \ j
WAKE BUILDERS
SUPPLY COMPANY
Zebulon, N. C.
THE i. JuLON RECORD
hear: rs for the fine friendly
r ting* of one of Mrs. Hunt’s
>’(* y good young friends. Who
does not appreciate the friendship
of children!
WEST LEAVES, BUNN COMES
J. T. West, who took over the
management of the City Case
some time ago, took Scotch leave
a few nights ago. He locked the
front door but left the rear open.
No one knows just why he left.
He had made a number of im
provements and appeared to be
doing a fair business.
R. D. Bunn, young man from
the Hopkins Chapel community,
has taken over the business and
expects to give the people of Zeb
ulon good service in lunches, meals
and drinks.
SOFT DRINKS POPULAR
Popularity of bottled soft drinks
is increasing yearly as Americans
make bottled beverage drinking a
year-around habit. Last year
about 90 bottles of soft drinks
were consumed for every person
in the United States and total bill
for these beverages was more than
$500,000,000.
POPULAR BOOK
Cook County, Illinois, bought
more Bibles last year than were
sold of any popular novel in the
last ten years all over the world.
There is no need to assume that
any large percentage of them
were used for swearing in wit
nesses in Chicago’s courts.
Mr. and Mrs. Onnie Carlyle left
for Baltimore, Md., January 20.
They are nursing in Springfield
State Hospital at Sykesville, Md.
Mrs. Henry Hood is still sick
at lier home. She had the influ
enza after Christmas and has not
entirely recovered.
Your side of the road is the
right side.
NOTICE OF SALE
Under and by virtue of that
certain deed of trust executed
under date of July 5, 1932, by
Bettie Carpenter and Jake Car
penter ,which deed of trust is re
corded in the office of the Regis
ter of Deeds of Wake County, in
book 633, page 562, default hav
ing been made in the payment of
"9'** Ql*d 9 *l>Ued -4r^^3
Kx7j Alka-Seltzer mM
® And They Say It With a Smile!
Do the members of YOUR family say this?
If not, perhaps it is because you have never given Alka-Seltzer
a thorough trial.
All over the world people who have used Alka-Seltzer are
enthusiastic in its praise.
If Alka-Seltzer is as good as we say it is, you want it in your med
icine cabinet; if it is not, it won’t cost you a penny. We will refund
the purchase price to any new user who is not entirely satisfied.
Your family may need Alka-Seltzer sooner and more often than
you think. Our guarantee of satisfaction or money refunded
» >, . covers its use in all conditions listed be
‘,'j low
ujifeu Gas on Stomach, Add Indigestion, Heart*
Jpgfl bum, “Morning After”, Muscular Pains, Neu-
' ■ »-n ralgia, Headache, Distress of Colds, as a Gar-
ILsj n ° r iroa * Imitations.
FRIDAY. FEBRUARY 14, 1941
the indebtedness thereby secured,
the undersigned Trustee will on
MONDAY, MARCH 9. 1941,
at 12 O’clock noon, at the Court
house door of Wake County in
the City of Raleigh, North Caro
i lina, offer for sale to the highest
bidder for cash, the following de
scribed land, to-v.it:
Beginning at a stake on the E.
side of Gill Avenue, 150 Ft. S. of
North St.; running thence in an
Easterly direction 150 feet; thence
in a Southerly direction 150 ft.;
thence in a Westerly direction 150
ft.; thence in a Northerly direc
tion along Gill Avenue 150 ft. to
the beginning. The same being
lots Nos. 27, 28, and 29 as shown
by map of the Zebulon Place Prop
erty, recorded in book of maps
1885 at page 99 in the register of
deeds office for Wake County.
This the 6th day of February,
1941.
IRBY I). GILL. Trustee.
inn %>taticured-_
rpuuyi
BH I| R *
Genuine engraved card* on plain
or panelled vellam. Choice o 4 14
•trie# of engraving.
s|6s
PLATE INCLUDED!
Order rent ends today.
RECORD PUBLISHING COMPANY
ZEBULON, N. C.
N. C.-U. S. APPROVED
PULLORUM-TESTED CHICKS
N. C. - U. S. Approved Pullor
um Tested B. Rocks, New
Hampshire, Rhode Island Red,
White Leghorns. Wednesday
hatches.
J. D. WHITE HATCHERY
Bunn, N. C.
| •i"+++4 , +++++++++++++++++++
MOSS TOBACCO SEED
Any Kind
Wanted Soy Beans, Peas,
Corn, Cotton Seed Meal
! A. G. KEMP—ZEBULON, N. C.