The Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1916. AMERICA'S WAR PROFITS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1626, 19 October 1916, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1916. AMERICA'S WAR PROFITS.

THE depression of the American stuck markets which is reported afollowing every popular rumour of peace probabilities is explained by ollieial statistics of the earnings of industrial companies in the United Stales. These show a striking increase in profits, due mainly to exceptional activity through war orders, 'faking ti group of over 200 concerns with a share capital of Cl, 1 50,000,000, it is seen that the net profits amounted to £157,400,000, equal to a return of El percent, on capital. These profits are struck after providing for debenture and other interest and all allowances for depreciation, many of the latter being of an abnormal character owing to the large amount of revenue available. The net profits in the preceding period were' only CSti.l-10,-000, so that (he advance during the past twelve months 1m- been at the rale of no less than 82 per cent. The profits made by tin* groups of companies more (‘specially benefiting from war contracts and the increase as compared with the previous year are given below; — \’el Profit. Increase. C £ Ammtinit ion 15,710,700 12,201,200 Motorcar 4,828.000 2,711,000 Chemical 1.500.000 002,200 Copper 1 1i,520,500 S.lmti.dOO Electrical 5,075,500 1,220,000 Leather 1,225,(00 ;i50,000 Petroleum 11.151.000 7.081,100 Meal 0,822,100 1,752,200 Metal Relin'g 0,112.200 2,022,100 Rubber 1,810,000 1.-tOo.IOO Steel and Iron 21,120,000 17,525,000 Submarine 1,12-1,000 1,02-1,000 Id. I. du Rout de Nemours and Co., the largest explosives manufacturing (inn in the world, did a colossal business last year, ll made a net profit of £1 1,-151,500, and distributed £-1,827.200 in dividends, besides a slock dividend of 200 per cent. Some idea of how rapidly the out fait, of this company has increased during the war period can be gained from (lie fact that the number of employees rose from 5.200 in October, .101-1, to 02.200 in January last.