The Corvallis gazette., June 18, 1897, Supplement, Image 6

BUSINESS IS
Cheering Reports
of the Country.
The Testimony of the
Behalf of
Democratic, Republican, and Independent Pa
pers Testify to Business Improvement.
'Even the Calamity Shriekers , Are (Compelled to Admit h
Better Condition. ,
The following statements, gathered
from recent issues of daily and weekly
papers in all parts of. the country, and
representing all political parties, relate
to.the business condition in the United
States. They will repay a careful ex
amination. . It will lie seen that the
editors, who have their hand on the
public pulse through their.-ariny of re
porters, news gatherers, and financial
..students,- ji rev 'unanimous.;, irrespective
of DoltticB in' the fetafenient that' busi
ness has improved and is improving.
!. ' Vales Better than 'n 1893..
Very much more conclusive evidence of
an-' increased movement of merchandise
has been obtained for April by "Dun's
Review." which has secured statements
from. 357 business houses representing all
parts of the country east of the Rocky
Mountains, and all lines of trade, cover
ing their sales in April, 1897. 1S90 and
1892. Some houses reported actual fig
ures and others only percentages, but the
groupings of both give very much the
same results. Assumiog. these replies to
,be indicative of the business of the coun
try, the volume of sales last month was
only about 10 per cent less than in April,
1892, a year of more than usual pros
perity, and 6 per centgreater than in. the
same month of 1S96. In ..-estimating the
value Of fhis'Statemeut the decline in
prices must be considered. . Since. 1892
Sauerbeck's i tiles' 'figu'res show' that the
decline' has-been a little under 10 per
cent; "Bradsfreet's". index figures, eon
fined, to 'this' .'country, 'niake it nearly 13
per cent.V"' In certain line it : has- been
much heavier; "Dun's", states the .decline
In iron at 33 per "cent, woolens 30, wool
32, and cottons, 21 per cent. ' If the vol
ume of transact Fops has fallen, off only
10 per Vent," tHe. actual -amount of mer
chandise bandied must have been greater
than in 1S92. Journal of "Commerce
irpm ... .. :
... . " . it
Improved Demand in the Wtit,
A general survey of:,the business situa
tion : for; the past weet-" affords good
grounds for encouragement. The water
if leaving the Mississippi . bottom lauds,
and it will be possible, after all, to raise
1 -I".. .. .- : ! i .
wva lucic. Aiitrir la iiu juipruviHl ue-
mand for goods at-toost of the great West
ern distributing centers, in spite of the
unseasonable- coolness : of the weather.
There' is a better- call 'for iron and steel.
uuu. uvaiuu. .duuruai rvtp.j. --.'
. Great Activity In Railway Building.
If the disposition of railroads to. extend
LiiKii uiiiifn w im hu- luiiii-u i mil i ii i
turn to prosperity.- ahd.if th.e! statements,
mnda lr thn R.tiHvfliv A inrv th pnprnllv
accepted authority ;ln regard- to failroad
matters, be at all accurate, this desidera
tum may already be distinctly discerned
on the country's horizon.
The Age, in a recent issue, gives in tab
ulated form statistics of new mileage
either already in process of construction,
or expected to be constructed during the
year 1S97. The grand total represented
in this table suggests a genuine boom in
railroad building all over the country.
The total thus gives reaches the startling
figure of 17,500 miles of new track as the
probable record for the present year.
Memphis Scimitar tDdnl.),
Good Crop Prospects and Good Prices.
The prospect is highly encouraging to
the Northwest. Of conrse.-'the crop is not
yet harvested, and will be subject to the
usual contingencies which sumetimtsblast
the hopes of the biisbandinan; but" the
fact remains that a. -crop :wy parted;: with
favorable soil and climatic conditions, al
most invariably turns out ' well, The
Northwest this j ear "faces the pleasing
probability of a good grop and good prices!
for it is hardly possible that even a phei,
nonienal yield. :of spring wheat in this
section can force prices down to the old
low plane, with available supplies so near
ly exhausted and the probability of a less
than" average crop in the rest of .the
world. Minneapolis:Tribune (Rep.).
Farm-re FeVlinfe At no, Imnrnnnent.
In all of the different classes of indus
try in the United States, .then, the perspn
who has the ;stiek-toit-iveuess to hang
on till a change for the better comes is
sure to be the one to first regain his lost
resources. "This change has sef in and as
it develops the farmer who has not closed,
out his business will be the beneficiary"
of the improvement in the financial and
Industrial condition. Albany Journal.
Better Times at l eant in eight. "
The report made by R. ,G. Dun. & Co.'s
trade review, showing an activity in le
gitimate business transactions during the
past month, little short . of that during
April, 1892, the year of the largest busi
ness, emphasizes the cheerfulness of the
present business outlook and points to the
conclusion that the good times which have
beeor predicted through;' many M weary
months of waiting are .at least in sight.
Memphis Scimitar (Deui.)'. . . "
Br'ehtening on the Pacific Coast. '
In spite of the occasional sneer of Fop
ocratic philosophers that the dawn of
prosperity is being strangely delayed, it
cannot be denied that the trade situation
is brightening aud that business is better
than in 1896: The exports of produce
from the United States thus far this year
how an increase of $144,000,000 over the
same period in 1890, which is a gain
large -nough to satisfy the most exacting
IMPROVING.
from Every Section
Press Is Unanimous in
This Fact.
grumbler. If we look below the surface
and study the custom house exhibits we
will see that the balance of trade has been
in favor of the United States- for a year,
taking this period as a whole. Under a
proper tariff "we would not only enjoy the
profits arising from this large balance,
but those derived from a greatly stimulat
ed internal commerce as well. . This fact
is well understood by business men,:hence
their anxiety for the passage of a suitable
tariff bill. San Francisco Call (Rep.).
Hopeful Feeling .Among Merchants.
' :The feeling of optimism is most notice
able in domestic merchandising. It is a
fact that the actual sales .in. -April by
leading houses in each line of business In
the principal cities east of the Rocky
Mountains averaged only about 10 per
cent less than 4n April, 1S92, the year of
the largest business in our country's his
tory. . Returns of failures for April show
a decrease in number, amount and aver
age of liabilities in. almost every branch
of trade and in nearly all branches of
manufacture. The only clouds on the bus
iness horizon are the dilatory national
Senate and the various State '.Legisla
tures that persist in remaining in session
and which operate as a serious disturb
ance to trade interests. Chicago Times
Herald (Ihd.). ; '
Kven Fryan's Organ Admits It.
Every Democratic newspaper in the
land admits that business is improving,
and rejoices that it is so. Only organs
that support -Republican administrations
rejoice- when American business is pros
trate. This statement is backed tip by;the
proof. If the Star doubts it, let it seafch
the editorial pages of its Republican con
temporaries, beginning about Jan. 1, 1893,
and ending promptly on Nov. 4, 1896.
Omaha World-Herald (Bryan Dem.).. .
Merchants Fnyinar Goods.
The Tribune, in its last week's business
article, gave a hint of the improved com
mercial conditions by quoting from a NW
York paper a statement to the effect that
the city was filled with buyers from all
over the country. The summary of Dun's
reports indicates that the buyers were not
there merely to see the sights, but that
they " actually bought, which is a good
proof that they had gauged the buying
ability of their respective constituencies
and were satisfied that they were fairly
prosperous. Such . facts as these speak;
louder than the most elaborate theorizing
on the part of calamity howlers. Minne
apolisTribune'tRep.). . ; . r.
"Beyond All Question." :
Beyond all question, general business is
improving.. We have this week more Ae-
rtded indications of the progress made.
Yetit is true that one can easily draw
too. broad a'.;conclusioh'from the -more
manifest evidences. Buyers, for instance,
are seen to have increased in number in
all our markets, but their purchases still
show great conservatism, . supplying only
immediate wants. Current production in
the dry goods trade is believed to be fully
absorbed now, but the bid. accumulations
have not been drawn down much yet.
Probably the best trade outlook, and by.
far the most promising conditions, prevail
in the iron industry. Prices of steel and
iron in all their forms are now-so low
that they could hardly be expected to go
lower,', while the demand for export- of
rails, billets and pig helps the home' mar
ket. The Iron. Age says that the hope
ful feeling in the iron trade is spreading,
and in those departments which are close
to the raw material moderate advances
are being jecorded.i, It adds that the total
tonnage placed thus far must be heavy
when it is considered "that very large or
ders were booked during the halcvon
"days of the billet pool, and that now this
has been swelled by the volume of busi
ness done in track material." Financial
Chronicle (Ind.).
The 'Ponth. .Responds with Good Cheer.
' The' Chronicle's statements bear out
the facts, presented to our readers yes
terday in an interview in onr local de
partment with Mr. W. L. Douglas, mem
agar of Dun's agency in Macon. "The re
turn of prosperity," he' says, "is visible
on all sides.. Wholesale dealers in nearly
all ilioes are all reporting an increase oC
business over last year. ." All
houses dealing direct .w.kh the farmer will
tell you that collections were better last
fall than for a' long time prior to that.
Right here in Macon business appears
more substantial and in healthier condi
tion than could seriously have been ex-,
pected some months ago." . ."
In view of the deliberate and determin
ed efforts being made, to discourage the
people; and worse, to involve the country
in war with more than one foreign .pow
er, tti$se reports, from the highest au
thorities, are exceedingly, hopeful and en
couraging. Macon (Ga.) Telegraph
(Dem,). " '- . ;
r .-.The East Feels Tt, Too..
In spiire'of the disturbing effects of the
10-cent decision in ' the Trans-Missouri
.Traffic Association case, there are many
encouraging features in the business' sit
uation.' -Business failures are steadily
decreasing in number, while the advices
of the mercantile agencies disclose a no
table increase in the number of industrial
plants now in active operation. . Over
100,000 more men, according to the Penn
sylvfinia Tabor bureau, are at . work in
that State to-day than there were sir
months ago, and a corresponding improve
ment in the demand for labor has un
doubtedly taken place in New England
and -other manufacturing "ifiomtmi.nlties.
New York Commercial Advertiser (Rep.).'
Hetnrn of "McKlnley Times." J
-The week just closed witnessed a Steady
continuance of the favorable trade con
ditions which were noted last week. The
break in the steel rail pool seems to have
been the signal for a general awakening
in all lines of productive activity: The
optimistic feeling in trade is not based on
mere rumors of promised resumptions of
business, bnt is founded on actual bookings:-
of' large orders. Times-Herald
(Ind.). ; - "":, .:':-'" :?:
Railroad Building; Significant.
During 1896 the total number of miles
of new-1 tracks -laid by railroads in : the
United States was but 1,802 miles, the
lowest figure known for -twenty years.
The, record for the year 1895 was .practi
cally the same, bringing to mind 'the situ
ation in 1875. when the country was just
.recovering from a great panic, and the
-unprecedented low figure of 1,711 miles
of new track was the record. Afterward
-came a period of expansion, culminating
-in 1887 with the unprecedentedVy high'
figure of 12,983 miles of new track con-,
structed during that year, which, was one
of great prosperity all over the country,
a prosperity which continued for several
successive years. And now comes .the
Railway Age . and predicts 'an Immense
increase in railway building" in 1897 over
the banner year in the history of railway
Construction in this, country. Memphis
Scimitar (Dem.). ... ,
Prosperity Stealing Upon the Conn try.
Is; it possible that prosperity, has. been
stealing upon the country unawares? For
many weeks past the reports of the. com
mercial agencies, though at times hopeful,
have been on .the, whole pervaded;by a
lugubrious tone"; lint in tbeir-last week's
review Dun & Co. break into- the.-follow-.
ing joyous strain: "Nearly all wiilrte as
tonished to learn that actual sales in
April by leading business houses in the
principal cities east of the Rocky Moun
tains average only about 10' per cent less
than in April, 1892, the year of the larg
est business hitherto, and were 6 per cent
more than in the same month last year."
This fact, the Review goes on to say; is
especially encouraging in view of the
great fall of prices within the past five
years. Memphis Tribune (Rep.).
More Work and More "Wasres.
The. daily announcements of the re
sumption of operations at mills and fac
tories tell the story of a steadily expand
ing volume of trade. The movement is
progressing and more workmen were em
ployed last week and the amount paid out
in wages was larger than at-any "time
since the election. It is undeniable that
the situation is steadily improving and it
is satisfactory to note that the underlying
conditions which must sustain this im
provement .-give ', promise of continuing.
One of the'main causes of the protracted
prostration wa. have endured has been
the low price of wheat. In no month of
1894 did the Chicago price exceed 65
cents and during most of the year it sold
around 85 cents; in 1895 the price was a
little better and in 1896 a little bertej; still,
but nevertheless-wjieat has hver'agfed fully
,15 cents a bushel below the average price
of the five yeaes previous to 18i94. Now;
howevef, we'seem.entering upbn an era
of higher grain prices.' Philadelphia In
quirer (Rep.); " - "
Vielb-'a en Kvery Hand. -
' Reviving prosperity is on every hand.
To be sure it is not coming with a rush
and 'in the nature of things could not be.
But there are reasons for believing that
the American people are gathering fresh
strength and that confidence so - sorely
tried of la te - years, s The" many mills and
industries of all kinds that have so severe-'
ly felt the shocks of incompetent tariffs
and vociferous demands for besmirching
the national honor, have taken fresh heart
since the memorable verdict of the people
of last November. There were those who
in view of the campaign talk had the idea
that after election business would boom at
once and industries that had. been keeping
house with closed doors for long periods
would at once resume with full force. This
could hardly be, but within' a brief time
after, the election was over there had
been such a -noticeable revival and so
many men had found employment that
campaign pledges were fully kept in .ev
ery sense of the-word. Business is gath
ering strength with every passing week.
Racine Journal. -
More Testimony from the South..
Augusta people have very little reason
to complain of a lack of prosperity just
at this juncture. The advance agent has
surely been here and left his card. As
we understand prosperity; it is when there
is -sufficient employment to keep every
body making "a few dollars in order that
they can purchase the good things of life.
In another month or-'so there should not
be a workingman in. the city out of em
ployment, providing, of course, that the
individual does not belong to the "sons
of rest." There is a vast amount of work
on' hand, whichSmiist" benefit all classes
and conditions .of people When the la
boring man has employment he gets
money to spend and that money circulates
through the different channels of trade
until everybody has been benefited in
some way ,or -other.' Treat the advance
agent hospitably that he may decide to
locate old General Prosperity in this
neighborhood. Augusta - (Ga.) - News
(Dem.).; .. .:; - . --
The Silver Press Admits Ifc ,
The Kansas City Star says that the
"Bryanite newspapers persist in reiter
ating the statement thtot business is not
improving, and- that-idleness is increas
ing." Perhaps the Star means Democratic
newspapers. If it does, it makes a mis
statement when it says that they are re
iterating the statement that business is
not improving. They know that business
is improving. It always does in the
spring. That is historic. - When you hear
an administration 'ofgan whining about
the Democratic newspapers pulling back
in the shafts you are listening to a-siren
song to distract your attention from" con
ditions. Of course business is improving.
Omaha .World-Herald (Silver Dem.).
. I ."'--I 5.'; :
Reports Very Encouraging.
Reports- of 'the commercial - situation
made up to the close of last week are
very encouraging. "IJo genuine or lasting
improvement,", says "Dun's Review,"
could come otherwise than slowly and
step by step, after such a depression as
the past fpnr years have witnessed, and
the most hopeful feature of the situation
is that the gain is so nearly devoid of ele
ments which involve unsoundness and
probable reaction.' , These reports show
a large increase in sales of wool, an ad
vance In the price of cotton, and the re
sumption, of more mills which use cotton
iiidr wool'., Additional boot and shoe fac
tories ' have: fiesumed operations though
taking orders- at very low prices. The
tpoe of the commercial reports from, near
ly every "department of business is reas
suring. There is need of patience, how
ever, better times are coming, but by easy
marches. .'Brooklyn - Standafd-Union
(Rep.),' . ;.
Bradstreet's Reports Favorable. -
In spite of the fact that the pendency
of tariff bill always unsettles trade and
manufacturing, the reports from the vari
ous parts of the country are very encour-ging.-
Advices from all sections", espe
cially the Mississippi valley and the East
ern States, show improved business condi
tions. Reports to Bradstreet's on May 1
state that in Seattle ''trade is -good and
-sfedjrs arf- improvement Oyer April, of last
year;" in San Francisco "the retail trade
is reported .as fairly good:" In Nashville
"the local retail trade is somewhat itsr
proved;" in Augusta "the retail trade .is.
Tepprtbd good;" in 'St. "Paul "trade con
tinues good in all lines in which the busy'
-season is not over; and collections are also
good;" in Duluth, since the opening of
navigation, there has been some improver
ment in general business;" in Milwaukee
'.'the amount of business trad sac ted is re-.
ported of fair proportions,- with prospects
better and Collections slitrhtly easier;" in
St. Louis "general trade shows a slight:
improvement, and collections are good;
in Louisville "a steady seasonable trade.
is reported by jobbers in nearly all lines,
and collections are fairly good;" in Chi
cago "general trade situation is improv
ed slightly;" In Baltimore "the outlook for
the fall is encouraging;" in Pittsburg
"there has been a steady increase in the
volume of business;" in Providence, R. l.
"cotton- manufacturers who recently re
duced their output have again" started-on
full time and capacity."
-f .".' .
Southern Democratic Confidence.-
Wiek before last the Times-Union made
a CMnparisonj for the preceding week of
mvt and tne corresponding wees oi iovx,
of the bank clearances of the eighty-seven
principal commercial cities of the country.
and this comparison showed that the vol
ume of bank clearances of the Southern
cities had increased 4.9 per cent, while
that of the Northern cities had decreased
2.9 per cent." Saturday's number of Dun's
Review published the bank clearances of
theVfourteen -leading commercial cities.
The bank clearances of the' Southern
eitias showa decrease'jn volume of -only
$548,407. or less than 1 per cent, from
those-of the prosperous year 1892. The
volume of bank clearances of the Northern-Cities,
however, ghows a loss of $252,
130,821, or more than 25 per cent This
is the record of only one week," and only
fourteen cities. It is but a straw; but
when all straws point in xne direction.
they , show tpbsiiavelijhow the" 'wind j is
blowing. "Every indication shows well for
the South. If we may judge by bank
clearances.- the Southern cities referred
to have practically recovered from the
panic Florida Times-Union (Dem.).
Industrial Conditions Sound. . '
The5 New York Commercial Advertiser,
in its review of the markets, contends,
that "the industrial conditions of tne
country 'are sound," for everywhere pro
ductiont is . restricted to an amount 'Com
mensurate with the demands for consump
tion, and with few exceptions stocks are
not being increased. . On' the contrary,
in many cases consumption appears to be
gaining on production. Ajrtther favora
ble sign is the absence of any great trade
combinations, such, for instance, as those
which until recently honeycombed the iron
and steel. trade, "frenr top to-?bdttom. These
have) gone, and' trusts in ofher lines must
go Out or business under the Supreme
Court's decision., in. the -Traps-Missouri
case; leaving all markets free and open.
The 'consumer is getting! and wiB cori
tinue to get, the benefit of cheap iron ore,
cheap transportation and cheap raw ma
terialsiof'alf kinds.' These changes place
the manufacturer in a position to supply
a .cheap product and still realize a profit.
Minneapolis' Tribune (Rep.). ' J
The "Heart of Georgia". Responds.
The figures which we herewith publish
are of the greatest importance, as shew
ing the vastly improved conditions in the
heart of Georgia. We are quite sure that
the southern belt of counties can""make
quite as good a showing. Mr. Douglas
does "not care to pose as an optimist,
but," he Bays, "figures speak for them
selves, and the conditions surrounding
us cannot be denied and should not be
misunderstood." - He,; is free to confess
that we are not in the midst of a business
boom, nor do we want -anything of that
kind, "but unless all indications under
tny,observation are misleading, we are
once more on a level .with a slow but
steady Improvement." Nothing stands so
much in the way of business just now as
the calamity howling press, and the war
cry of the Senate. Macon (Ga.) Tele
graph (Dem.).
Business Barometers All Favorable.
The return, of prosperity is what every
body is now- looking for, and there are
few better indications of this returs'Jrom
a local standpoint than the appearance
from day to.djiy of the hotel registers. The
wholesale'hoiises in the' larger cities never
send out thiir commercial travelers until
thy 'aVe sa.itls'fied that the retail dealers
want goodsjhni' in stringent times retail
merchants' jo iiot purchase more goods
than they iuihojpeful of selling. For sev
eral week j!Wst.:: member of The Leader
staff whoi t&ilsj f each -of the local hotels
daily has Noticed a perceptible, increase
in the arrivilsC" Hotel registers,- while a
good critertuin 'the matter of business
prosperity, rar;not' the only indications. It
is noticeable: that' railroad travel to Lex
ington is i-daay.i Increasing. Lexington
(Ky.) Leadprl ;W - , - - ' " - .
More Democratic Testimony.
.The Washington' Post (Dem.) certifies
to a marked business improvement al
ready. It says: "It is an undeniable fact
that there has been a great improvement:
in business since the election," and adds
that-.the people who expect complete re
vival of business before the tariff rates
and, schedules a re settled are' "insanely
optimistic." - JJbubt as to '"tariff schedules,
it says, ."is always demoralizing to' man
ufacturers." fePeople. . who- are wimpjaint
ing that business does not revive as rapidly-as
expected since the. inauguration
of -McKinley- should remember. that a
tariff bill cannot be framed and passed in
a day, er a month, and that nothing so nn
settles the business of the country as
pending tariff-Jegisiatipa. The pendency
of a measure "affecting Imports and duties
upon many thousands of articles, must
lead manufacturer to delay production
and dealers to delay their orders until the
new rates are known. , ' , . i , ,
" . - -n -ij -i5
' ' ' - l
-' Cheerinc News for Farmers.
The Department of Agriculture is re
ceiving very gratifying reports from the
farming community. . The continuation
of high prices for wheat, the unusual
foreign demand for corn and the activity
among farmers in preparing to make an
earnest experiment in the production of
sugar beets, combine to make the condi
tion among that class of population un
usually healthful and encouraging. "Dol
lar" wheat," for which farmers had scarce
ly dared to hope, was coincident with the
incoming of McKinley, while the extraor
dinary demand for their corn adds to their
general encouragement. - Coupled with
this comes the activity and 'interest felt
in the experiments which are to be made
in all parts of the country in the produc
tion of pur own sugar., and it is apparent
that the' farming community is not only
feeling the return of prosperity,-"but is
occupying,., its ; mind ;: with cheerful
thoughts. ' . '- '--.''' .
Good News from the "Shoe Towns."
Most of the shoe factories are now fair
ly well employed, and manufacturers evi
dently have confidence that the improve
ment in business is to increase, as they
are buying supplies more freely. The
prices of footwear show little change,
but the advance asked Is more cheerfully
paid by the jobbers. The sales of leather
sljow an increase, and values are main
tained, ine local manufacturers of mo
rocco report an increased trade, and on
some grades the demand is lively. Shoe
shipments hold up well. The forwardines
from Boston the past week, according to
the footings of the Shoe and Leather Re
porter, were 79,087 cases, against 83,254
cases last week, and 65,127- cases.for the
corresponding week last year. Since Jan.
1, "the shipments have been 866.826 cases.
against 702,799 last y'ear; an increase of
164,027 cases for the business of 1897.
Lynn (Mass.) Item (Ind.). v
';''." The Capital City Feels It. ,
A reading of The Star's weekly review
of the real estate situation, printed to
day,, indicates how steadily progressive
is tne return of prosperity to this city.
There has been no sudden and unstable
boom .In values or in building opera
tions and hence what has been accom
plished has been with a greater guaran
tee of permanence. The shiftings of cap
ital nave all been inspired, it would seem,
by a feeling of faith in the ultimate re
covery of not only the city but the entire
country from the depression that has been
so marked for nearly four years. In con-
nrmatiop of this view of the general sit
uation it is to be noted that the commer
cial agencies are this week reporting busi
ness to be improving all over the country.
Washington Star (Ind.).
The Western Farmer Prospering.
For the past several days The Call has
been publishing a series of exclusive fruit
crop reports, both from the East and
California. They tell the story. They
show that the home crop will, be' scanty.
Good prices will follow as a natural re
sult, and .millions of Eastern money will
probably flow into California pockets later
on. ' And as prices for wheat bid fair to
keep up to a profitable plane it is safe to
say that the California farmer ' Will do
better this year than for some years back,
When the farmer prospers the rest of the
community flourishes; hence if present in
dications are realized we ought to enjoy
increased mercantile activity during the
rest of the year. San Francisco Call
(Rep.). ...
. Climbtnar Slowly but Perceptibly.
It is "the old story of slowly climbing
a very steep hill. "Though steadily in
creasing, says Dun s Review,, "business
still is much below. its volume in former
years of prosperity." In 1892 we were
upon a pinnacle whence we surveyed the
world and counted the greater part as
tributary to our prosperity. We made
one stupendous blunder, and almost in
stantly fell into a slough of despondency
and adversity. It will take time and
labor-and favorable circumstance to re
gain our former position of supremacy.
But we are climbing upward,, slowly, it
is true, but nevertheless perceptibly.
Inter Ocean.
. '.Th,e Workmen Are Co-operatine.
More men are employed about .Pittsburg
at present than have been the past year.
Despite the depression in prices, owing
to the dissolution of manufacturers and
jobbers' organizations, each seems to bend
more earnestly to the task of doing ita
share to .improve conditions. Never in
the history of labor have the workmen
been so reasonable. The iron and steel
industry have had their share of pros
perity and gloom. ' Investors and -manu.
facturers are confident that times will im
prove. Pittsburg Gazette (Ind.).
Improvement Slow but Gradual.
From the commercial point of view the
State is evidently working into better
shape. This does not appear so much on
the surface as in the undercurrent. It
is too gradual to be observed by the gen
eral run of people. But that there is a
real improvement in the situation is, ap
parent to those whose business interests
lead them closest to the center of trade
activity. San Francisco Call (Rep.).
Factories and Kailroads Busy.
The news which comes of the reopening
of factories in different parts of the coun
try is a certain sign of the approach of
better times. It is evident that the num
ber of wage earners is steadily increasing.
Sales of stocks are growing, and prices
are firmly maintained. At last there is a
sign, that railroad earnings, which have
been down to low figures for the past
twelve months, are on the upward turn..
Globe-Democrat (Rep.).
A Steady Improvement.
- The business situation as shown by
current, reports is certainly encouraging.
As an exchange -remarks, though circum
stances were against any decided improve
ments in general business last Week, still
there was a noticeable continuation of the
slow and steady growth that has been
characteristic of business ever since the
November election. Scranten (Pa.) Trib
une (Rep.). -.? . , , ..
": ' '- -
V Business Moves Forward.
-The-evidences of improvement in trade
prospects are undeniable, notwithstand
ing the popular uncertainty as to what
the markets will demand after the tariff
rates have been established. The export
trade last week ' showed an Increase of
nearly half a million dollars over that of
the previous week. Times-Herald (Ind.).
FACTS FOR EARMEES.
WHAT UNCLE SAM IS DOING IN
THEIR BEHALF.
Showing a to What the Agricultur--lsts
Are Receiving and Paying for
' "Wbat-.-Tbey Raise' and Consume-
Importations Flood the-Country,.
Crisp Washington Chat.
Special Washington correspondence:
HE last sum
mary of Finance and1
J. Commerce, issued" by
the Treasury De
partment, contains
statistics and figures
some of which will
prove of much inteiv
those . connected
with farm pursuits.
It shows the imports
and exports of farm
products and the
amount of such com-
nsBroiB modifies that are be-
Ya ing brought into the
If country. Following
it' are some of the
things shown in ita
pages:
The March importations of wool in 1897
were 58,085,339 pounds, against 17.78L
547 pounds in March, 1896. and against
only 8,4S8,415 pounds ' in" the last March
of the McKinley law;' The importations
of rags, noils, etc., in March, 1897, was
5,466,461 pounds, against 1,504 pounds in
the last March . of the McKinley law.
These quantities of free wool and shoddy
now in stock here are not particularly
cheering to the growers of good American
wool, -for it wilt, be some, months before
they can be absorbed by the -country and
a place made for the home product. The
number of cattle imported in March, 1897,
under the Wilson law was 56,860, while
in March. 1894. nnder the McKinlev law
.u . : t .1 o-fi rTM. .'
Luc uuuiuct -luipuneu was Oil. XUO UUUJ-
ber of pounds of hides imported in March,
1897, in view of the prospective duty on
hides, was two and a half times as much
as in March of the last year of the Mc
Kinley law, amounting to nearly three
million dollars in value. The hay Import
ed in March, 1895, 1896 and 1897, under
the Wilson law was over 70,000 tons,
averaging about three times as much as
was imported in the last March of' the1
McKihley law. The world, according to .
this official report, is being raked over to!
find wool to be brought to. this country;
before the new tariff law goes into effect
The importations of wool during March,
1897, came from Austria-Hungary, Bel
gium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy,.
Portugal, Roumania, Baltic Russia,'
Spain, England, Scotland, Ireland, Nova
ecotia, tne uiacK sea ports, uutcn vv est
Indies, Argentine, Brazil, Chili, Peru,
Uruguay, Venezuela, China, British East
Indies, Asiatic Russia, Turkey, .in Asia,
British Australia, British Africa, Egypt.
This is a pretty fair showing.
Among other things this, summary pre
sents a table of especial interest to agri
culturists. It shows, the monthly average
prices of the principal articles of merchan
dise imported and exported during the
nnsf venr Txtrnpfa from thA tnhla firs
given below, the -exports representing
their market value at the date of expor
tation, while the imported articles repre
sent their values in foreign markets. This
latter fact should be born in mind con
stantly in examining the comparative fig
ures as the prices of imported articles ap
pear low, until it is remembered that the
values given relate to the prices in foreign
markets, and do not include the amounts
added, for freight, tariff, handling and
dealers' profits, before they reach the
consumer in this country. -
Comparative Tables. '
- Table showing average values of'com
modities of farm -export in April, 1896,
and in March, 1897:
April, 1896. April, 1897.
Wheat 70.7 81.2
Wheat flour, per bbl.. $3.60 4.12
Hops 7.5 cents 10.8 cents
Pickled pork, per lb. .6.3 cents 5.4 cents
Cheese, per lb... 9.2 cents 10.6 cents
Leaf tobacco ....7.4 cents - 7.9 cents
Table showing average prices in for
eign markets of commodities which farm
ers consume, in April, 1896, and March,
1897:
April. .1896. April, 1897.
Cents.
cents.
Coffee 14.8
Cotton cloth, per yd.. 9.1
Pickled herrings, lb.. 8.9
Mackerel, per" lb 7.2
Keet suear 2.4
11.2
8.9
S.5
6
1.7
7.5
Dress goods, per yd. 80.7
It will be seen from the above that the
selling price of practically everything"
which the farmer has had to put upon the
market has increased during the year and
that the buying price of things which he
consumes has decreased.
The State Department is in receipt of a
communication from the United State
consul at Odessa,. Russia, to the effect
that large quantities of Russian wool of
inferior quality are being shipped to this
conntry and the manufacturers of the
country are cautioned accordingly.
- The proposed duty on the quantity of
rawhide which would be used in the man
ufacture of a pair of shoes is estimated at
about 5 cents. Only about one-fifth, how
ever, of the hides used in this country are
imported, so that the increased cost of a
pair of shoes by reason of the duty would
probably not be more than one or two
cents. The average man probably uses
about three pairs of shoes per year. Does
anybody particularly object to paying
from three to six cents toward the sup
port of the Government in its present
extremity, especially in wew of the great
advantage accruing to the farmer?
One Keason Gold Is Exported.
t ;, hut reasonable, with the importa
tions of foreign goods increasing so enor
mously in anticipation of the repeal of
the Wilson low tariff rates and the en
actment of a protective tariff, that gold
exports have increased. The foreign
?oods brought into the country must b
paid for in gold, and if such importations
increase from ten to twenty millions a
month, it goes without saying that gold
exports must increase somewhat. Sev
eral OlUer leaau" - .
accumulations of gold in Europe by rea
son of war possibilities, show that there -is
nothing alarming in the exports of that
metal, auu iiu tnuo 1 - -
being Bounded by. the silver advocates.'
The quantity of gold money in 1873 was
11,209,800,000, while in 1896 it was$3,-"
698,700,000, being in 1896 50 per cent
greater than the gold and silver money ,
combined in 1873.
Secretary wiisons latest move is in
making a practical investigation to deter- -mine
sections of the country most adapt
ed to the production of the best- quality'
of beet sugar.
GEORGE MELVILLE.
1 T
Jill
Tsmrm ii