I "'13
BUSINESS IS IMPROVING.
Cheering Reports from Every Section
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
Better Condition.
The following statements, gathered
from roiinl Unties of dully and weekly
papers In nil part of the country, ami
riprisentlni: nil political parties, relate
1n I ho business condition in the United
States. They- will repay n careful ex
amination. It will ho h''tn Hint 1 lie
editors, who linve their linnd on tlio
public pulse through 1 1 1 1 1 nnny of re
porter, news KHtlx'i'orH n ml liii;ind."l
students, ii ro iinniiiiiioiix, liTohpeeilvi!
of politics. In the Kliili'inriit that Imsl
ncss L.'is improved and Is Improving.
Pair Better than In 1 '.!.
Very much inure conclusive evidence of
n increased movement f merchandise
has been obtained fur April by "Dun's
Review.'- whic h Inn scoured statement
from ;t,"7 liimiiH'hK houses representing nil
parts of th iimlry nut of the Kucky
Mountains, nnd nil lines nf trndt. cover
ing their n:ilt'M in April, 1S!7. lN!ij and
IS'.VJ. Si houses reported uelual fig
ures nnd others only percentages, hut tho
groupings of but li give very much tho
same results. Assuming these replies to
be Indicative of tho business of t hi coun
try, (he volume of sale lust nioiilh was
only about 10 per cent loss than in April,
1S02, n year of more than usual pros
perity, nml li per cent greater Ihun in t ho
Mine month of IStMS. n estimating the
valuo of thl statement the decline in
prices must h.. considered. Since 1S!I"'
Sauerbeck's iiultx figures khmv that tho
decline has been n little under 10 per
cent: "Bradstreet's" index figures, con-
nnea to this country, make it nearly la
t iU nor cent, woolens .'10. wool
3-', ami cottons 21 per cent. If tho vol-
nnio of transaction has fallen oft only
10 per rem, the actual oinoimt of mer
chandise handled must have been givnler
than in IMC Journal of Commerce
iDem.).
Improved Driuunil ln the Wtil,
A genera! survey of tho business bilua
tlon for the past week afford Bond
grounds for encouragement. Tho water
Is leaving tlio Mississippi bottom lands,
and it will bo possible, after all, to raise
crops there. There is nn improved d
mnnd for Roods at most 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,
but production is still nheail of consump
tion. r.ostou Journal (Rop.).
Great Activity in Hallway Hnllcllna.
If tho disposition of railroads to extend
tlietr mileiiKo be nn indication of a re
turn to prosperity, mi l If the statements
made by the Railway A so, the generally
accepted authority in regard to railroad
matters, be at all n crura to, this desidera
tum may already be distinctly discerned
on the country's horizon.
Tim Age, in n recent issu, gives in tab
n'.ated form statistic of new mileage
either already in process of construction,
or expected to be roust mcled during- the
year 1S!7. The grand total represented
In this table suggests a genuine boom in
railroad building all over the country.
Tho total thus given reaches the startling
figure of IT.riiMi miles of new track as the
probable record for the present year.
Memphis Scimitar iDem.).
Good Crop I'ronpectH nml Ootid Trices.
Th prospect is highly encouraging to
the Northwest. Of course, the crop is not
yet harvested, and will be subject to tho
usual contingencies which sometime blast
tlio hopes of thu husbandman; but tho
fact remains that a crop well started, with
favorable soil and climatic conditions, al
most invariably turns nut well. The
Northwest this year fares (he pleasing
probability of a good crop and good prices;
for It is hardly possible that even a phe
nomenal 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 n less
than nverage crop In the rest of the
world,-Minneapolis Tribune (Rep.).
Formers Feellnat the Improvement.
In all of th different classes of indus
try In tho United Stales, then, the person
who has the stick-tn-it-lvcness to hang
on till a chnnge for the better comes is
are to be the one to first regain his lost
resources. This change has set In and ns
It develops the farmer who lias not rlosed
out his business will be the beneficiary
of the Improvement In the financial and
Industrial condition. Albany Journal.
Better Time at Leant In Pig lit.
The report made by It. G. Iun & Co.'s
trade review, showing an activity in le
gitimate business transactions during the
past month, little short of that during
April, 1 SJ 2, the year of tho largest busi
ness, emphasizes the cheerfulness of the
present business outlook and points to the
conclusion that the good times which have
been predicted through many weary
months of wailing nre at least in sight.
Memphis Scimitar (!cin.).
Brightening on the Pacific Conat.
In spite of the occasional sneer of Pop
erratic philosophers thnt tho dawn of
prosperity is being strangely delayed, It
cannot be denied that the trade situation
It brightening and that business Is better
than in 1800. The exports of produce
from tho United States thus far this year
show an increase of $144,000,000 over tbo
same period in ISM, which is a gain
large enough to satisfy the most exacting
Press Is Unanimous in
This Fact.
grumbler. If we look below the surface
aud study the custom bouse exhibits we
ill ten that the balance of trade has been
In favor of the United States for a rear,
taking this period as a whole. Under a
proper tariff we would not only enjoy the
proSts arising from this large balance,
nut those denred from a areatly stimulat
ed internal commerce as well. This fact
is well understood by businegg men, hence
their anxiety for the passage of a suitable
larm bill.-Sau Francisco Call (Kep.).
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 lluo of business in
the principal cities east of the Rocky
Mountains averaged ouly about 10 per
cent legs than In April, 1892, the year of
(he largest business in our country a his
tory. Returns of failures for April show
a decrease In number, amount and aver
gn of liahllltig 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 Hlate Legisla
tures that persist in remaining In session
and which operate as a serioua disturb
ance to trade Interests. Chicago Times-Ik-raid
(Ind.).
Even Bryan's Organ Adatlta It,
Kvery Democratic newspaper in the
land admits that business is improving,
nml rejoices that it Is so. Only organs
that support Republican admlnletratlone
rejoice when American bualnett la proa-
I trnte. This slttarnt It backed up by the
" .v;i-r.i i. i aMh
imuui. si ins oik cuoudix'i -
the editorial paget of its Republican con
temporaries, beginning about Jan. 1, ldT(3,'
and ending promptly on Nor. 4, 181)6.
Omaha World-Herald (Bryan Dem.).
Merchants Buying Oooda.
The Tribune, in lis Isst week's business
article, gave a hint of the Improved com
mercial conditions by quoting from a New
York paper a statement to the effect that
tho city wag filled with buyers from alt
over the country. The summary of Dun's
reports indicates thnt the buyers were not
there luerely to toe the sights, but thst
they actually bought, which is a good
proof that they had gauged the buying
ability of their respective constituencies
irnd 'wVfo' satisfied that they were fairly
prosperous. Such facts as these spesk
louder than (he most elaborate theorlniqg
on the part of calamity howlers. Minne
apolis Tribuue (Rep.).
"Beyond All Question."
Iievond all question, geueral business is
improving. We have this week more de
cided indications of the progregg mado.
Vet it Is true thnt ono can easily draw
too broad a conclusion from the more
manifest evidences. Buyors, for instance,
are goon to have incrnased In number in
nil our markets, but their purchases still
show great conservatism, supplying only
immediate wants. Current production in
the dry goods trsde is believed to be fully
absorbed now, but the old accumulations
have not been drawn down much yet.
1'robnbly the lMst irade outlook, and by
far Hie most promising conditions, prevail
in the iron Industry. Prices of steel and
iron In all their forms are now so low
that limy could hardly be expected to go
lower, while tho demand for export of
rails, billots and pig helps tho home mar
ket. The I run Ago says that the hope
ful feeling in tho Iron trade is spreading,
and in those departments which are close
to the raw mater in I moderate advances
uro being recorded. It adds that the total
loiitiago placed thus far must be heavy
when It Is considered "that very large or
ders were booked during the halcyon
days of tho billet pool, and that now this
has been swelled by the volume of busi
ness done in track material." FlnaucJal
Chrouiclo (Ind.).
The Bonth Responds with Good Cheer.
Tho Chronicle's statements bear out
the facts presented to our readers yes
terday in an Interview in our local de
partment with Mr. W. L. Douglas, man
ager of Dun's agency In Macon. "The re
turn of prosperity," he aays, "is visible
on nil sides. Wholesale dealers in nearly
all lines are all reporting an inereaae of
business over last year. All
houses dealing direct with 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 efTorls being made to discourage the
people; and worts, to involve the country
in war with more than one foreign pow
er, these reports, from the highest au
thorities, are exceedingly hopeful and en
couraging. Macon (Ga.) Telegraph
em.).
The East Feeln It, Too.
In spite of the disturbing effects of the
10 cent decision in tho Trans-Missouri
Trnflic Association case, there are many
encouraging features In the business sit
uation. Business failures are steadily
decreasing in number, while the advlcea
of the mercantile agencies disclose a co
table increase ln the number of Industrial
plants now in active operation. Over
100,000 more men, according to the Penn
sylvania labor bureau, are at work ln
that State to-day than there were sis
months age, and a corresponding Improve
ment In the demand for labor has un
doubtedly taken place la New England
and ether saiaafacturing eemmaaltlea.
New Xor Commercial Advertiser (Rep.).
Betar s( "XcKUUy Tlsaee.
The week just closed witnessed a steady
eonanoance of the favorable trade con
dltiooa which were noted Isst wrsk. The
bresk 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 ia not based on
mere rumors of promised resumptions of
business, but is founded on actual book
Ing of large orders. Tinict-llerald
(Ind.).
Kallroed Balldlnc Slarniacaat,
During 18SM the tetal number of miles
of new tracks latd by railroads In the
United States was but 1.803 mllea. the
loweat figure kuown for twenty years,
The record for the yesr 1803 waa uractt
caily the same, bringing to mind the situ
ation In 187.1, whsn the country waa just
recovering from a great panic, and the
unprecedentedly low figure of 1,711 mllea
of new track was the record. Afterward
came a period of expansion, culminating
In 1887 with the unprecedentedly high
figure of 12,983 miles of new track con
structed during thst yesr, which was one
of great prosperity all over the country,
a prosperity which continued for aeversl
successive years. And now tomes the
Railway Age and predicta an immense
increase in rallwsy building in 1807 over
the bsnner yesr In the history of railwsy
construction In this country. Memphis
scimitar (Dem.).
Prosperity Htcalias Upon the Country.
Is It possible that prosperity, baa been
stealing upon the country unawares? For
msny weeks psst the reports of the com
mercial agencies, though at times hopeful,
hare been on the wholo iiervaded by a
lugubrious tone; but in their last week's
review Dun & Co. break Into the follow
ing joyous strain: "Nearly all will be as
tonished to learn thnt actnnl sales iu
April by lending business houses in the
principal cities east of the Rocky Moun
tains average only about 10 per ceut less
thnn in April, 1892, the year of tbe larg
est business hitherto, and were 0 per cent
more than in the same month last yesr.
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 Watts,
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
progresaing and more workmen were em
ployed last week and the amount paid out
In wages waa larger than at any time
since tbe election. It is undeniable that
the situation is steadily improving and it
it satisfactory to note that the underlying
conditions which must sustain this Im
provement give promise of continuing.
One of the main eaoses ef tbe protracted
prostration we have endured baa been
the low price of wheat In no mouth of
1H did tbe Chicago price exceed 05
cenla and during most of the year it told
around 55 cents; In 1805 the price was a
little better and in 1806 a little better still,
but nevertheless wheat has averaged fully
15 cents a bushel below the average price
of the five years previous to 1804. Now,
however, we soem entering upon nn era
of higher grain prices. Philadelphia In
quirer (Ilep.).
Visible on Kvery Hand.
Reviving prosperity Is on every hand.
To lie sure it Is not coming with a rush
and In the nature of things could not be.
Rut there are reasons for believing that
the American people are gathering fresh
strength and that confidence ao sorely
tried of lste years. Tbe many mills and
Industries of all Muds thnt 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 Inst 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
bouse 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 Routh.
Augusta people have very little reason
to complain of a lack of prosperity just
at this juncture. The ndvane 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 mouth or go thero should not
be a worklngman in tho city out of em
ployment, providing, of course, that the
Individual does not belong to the "song
of regt." There is a vast amount of work
on hand, which must benefit all classes
and conditions of people. When thu 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 woy or other. Treat the advnnco
agent hospitably that be may decide to
locate old (Seneral Prosperity In this
neighborhood. Augusta (Ua.) News
(Dem.).
The fsilTer Presa Admits It.
The Kansas City Star says that the
"Bryanlte newspapers persist in reiter
ating the statement that business Is not
improving, and that Idleness Is increas
ing." Perhaps the Star means Democratic
newspapers. If it doea, it makes a mis
statement when it says that they are re
iterating the atatement that business Is
not improving. Ibey know thnt business
is Improving. It always does In the
spring. That it historic. When you hear
an administration organ whining about
the Democratic newspapers pulling back
in tne siiatta you are listening to a siren
song to distract your attention from mn.
dltions. Of course business Is improving.
Omaha World-llerald (Silver Dem.).
Benorta Very Esmnn.l..
Reports of the commercial situation
made up to the close of last week are
very encouraging. "No genuine or lasting
improvement," says "Dun's Review,"
could come otherwise than slowly and
step by step, after such t depression as
the past four yeara have witnessed, and
the most hopeful feature of the situation
la that the gain la so nearly devoid of ele
ments which involve unsoundness and
probable reaction." These reports ahow
a large increase In tales of wool, an ad
vance la the price ef cotton, and the re-
rrampnon of more mills which use cotton
and wool. Additional boot and shoe fac
tories hare returned operations, though
taking orders at Tery low prices. The
tone of the commercial reports from near
ly every department of business ia reas
suring. There is need of patience, how
ever, better timea are coming, but by easy
marches. Brooklyn Standard-Union
(Rep).
Bradatreat'a Keparte Favorable.
In spite of tbe fact that the pendency
of a tariff bill alwaya unsettles trade and
manufacturing, the reports from the vari
ous parta of the country are very encour
aging. Advlcea from alt sections, espe
cially the Mississippi valley and the East
ern States, thow Improved busiuess condi
tions. Reports to Bradstreet's on May 1
atate that in Seattle "trade ia good and
ahowa an improvement over April of laat
yeari't in San Francisco "the retsil trsde
Is reported as fairly good;" lit Nashville
"tbe local retail trade Is somewhat im
proved;" in Augusta "the retail trade is
reported good;" In St. Paul "trade con
tiuuea good in all lines In which tbe busy
season ia'not over, and collections are also
good;" in Dulutb, since the opening of
nsrigation, there has been some improve
ment in general business;" ln Mllwsukee
"tbe amount of business transacted Is re
ported of fair proportions, with prospects
better and collections slightly easier;" in
St. IjoiiIs "general trsde shows a slight
improvement, and collections are good;"
in Louisville "a steady seasonable trade
is reported by jobbers ln nearly all lines,
and collections are fairly good;" In Chi
cago "general trade situation Is improv
ed slightly;" Jn Baltimore "the outlook for
the fall is encouraging;" in Pittsburg
"thero has been a steady increase In the
volume of business;" in Providence, R. I.,
"cotton manufacturers who recently re
duced their output have again started on
full time aud capacity."
i
flonthern Democratic Confidence.
Week before last the Times-Union made
a comparison, for tho preceding week of
1807 and the corresponding week of 1800,
of the bank clearances of the eighty-seven
principal commerclsl cities of the country,
aud this comparison showed that the vol
ume of bank clearances of tbe Southern
cities bad Increased 4.0 per cent, while
that of the Northern cities bad decreased
2.0 per cent. Saturday's number of Dun's
Review published the bank clearances of
the fourteen leading commercial cities.
The bank clearances of the Southern
cities show a decrease In volume of only
$548,407, or lets than 1 per cent, from
those of the prosperous year 1802. The
volume of bank clearances of the North
ern citlca, however, shows a loss of $203,
130,821, or more than 25 per cent. Tail
is the record of only ono week, and only
fourteen cities. It is but a straw, but
when all straws oolnt ln ono direction
they abow positively how the wind it
blowing. Every iodlestlon shows well for
the Sonth. If ve rosy judge by bank
clearances, the Southern cltiea referred
to have practically recovered from tbe
panic Florida Timet-Union (Dem.).
ladaetrlal Conditions Bound.
The New York Commercial Advert iger,
In Its review of the markets, contends
that "tbe Industrial conditions of the
country are sound," for everywhere pro
ductlon Is restricted to an ainouut com
niensurate with tho demands fur consiimp
tlon, and with few exceptions stocks are
not being increased. On thv contrary,
in many cases consumption appears to be
gaining on production. Another favors
ble sign Is tho absence of any great trmlo
combinations, such, for Instance, as those
which until recently honeycombed the iron
aud steel trade from top to bottom. Theso
have gone, aud trusts In other lines must
go out of business under tho Supreme
Court's decision In tho Trans-Missouri
rase, leaving all markets free and open.
The consumer Is getting, nnd will con
tinue to get, tho benefit of cheap iron ore.
cheap transportation and cheap raw ma
terials of all kinds. 1 hese changes place
the manufacturer in a position to supply
a cheap product and still realize a profit.
Minneapolis Tribune (Kcp.).
The "Heart of Oeorzia" Reaponda.
The figures which we herewith publish
are of tho greatest iratortance, as show
ing the vastly Improved conditions in the
heart of deorgla. e are quite sure that
the toiithern belt of counties can make
quite ns good a showing. Mr. Douglas
does "not care to poso as an optimist,
but," he says, "figures speak for them
selves, and the conditions surrounding
us cannot be denied and should not bo
misunderstood." Ho is free to confess
that we arc not In the midst of a business
boom, nor do we want anything of that
kind, "but unless all Indications under
my observation nre misleading, we are
on co more on a level with a slow but
ttendy Improvement." Nothing stands so
much ln tho way of business just now as
the calamity howling press, nnd tbe war
cry of tho Senate. Macon (Ja.) Tele
graph (Dem.).
Business Barometers All Favorable.
The return of prosperity Is what every
body Is now looking for, and there aro
few better indications of this return from
a local standpoint than the appearance
from day to day of the hotel registers. The
wholesale houses in tho larger cities never
send out their commercial travelers until
they nre satisfied that tho retail dealers
want goods, nud in stringent times retnll
merchants do not purchase more goods
than they are hopeful of selling. For sev
eral weeks past a member of The Leader
staff who calls at each of the local hotels
daily has noticed a perceptible Increase
in the arrivals. Hotel registers, while a
good criterion In the matter of business
prosperity, are not the only Indications. It
Is noticeable that railroad travel to Lex
ington is dally increasing. Lexington
(Ky.) Leader.
More Democratic Testimony.
The Wsshlnston Post flem I artlfi.
to a marked business improvement al
ready. It says: "It is an undeniable fact
that there has been a great improvement
ln busiuess since the election," and adds
that the people who expect complete re
vival of business before the- tariff rates
and schedules are settled are "Insanely
nntlmlatir." Doubt ns to tariff inhtni..
it says, "is always demoralising to man
ufacturers." Teople who are complain
ing that busiuess does not revive at rap
idly as exnected tines tha In iiiin ration
of McKluley thould remember that a
tann Din cannot be framed and patted in
a day, cr a month, and that nothing to un
tettlet the busineaa of the country . aa
nendlna tariff legislation. Tha
of a measure affecting Imports and dutlea
upon many tnoutanda of articlea, must
lead manufacturer! to delay production
and dealer to delay their orders until tha
new rates sre kaowa.
Caaerlaa; Nawnx fa Barsaere.
Tha Department of Agriculture is re
ceiving very grs tifyioj; Teporta from the
vanning community. The continuation
of high prices for wheat, the unusual
foreign demand for corn and tha activity
among farmers la preparing to make an
earneet experiment in tbe 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 farmer bad scarce
ly dared to hope, waa coincident with the
incoming of McKinley, while th extraor
dinary demand for their corn adds to their
general encouragement Coupled with
this comes the tctW
A ""St felt
In h. I . '
tb Allen- E. Slide
noretl tud tbe
u ill. TAFvrouvul
In all parts of th
tlou of our own
that the farm in
pay the coata.
Ia same tb i,
and Charles- Btil
were indicted, l
ng
feeling the rety
thought. VOU3'
re-
of maliciou "
Good Now frosa til
Most of tbe shoe factories are now fair
ly well employed, and manufacturers evl,
dently have confidence that the Improve
ment In business Is to Increase, as they
sre buying supplies more freely. The
prices of footwesr show little change,
but the advance asked Is more cheerfully
paid by the jobbers. The salea of leather
show an Increase, and values are main
tained. The local manufacturers of mo
rocco report an Increased trsde, and on
some grades the demand Is lively. . Shoe
shipments hold up well. The forwarding!
from Boston the paet week, according to
the footings of the Shoo aud Leather Re
porter, were 70,087 caseg, against 83,254
cases Inst week, and 05,127 caseg for ths
corresponding week last jesr. Since Jan.
1, the thlpmentsx2ave bee?. 800,820 esses
against 702,700 last year; aa increase of
11.027 cases for the business of 1807.
Lynn (Mass.) Item (Ind.).
. , -a '
The Capital City Feela It,
A reading of The Star'a weekly review
of the real estate situation, printed to
day, indicates bow steadily progressive
is the return of prosperity to this city.
There has been no sudden and unstable
"Ixiom" In values or ln building opera
tions and hence what has been accom
plished has been with a greater guaran
tee of permanence. The shlf tings of cap
itnl havo all been Inspired, It would seem,
by a feeling of fulth in the ultimata re
covery of not only the city but tbe entire
country from the depression that haa been
so marked for nearly four years. ! con
flrmation of this view ofMhe xencfal slt
nation It is to be noted that tie commer
cial agencies are flfls Jek repirtjng busi
ness to be improving all orer the country.
-Washington Star (Ind.). . ' .
- - T - " .:a
. Tba Wasttara Far ' Peasass tasf--'
For th paat sovetll dsys Tie Call has
been publishing a aerie of exclusive fruit
crop report, both t from tbe Bast and
California. They tell(tfc ato'ry. .T;her
show that the hd.r".op will be acrfu.
(lood price will follow as a natural re
sult, and mlllioiia ol KasVern moneV will
probably flow Into California peckcta late,'
on. And as price for wheat bid fair to
keep up tp a profitable plane it, is aafe to
sny that tbe California farmer will do
better this year than for some years back.
Whcu the farmer prospers tha 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.).
Cllmltlnar Slowly bat Perceptibly.
It Is the old story nf slowly climbing
a very steep hill. "Though steadily in
creasing," says Dun's Review, "business
still is much below itretiy.ma) n former
year of prosperity." .!
upon a pinnacle wheni BeB"
world nnd counted tl.re
tributary to our prosp8
ono stupendous blundiT.R
t)2 we were
re'TPaTeu' thft
r pnrt as
We mado
iliuoat iu
spondency ttantly fell Into a slough -
and adversity. It will take time and
labor and favorable rlrciimsttijce to re
galu our former position of supremacy.
But we aro climbing upward, slowly, it
Is true, but nevertheless perceptibly.
Inter Ocean.
The Workmen Are Co-operating.
More men are employed about Pittsburg
at present than have been the past year.
Despite the dert.
"eg, owing
to tin) dissoluidard
JobbersN.rga.ll?OovnMnUn.
more carnestivi th Ku Ru
i . Ttt.aoaof near-
share lo iinpro'uwaks.
the history of ty
been so rcasonnuended
industry have li'!,;nj!"?
ers Slid
KS to bend
lOlllff IIS I
1
perity and gloom, sr taucsiors
fiicturers nre confide
-.... i;..i. ...... i'ie
.ilsr. pro
Improvement 81
From the comiiierciaVSE
.110
State is evidently working
Into
better
shape. This does not appear so much on
the surface ss iu tbe undercurrent. It
is too gradual to be observed by the gen
oral 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 trndo
activity. San Francisco Call (Rep.).
Factoriea and Railroads Boar,
The news which comet offthe reopening
of factories in different part1, cfub coun
try Is a certain sign of the approach tit
better timet. It it evident that the1 nnra
ber of wage earnen is steadily increasing.
Sales of stocks are growing, and prices
are firmly maintained. At last there ia a
sign that railroad earnings, which have
been down to low figures for thie past
twelve montns, are on tbe upward
Globe-Democrat (Rep.).
fturn.
A Steady Improvement.
The business situation aa.ihnwn by
current reports is certainly .78 raging.
As an exchange remarks, thoi.85 circum
stances were against any dech'JjS nprove
ments in general business laajU ek, atlll
there was a noticeable contlnt .60 a of the
slow and steady growth. Jh .70 it, been
characteristic of business .K'.85 jce the
November election. Scran tor 4.75 1) Trib
une (Rep.). . .
Busineaa Movea FortCTd.
The evidences of improvement in trade
prospects are undeniable, notwithstand
ing tbe popular uncertalnt lifdr-'l'' what
tbe markets will dsmand aft k tariff
rate have been established. ' ! export
tf.de last week showed an reaae of
nearly half a million dollas r that of
the prerioua week. Timeaiclv ' id (ltd.).
FACTS FOB FABMEBS:
WHAT UNCCE SAM 13 DOING IN
THEIR BEHALF.
bowing aa to What the Agrlcaltai-'
lata Art Receiving and Faylas for
What They Kale a ad Coaeaase
Importation Flood tho Coaatry.
Crlap Washington Chat.
Special Washlogtoa correspondence:
TUB last a a tu
rnery of Finance and
Commerce, issued by,
the Treasury De
partment, contain
statlatics and figure
tome of which will
prove of much inter
est to farmer and
those connected
with farm pursuits.
It shows the import
and exports of farm
products and th
amount of tuch com
modities tbst sre be
Ing brought into the
country. Following
sre some of th
things shown in it
psges:
The March Importations of wool In 1807
were 58,085,8.10 pounds, against 17,781.
547 pounds in March, 1800, and against
only 3,488,415 pounds In tbe last March'
of the McKinley law. Tbe importation
of rags, noils, etc., in March, 1807, was
5,400,401 pounds, against 1.504 pounds tn
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
won, for It will be some months before
they can be absorbed by the country and
a place made for the home product. Th
number of cattle Imported in March, 1807,
under the Wilson law was 50,800, while
in March, 1804, nnder the McKinley law:
the number Imported was 311. The num
ber of pound of hides Imported in March,
1807, In view of the prospective duty on
hides, was two and a half times as much
ns In March of tho last year of the Mc
Kinley Inw, amounting to nearly three
million dollars in value. The hay import
ed In March, 1805, 1800 and 1807, nnder
the Wilson law was over 70,000 tons,
averaging about three times ns much a
was Imported in tbe last March of th
McKinley law. The world, according to
thia official report. Is being raked over to
twd wool to be brought to thla country
before the new tariff law goei into effect
a he, importation! of wool during March,
18077 came from Austria-Hungary, Bel
glum, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy,
Portugal, Roumanla, Baltic Rusaia,
Spr.lb, England, Scotland, Ireland, Nova
Scotia, tba F-??t- tjrts,-Butch- West
Indie, Argentine, Braxil, Chill, Fern,
Uruguay, Veneauela, China, British East
Indies, Asiatic Rustia, Turkey ln Atia,
Brltlth Australia, British Africa, Egypt.
.'Thli ii a pretty fair showing.
Among other thing! thia summary pre
sents a table of especial interest to agri
culturists. It shows tbe monthly average
prices of the principal articles of merchan
dise Imported nnd exported during tb
past year. Extracts from the table are
given below, the exportt representing
their market value at the date, of expor
tation, while tho imported articlea repre
sent their values In foreign markets. Thla
lattor fact should bo burn in mind con
stantly in examining the comparative fig
ures as tbe prices of Imported article ap
pear low, until it Is remembered that the
values given relate to the prices ln foreign
markets, and do not include the amount
added, for freight, tariff, handling and
dealers' profits, before they reach the
consumer in this country.
Comparative Tablea,
Table showing nverago values of com
modities of farm export in April, 1806,
and in March, 1807:
April. 1890, April, 1887.
Wheat 70. 7 fet.a
Whent Hour, per bl!..fA.fS0 f 4 13
Hups T.K cenla 10.R rent
1'lckled pork, per lb. .tV.H cent! 5 4 certs
Cheese, per Hi I.2 cents lO.e cent
Leaf tobacco 7.4 cents 7.9 cents
Table showing average price in for
eign markets of commodities which farm
ers consume, in April, 1800, and March,
1807:
April, 1890. April. 1907.
Cents. Cents.
Cefree 14H 11.9
Cotton cloth, per yd.. P. I 8.0
Tickled herrings, lb. .3, II 2.3
Mackerel, per lb 7.2 ft.
'leet sugar 2.4 1.7
Viress goods, per yd. 80.7 7.9
It will bo seen from tho above that the
n 'I selling price ut practically everything
F which the fanner has bad to put upon the
f market has iucrcased during the year and
that the buying price of things which he
consumes has decreased.
Tho State Department is in receipt of a
communication from the United Slates
consul at Odessa, Russia, to the effect
that large quantities of ltussinn wool of
Inferior quality are being skipped to this
country and the tnimufacturert 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 shoot it ettimated at
about 0 cents. Ouly about one-fifth, how
ever, of the hidet used iu this country are
Imported, to thnt the increased coet of a
pair of shoes by reason of tho duty would
probably not bo more than one or two
cents. The average man probably nses
about three pairs of shoes per year. Doe
anybody particularly object to paying
from three to tlx cents toward the sup
port of tho Government In itt present
extremity, especially in view of the great
advantage accruing to the farmer?
One Reason (lold la Exported.
It is but reasonable, with the importa
tions of foreigu goods increasing to enor
mously in anticipation of the repeal of
the Wilton low tariff ratet and the en
actment of a protective tariff, that gold
oxportt have increased. Tbe foreign
gooda brought luto the country, must ba
paid for in gold, aud if such importation
increase from ten to twenty millions a
month, it goes without saying that gold
exports mutt increase somewhat. Sev
eral other reasons, notably tbe desire for
accumulations of gold In Europ by rea
son of war possibilities, show that there
is nothing alarming in the exports of that
metal, and no cause for tho note of alarm
being tounded by the silver advocates
The quantity of gold money in 1878 wai
$1,200,800,000, while in 1800 It waa $3,.
608,700,000, being in 1806 BO per cent
greater than the gold and silver money
combined ln 1873.
Secretary Wilson' latest move la la
making a practical Investigation to deter
mine tectiont of th country moat adapt,
ed to the production of the bett quality
of beet sugar.
. . GEORGE MELVILLE. 1
s
I