f BUSINESS IS IMPROVING.
Cheering Eeports from Every Section
of the Country.
I Ike Testimony of ther Press Is Unanimous in
Behalf of This Fact.
. Democratic , Republican , and Independent Pa-
' 1 pers Testify to Business Improvement.
" Even the Calamity Shriekers Are Compelled to Admit a
> ' Better Condition.
i
' The following statements , gathered
from recent Issues of dally and weekly
papers in all pnrts ' of the oountry , and
representing all political parties , relate
I to the business condition In the United
States. They will repay a careful ex-
nuiinatlon. It will be seen that the
editors , who have their hand on the
* public pulse through their army of re
porters , news gatherers and financial
students , are unanimous. Irrespective
. of politics , in the statement that brtsi-
1 , ness has improved and Is improving.
•
Pnlcs Better Uinn in 1892.
Very much more conclusive evidence of
an increased movement of merchandise
has been obtained for April by "Dun's
Iteview. " which has secured statements
from 337 business houses representing nil
parts of the country east of the Rocky
Mountains , and all lines of trade , coverIng -
. Ing their sales in April. ISO" , 1S9G and
1892. Some houses reported actual fig
ures and others only percentages , but the
groupings of both give very much the
same results. Assuming these replies to
ba indicative of the business of the coun
try , the volume of sales last month was
only about 10 per cent less than in April ,
3.892 , a year of more than usual pros-
I • perity , and G per cent greater than in the
I same month of 189G. In estimating the
value of this statement the decline in
prices must be considered. Since 1892
Sauerbeck's index figures show that the
decline has been a little under 10 per
cent ; "Bradstreet's" index figures , con
fined to this country , make it nearly 13
| per cent. In certain lines it has been
much heavier ; "Dun's" states the decline
In iron at 33 per cent , woolens 30 , wool
* 82 , and cottons 21 per cent. If the vol-
j time of transactions has fallen off only
\ r- % _ tr 4fl p ? c . nt ? the gual sJntof mer-
A genera ! survey of the TSfimess situa
tion for the past week affords good
grounds for encouragement. The water
is leaving the Mississippi bottom lands ,
and it will be possible , after-all , to raise
crops there. There is an improved de
mand for goods at most of the great West
ern distributing centers , in Bpite of the
unseasonable coolness of the weather.
x- ' " There is a better call for iron and steel ,
but production is .still ahead of consump
tion. Boston Journal ( Rep. ) .
Great Activity in Railway Buildine.
If the disposition of railroads to extend
their mileage be an indication of a re
turn to prosperity , and if the statements
made by the .Railway Age , the generally
accepted authority in1 regard to railroad
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 1897. The grand total represented
In this table suggests a genuine boom in
railroad building all over the country.
The total thus given reaches the startling
figure of 17,500 miles of new track as the
.probable record for the present year.
Memphis Scimitar ( Dem. ) .
Good Crop Prospects and Good Prices.
The prospect is highly encouraging to
the Northwest Of course , the crop is not
yet harvested , and will be subjectto the
usual contingencies which sometimes blast
the hopes of the husbandman ; but the
fact remains that a crop well started , with
favorable soil and climatic conditions , al
most invariably turns out well. The
TCorthwest this .rear faces the 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 a less
* -than averasre crop in the rest of the
world. Minneapolis Tribune ( Rep. ) .
Farmers Feelinir the Improvement.
In all of the different classes of indus
try in the United States , then , the person
who has the stick-to-it-ivene s 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 set in and as
* > f . it develops the farmer who has not closed
! „ , ont his business will be the beneficiary
' & - * of the improvement in the financial and
| f | > \jj industrial condition. Albany Journal.
MP ' ' " * *
• E
Wjg-\\ ' Kctter Times at Tc.i t in Sipht.
§ 1- , The report made by It. G. Dun & Co. 's
Isfe * . trade review , showing an activity in 1c-
? 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
- ' $ % * " * t > een predicted through many- weary
ijJ0 S months of waiting are at least in sight.
M ' * " ' Memphis Scimitar ( Dem. ) .
Sgfc * * Brightening on the Pacific Coast.
T T * X in spite of the occasional sneer of Pop-
„ > • cratic philosophers that the dawn of
* ; - prosperity is being strangely delayed , it
| | l cannot be denied that the trade situation
r fc .4 * brightening and that business is better
* than in .189G. The exports of produce
fv - from the United States thus far this year
* * -4ihow an increase of § 144,000,000 over the
came period in 1890 , which Is a gain
* - • z3xge enough to satisfy the most exacting
h
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 n
proper tariff we would not only enjoy the
profits arising from this large balance ,
but those derived from a greatlystimulat
ed infernal commerce as well. This fact
is well understoodby business men. hence
their anxiety for the passage of a suitable
tariff bill. San Francisco Call ( Rep. ) .
Hop fnl FcellnsAmonjr Merchant * .
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 in April. 1892. 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 ( Ind. ) .
Even Bryan's Orjran Admits It.
Bverv Democratic newspaper in the
land admits 'that business is improving ,
and rejoices thnt it is so. Only organs
that support Republican administrations
rejoice when American business is pros
trate. This statement is backed up by the
proof. If the Star doubts it , let it search
the editorial pages of its Republican con
temporaries , beginning about Jan. 1,1S93 ,
and endiiyr promptly on Nov. 4 , 1890.
Omaha World-Herald ( Bryan Dem. ) .
uT ronditiomsby quoting trWPa Irov ,
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 wore fairly
prosperous. Such facts as these speak
louder than the most elaborate theorizing
on the part of calamity howlers. Minne
apolis Tribune ( Rep. ) .
"Beyond All Question. "
Beyond all question , general business is
improving. "We have this week more de
cided indications of the progress made.
Yet it is true that one can easily draw
too broad a conclusion 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 b'e fully
absorbed now , but the old 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 co
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 recorded. 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 halcyon
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 South Responds with Good Cheer.
The 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 , manager
of Dun's in Macon. "
ager agency . "The re
turn of prosperity , " he says , "is visible
on all sides. Wholesale dealers in nearly
all lines are all reporting an increase of
business over last year. * * * AH
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 efforts being made to discourage the
people ; and worse , to involve the country
in war with than
more one foreign pow
er , these reports , from the highest au
thorities , are exceedingly hopeful and en
couraging. Macon ( Ga. ) Telegraph
( Dem. ) .
The East Feels It , Too.
In spite 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 steadilv
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
sylvania labor 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
i
1 i " \ >
mammmmmmmammmiiSatapmmmmmimmmmmKmmtm
and other manufacturing communities.
New York Commercial Advertiser ( Rep. ) .
Return of "McKinley Times. "
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 , but is founded on actual book
ings of large orders. Times-Herald
( Ind. ) .
Railroad Buildlntr Sixrnificant.
During 1S9G the total number of miles
of new 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 1S93 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
unprecedentedly low figure of 1,711 miles
of new track was the record. Afterward
came a period of expansion , culminating
in 1SS7 with the unprecedentedly 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 1S97 over
the banner year in the history of railway
construction in this country. Memphis
Scimitar ( Dem. ) .
Prosperity Pteallnc ; Upon the Country.
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 ; but in their last week's
review Dun & Co. break into the follow
ing joyous strain : "Nearly all will be 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 , 1S92 , the year of the larg
est business hitherto , and were G per cent
more than in the same month last year. "
This facr , the Review goes on to say , is
especially encouraging in view of the
great fall of sprices within the past five
years. Memphis Tribune ( Rep. ) .
More Work and More Wasos.
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 we have endured has been
the low price of wheat. In no month of
1S94 did the Chicago price exceed Go
cents and during most of the year it sold . ,
around 55 cents ; in 1S95 th < * price was"aj
jfranp" ° r and in.lS90 " * 4P * 4feM
however , we eem enteringTipbn an Ta ?
of higher grain prices. Philadelphia IiT- -
quirer ( Rep. ) . ,
Visib'e on Every 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 neonle are catherinz fresh
strength and that confidence so sorely
tried of late years. 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. xVs
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 docs not belong to the "sons
of rest. " There is a vast amount of work
on hand , which must 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 Filver Pre t Admits It.
The Kansas City Star says that the
"Bryanite 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 does , it makes a mis
statement when it says that they are rt <
iterating the statement that business is
not improving. They know that business
Is improving. It always docs-in the
spring. That is historic. When you hear
an administration organ 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 Doui. ) .
Reports Very Fncourn rinj .
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 a depression as
the past foursyears 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-
l
vance in the price of cotton , and the re
sumption of more mills which use cotton
and wool. Additional boot and shoe fac
tories have resumed operations , though
taking orders at very low prices. The
tone 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 Standard-Union
( Rep. ) .
Bradstreet'n Reports Favorable.
In spite of the fact that the pendency
of a tariff bill always unsettles trade and
manufacturing , the reports from the vari
ous parts of the country are very encour
aging. 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
shows an improvement over April of last
year ; " in San Francisco "the retail trade
is reported as fairly good ; " in Nashville
"the local retail trade is somewhat improved
" " retnil trade is
proved ; in Augusta "the
reported 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 improve
ment in general business : " in Milwaukee
"the amount of business transacted is re
ported of fair proportions , with prospects
better and collections slightly easier : " in
St. Louis "genernl 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 Chicago
cage "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. "
Southern Democratic Confi'lence.
Week before last the Times-Union made
a comparison , for the preceding week of
1S97 and the corresponding week of 1S9G ,
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
the fourteen leading commercial cities.
The bank clearances of the Southern
cities show a decrease in volume of only
$548,407 , or less than 1 per cent , from
those of the prosperous year 1S92. The
volume of bank clearances of the North
ern cities , however , shows 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 one direction
they show positively how the wind is
blowing. Every indication shows well for
the South. If wo may judge by bank
clearances , the Southern cities referred
to have practically recovered from the
panic Florida Times-Union ( Dem. ) .
. Tndt MjJp * Jtiona Scyc fl. , "
country are' ' Pna ; " for everywhere pro-
cluction is restricted to an amount com
mensurate with' the demands for consump
tion , and with few.ox eplions stocks are
not being increased. On the contrary ,
in many cases consumption appears to be
gaining on production. Another 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 from top to bottom. These
have gone , and trusts in other lines must
go out of business under the Supreme
Court's decision in the Trans-Missouri
case , leaving all markets free and open.
The consumer is getting , and will con
tinue to get , the benefit of cheap iron ore ,
cheap transportation and cheap raw ma
terials of all kinds. These changes place
the manufacturer in a position to supply
a ' cheap product and still realize a profit.
Minneapolis Tribune ( Rep. ) .
The "Heart of Georjia" Rcspon-1 * .
The figures which we herewith publish
are of the greatest importance , as show
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 says , "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
my observation are misleading , we are
once more on a level with a slow but
Fteady 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. ) .
Bnmiiiess Barometers All Favorable.
The return of prosperity is what every
body is now looking for , and there are
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 the larger cities never
send out their commercial travelers until
they are satisfied that the retail dealers
want goods , and in stringent times retail
merchants do not purchase more Roods
than they are hopeful of sellinp. 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
m 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 daily increasing. Lexington
( Ky. ) Leader.
More "democratic Testimony.
The Washington Post ( Dem. ) certifies
to a marked business improvement al
ready. It says : 'Alt is an undeniable fact
Ihat 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 are settled are "insanely
optimistic. " Doubt as to tariff schedules ,
it says , "is always demoralizing to man
ufacturers. " People who are complain
ing that business does not revive as rap
idly as expected since the inauguration
of McKinley should remember that a
tariff bill cannot be framed and passed in
a day. cr a month , and that nothing so un-
eettles the business of the country as
pending tariff legislation. The pendency
of a measure affecting imports and duties
upon many thousands of articles , mnst
lead manufacturers to delay production
and dealers to delay their orders until the
new rates are known.
ChecrinoNewB for Farmers.
The Department of Agriculture is re
ceiving very gratifying reporta from the
farmiug 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 our own sugar , and it is apparent
that the farming community is not only
feelinir the return of prosperity , but is
occupying its mind with cheerful
thoughts.
Good News from th * "chnf Town * . "
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. : i3 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
show an increase , and values are main
tained. The local manufacturers of mo
rocco report an increased trade , and on
some grades the demand is lively. Shoe
shipments hold up well. The forwardings
from Boston the past week , according to
the footings of the Shoe and Leather Re
porter , wore 79.0S7 cases , against S3.254
cases last veek. and (15.127 cases for the
corresponding week last year. Since Jan.
1 , the .shipments have been SGG.S21S cases ,
against 702.799 last year ; an increase of
10-1,027 cases for the business of 1S97.
Lynn ( Mass. ) Item ( hid. ) .
The Capital Citv Fc 'fl Tt.
A reading of The Star's weekly review
of the real estate situation , printed to
day , indicates how steadily progressive
is the , return of prosperity to this city.
There has been no sudden and unstable
"boom" in values or in building opera-
lions and hence what has been accom
plished has been with a greater guaran
tee of permanence. The sniffings of cap
ital have 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
firmation 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 he improving.all over the country.
Washington Star ( Ind. ) .
The Western Farmer Pro < = perin r.
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 , . < e ' rep will be scanty.
Good prices will fallow asi natural rc-
"koIV op''r > ; ru fo plrp1r ar1 'iAS : * - ' ' ;
say that the California farmer will do
better this year than for some years back.
When the farmer pros ; crs the rest of the
community flourishes : hence if present in
dications are realized we ought to enjoy
iucreased mercantile activity durinthf >
rest of the year. San Francisco Call
( Rep.-
Clinibirur Slowly but 7"crc2pt blv.
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.
TI12 Workmen Arc Co-operatintr.
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 its
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. Invo .rors and manu
facturers are i onfidor.t that times will im
prove. Pittsburg Ga/ette ( Ind. ) .
Improvement Stow ! nt Gradinl.
From the commercial point of view the
State is evidently working into better
shape. Tlii- docs not appear s „ 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 Jo tincnter of trade
activity. San Francisco Call ( Rep. ) .
Factories an-1 Kaitroi'In Kii jv.
The news which comes of the
reoj > e nsig
of factories in different par : ' , of the eoua
try is a certain sign of The approach of I
better times , tt is evment that the num
ber of wage earners is steadily inereasi n -
Sale.s of stocks are growing , and prices
are firmly maintained. At las ? there is a
bign that raiiroad earnings , which have
been down to low figures for the pa. t
twelve months , are oi the upward turn
Globe-Democrat 'Rep. ) .
A Steady imtirovcmciit.
The business situation
as shown bv
current reports is certainly encouraging
As an exchange remarks , though circum
stances were against
nny decided : mpro\e-
ments in general business last week , still
there was a noticeable continuation
of the
slow and steady growth that has beeu
characteristic of business ever since the
November election. Scranton ( Pa. ) Trib
une ( Rep. ) .
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. ) . I
FACTS JPOR FABMEES. I
x J
WHAT UNCLE SAM IS DOING IN
THEIR BEHALF.
Showings ob to What the Atsrlcnltnr-
isttt Are Receiving and I'ayinc for
What They Raise and Conmime
Importations Flood the Country.
Crisp Waahlnuton Chat.
Special Washington correspondence :
a f I HE last sn m -
W J mnry of Fiuance and
. < cSA Commerce , issued bv
'
JfMfll
the Treasury De
partment , con tains-
statistics and figurcK-
seine of which will
prove of much inter
est to farmers anil
those connected !
„ with farm pursuitH.
| S It shows the Imports *
Jjninl exports of larm
*
'
' products and tho-
L amount of such cum-
' ' " modifies that are bc-
fla ing brought Into tho-
jF country. Following
' ' are some of tho-
tlungs shown in its.
pages :
The March importations of wool in 1 7"
wore 08.0So.ftU ) pounds , against 17.7SL-
547 pounds in March. 1S90. and against
only : i.4SS. . r pounds in the last March-
of the McKinley law. The importation *
of rags , noils , etc. . in March. 1SD7. was.
0.400.401 pounds , against 1.001 pounds in.
the last March of the McKinley law.
These quantitcs of free wool and shoddy
now in stock here are not particularly
cheering to the growers of good American *
wool , for it will be ome months before-
they can be absorbed by the country and
a place made for the home prodti t. Tho-
nuniber of cattle imported in March. 1SJJ7 , .
under the Wilson law was 00.S0O. whl'o-
in March. 1S94. under the McKinley law
the number imported was Oil. The num
ber of pounds of hides imported in March.
1SD7. iniew 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 , threo-
millioii dollars in value. The hr.y import
ed in March , ISDO. 1SD0 and 1S ! > 7. umler-
the Wilson law was over 70.000 tons ,
averaging about three times as much : is
was imported in the last March of tho-
McKinley law. The world , according to.
this official report , is being raked over to.
find wool to be brought to this conn try-
before the new tariff law goes into effect.
The importations of wool during March ,
IS07 , came from Austria-Hungary. Itel- J
gium , Denmark. France ' . Germany. Italy ,
Portugal. Roumanin , Baltic Russia.
Spain. England , Scotland , Ireland. Na
Scotia , the Black Sea ports. DuMi West
Indies , Argentine , Brazil , Cbil\ Pin ,
Uruguay , Venezuela , 'lmja , Urit b i'ast
Indies. Asiatic Russia. Turkey in As.a ,
British Australia. British Afric.i , I jpt.
This is a pretty fair showing.
Ajsaaa other tAgs this siimm.i-T f - -
pajA.ijJaT. Kxt fts from The table : if'
given below , the exports rep 'r > scnting
their market value at the date of expor
tation , while the imported articles n p -
sent their values in foreign mar'ie's. Th s .
latter fact should be born in mnd • i.
stantly in examining the conipar-it ve 11.
ures as the prices of imported art.les appear - {
pear low , until it is remembered that the *
values given relate to the pr.ces m fi.re.gii
markets , and do not inrlude the • luinuntd.
added , for freight. tanC. handling and.
dealers' profits , hefe-c fhey rea-h the-
consumer in this country.
Costiparative Tab'cs.
Table showing average values of ccm-
niodilies of farm expi.ri in April. KU0. . .
and iu March , lb'J7-
Apri. ! KG. Ar-rll. 1S1 7.
Wheat 70.7 st.2
Wheat flour , per Mi.smo : 5t.11 :
Hops 7.r iciits 10.S cent v _
l'iekted pork , per lb. . r . . "l cents 5.1 certsV
Cheese , per Hi V. 'l cents 10.U eeim '
Leaf tobaefo 7.1 touts 7. ' . ) ceiiti
Table showing average prices in for
eign markets of commodities which farm
ers consume , in April. 1.S90. and March ,
1S97 : -
Apr : ) , isnc. April. tS'J7. fl
Cents. Cents. M
CotTce 14. : : H.2 H
Cotton cloth , pei yi.t ! .l SO JH
Piekled herrings. ! ! . . : : • > • * . : *
Mackerel , per lb 7.2 5.
Ieet sugar 2.4 1.7
Dress goods , per yd0.7 7.5 I
It will be seen frci.i the above that thoI
selling price of practically everything I
which the farmer has had to put upon thoI
market has increased during the year andr m
that the buying price of things which he M
consumes has decreased. I
The State Department is in receipt of a. I
communication from the United States-
consul at Odessa. Russia , to the effect I
that large quantities , .f Russian wool of" B
inferior quality are being shipped to this I
country and the manufacturers of tho-
country are cautioned accordingly. H
The proposed duly .m the qminMty of I
rawhide which \\oihl : be used iu the manufacture - I
ufacture of a pair of shoes is estimated at. H
about 0 cents. Onlj about urn-fifth. , however -
ever , of the hides uM'd in this country areH
imported , so thaf the increased cost of : v
pair of shoes bj reason or the- duty wonliL" H
probably not be more than one or two H
cents. The averain. man probably uses9
about three pairs of siiues per year. DoesBJ
anybody particularly object to payingr fl
from three to six cents toward the sup9J
port of the Government in its present fl
extremity , especially in view of the great. 9
advantage acenrng to the farmer ? fl
One Kcason Gold Is Kxported. Bl
It is but reasonable , with the importations - I
tions of foreign goods
increasing m > enorwj
mously in anticipation of the repeal of >
the Wilson low tariff rates and the enactment -
actment of a protective tariff , that gold M
exports have increased. The forci'Mi fl
coeds brought into
Jhe
country must W
paid for in gold , nnd if such importations M
increase Trom ten to twenty milirdna , I
month , : t goes without saying , thatjLtf7 > 1
exports must increase somewhat- . 1
-
eral other reasons , notably the dcsireS 1
accumulations of gold in Europe by MT 1
son of war possibilities , show that iMl 1
is nothing alarming in the exports of St 1
metal , and no cause for the note of aKt 1
being sounded by the silver advocaK J
Ihe quantity of gold money in I * * ? * ! ?
$1.209.800,000 , . while in l C S f' J
008,700,000 , being i „ 1830 50 f cfnV 1
mS aStvfeofKi3 1- I
mine sections of the cwf \ ° diter I
" *
ed to the production Z > " * * ? 1
of beet sugar. st Qoa' ty 1
GEORGE MBLVILLEL 1
I