The national Republican., 1867-05-24
THE BUSINESS PROSPECTS, OF
THE COUNTRY.

THE COUNTRY.
There appears to be, in some quarters,
very serious forebodings respecting the
business prospects Of the country, but we
think that all expectation that there must
be . financial panic, as some
imagine and predict, is not warranted by
the condition Of affairs as they now ptand.
The Government may, and doubtless will,
meet with some stringency in its monetary
affairs. This is unavoidable rs we said
some days since. 10 % ..i '2.0
The question Of business may have its
dark sides and gloomy aspects, but there
Is also bright side, and many hopeful
indications Of prosperity which present
themselves for our encouragement, and we
shall do well to seize upon these and make
them contribute to our prosperity.
What may be considered as the dark side
Of our business prospects, in one point OF
light, is the constant complaint in some
quarters that the ship-building interests
of the country are almost entirely sus-
pended; that is, that comparatively few
ships are built. If they are not built, it
is certain that they are not wanted. When
there is demand for ships, they will be
forthcoming; and if they are not wanted,
capital need not tarry to court this invest
ment, but may as well seek other channels.
Seven or eight yeais ago we grew between
Eve and six million bales Of cotton, but
last year it was less than two million bales
Sugar and rice have fallen off in equal
proportion. Wherefore, then, is there
need of more shipsf Our capitalists will
not build ships unless they are needed.
ship.building and the carrying-trade is not
the only profitable investment for capital;
and those heretofore engaged in this line
Of business will soon learn this fact, and
place their means in more profitable chan
nels Of trade.
There is another aspect Of this question
that those who cry out hard times, will dc
we'll to consider. For four years we have
been engaged in active hostilities or in some
kinds Of labor not contributing to the accu.
mulating industries of the country q sin,
gle dollars wealth, because it was all
wasted in war, and the purposes Of war,
Some three millions Of men have been thus
employed. Can such mighty force be
distracted or taken from the wealth-pro
ducers Of any country, and that country
not feel this draft upon its resources The
thing is impossible. What wonder, there
fore, that we now feel it in all the ramif
cations Of businessH II has been esti
mated that the last wheat crop fell off to q
very large extent; that the yield was not
more than about five bushels for every one
sown. This would amount to dead loss
TO the country Of at least Sl0O, ,000,0 ,0OO In
the South the corn crop was pretty much
a failure, and throughout the North and
West this crop was much injured by the
frosts. The estimated loss upon this crop
alone was at least 100000, 900 more.
Added to this we lost at least SlOO, 600, ,OOO
more by the short crop Of cotton. Thu.
we can account for the fact, that in conse
quence OF this failure in these crops, we
are S300,000,000 poorer than we should
have been had there been an ordinary
yield
When we add to this drain upon our
productive resources three hundred mil.
lions short in consequence of diminished
crops, the importations of silks and other
luxuries, and estimate the drain upon us
for gold to pay for these things, why
should we be surprised at the depression in
business? Now we see our agricultural
districts with nothing to sell, and in re.
gions where there should be plenty Of
bread and to spare, a short allowance.
All this present trouble, however, will
soon pass away. Our people are under
standing the question, and are addressing
themselves to the task of remedying this
evil. The plow, the hoe, and every imple-
ment Of industry is being employed, and
millions of broad acres, in addition to WI !,
was sown last year, now present me indi
cations of an abundant crc.o Couraoe
therefore, and let there he no nIace fo,
dependency. 1t .s true that the season il
- a N---N
NV p'Vpl''",, ,1s it is cold and backward
still, F:s yet, the prospect is good, and from
the quantity of corn planted and wheat
sown, we look for large crop and aI
abundant harvest.
When the fires of our furnaces shall bC
again lighted, and the spindles Of our fac
tories again set whirling, and oil our ma
chine shops be made to ring with the swim
of the hammer and the sound of the anvil
prosperity will gil all our borders, and jo,
and rejoicing will fill the cottages Of tn
poor, and in the lordly palaces of the rich
we trust, the poor will not be forgotten
With a land like this, SO blessed by be
nignant Providence, we should show our
selves worthy of the blessing by actiy,
labor, and write upon all our door.post
and pleasant places, "there is no sucl
word as fail"