The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-02-24
The Business Future:

The encouraging views as to the busi-
ness prospects recently presented in
contemporary are most opportune. The
note of alarm and dependency has been
so long sounded that public opinion has
become morbidly sensitive, and conse-
quently ,e1travagant in its assumptions
and prophecies. In highly speculative
times, public opinion has always proved
itself unreasoning and unreasonable, as
suming false propositions and leading
to equally false and e1travagant conclu-
sions. Then the values of property are
talked up, and written up, until every
exchange of it apparently enriches the
happy nsgotiator, acting under delu-
sion and series of fallacious reasoning
which the few only can discern. Every
one wants to buy and sell. Large mar
gins of profit are apparently made, and
general activity in all branches Of trade
creates buoyancy and enthusiasm. But
when new and disturbing influences arise,
panic seizes the masses and rapidly the
delusion is dispelled. Then it is assumed
that rial estate has no bottom, stocks
are depressed and some of them rem
dered worthless, manufactures heavy
and unproductive, and everybody wants
to sell; few dare to buy. In fact, the
great majority. think and act, alike and
from public opinion quite as, e1traya-
CANT in the opposite extreme, while a
very limited number of persons COM
paratively form their. judgment, on. 8
true state of facts, and have confidence
enough to act upon it. Such is substan-
TALLY the state Of affairs now. With
abundant crops at the South and West,
and fair demand for them so that our
exports are steadily increasing, busi-
ness generally in these parts of the coun-
try is in healthy and sound condition.
Add to the crops of the South and West
the mineral products and also the results
of the manufacturing industries. of the
entire country, and the sum total of val
ue we may not venture to estimate with
out more reliable data than is yet at
command, the cotton crop alone amount
ing to more than two hundred millions
of dollars.
The Boston Globe says New England
alone, where there is the largest amount
accumulated capital, seems to be- nearly
paralyzcd with apprehension. Msssa-
chusetts, over stimulated during the war
by her manufactures, until over produc-
ton demands q temporary cessation of
activity, and since the war largely deple-
ted by her excessive investments in pn-
productive Western railroads, built under
the stimulus of enormus land grants,
pauses in apparent CONSERVATION; and,
yet, is now rolling up her pecuniary .re.
sources, keeping in reserve until
every species of property shall, in the
opinion of the timid capitalist, reach the
imaginary "hard pan" With an annual
product which has in some years reached
the enormus sum of $500; 200, 900, and
with railroad facilities and connections
already well established and yet being
further developed, with an annualincome
in her exports, and her diversified manu-
factures on foundation which will ena-
able her generally to- compete with those
of any part Of the. couptry,.a "a, .feW people
are presumptious enough to think that
the sebottom has not quite dropped out"
and they venture to presume that there Is
not only good time coming, but even
close at hand, when some business will
be done and fair profits once more reward
enterprise and industry. There are al
ready indications that sober reason is re-
turning, and that mutual confidence will
soon be restored as the first and indis-
spensable conditions to healthy revival
of all branches of business.-C Chronicle
and Sentinel. ..,..t. ;..,-.a