Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1879-08-06

portunity to sell to other nations
for cash the enormous suplus of our
products for several years in sue
cession. The resumption of specie
payments, or, TO be the more ex-
act, the appreciation of the govern
ment paper to par, has had no
douht, some influence in readjust-
ing business and values, and giving
us a new start on clean page ;
but it did it by fearfully heroic
process. that caused infinite suffer-
ing. The remedy would have left
the patient utterly PROSTATE but
for the natural vigor of q young
and strong constitution and the
favorable circumstances of con-
valescence mentioned above.
But whatever may have been the
causes which contributed to it, it
is extremely easy to see that the
commerce and industry, and even
the speculation of the country are
reinvigorated, and are now rapid.
| ly approaching period of activity
and prosperity as great if not
greater, than any we have yet en-
joyed. 1t is not condition Of
mere expectancy either; but one
of actual possession and enjoyment.
The hard times are not merely
passing away. They have passed.
Legitimate traffic all over the
country has been through all this
season as vigorous, and profits
have been as large; rs is really
wholesome for the future for with
an increase of profits will again
come wild speculation, wild credit,
and another collapse. 1t does not
need very close examina-
ton of the subject to recog-
nize the truth Of this. Every
body can see that all sorts Of en-
tcrprlses are springing mp. There
never was so intense n competition
among the great railroad men for
the possession of new connecting
lines in all directions, and this fight
for existing lines is only combat
for position from which to push out
new railroads into the newly OPEN
ed agricultural district of the west.
Railroad building has never entirely
ceased but it has now taken a new
impulse. Projects from which two
years ago capital shrank as from
certain ruin are now not only re-
specially examined, but eagerly
sought by moneyed men. Even
mining, the most dangerous and
uncertain of enterprises, is draw
ing to the far west millions of east
ern capital. 1t is said that New
York City alone will this season
put out over one million of dollars
into Colorado mining property.
Now all this activity, and this
movement of vast sums, this readi-
ness to invest in great enterprises
can only mean that enterprise has
again become profitable.
In our own neighborhood the
Improvement is very visible. The
first and most significant sign of it
we remarked at the close of last
winter. Although it was an en-
tremely protracted winter, the suf-
fering among the poor of the city
was comparatively slight aud con-
fined mostly to the sick and help
less. The strong who were willing
to exert their strength for their
support generally found employ
ment, at wages which, if not so
high as those of former years,
were able to buy nearly as much
Of the necessaries of life. Since
that time there has been a great
improvement, and now scarcely
any willing hand is idle. Wages
have not advanced, but that will
come in good time. We are on
the upward grade, and the work
ingman on the last car is being pull
ed up with the rest.
If the more cheerful faces OF
merchants on our leading thorough
fares do not satisfy the pessimist
let him go along the river banks
and visit the shops and factories.
The News has been compelled to
tell doleful tale every fall and
spring of the idleness that prevailed,
of the shops closed up altogether or
running on half time and half force.
Now everything is life and hustle.
All are running on foil time and