Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-04-24
Indications of Better Days.

| Recent reports from all parts of the c0un-
try coming through different channels indi-
cate that there is already very decided inn
proycment in business compared with the con-
dition of trade at any time during the past
FIVE years. These reports have been gath
cred from men actually in business, and can
not therefore be regarded as the well-intended
efforts of journalists to inspire confidence in
business circles. The truth is, newspapers
became weary some time since of applying
such specifics for disease which they did not
clearly understand and which they would ar
rest before it had had its run. This time the
indications of improvement are so numerous
that person of an inquiring turn of mind
NAV be able to discover them without the aid
of these general reports which some newspa-
pers have collected with considerable care.
In this city. for instance, one will not be
Obliged to make II very extensive tour among
the wholesale and iobbing houses to ascertain
that there is already better feeling. Three
fourths Of the replies to a question as to the
condition of business compared with last
year will be to the effect that trade is better
and the feeling is much improved In thi.
connection it NAV be said that piano Eianu-
facturer in this city informs us that he has not
had so good business for six years as ut the
present time. We are further informed that
several cotton mills which have not afforded
the owners any return will make a dividend
small to be sure, in June. One dealer in
building materials reports a much better de-
mand for goods in that line than there has
been since the collapse in 1873 We have
already called attention to the remark of the
] .x,f -.
the effect that the newspapers had not taken
due notice of the marked improvement in
trade, judging from their increase of business.
The industrial notes in local papers indicate
n greater activity. 1t is not so remarkable
now as il was year ago to notice that this or
that mill is running on full time over time
with full force. These reports indicate Il
more general employment of labor. The
iron trade in all parts of the country reports
an unusual degree of activity and large or
ders. The steel rail manufactures, for in
stance, have more orders than they can fill.
There is, moreover, good reason to believe
that the number of the unemployed is much
less than it has been any time during the past
five years. Thousands have gone forth from
the crowded cities to the lands of the West
or to the farms nearer home. 1t is true that
there ar, sull many people out of employ
people to eight employments" there will al
ways be an army waiting for something to
turn up
These, we repeat, are sure indications of
better days. Confidence is slowly returning
and business and enterprise are shaking off
the dependency and lethargy of the past five
years and are taking courage and activity.
! These indications of better times will come
| to our notice slowly, and the progress toward
prosperity will be gradual and slow. The
victim of serious physical collapse does not
recover in day or week. The same is
equally true in relation to the recovery of
the country from the collapse of 1873 and
the subsequent prostration. We must not
look for any sudden leap from business stag
nation to the rush of ACTIVITY. This is not an
age of miracles, and this matter of recovery
from the business depression of the pest five
years is not one Of the subjects for miracu-
lous nterposition. improvement and recov-
cry must be the result of natural agents and
slow growth. Journal.