Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-06-25

The optimists and the pessmists are at their
Old light over the condition of the business of
the country. The former seem to be getting
the upper hands In the argument this Time All
the facts reported from different sections of the
country Indicate bright outlook Manufactu-
fers every where are said to agree that the con-
sumption of our four great staples, iron, cotton,
wool and leather, has overtaken the produc-
tion. The American Iron and Steel Association
report steady increase In production and q
steady decrease In stocks. They present other
facts of interest. The rail mills and car shops
all over the country are busy, with orders
ahead, and the prospects are good for a con-
f1nued Large demand from the railroads for all
kinds OF material. More miles Of new railroad
have already been built this year than during
Inc entire year OF 1873. The Philadelphia re-
ports Of recent date show an advance In one
week OF 81 to 81 per ton In iron rails The Ia
Die Of foreign trade demonstrates the rapid
grow tn OF our export trade since 1875 Last year
the amount OF merchandise exports reached q
figure over Sill 100000 larger than any preced-
ing year, excepting 1877, over which it shows a
gain OF more than s91, 200, 0OO-certainly salts
factory increase for one year. At the same
time our merchandise imports have steadily
decreased since 1873, and last year were smaller
than any year since 1870. The prospects are
good for maintaining and increasing the advan-
tages already gained. The general conclusion
reached respecting the iron trade Is thus stated:
" Looking over the whole ground, it appears
evident that we have passed the worst point of
the long financial depression, and are now
steadily working back to better times"
The increased demand for cotton has caused
an advance In the price Of that article. 1t is
said that the cotton dealers OF the south never
closed season In such fine spirits, and are in
better condition than ever before The Atlanta
Constitution says that there is scarcely village
that does not furnish its man who has made
from 5000 to 100000. The largest amount
cleared by single person is put down at
S2O0,OOO The profits In New orleans are esti-
mated at 100000, It is pointed out that e
fine feature OF these gains ia the fact that they
come In cash and are paid without any long de-
lay. The rise In cotton has also caused furry
In cotton goods. Maine Is interested In the
matter as well as Georgia. The Lewiston Jour-
nal prints the views OF the head OF one
OF the manufacturing corporations of that
city, who says that some Of the mills are now
making enormous profits on the rise OF cotton
alone. he adds that lively demand for cotton
sprung up In January and business has been
growing better ever since. The trade In cotton
yarn has not. he says, been so good since he
mas lived In Lewiston as 1t Is to-day. Other
cotton manufacturers concur that q ready
market for their goods Is now found In this
country. WOOL the third staple, is said to be
IN sympathy with cotton, and the rise In the
iatter anects the former. Leather has decidedly
advanced In price. There are more buyers OF
leather goods In the market than ever before.
Taking the Auburn (Me.) shoe factories as an
example, the work OF leather manufacture Is
becoming profitable. They are running full
crews, and business is so good that the usual
midsummer shutdown will be avoided. In
view of the marked improvement In trade in
respect to our great staples Of manufacture,
and the excellent crop prospects, the pessimist
Is driven as last resort to political forebodings
Of dismal import.