The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-01-17

been reached, and specie payments once
more resumed, is circumstance OF the
utmost Importance. live have bid good.
bye 10 all the uncertainty In values, All the
evils Of experimental legiSlation In finance,
and oil anxiety and apprehension as 10 M
financial policy Of the country-Which the
suspension Of specie payments entailed-
tis surely ground; for the sincerest graft.
tude.
."Second-Another most important In.
dication Of tho possible approach Of better
times Is the continued prosperity Of Tt the
vast class who till the soil, and OF those
dependent upon them. Abalanee of trade
implying cash receipts for disbursements
Of nearly q million dollars for every work.
Ing dayin the year, Is an achievement Of
vast consequence 10 numerous vital inter.
ests OF the country. It Is true that prices
for agricultural products have reached n
point so low as to mako the profit OF the
producer very small; but the disadyan.
tage TO the farmer Is the gain Of an equally
large class OF operatives and laborers, to
whom cheap food Is the greatest Of boons,
I"Third-The changing character or the
industries OF large number OF the people
Is one OF the most hopeful signs Of the
past year, and Is nowhere 10. visible asin
the increase In the amount Of land taken
up for actual settlement. AS an riinstarce,
the sales Of land by the National Govorn.
ment tor the year ending June 30th, IlS77,
were 3,3SS, 900 acres, while for. the wear
ending the same date in 1873 the figures
were 7,562,000 acres. In the various
State Land Agencies and Railroad Land
Offices an equal proportionate increase
Is noted, especially as compared with 1873
Such States as Texas, Minnesota, Colora-
do, and indeed all the fertile regions, have
bad large additions to their populations
during the year. It must be borne inl
mind that this increase in the farming
population is not In consequence OF immi-
grafton from abroad, which, though in.
creaslng, still continues at o minimum; but
that the new settlers are largely made up
OF those whose. pursuits in the older States
have failed them owing 70 the depression.
How significant this. change Is Tor the fu-
ture oil the country the reader can Judge
for himself 5E
"Fourth-The prediction has been full.
filed that no marked prosperity
was, possible until values touched. q
level lower than the gold fstandard |
IN normal times. This level has been |
reached, and the great decline in the
products is not more remarkable than the
rniYersality OF the reduction. The imped. |
iment of false values To- better times Is, |
therefore, removed; and II, as Professor
Jevons says, "the best time to begin a new
business Of any kind Is when trade Is de-
pressed, and when wages and interests are
low, surely that time has been attained
in this country. Things have reached this |
point, that capital long idle or temporarily
invested at rates Of interest never so un-
islikely to be tempted into |
at once sale and profitable" v
The circular very frankly admits, ''it is
true that in former years there were pres
ent conditions which were interpreted
quite as fayorably>as the foregoing, and
that disappointment was the result Of re- |
lying upon them." But it is claimed that
'unfulflled predictions Of the past do
not weaken the force Of existing circum-
stances. - ~ -