Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-08-13
Business Prospects.

That the legitimate productive and
developing industries OF the country are
in a sound condition to-day will not be
denied. There is ample capital; agrlcul'
ture and manufactures are upona basis
Of remuneratiye activity; labor is, IN all
departments, fully employed and well
paid; the immigration OF the year Will
be the largest ever known; in mercan-
tile circles the statistics prove
an almost unprecedented stability,
The conservative capitalist and trader
would be satisfied if guaranteed con-
tinuance OF the present state OF affairs
Is there any probability OF an immedi'
ate change, and, if yea, what direction
is likely to be assumed? The press has
been considerably exercised OF late over
certain representations OF evil OF this
country, made by a London journal. 1t
is we'll to learn from any and all sources,
and it is true that often bystander
may see the game more fully and
clearly than a player. But the Pail
Mall Gazette knows nothing which the
| intelligent home observer does not or
NAV not know. Nor has it disclosed any
facts or uttered any argument not recog-
| nized here. There is always the posi-
bility that distractions may arise III the
onward march OF great nation, while
| seasons of depressions are in the nature
| of things a matter OF course. No one
supposes that the progress OF the United
States, materially speaking, IS to be HIN
dered or substantially delayed. is
there any evidence that 1t Is 10 be im-
peded in the near future?
During the fiscal year ending the Both
OF June. 1881, the excess OF exports OF
merchandise was $3.50. 726, 254, as against
an excess in 1880 OF Sl6I ,6S3 9l2. The
excess of imports OF coin and bullion
for 1881 was S9l 1860, as compared
with an excess OF imports in lSSO OF
SIS, S9l, 39l. The value OF our exports
of merchandise, during the year end,
ing June 80, 1881, was S902, 3l9,473 and
our export OF manufacture OF cOttor5 Is
gradually but surely increasing.
but it is said that as to wheat we shall
export less in the coming year than
annually for the past four years. This
NAV possibly be the case, both because
OF a lessened crop on this side and bet
ter crops in Europe. But how far will
this effect the great balance? In the
first place, it is now established not
only that We are to have surplus, but
a harvest which few years since would
have been considered extraordinary.
We shall furnish to our people, IN
Guiding the accession from abroad, cheap
food. The cotton crop, as it now looks,
will be, say, equal to that OF last year,
which will afford enough and to spare
at reasonable price. Notwithstanding
the unpromising spring and early sum-
mer, there is prospect that the corn
crop will be abundant. All that can be
said now, therefore, is that our exports
OF grain and -four are not likely to be as
extraordinarily large as OF late.
On the other hand, there are no symp-
toms OF excessive importations, and Tor
all home purposes We have an abundant
supply OF raw material, OF machinery, OF
labor, and Of capital. Were we wholly
excluded from foreign trade for year,
we should still thrive upon our own pro.
duction and consumption. We are not
to be 80 shut out. We shall send abroad
wheat, petroleum, meats cotton and
o;ier articles, and ii we do not receive
~ much clean cash as we have
recently imported, We are not to be
called upon to send it abroad. That is
TO say, we are not importing so much as
to render it necessary, and there is no
reasonable ground to expect that we
shall have to do it to pay debts. To
those who apprehend danger from the
imitation of the price OF stocks in Wall
streets, we can point out the condition
of business generally throughout the
whole country. Not only are the fail
ures comparatively few and unimpor.
can't, but in the West and on the Pacific
slope business is unusually good for the
aeason, with every prospect OF healthy
trade in the iall. That which We have
said has been founded upon the idea
that commercial affairs would be con-
Quoted in a business-iike manner, as
they now are. That granted, the future
is promising. The long anticipated
crash in stocks may come any day, and
no great harm will be done; we may
build too many railroads, and that
would make trouble, but as yet there is
neither speculation nor extravagance Of
| investment which casts a shadow upon
the welfare of the country as a WHOLE
Providence Journal.