The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-01-15
BUSINESS OF THE YEAR-A FEW FIGURES

Sperking generally OF the whole country,
Its prosperity during the past year has been
wholly unprecedented. The surplus of revcn-
tie over expenditures IN the national budget is
500 ,SS3, G53.20 and S739GS,0S74l has been
transferred to the sinking fund. The estima-
ted surplus for the present fiscal year without
payments to the sinking fdnd is about $780,
100000. Over onc.third of the national debt
has been paid since 1865. The excess of ex.
ports over imports is $lG7 $3.50, 0l2 and the az
gregate trade 81, 50350 ,404. Nothing has oc.
Cured to interrupt the resumption of specie
payments, the balance of coin in the Treasury
on November being SAL ,597,0l3G1. Immi-
grants are coming in so rapidly that there is
danger the bigotry of knownothingism may be
revived and urge Il policy Of restriction. The
population of the country by the census OF last
June is estimated at SO, 1872 $50. 1t has been a
most fortunate year and entities us to the dis
tinction of being the most prosperous nation
on the face of the earth.
Coming down to nearer home, the annual
business review OF Chicago, published in the
papers of that city on the LIST INST, shows the
following among other figures:
The amount OF clcarlngs show large IN
crease over last year and foot up 81 SOB 600,
and the banks give flourlshing financial ex-
hlbit. But the chief increase Is In the grain
trade. The elevator room has been increased
over two million bushels There has been an
aggregate of grain received OF l6l, 100000 bu.
shells, against 13S,000,000 in 1879 and 60,00O.
600 In 1870. The shipments this year were
15G,0000O0 bushels; last year 10000, 900 The
prospect for the winter and spring is the
brightest possible for continuation of the in.
| crease IN the trade of cereals, as well as for a
general business revival. In the provision
trade there has been considerable forward
stride. For the year ending Nov. |, 1880,
1915, 600 hogs were slaughtered there agains,
1888, 900 in 1879 and this IN the face of ser
Gus labor disturbances lasting through the bet
Ter part of the packing season. The average
daily capacity of packing houses is 100000
hogs per day This business has all grown uT
since 1853, when the first hogs were slaught
cred to the number of $4,000. The aggregate
weight of this years killing was 1,lO0,0000Ot
pounds and the value S62,OOO,0OO, an increase
of $20,000,000 over the value of the hog crop o
1879.
The city of Peoria, according 10 review il
the Transcript of the LIST inst, shows the fol
lowing among many other equally surprising
figures:
The business of the city has quadrupleC
within the past three years, the aggregate be
s ing nearly $4G0,O0O000 in 1880, against 500
b. 600 900 in 1877, a gain of nearly $500 900 00C
The gram trade of the past year largely ex
= ceeded that OF any other year, receipts beini
25,6l5, 1l5 bushels, against lS,2I3,340 in 1877!
and shipments being 20,sSS6 65 bushels
against IA, 49l, 200 IN 1879. Production of sp
rits increased 15052.939 gallons in 1879 10 IL
o 649,3S2 gallons IN 1880, showing Peoria TO b
= the largest spirit producing city in the world
o The number Of gallons exported In 1880 wa
e ,762 627, and internal revenue collection
I were $l0,694.42l. The sales of live stoc
J. amounted to $4,000, 600. Over III 600, 900 hsv
a been expended in Improvements.
] ST Jou,e CINCINNATI. Louisyllle-in shol