Morning journal and courier., 1883-11-07
Wednesday, November 2, 1888.
THE BUSINESS sTTUaTIoN.

Some gloomy people think that this coun- 1 try is in very bed way and that business | IS going "alI to smash" This idea Is not | A Chicago paper has made an interesting con-
 tributien to the discussion of this interesting
 and very important nnatter It has made an inquiry into the economic state of the terri tory within three hundred miles of the city, and the result is by no means diseouraging. The inquiries covered five States-Q Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Iowa The question whether the farmers of these
 States are satisfied with the prices which they obtain for their products receives 40
 answers, of which 101 are negative. One
 half of the answers from Michigan, how ever, are affirmative. The question what
 proportion of their products is kept in hand
 by the farmers receives 145 answars,-swen-
 ty- five saying small, forty-seVen average, seventy-three large. This iustifes the as-
 sumption that the farmers must be richer
 than is believed. If these farmers were in
 need of ready money they would sell what
 they have for sale. But mediocre harvest
 in 1883 and poor harvest in 1882 have not
 impoverished them; they will sell their stuff
 when the market suits them. This same
 conclusion is supported by 118 answers to
 the question whether farmers borrow above the average on the strength of their stocks
 ninety-four answers are negative, twenty-four affirmative, and Wisconsin farmers in partic- uiar seem to be more prosperous than they ever were.
 Manufacturing in these States is reported exceedingly brisk, but ten answers reporting half time, while 106 answers report full time Or the IA answers to the question whether the factories do profitable business ninety eight are affirmative. The future is viewed in ninety answers as hopeful, in twen- ty-eight as uncertain, in twelve as satisfac- tory. Mercantile trade is reported good in ninety five answers, not good in forty five an- swers. Farmers pay their bills rather promptly, though some complaints arise in Indiana and Iowa, yet less in Michigan than might have besn thought natural. The stores report very moderate stocks on hand and money is plenty, though not es cheap as far mers desire This covers the district which has suffered from frosts and other accidents, Tho rest of the country Is certainly in no worse condition.
 This Is decidedly encouraging. And the Boston Advertiser calls attention to some other encouraging features of the situation. It says: Our exports it is true, are lighter than those of last year, but our imports are lighter still. This proves, not diminished capacity for consumption, but judicious adaptation to the conditions of the day. In England and France imports increase and e1- ports diminish. But they are creditor coun- tries, and England in particular can bear l what to ts would bs misfortuns. If our l exports grew less and our imports more, we should lose gold forthwith, while England l does not. But the government revenue shows l England and France to advance very slowly, | while we advance by leaps and bounds. In l consequenoe of great reduction in the tax | rate the government revenue shows a slight | decline. But, unless the laws are changed, | we shall have surplus of more than 100 mill l lion dollars, and probably but thirty millions Iess than we had last year. This illustrates l the prosperity of the country.