The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-09-12
THE PROSPECT.
Mr.. Charles A. Clark, of Bradstreet's Merean-
tile Agency, Reviews the Situation.
Salt Lake Tribune.

Salt Lake Tribune
The Bradstreet Mercantile Agency Is so
often asked the question, "When will trade
improve" that the Superintendent at Salt
Lake City feels as though he ought to econe-
nize his own time by telling to large num-
Der Of people at once what little he knows
about the question In hand. II Is but little
that any one can positively know on such .
subject Is this; and yet there are many facts
bearing upon the issue which will be OF in
terest to the readers of the Tribune.
In the first place 1t should be noted that
severe hard times or depression of business
cannot, under any circumstances, long con-
tinue in the United States. Our population
steadily increases at the rate of five per cent.
per year-this Is, under the best conditions
there are in this country always one hundred
and five people to use what one hundred can
produce. In this steady increase Of popula-
ton there is . safe usage for all that can be
reasonably produced.
In the second place, 1t has been succiuctly
said, "We are always within one year OF
famine and within two years Of nakedness."
OF course this Is q striking way of putting
the { act thatthere Is never In store In the
United States moro meat and grain than Is
necessary to feet our population one year,
and there has never been manufactured
goods In hand sufficient to supply us more
than two years. Any prolonged suspension
Of production must result In q positive scar
city Of the necessaries of life.
And third, there is In our country a very
| rapidly increasing class who are not produ-
GERS Of either food or clothing, neither are
they traders or professional men, and yet are
indispensable under the new conditions OF
| our civilization. They are the carriers OF
goods and the builders of mental exchanges.
The railroad lines have been extended so
| far that to replace worn out rails and used up
| rolling stock will now employ three-fourtas
OF our iron workers, even II not mile OF
| new road Is built within the next year. The
| other one-fourth will be needed for the ex-
tension Of mental exchanges that is, tele-
phone and telegraph lines, and other facili-
ties for the intelligent operation Of life's
as many homes will have telephones as now
have cabinet organs within ten years as
many homes will have telephones as now
have sewing machines, and within fifteen
years business men will send more kilograms
than letters. One hundred thousand men
will be wanted for this department of the
| worlds work before 1900.
Fourth, hard times being their only rem
edy. Suppose there are one thousand idle
men in city. The price of labor goes down,
money lies idle in tie banks, the brickma-
ker offers his brick for sale, and the sawmills
pile up their useless stock. Small holders OF
lots or land are restless, and will sell out at
any price to get away. Then the capitalist
reasons: There Is no permanent check to
business; my money is idle; labor, brick and
lumber may never be so cheap again. He
arises and builds; and while he has quietly
laid his nj ans and da his cnnt a scora
of other capitalists have been reasoning the
same way and doing The same thing. The
cheapness of labor works its own cure, and
cities grow great on the foundation of hard
times, Wages advance, materials advance,
and industry and prosperity join hands again.
Look at the quiet confidence of the shrewd-
est men among us. Where will you find
more far-seeing men in Utah than VIM. Jen-
nings and Simon Bamberger? Yet, in this
year of dullness aud dependency, VIM. Jen-
nings has bought and equipped wooden fac
tory, and Simon Bsmberger Is extending the
San Pete Valley Railroad with the money
Of Its owners-not q dollar borrowed, nor a
bond placed in the market!
But when will the reaction begin? This
is a harder question, but guesses and opin-
cry of hard times began in New England
two years ago; 1t reached the Middle States
eighteen months ago; it struck the eastern
side of the mountains year ago; 1t is but
six months since it reached the west slope.
The return wave has already begun in the
far east. There will be some improvement
in the mountain district in 1885, but the full
force Of the happy wave may not reach us
until 1886. Still, IL this fall and winter there
should be an irresistible popular demand for
business cooperation among all classes In
Utah; II religion Is left to the churches, and
the enforcement of the law to the Govern.
ment, and Gentiles and Mormons should
find should find some way to concord "for
business only" the year 1885 may prove
utsh's best year; in fact, its year of jubilee.
CHAs. A. CLARK.