The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-31

fairly compared are November and December.
I'm November of this present year the clear
tances amounted to $685. 238 more than IN No
Evember Of 1884; while in December there has
lbeen an incr ease of $693,325 more than during
lthe previous year. Besides, the clearances dur
ing last month have been larger than during any
preceding month since January, 1884, nearly two
years ago.
what are your observations regarding the
condition of busnessP
'I think it is on a good solid basis, and there
will be gradual increase; but expect nothing
Hike boom during the coming year. Business
Dis being done in very conservative way, and
there is, therefore. no danger of any disasters"
V. 4. Malott. president of the Indiana National
Bank, thinks that generally the trade OF 1883
will compare favorably with the previous year,
while in many lines there is q marked improve
,ment He thinks that the indications for 1886
point to much better business than was done
during the last year THE agricultural pro
duction, he said, chad been very large We
have an abundant crop of corn. and the move
ment OF the years crops has made
railroad business very much better than IN 1854
The agricultural business and the transportation
business are the great underlying interests OF
commerce There is more corn this year than
ever before and consequently there are more
hogs. Ali this corn and these hogs will have to
be transported to the markets. and this will
bring money into the hands of the farmers and
railroads Already there has been marked I'M
provemenr in business, and expect it to con-
;tinue through 1886. The farmers are recuper-
.Ating from losses during the last three or four
years, and business now is on more soilo
basis
Theodore P. Haughey. president of the In
dianapolis National Bank, says that from his
observation, the year 1885 has brought slight
improvement in business compared with 1894.
r'.Business is settling down." he says " and the
people are getting in better shape We have
good crops. and if the prices Of two or three
years ago prevailed now, we would be enjoying
boom. l think that the coming year will bring
about better state Of affairs, although l ex-
pect no boom"
I'm my interview with you one year ago." said
John p Frenxel, president of the Merchants
National Bank, to the Journals representative,
81 predicted that the fall of 1885 would mark the
advent of a business improvement. This pre-
diction has been realized. Business has been
better this fall than for several years past. It
may not have been better in some branches, but
I think there are only few exceptions.
The clothing business serves as a
pretty good barometer of the prosperity of the
people, and Think may safely say that this
branch has been better this year than in any
year since 10 II our business community are
not satisfied it must be because their expecta-
tions were too high. 1t is true, however. that
while there has been no apparent curtailment in
the comforts of living, there is less indebted
ness among business men, and this certainly
goes to prove one thing-their condition has inn
proved"
S'To natural causes. First of all, we have
about finished the process of liquidation which
invariably follows panic Next, we have
profited by the lessons of the panic. We have
shaken off speculation and settled down to legiti-
mate business. order and economy. Last but
by no means least, we have been assisted by
good crops and fne weather"
'What are your expectations for the future?'
''I believe that the improvement in our COM
mercial affairs will continue. and that the year
1886 will be the best that we have had for sew
eral years. Of course, my remarks only apply
to our local territory. The settlement of the
great silver and tariff questions by the present
sCongress will enter largely into the determine
tion of the future business prospects of the
country. Do you know that our chief fault is
that of complaining of bad business, even when
the conditions are Otherwisel You hear thou
sand inquiries to business answered, bad,
before you get one of good Now, if we all
start in the new year with reversal of this or
der, am sure that our business will be good"
A. w. Ritznger the banker, expects the next
year to be one of unusual prosperity when the
farmers find that the price of corn is not going
to rise" he says, they will SELL 1t is much bet
ter for them to do SO than to hold for a slight
advance There is plenty of produce, and with
the sale of it, the markets will begin to move
and more money will be brought into circulation.
Il think Congress will not do anything to seri
ously affect the business of the country by tariff
Legislation, and when we get the silver coinage
question out of the way there will be more con-
fidence."
'Do you favor gold basisw
slam in favor of the coinage of only so much sill
yer as is necessary for use in business as change
Silver is a deprecated metal. and is not good
money basis. We don't want to drive gold
from the country"
HAS there been any improvement in business
during the past year,"
{ $50 far as we have any opportunities for judy
ing it has certainly been quite as good as in 1884
The trouble is, our merchants had greater ex
.pectations than have been realized. American
like, they are not satisfied. During August and
September there was very heavy trade, large
ly exceeding that done in the same time last
year But in October business dropped off CON
siderably."
''What was the cause9'
''No particular cause. The export trade has
not been what it usually is, and there has been
some contraction of the circulation of money
from that cause. The country is full of prod
uce, however, and money will be drawn into the
channels of trade by its sale. The indications
are quite decided that there will be marked
improvement during the next year. The price
of iron is beginning to rise, and this is always
the first sign of approaching good times. Man
ufacturers will be more cautious in the future,
and will not make larger stocks than there is an
actual demand for. | think that the improve
1nent will begin in the spring, and I expect
marked change for the better, because everything
is on good, solid basis, and the tendency is up
ward
THE MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.
Establishments, and Unusual Activity.