Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-01-02
susINEss IMpRovEMENr.

The exact truth should be told, 80 tar as
it can be ascertained, as to the business
situation Of the country. Facts whatever
they may prove to be, should be accepted,
and the best possible use made Of them.
No good purpose can be served by paint
ing the situation too black or too red, and
we have, in these columns, taken care not
to excite false hopes or to allow the idea OF
distress to be exaggerated. We would
have been glad, at any time, to announce
the advent of better times. but have been
very careful, when we have undertaken to
do so, to secure for our prophesies solid
foundation of fact.
The heart of the financial difficulties
and troubles has been found IN tne nv"
trade, with Pittsburg as its cap''ai in
that trade has there been the largest pro-
,or,;or of over-production, and in the
.;,, named has there been, apparently, the
,.rses. proportionate number Of men out
of employment Now. We are glad to say
that the Pittsburg papers, in their holiday
reviews, report that "a reaction is already
at hand and under way" Were this not
true, in a good, appreciable measure, it
would not be safe for the Journals Of that
city to make the assertion. There would
at once be public outcry against
such a tampering with so serious
matter. But the Pittsburg pa
pers are not satisfied with making gen.
eral and promiscuous predictions. The
Dispatch declares not only that Iron and
steel men seem inclined to take fsvora-
bic view of the present situation" but
that there are still "a number of mills
running double turn Among these are
pudding forges that did little or nothinS
in December and January a year .go.
No less than thirteen of these mills are
| running double turn, making st 'east soo
ions of muck iron from 442 furnaces.
Then the papers give q long list OF mills
which are running "single turn, with the
mention of only one mill likely to be shut
down." and ,hat nail mill.
We hare already given the report Of the
Cleveland Iron Trade Review. Of the Wv
Of a large number of iron manutst, lc, had"
only ten of whom think the bn. hone.
while fourteen are upS. upSs.on. ,h;,L y.
full for the best" lhs' ss some believing that
business Is s already begun, and none
'he W further of than April"
es6t, in addition to this, and better than
all, the Pittsburg Dispatch announces and
commends several new enterprises in iron
and steel, which are now being organized,
and declares that there is no more favor
bic time" (for new enterprises) than at
just such a juncture as the present." that
everything is at hard pan; whatever
is to be bought or built will cost
less than it has for years." that "new
works will be given the the smallest posi-
BILE burden of investment and will be in
the best possible shape to meet future
contingencies"
Were we to make local application of
this We should advise persons who wish to
invest in real estate, to do it now. Many
pieces of property can be bought very low,
and the transactions, when consummated, |
would relieve persons who are financially |
and thus, to that extent, re- !
lieve the general situation, and those per- :.
sons of means who wish to replace old |
buildings-either residences or business /
new, can never find
more favorable time for making such i'm
provements than the present. as real estate,
building material and prices of labor are
1t the lowest point, and. most assuredly
would general movement Of this sort
give employment to large number OF
men now out of work, but it would, there
ore, necessarily give healthy impulse to
ocal trade, and greatly improve the local
Iituation.