The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-05-08
TIMES GETTING BETTER.

1t is an admitted axiom that good
times, from business pointo view, i'm
plies good prices for everything one has
to sell that in any way affects the con-
venience or necessities of the people, the
community, and as the products of the
farm are essentially such articles the
price at which they are sold on the mar
kets Of the country may be taken as a
correct barometer to the general bust
ness. This axiom has been most forcibly
and clearly demonstrated throughout this
country during the past twelve months.
Within that time the prices of all farm
products, including live stock, have been
lower than for a third of a century. The
cause or causes that produced this gen
eral depression for it affected the whole
commercial and industrial system), are
immaterial to the point of this article;
present conditions and the promise for the
future are what we are interested in Just
now, and theOrizing upon what has
brought about the one or will probably
affect the other will not alter either
Within the past three months the lead
ing cereals and live stock-cattle and
hogs-have advanced in prices from 10
to so per cent. This has had the effect
Of bringing out Of its private hiding
places large holdings of money, the i'm
mediate result of returning confidence,
and, after all, this last is more largely
responsible for the extreme fluctuations
in business than any other single cause.
The principle was illustrated by an Incl
dent that took place a few years ago in
New Orleans. \ report was put in cir
culation on Canal street that a certain
bank had suspended payment and imme-
diately there was run made on the
bank by its depositors. Among
these was a Hebrew merchant,
who, not having heard the report for sew
eral hours after it was started, imagined
that all was lost to him. but who, never
theless, rushed bareheaded to the bank
and in an almost breahtless condition de-
manded his money. The cashier very
quietly directed the clerk to cast up Mr..
SOlOmOn's account, while he proceeded
to count out the cash. This proceeding
and the sight Of the money instantly re-
stored the depositor'S confidence and
with the remark: ooh, if you've got it
don't want IT," turned and leisurely
walked away.
The people, and particularly those who
have surplus of capital, have discover
ed that the depression the country has
experienced of late is more the result of
scare than of hurt: that with an abund-
ance Of everything in the country it is
foolish to CRY hard times, and with the
return Of confidence the clogs in the !
wheels of commercial and industrial pro- |
gress are being cleared away, and in
the shortest time everything will be
in the swim Of prosperity. Kansas
hasn't any more - cent corn, 80 cent .
wheat, Sl.50 cattle and hogs for sale, |
but she has millions of bushels of grain
and thousands of head of live stock that
will bring their owners double those fig
rIres and more, or they will not be sold.
AS the Immortal Jet would remark.
-he pressure is off, the veil has been
lifted that erstwhile bore down and shut
off the view to more prosperous times
.or all.
We are going to have better times
light away anyhow, and if congress will
BASS a reasonable and fair silver bill so
hat the needs Of the country for a suffi-
lent volume of stable currency will be
ecured and insured it will be a long
ime before the experience Of the past
ear or two will be felt again.