The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1894-01-25
An Expert on Free Coal.
Editorial Washington Post, Jan. Is.

IN Jackson Day in response to the toast
The Democratic National Platform of
1892" he discussed the Wilson bill with
singular and significant force, aud upon
one aspect of that bill he spoke so strong
y and with such authority that we here
his words for public infor>
nation:
You will hear it said that | am inter
ested in coal, and hence that is one of
my reasons for Directing to this tariff.
| am interested in coal. but only as The
president OF several railway corporations,
a large part of whose business is in the
of this article. They had
upon their pay>rolls 5000 names, and
each and every one of these are interest
ed to know why (when the Government
needs revenues) coal, which has paid d
large amount and with injury to no one,
should be made free, while the goods
which the coal producers use are still.
taxed. | say we had $4,000 names, for
the depressed business has forced us to
discharge one fifth of them. and they
have gone to swell the great army of the
cold and hungry unemployed that fill
our streets-the saddest sight there is in
the world, men hungry and willing to
work for bread. but no work to be had
am interested, | repeat, for if this bill
passes, with its free coal and free ore,
more of these faithful employees will
have to gO.'
Like Mr.. John II. Inman, whose utter
ances on this subject we quoted a few
days ago, Mr.. ingalls, is a practical man
of affairs. He deals with facts and con-
az IN;
He knows what the actual effect of free
coal will be upon the laboring classes
He does not waste time in considering
its decorative effect in connection with
experimental craftsmanship, but looks
at it with sole reference to it's place in
the equation of events Mr.. ingalls, is at
the head of great railroad enterprises
which employ thousands of men and
upon whose successful operation a vast
multitude of human beings depend fer
the everyday necessities of life. He is
no brooding doctrinaire, no dreamer of
dreams. no visionary lost in glittering
distractions. He is iD the forefront of
the battle of real things. He deals with
living facts and points to vital conclus-
ions and results
Free coal means the sentimental graft
fication Of few we'll meaning theorists.
1t means also the bereavement and dis
tress of hundred thousand American
workingmer. 1t means the gripping OF
railroads by the score, the overpopula-
ton of the poorhouse, the hospital and
the prison, the deepening of industrial
stagnation, and the multiplication OF
the prevalent misery. Mr.. Ingalls, knows
all this because his part is in the sphere
of human action, and be tells us in order
that we may be warned in time.
Idle Wheels Starting.
The Philadelphia correspondence of the
New York Dry Goods Economist has the
following to say this week concerning
the dry goods trade
Manufacturers are all in more cheer
full humor Business is slowly improv-
ing. and the number of idle wheels is
being decreased. Many inquiries have
reached the mills from distributors who
find they have not secured enough goods
to satisfy their business in sight aud
what may with all indications be ex,
pected This is most marked in knit
goods, in woolens and dress goods.
'Some hosiery manufacturers haye
orders in hand which will prevent
any new orders being cared for within
the next two months. Wooden manu-
features have not produced enough
goods to supply what orders Cor the
r. n,,T an book
for fear OF a large amount of cancella
tons, with d view Of having no light
weights on hand to carry over. For
once ia the history of the trade clothiers
are not wanting all they have bought
aud are disappointed that the mills are
not in "a position to deliver.
Samples of, wooens are being pre-.
pared for the fall trade. Dress goods
manufacturers are better employed and
their prospects are much improved.
Upholstery manufacturers find more
business, but full production is not
yet expected. Carpet manufactures are
suffering from a stock of their products
pressing on the market, for iG is al IN
Fortunate condition of this branch of the
trade that as conservative policy OF
production has not been followed as
in the ajority of other lines.
Cotton goods manufacturers have
received somewhat OF a setback during
the week by the reduction in prices OF
well known lines OF cotton goods: but 1t
is hardly likely that this will affect the
general market for cotton fabrics, as the
goods that have heenireduced are sucl
as have for some time been i'll hard luck.
Some of the cotton manufacture rs OF
cheap goods in this city are SO well sup
piled with orders that production is full
i H., l,t, M
as they are finished.
"All round the trade there is Il strong
undercurrent of confidence A fuller
production is insured, because stocks are
not availa bic to supply consumption,
and the only way they can be obtained
is by the employment OF machinery.
The only fear with some of the best
informed is whether the production can
supply the goods as soon as they are
wanted. Distributors are now in touch
with the retailers throughout the coun-
try through their men on the road, and
their experience finds there are plenty
of people who are prepared to buy
goods. Considering what was expected
and what is happening, jobbers are sur
prsed and graUified.
"a comparison with year ago would
be out of the question, for nobody has
prepared to do as much business as was
done for the spring of 1898, but a great
many more orders are coming to hand
than the majority OF the houses have
made preparations to meet If the de-
mand should continue during the rest
of the season. The trade for the week
has been good, and the business done
on some days has even exceeded that
done on the same day last year. An eX>
animation of this has shown that people
VINO usually place orders for spring in
December and did not do SO this year
are doing so now, which, with the usual
January business, makes better show
ing than is actually the case"
1t Is Well to Remember That
Stale bread will clean kid gloves.
Bread crumbs cleanse silk gowns.
Tooth powder is an excellent cleanser