Evening star., 1895-05-09
PROSPERITY IS RETURNING.
Such is the Opinion Of the Majority of Washing
tons Business Men,
MUCH CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE.

Drawn ana muscle OF its sons. The bCSf-
ness chastisement we have had during the
| past eighteen months has taught a great
lesson, and the country will be slow in
returning to its former prosperity. When
the reaction does come however, 1t will be
phenomenal. Hereafter all great enter
prises in the business world will be based
upon sound business principles Confidence
is returning, however, and 1 anticipate a
gradual return to prosperity
Looking for Better Times.
"On every hand can see evidences of re-
turning confidence in business" said Mr..
F. P. Madigan, land I venture to predict
that by this time next year the confidence
of the merchants will be extended through
out this great country, and every branch
of trade will be stimulated"
Improving as We Go Forward.
Mr.. Jesse B. Wilson, president of the
Lincoln National Bank: "It seems to be in
| the air that better times, if not here al
| ready, are on the way. People have no
doubt adjusted themselves to the conditions
| following the period of financial depression
and, natural consequence, there is
an Improvement in business as We go for
| ward"
Good Times Ahead.
Mr.. B. H. Warner: II think the situa ton
is better largely in the general feeling of
| confidence In a few months we shall, !
| believe, once more be in the midst of good
| times"
A Hundred Per Cent Better.
N. T. Haller, architect: 'I can say with
out hesitation that from my standpoint
business is improving. 1t is 100 per cent
better than last year. We are building
| larger and better buildings this year than
ever. And of outside trade in Maryland
and Virginia I can say that it has grea tly
| increased. 1t is fully 50 per cent better
| than last year.
Business is Better.
Henry King, jr., dry goods merchant
| Certainly, business Is better. With me it
has been very good this year. The only
| class that seems to be without money Is
| the mechanic. That will have a remedy
| before long, as the situation continues ia
| improve and capital continues with increas-
| ing confidence to seek Investment"
Signs of improvement.
D. P. Leibhardt, secretary Serial Saw
| ings and Building Association: THE best
sign of improvement in business is the fact
that men who have money are actively
seeking investments. A year ago they
shut themselves up in their rooms and the
| borrower couldn't get, at them Now these
men are out looking after places to loan
| and invest. Money Is plenty at even 51s
| per cent on good security, and in time, as
DuSlIeSS IeelS ana RESPONDS 10 tnlS COnul-
| ton Of confidence in money centers, we
| shall once more see good times.
Confidence Restored.
Mr.. E. Southard Parker. president Co
| lumbia National Bank.. Recovery from a
condition in monetary affairs that was
without a precedent in the history of this
! country must of necessity be slow. But II
seems to be steadily Improving, and conf
/ hoI hot ic
being slowly but surely restored. And the
| general improvement is marked"
Looking for Good Times.
| c. B. Keferstein.. architect: Business is
| no worse than a year ago, and from the
prospects indicated by plans being pre-
pared for buildings should say we are
| to have soon restoration Of good times. >
| Better by 33 Per Cent.
Mr.. Harry Parker of the clothing firm OF
| Parker, Bridget & Co. said: I'VE cast up ac-
counts for April a day or two ago. and
| found that our trade for that month was
| just thirtythree per cent better than April
of last year. That answers your question
l think. l look for that percentage of in
crease to continue. too, and have no fears
! for the future now. We are on the right
| side of the tide, at last 1 am not afraid to
buy goods, for fear of not selling them"
Better Than for Three Years.
Mr.. T. L. Holbrook of the Washington
Brick Machine Co.: ''The general condi-
tions of business in Washington so far as
I am able to judge, have materially i'm.
| proved. Our business is better than it has
been at any time during the past three
| years"
A Rapid Improvement.
Mr.. E. s. Johnson. president of the Citi'
zens National Bank: General condition
shows an improvement over last year, an6
business is undoubtedly moving on more
solid basis which is more healthy than il
there was rapid Improvement. The in.
creased demand for loans is an index to the
fact that the public are slowly regainine
| confidence in the situation.
| Mr. F. c. Stephens of the West End Ma.
| tioral Bank indorsed the statement made
| by Mr.. Johnson, but would say nothing or
his own responsibility.
| Gradual but Sure Advance.
Mr.. Jno. Joy Edison, president of the
Washington Loan and Trust Company
Business is gradually and surely improv.
ing. In my judgment this improvement
will steadily continue. 1t is not a boom
but substantial increase. The situation
| warrants this statement. Silver and polit-
not prevent, the improvement and increase
| of business now going on
| Good Fall Prospect.
Mr.. G. Warfeld Simpson: People are
| buying more freely now than heretofore
Indications point to better conditions later
/, and we think there will be very good
| business in the fall
Meeting Obliga tions Promptly.
| Mr.. Matthew G. Emery president of the
Second National Bank, said that in his
| opinion things are Tightening considerably
| in the business world, and that he looks
for still greater improvement in the
| future. For one thing said Mr. Emery,
Il have noticed that people generally are
meeting their engagements and settling
| their obligations more promptly and much
more easily than they were a year or so
| ago. That Is pretty good sign of an i'm
| proved condition of affairs. l do not know
| that there has been such a great increase
| in bank deposits, but. they are certainly
/ holding up very wen. and 1 gather from
| conversations with business men who come
| in to the bank that there is a more CON-
| Portable feeling in air circles, and that
| even better times are looked for in the near
| future. This is not a teo optimistic view,
l am sure, for all signs are pointing to-
ward greater prosperity, and in my opin-
ion the future is offering promise of good