The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-08-26


nous demand for goods, and they came
here to buy. This has been followed by
an increasing demand from the South
and Southwest which is az gratifying
as it is surprising to the merchants or
the city.
1t is really surprising how quickly
the people of this great city adapt
themselves to the conditions that pre-
sent themselves. A year ago they were
ell in the excitement of the political
campaign, and having settled that con-
test they are now determined to give
their attention to business and TO let
politics alone. The remark is called
forth by the fact that we are now with
in but few weeks of one Of the mos,
important city elections that we have
ever had, and yet the newspapers have
not been able TO get up anything tha.
approaches excitement. although 1t is
true that they have greatly stimulated
interest in the comm : contest 1t istrue
that our people move more quickly
than they DO in most localities, and
that long campaigns are neither neces-
sary or desirable, bul with such very
important election so near at hand.
and with a press that is really so pow
erful, It is indeed surprising that there
is so much of indifference among the
people.
All this indifference is favorable to
the Democrats. They are not so well
organized as their opponents it is trus.
but they will, nevertheless, be able to
bring to the polls larger percentage
OF their vote than their opponents can
with quiet canvass. OF course Wa
shall not have quiet canvass in the
end, for the stake that is being played
for is too great for that, and when the
politicians have finally settled upon the
candidates, We shall expect to pass
through the usual excitement of the
campaign, and the newspapers will do
their full share Of the heavy work.
The Central Hudson railroad is is
suing sl00. .0o00 900 of new bonds to take
the place of those bearing higher rate
Of interest, and the task'of signing
of the Company, Hon. Chauncey M. De-
pew. Mr.. Depew has been signing his
name five hundred times day for some
time, and this Is no small task espec-
tally when one writes SO full and bold
. hand as he does. The placing OF
these new bonds at the lower rate Of
interest, will make great saving to
the company, and enable 1t to expend
q much larger sum at once in improv-
ing it's equipment. 1t may appear lit
tie singular that this remark is made
in respect to what is probably one of
the very best equipped roads In the
country, but for all that it is true that
during the hard times of the past hree
years the rolling stock, and especially
the freight equipment has been per-
mitted to run down on account Of the
forced economy which ii has been nec-
essary to practice. With returning
prosperity and the positive assurance
on Increasing income, there will be in
creased expenditures for improvement
and re-equipment of all the roads, and
this will furnish employmnet for a
great army of men who have been eth
er idle or at work on short time.
Since the rise In wheat and stocks
began, there has thus far been one con-
tinual surprise for the operators,
There have been days when there was
such an unloading upon the market
that 1t was impossible to sustain the
full advance that had been made, but
if the advance was halted, 1t has in ev-
cry instance proved only temporary
matter, and in few hours more the
cables would bring the news of increas-
ed purchas in London, which would
stiffen up prices again and continue 10
advance them, until another season OF
unloading for the purpose Of realizln :
profits, caused another temporary
check. The really surprising thinE
about the market has been its steadi
ness and firmness under all the exist.
ing circumstances.
If one were TO take all the stock,
that are dealt in on the exchange. aur
figure up the increased wealth of III,
country on account of the advanc,
that has J 'en secured in the past fou,
or five weeks, he would have en- inter
esting story to tell. If full account Il
taken OF every advance. the aggregat
OF increase would probably oxcee,
s500000,0o0. This is an enormous sum
hut great as 1t Is, the estimate mao,